Shark Girl

Shark Girl at Canalside

Poor Shark Girl, freezing cold again. Can you blame her for frowning in that summer dress?
Formerly from Cincinnati Ohio, Shark Girl has become synonymous with the Buffalo waterfront, as well as becoming a local selfie celebrity.

Hook and Ladder No. 7

Hook and Ladder No. 7 /  Engine No. 24

Hook and Ladder #7/ Engine 24 on Leroy Avenue was designed by renowned architect E.B. Green. The firehouse was built in 1894 and served the community until around 2006. We remember when the kids would walk over from their school and the firemen would help them spray the hose. The house had since gone quiet, unfortunately vandalized, and now gladly reclaimed.

Lamplight

Snow and Lamppost

It's back...

Downtown

Main Street Downtown

West Ferry Street Lift Bridge

West Ferry St. Lift Bridge

Two bridges connect Liberty Island to the Niagara St. corridor. Both have been beneficiaries of a multimillion dollar makeover that includes Broderick Park at the southern end of the island. The lift bridge, dating back to 1913, spans 225 feet across the Black Rock Canal, which is actually part of the Niagara River, distinguished by the break wall that delineates the waterways. The West Ferry Lift Bridge, pictured above, has been restored to its former glory, ready to give us another hundred years of service and access to our beautiful river.

Dawn

Dawning Buffalo

Sun rises over the Eastside.

Maureen's

Display Window @ Maureen's

Roses crowd the display window of Maureen's Buffalo Wholesale Flower Market. Maureen's is like a playground for flower lovers. You can come in, pick and choose flowers to make your own tussy mussy, or reach out to the skilled staff for help with anything from simple bouquets to elaborate large scale arrangements. Maureen's was voted Best Florist for eight consecutive years on Art Voice's Best of Buffalo list, and a peek inside will explain why. The interior of the shop is closer to a market/warehouse than your typical florist, which allows you to browse and get up close and personal with the flora. A nice place to lift the spirits and design something for someone special.

http://www.maureensbuffalowholesale.com/

Women's March On Niagara Square

Women's March,  Niagara Square  /  Photo by A. Maeve Connolly

Don't try this at home kids, especially if your home is Bahrain, China, Saudi Arabia or Iran.
Here in America we say " Hooray for our signs". In Downtown Buffalo today, thousands  exercised their First Amendment rights of assembly and free speech. The No Hate, No Mandate rally took place in Niagara Square to coincide, in solidarity, with the Women's March On Washington.

Greetings From Buffalo

Mural on Washington Market Wall

We spotted this mural on the wall of the Washington Market. The colorful artwork and salutation brightened an otherwise dreary January day on Ellicot Street. If you want to send a cool digital postcard to someone, then this is your photo-op waiting to happen. Artist Casey William Milbrand created this positive instagram-ready work back in October, #greetingsfrombuffalo.

Founding Fathers

Founding Fathers Pub, Owner Michael Driscoll

Founding Fathers Pub was recently on Esquire Magazine's "18 Best Bars in America". The historic 1874 building has been stable, tavern, and so on, over the years. The current bar was opened on Election Day in 1985. Owner, Michael Driscoll informs us that their most recent anniversary was a long strange night that lasted into the wee small hours with a gaggle of political junkies. Like it or not, the result of that evening will become official reality with tomorrow's Presidential Inauguration. Celebrating or drowning sorrows, Founding Fathers will be hopping. For those who have not been, the pub houses an extraordinary collection of Presidential and political memorabilia. F. F. is also known for a long standing Tuesday Trivia Night, which takes place on the first Tuesday of the month, and has the feel of a very fun history class.

http://foundingfatherspub.com/

Delaware Soccer Club

Storefront of Delaware Soccer Club, Hertel Avenue

   Delaware Soccer Club has been providing soccer development and competition for youth in the Buffalo area since 1978. House leagues are offered in Spring and Fall for ages four and up, with games played in Delaware Park. Travel leagues offer another level of competitive soccer, playing other teams and clubs in Western New York. DSC has recently started an adult indoor league for those 19 and up, soon to be followed by their Adult Outdoor Competitive Team.

http://www.delawaresoccerclub.com/

Edward M. Cotter

Edward M. Cotter with Michigan Ave. Bridge in background

The Edward M. Cotter is the oldest functioning fireboat in the world..., yes world. Originally named the William S. Gratten when it was built in 1900, the boat was rebuilt again in 1953 being renamed the Firefighter. The fireboat was again renamed in 1954 in honor of beloved Buffalo Frefighter and union leader Edward M. Cotter. The Cotter was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996.

On the Waterfront

Looking West  on the Waterfront

This is Buffalo in the middle of January. We'll take it.
Happy MLK Day.

Blackthorn

Blackthorn  Pub

The Blackthorn restaurant in South Buffalo has had a wee bit of a face lift recently and now looks like it's straight out of the 'Ol Sod'. The facade is as cozy and welcoming as the food inside has always been. Well reviewed by many, the likes of Guy Fieri for one, its delectable pub grub speaks to the passion for quality that has made the restaurant a Buffalo favorite.

http://blackthornrestaurant.com/

Rotary Rink

Rotary Rink

The Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza is downtown's free public ice skating rink.

http://www.buffaloplace.com/rotaryrink

David

The David, Delaware Park

A silouhuette of Michangelo's David looks across the Scajaquada toward the Buffalo Historical Society.
Our David is, of course a replica, but beloved all the same.

St. Louis Church

Saint Louis in Fog

A foggy morning obscures the steeple of St. Louis, known as the mother church of Roman Catholic Churches in the Buffalo Diocese. The parish itself was formed this month in 1829 with land given by French nobleman and Holland Land Co. agent Louis Stephen LeCouteulx de Caumont. The original parish church was  built of logs from the adjacent woods in 1831. It was replaced by a larger brick church , which was lost to fire in 1885. The impressive continental Gothic style church we see today was completed 1889. The oldest Catholic congregation in Buffalo also has a reputation amongst contemporary Catholics as one of the most welcoming parishes in the area.

https://stlouisrcchurch.org/

Tower

One Seneca Tower

The tallest building in Buffalo, at 40 stories, is One Seneca Tower. The tower was completed in 1972. Tall, but unimpressive at a distance, the building's architectural power is something to be appreciated close-up. Viewed from the courtyard, it exudes a powerful minimalism. The really spectacular nature of the building lies in the views attainable from its upper floors. In recent years, the building's fate has swung like a pendulum between possible purchase and even talk of razing the structure. Over the summer. the property was finally picked up for a song. Hopefully, some brilliant purpose awaits the 2nd tallest building in upstate New York.

Swannie

Swannie House

The building itself dates back to 1882, and legend has it, served as a tavern around 1892.
Whiskey, waterfront and seamen, what could go wrong? The tavern is alive and well today, returned from near death starting in 1983. Stop by Michigan and Ohio, and see if the walls will talk.

Casa Azul

Casa Azul

Casa Azul is the latest addition to the up-and-coming 100 block of Genesee Street.
Gourmet meets muy auténtico. In house-made tortillas are crowned with a diverse and delectable assortment of toppings.  With an upstairs overlooking the street and garage door entrance, Azul promises to to even more fun in the summer. The street has seen a summer and fall long make-over, as well as a years long facelift for the many historical buildings on this block. CA joins the ranks of original homesteader Eddie Brady's, as well as more recent neighbors, such as Marble and Rye. Scherer Furniture is next door and has seen it all for decades. It wouldn't be a beautiful rejuvenated city neighborhood without a tax free federal agency sticking its foot in the door. At the center of the block we have the most attractive passport office in the state.

https://www.casaazulbuffalo.com/

It's Over

Last Christmas 

They had a good run, but it's time for Christmas trees to join that big mulcher in the sky. Actually, the city will collect trees between January 3rd and the 13th, finding them a new life as mulch in city parks, avoiding the landfill. For those of you who like to keep the tree up and lit until Valentine's Day, close your curtains.

https://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/

Don't Tread

Flag on USS Croaker

The USS Croaker floats defiantly at the Buffalo Naval Park. Launched in 1943, the submarine fought in the Pacific during WWII.

http://buffalonavalpark.org/

Looking In A Mirror

La Toilette, Picasso,1906

Tomorrow is M and T's First Fridays at the Albright Knox Art Gallery. Admission to the gallery is free. Check the website for other activities happening throughout the day. The exhibit, Picasso: The Artist and His Models is also continuing through the month.

https://www.albrightknox.org/art

South Park Conservatory

South Park Conservatory, AKA Buffalo and Erie Co. Botanical Gardens

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens came into being at the pinnacle of the city's glory, the start of the 1900's. No crown of success was more becoming to a great city than the Victorian Era greenhouse. Built in 1900  with the brilliant collaboration of Olmsted (the park), Lord and Burnham (the glass structure), and John F. Crowell (botanist). Olmsted had designed Cazanovia and South Park for the South Buffalo area, and planned, what was originally known as the South Park Conservatory, to house varieties of tropical plants as contrast to the outdoor plant design of the park. Plant explorer, Crowell, was set to the task of gathering the specimens. The greenhouse, designed by Lord and Burnham, was distinctly Victorian and reminiscent of the great botanical gardens of England. South Park, to this day, is one of only a few examples of this style in North America, and at the time of its creation, was the toast of the Pan American Exposition of 1901. So spectacular was its design, that it drew visitors from the North Buffalo location of the World's Fair out to the southern edges of the city. The impressive nature of the Botanical Gardens spread beyond the Exposition with a popularity that would continue for many years after.

http://www.buffalogardens.com/

Coe Place Mural

Mural at Coe Place and Main St.

The mural at the corner of Coe Place and Main  Street is sure to brighten a winter's day. A vision of youth, growth and life, the mural was the product of a collaboration between the Albright-Knox Art Gallery's  public art program and the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology. The exterior wall of the BCAT was the canvas for the creative energies of muralist Alice Mizrachi and students of the art program.

Snowless January Day

Riverfest Park and grain elevators

The snow is all but gone on this 40 degree day in January. The grounds of Riverfest Park are empty, except for the billowing grasses. Beyond, can be seen the Michigan Avenue Bridge and grain elevators that echo a game of hockey coming from the Riverworks Complex.

Go Deep

Deep South Taco

We welcome a new year and a new taco spot. Deep South Taco is up and running today at the corner of Hertel and Starin Avenues. Follow the spinning Lucha Libre mask to the long anticipated eatery.