Go Topless

Happy Go Topless Day 

Now comes the time of summer when there are so many events at once it will make your head spin. This weekend we had the Irish Festival at Wilkeson Point, Kanye at First Niagara, Elmwood Arts Fest, Bison's baseball, Maritime Fest, a giant rubber ducky and on and on. To top it off it's also Go Topless Day, corresponding to Woman's Equality Day, which was on the 26th. In New York, it is legal for a woman to go topless in any public park any day of the year. Equal rights protestors in 1986 at Rochester's Cobbs Hill Park took on the laws of the time by having a topless picnic in which several women were arrested and convicted. The case was eventually overturned in 1992,  in what is now referred to as The People V. Santorelli. Others have since used the decision and the legality of park toplessness to expand to anywhere a dude might pop off his shirt, whether you want him to or not. So if you're harassed by park police be ready to recite the penal code and "officer, my eyes are up here."

http://gotopless.org/gotopless-day

The Elmwood Arts Festival

Looking northward on Elmwood Avenue 

We looked up how long the Elmwood Festival of the Arts has been running and found several sites that say this is the 16th year. But we both remember coming up on the bus from Fredonia this very weekend, 32 years ago, introducing our New York City classmates to a scant, but interesting art scene during a festival much like this one, albeit much smaller. We would love someone to let us know the true history. I so remeber my friend I brought up on the Trailways bus wondering at the day and asking if Buffalo is always like this? so busy and alive? 32 years ago I had to say that this day was a rare occurrance. 32 years later? Buffalo is on our way to becoming what my NYC friend would have wanted. We are vibrant, we are creative, and we are growing into the city we should have always been.