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Cover Story

Reaching for the American Dream

by Kellie Coppola

It’s a celebration of American freedom and the commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It’s that very notion that has brought millions of immigrants here and as a result the pursuit of happiness for many Americans now includes eating tandoori chicken, drinking Ethiopian coffee, salsa dancing or wearing a batik dress.

Country Music Feature

Jam in the Valley

by Chuck Schultz

Jam in The Valley music festival was created in 1994. Hard to believe it’s 2015 and JiTV is entering its 22nd year of bringing thousands of music fans together to enjoy three days of country music and camping starting Thursday July 2 through Saturday July 4th.

Independence Day Feature

Rwandan immigrant Mukunzi Rubens wants to start a free newspaper

by Buck Quigley

Mukunzi Rubens would have been about 15 years old when his homeland of Rwanda, composed of three ethnic groups—Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa—suffered through one of the most shocking examples of genocide in human history. In a matter of weeks in April 1994, over 800,000 men, women, and children died.

Investigative Post

Following the Lead

by Dan Telvock

March Moon fled Burma for a better quality of life in Buffalo. Instead, she’s got a sick kid suffering from lead poisoning.

Boxing

Pugilism in the Cataract City

by Dave Staba

There are two opponents in every boxing match. No fighter, however, sets out to be called one.

Tap This

A Diamond Worth Mining

by Brian Campbell

In case you haven’t noticed, the current craft beer boom we are all enjoying isn’t just contained to Buffalo and Western New York, it also extends far south, to the Southern Tier of the state. Case in point—Westfield’s Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing, New York’s first brewery/distillery/winery hybrid.

What's Brewing

Presented by Consumer Beverages

by Paul Marko, Chris Groves

Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing Pale Ale & Buffalo Brewer Series - Ballpark Series No. 1

Art Scene

In a Fog

by Jack Foran

The common subject matter among the three components—two visual and one audio—of the current show at Hi-Temp is nature. The visual components—by David Mitchell and Max Collins, respectively—compare and contrast as cerebral to visceral. The audio component, by the group Flatsitter, provides transition between the visuals.

Classical Music Notes

Buffalo and the BPO bid farewell to Maestro Paul Ferington

by Jan Jezioro

The BPO kicks off its summer season after a three week break with two concerts this holiday weekend. On July 3rd, for the 21st year in a row, the BPO will celebrate Independence Eve at Coca-Cola Field with a concert immediately following the Buffalo Bisons baseball game with the Syracuse Chiefs, which starts at 6pm.

Theatrically Speaking

Oh For a Muse of Fire

by Anthony Chase

Vivienne Benesch, artistic director of the Chautauqua Theater Company, has an exciting line-up of plays planned for this summer.

Film Review

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

by Jordan Canahai

Like many avid moviegoers who’ve witnessed in the last decade or so to what I believe has (largely) been the decline of the once-great American independent film movement, I’ve become immediately suspicious in recent years of any happy-sad coming of age independent “dramedy” to win the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience award.

Film Review

Gemma Bovery

by E. Ladd

Gemma Arterton is breathtaking. She fills the frame of every scene she’s in with an undeniable and winsome beauty. A voluptuous, alluring goddess of a woman bathed in golden, flattering light, wearing flower print frocks, and wandering about the charming bucolic Norman countryside.

Get Lit

A library on two wheels / Kurt Springs book signing

by Heather Cook

Once the final school bell rings, many children are set free for the summer—some of them letting their books collect dust while they’re at the park with friends. And others are not fortunate enough to get their hands on valuable books. According to Buffalo BookBike, many of these children are at risk of experiencing the “summer slide,” in which children of a lower socioeconomic status can lose 3-4 months of reading growth.

Featured Events

See You There!

AV Hit List: Top Event Picks for This Week

Listings

On The Boards Theater Listings

Movie Listings (Friday, July 3 - Thursday, July 9)

Film Now Playing

Graphic Traffic

Daredevil: Man Without Fear

by Mike Hoffert

The Nightly News

by Carolyn Marcille

You Auto Know

2015 VW Golf Sportwagen

by Jim Corbran

Yes, I found myself constantly checking the rearview mirror of this week’s test car to verify it was a family car. A station wagon. No, really. Yet it drives somewhat like a sporty sedan.

Offbeat News

News of the Weird

by Chuck Shepherd

U.S. students may be clever, but they apparently badly trail Chinese students in the genius of cheating on exams (and especially on the use of cheat-enabling technology).

Horoscopes

Free Will Astrology

by Rob Brezsny

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “I am trying to be unfamiliar with what I am doing,” said composer John Cage in describing his creative process. That’s excellent counsel for you to meditate on, Cancerian.