Current Issue: Artvoice v7n47, week of Thursday November 20 » back issues
Cover Story |
Artvoice Goes to Chinaby Jamie MosesOn the day we returned from China there was a front-page story in the New York Times that provided a remarkable finish to our 23,172-mile journey into Asia. The Times article was about Russia and the headline read “With Lenin’s Ideas Dead, Russia Weighs What to do With Body.” Lenin, the leader of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution and the founder of the Soviet Union, lies in a glass box in his Red Square mausoleum adjacent to the Kremlin. He’s been on public display there for the past eighty years, “occasionally sprouting fungi.” Under a lawn behind Lenin’s mausoleum lie the bodies of many other Communist Party luminaries, including Josef Stalin, Brezhnev, Chernenko and Feliks Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Soviet secret police. |
Letters to Artvoice |
The Buffalo News recently published an article offering the readers an in depth look at the front runners in the race for mayor of the City of Buffalo. As a life-long City of Buffalo resident I was anxious to read it. After I read the article I was dismayed to find it did little to show us the political record of either candidate. |
Streetvoice |
Hysteria or Health Issue?by Peter KochIf there’s anything the media loves, it’s a story about the end of the world. The “bird flu” that has killed dozens in Asia is spurring widespread worry about its potential migration across the Atlantic. Memories of the “killer bees” blunder and the North American SARS epidemic, (which killed little more than Toronto’s tourist industry), are grounds to declare the avian influenza nonsense. However, we’re overdue for a pandemic, and a new awareness of the 1918 Spanish Flu virus, which killed between 25-50 million people, raises legitimate concerns that this bird flu could be a disease ready to take off. Should we fall into a pandemic of panic, should the media be inoculating Americans with an unhealthy dosage of fear, or should we just give the over-hyped bird ballyhoo a bogus diagnosis? |
You Auto Know |
"Don't Make Me Stop This Car"by Jim CorbranHow many of you out there ever heard your father or mother utter those words as you made a ruckus in the back seat of the family car? Yeah, so did I. And if you’re near my age, you were probably in the back of a seatbelt-less, relatively large American sedan—probably a Ford, Chevy or Plymouth. That’s just the way it was back then. |
Literary |
Back to Basicsby Mark NorrisPopular consensus would seem to find that books, along with newspapers and magazines for that matter, are a dying medium. True, the Web and ever-evolving computer technology have revolutionized the way people obtain their news, stories and folklore (just as Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press did nearly six centuries ago). Yet, disturbingly, many people seem to feel that as time goes by, and an increasing number of the population does the bulk of its reading on the computer screen, that books will simply stop being published. It may seem far-off or fantastical—and a little “Big Brother”-ish to boot—to think of a world without books, but look how quickly compact discs completely replaced vinyl records a few decades ago. |
Interview |
Bret Easton Ellisby Tom WatersAuthor Bret Easton Ellis is synonymous with postmodern fiction. During his second year of college at Bennington College, Ellis’ Less Than Zero (Simon & Schuster, 1985) was published and he was branded the voice of a generation. At the same time, writer Donna Tartt (The Secret History, The Little Friend) transferred to Bennington, where she become friends with Ellis. Until this interview, much speculation has been made of their relationship, as neither party has ever disclosed their dynamic. Rules Of Attraction (Simon & Schuster, 1987), his sophomore effort about a group of promiscuous and party-inclined college students, was regarded as too autobiographical. American Psycho (Vintage, 1991) was a dark, violent satire about a stockbroker turned serial killer whose graphic, sterile descriptions of slaughtered women and homeless people caused an uproar that is still being felt in popular fiction. After its release by Alfred Knopf, the National Organization for Women rallied to boycott the book bolstered by the protests and writings from feminists Tara Baxter, Tammy Bruce, and eventually, Gloria Steinem. |
Stagefright |
by JavierPlaywright August Wilson (pictured above) died on October 2 at the age of 60. Wilson chronicled the African-American experience in the 20th century in a series of ten plays that covered each decade, earning Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (set in the 1950s) and Two Trains Running (set in the 1960s). His play, Gem of the Ocean (set in the 1900s), opened on Broadway last year, starring Ruben Santiago-Hudson from Lackawanna. The final installment of the cycle, Radio Golf (set in the 1990’s) is scheduled for the 2006-07 Broadway season. To honor his achievements, the Virginia Theater on Broadway will be renamed the August Wilson Theater and the new marquee will be unveiled on October 17. The renaming was announced in September, weeks after the playwright revealed that he had been diagnosed with liver cancer. |
Fine Dining |
Fresh-Faced Sophisticate: La Scalaby Arthur PageYou will know your dining companions are real Western New York restaurant aficionados if they comment that there is something very familiar about La Scala Ristorante, which opened recently on Transit Road in East Amherst. |
Artshorts |
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Squeaky Wheel Hits Young Adulthoodby Cynnie Gaasch |
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Artists for Artby Cynnie Gaasch |
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Rock Me Amadeus |
by Robert FranzThis season the BPO celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart…any excuse for a party! Between drinks at our “Amadeus on the Rocks” concerts I wanted to share with you a bit about his music. Who am I? I’m the new Resident Conductor of the BPO, and I am thrilled to be in Buffalo. |
Film Feature |
A Truly Independent Independentby George SaxThirty-nine years ago, the late, great Pauline Kael observed that James Blue was among a young generation of “gifted, intelligent men outside the industry… who are attempting to make inexpensive feature films as honestly and independently as they can.” |
Movie Reviews |
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Almost Human: Elizabethtownby M. Faust |
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Who Did the Math?: Proofby George Sax |
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See You There |
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Flechetteby Donny Kutzbach |
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Matthew Goodby Ken Ilgunas |
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Doors Open Niagaraby Ashley Davis |
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Toshiko Akiyoshi Trioby Bob Davis |
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Artist of the Week |
Dharma Labby Bill MahoneyWhy you should know who they are: Dharma Lab became something of a sensation in Buffalo’s electronic music scene when the duo formed locally three years ago. Elevating the practice of a traditional DJ to an art form, the duo add invigorating live and improvised sound to the experience. The Oracle (Christian Kuczkowski, pictured left) pounds out energetic tracks as the duo’s turntabilist and the Puppet Master (Chris Battaglia, pictured right) astounds with maniacal skill on keyboard. Sometimes he acts the part of a pseudo-DJ himself, performing familiar piano snippets by artists as diverse as Faith No More and Beethoven. It’s not surprising that Dharma Lab stands as one of the city’s most successful electronic music exports, regularly headlining popular festivals and events throughout Southern Ontario. |
Left of the Dial |
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Blackalicious: The Craftby Joe Sweeney |
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Phil Avalos and the Quiet Lanes: Don't Shake Me Upby Matt Barber |
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Various Artists: The Suicide Girls Black Heart Retrospectiveby Bill Mahoney |
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Schizophrenic Supernova |
by Jennifer BehrensWe should have seen it coming, really. |
Free Will Astrology |
by Rob BrezsnyLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Columnist L.M. Boyd told the story of Mark Gubin, a photographer whose business was located near Milwaukee’s airport. A lover of pranks, Gubin decorated his roof with a giant sign that read “Welcome to Cleveland.” Countless passengers arriving in Milwaukee by plane were amused and confused by the greeting. I suspect that a similar event will occur in your life this week, Libra. As you arrive at your new destination, you’ll get signals that lead you to believe you’re not where you thought you were. Ignore the misdirection. |
News of the Weird |
by Chuck Shepherd■ In September, nine-year veteran weathercaster Scott Stevens of KPVI-TV in Pocatello, Idaho, resigned to pursue his obsession of proving that the massiveness of Hurricane Katrina must have been caused by a Russian-made electromagnetic generator employed by the Japanese Yakuza in retaliation for the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The “patterns and odd geometric shapes” in the sky are “unmistakable” evidence, according to his Web site, that “our weather has been stolen from us.” Station manager Bill Fouch said that Stevens was great at forecasting local conditions and that he was sorry to lose him. |
Artvoice Blog Headlines
Who Goes Where When Hillary Goes to State?posted November 19, 12:04 pm on Artvoice DailyCity Hall News has flow_chart that tracks who might replace who, from Hillary’s Senate seat on down (click to expand or follow the link—it’s an awkward shape): |
It’s Robert Rich Sr. All High Stadiumposted November 14, 5:05 pm on Artvoice DailyThese new signs properly label the structure. We’ve been reading recent stories in the Buffalo News about sportswriter Tom Borrelli’s terrible fall last week at the old All High Stadium. He’s currently battling life-threatening injuries... (more) |
CWM Fined for Violationsposted November 14, 2:41 pm on Artvoice DailyThis week Chemical Waste Management was fined $175,000 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for violating its permits and the state’s hazardous waste laws. I don’t have much to say about that, except it doesn’t seem to me like too much money... (more) |
Musical Chairsposted November 14, 12:51 pm on Artvoice DailyThe AP reports that Hillary Clinton met with Barack Obama in Chicago yesterday, adding fuel to speculation that she might be Obama’s choice for secretary of state. If that happens, it has long been rumored that Brian Higgins would be appointed to her Senate seat... (more) |
Paint the Townposted November 14, 11:06 am on Artvoice DailyLate last night, at the tail end of one of the few weeks in the past year in which we did not publish anything snarky about anybody, someone threw two gallons of paint on our front doors. Seems a waste; we hadn’t even earned it. Nonetheless, we were cleaning up all morning... (more) |
Old Editions Book Shopposted November 13, 1:58 pm on Artvoice DailyAV videographer Matt Quinn tours Old Editions, an often overlooked treasure at the corner of Oak and Huron Streets downtown: show enclosure (video/x-flv; 21.29 MB) |
This Is Not Today’s Newsposted November 12, 9:37 am on Artvoice DailyBut it would be nice if it were. Via the Data Stream, by way of Jon Winet. |
This Just In…posted November 11, 3:28 pm on Artvoice DailyAlways in the vanguard, researchers of the University at Buffalo’s Center of Human Capital have reached a bold conclusion, according to a statement disseminated this afternoon: Although no official determination has been made about whether New York State or the U... (more) |
Silver Lining: Edwards Remains a Good Guyposted November 11, 11:17 am on Artvoice DailyMarshawn Lynch Amid the anguished finger-pointing, plaintive wailing and resigned head-shaking sweeping the region following the Buffalo Bills’ third straight defeat, Season Ticket would like to apportion a minute sliver of credit. Quarterback Trent Edwards, by most quantitative and qualitative standards, failed miserably at New England on Sunday (not coincidentally, this was also his third consecutive regressive outing)... (more) |
Mazzariello’s Ristorante & Martini Barposted November 7, 4:30 pm on Chew on ThisPhoto taken by Rose Mattrey From Antipasti to Primi to Secondi, Mazzariello’s (114 Bloomfield Ave, Lancaster, 206.0561) has conquered the map of Italian cooking. Your palate will be exposed to an array of spices, herbs, and ingredients indigenous to Northern & Southern Italy... (more) |
Post Election Bits & Bytesposted November 7, 12:02 am on Tech VoiceElection ‘08 is now in the history books - so I figured it’s time to take a look backward, and a look forward at some relevant headlines. Hacking Democracy First, we’ll take a look at one of the best kept secrets of the campaign season, from both sides, care of a Newsweek article published just today... (more) |
BNMC Open Meeting Tonightposted November 6, 1:19 pm on Artvoice DailyTonight at 6pm in the auditorium of the downtown library, everyone is invited to attend a public hearing on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus—North End Projects. Among the projects planned are a 300,000 square foot Medical Office Building to be owned and operated by Ciminelli Development Company, Inc... (more) |
That Pigeon Won’t Flyposted November 6, 10:05 am on Artvoice DailySteve Pigeon Here’s another example, this one two years old, of the way Steve Pigeon’s political committees are alleged to steer money to candidates illegally. On September 15, 2006, the Pigeon-controlled PAC Citizens for Fiscal Integrity paid “RUR Strategy Group” $9,000 in consulting fees, according to CFI’s campaign finance disclosure forms... (more) |
SeaBar’s Social Calendarposted November 5, 12:44 pm on Chew on ThisSeaBar will host live jazz and sushi nights starting Friday, November 21st at 8 p.m. (5235 Main Street, Wmsvl, 204.5283). A Cave Springs Riesling Tasting Event will take place at SeaBar’s suburban location on Wednesday, November 9th at 7 p.m... (more) |
Artvoice TV: Latest Additions » more on AVTV
Neslon Starr Band w/Jeff Miersposted November 23, 09:49 am on channel Music
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Bread Gone Wryposted November 23, 08:04 am on channel Music
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Dr. Riyaz Hassanali: The effect Smoking has on your Skinposted November 21, 4:50 pm on channel Local Interest
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Twilightposted November 19, 1:09 pm on channel Movie Trailers
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamasposted November 19, 1:06 pm on channel Movie Trailers
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Avi Takes Artvoice Shopping for the holidays @ Lexington food Co-opposted November 19, 11:52 am on channel Food
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TRAIN DAY! @ the Buffalo Historical Societyposted November 17, 3:07 pm on channel Local Interest
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Mass Appeal: Elmwood Fashion Eventposted November 15, 10:19 pm on channel Events
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Buffalo Contemporay Danceposted November 15, 6:43 pm on channel Events
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Old Editions Book Shopposted November 13, 11:42 am on channel Local Interest
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Off Stage: Conversations with Anthony Chaseposted November 12, 4:50 pm on channel Theater
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Happy Go Luckyposted November 12, 2:08 pm on channel Movie Trailers
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Quantum of Solaceposted November 12, 2:01 pm on channel Movie Trailers
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Flash Party at Essex St.posted November 9, 10:59 am on channel Events
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Lakeview Effect at Nietzsche'sposted November 8, 4:54 pm on channel Music
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