Artvoice: Buffalo's #1 Newsweekly
Home Blogs Web Features Calendar Listings Artvoice TV Real Estate Classifieds Contact
Previous story: Matthew Good
Next story: NET<3: Sociable Technologies

Boom Days Celebration

(photo: Dr. Mark Donnelly)

This year the lake didn’t freeze over, and the Power Authority’s Lake Erie/Niagara River ice boom swung limply in the current. Even so, its removal this weekend will signify the beginning of spring here. Warm weather, daffodils, groundhogs and equinoxes be damned, it’s not spring until the ice boom is gone. Accordingly, Western New York will celebrate the event—and our rich waterfront—with the fourth annual Boom Days weekend. Events planned for Friday include cannon salvos at Fort Niagara and historic Fort Erie, a ceremonial ice boom ball drop by the fireboat E.M. Cotter, live music from Rocket 88, food and drinks and a fireworks display. Winners of the Just Buffalo Boom Days poetry contest will read their poems (see “In the Margins,” page 12). Additionally, the Buffalo Waterfront Alliance is sponsoring an Open Waterfront Forum. Presenters will range from recreational boating companies to waterfront interest and volunteer groups. A similar celebration will take place Saturday at the LaSalle Yacht Club in Niagara Falls, with Evergreen, Jim Marohn and Fort Niagara Re-enactors will providing entertainment.

Friday, April 7 from 4pm–midnight. Chief Petty Officers Club, 5 Porter Ave., Buffalo (883-7436) Free.

Saturday, April 8 from 6–10pm. LaSalle Yacht Club, 73 South 68th St., Niagara Falls (283-7394) $5 suggested donation.