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See You There!

Artvoice's weekly round-up of events to watch out for the week, including this week's Editors Pick: the Secrets of Allentown tour on Sunday, September 14th. As always, check our on-line events calendar for a constantly updated and comprehensive listing of what's going on!

Sunday, September 14

AV Editors Pick:

Secrets of Allentown

Have you ever driven or walked through Buffalo’s Allentown district and wondered what some of the century-old homes must look like on the inside? If you have, then you might want to take the opportunity to look inside a select group of houses this Sunday during the Allentown Association’s annual Secrets of Allentown Tour of Historic Homes. New to the self-guided tour through one of the nation’s largest registered historic neighborhoods is the Katherine Pratt Horton house on Delaware Avenue’s Midway block, complete with the antiques that Horton left behind. Participating Allentown restaurants will offer discounts to ticket-holders, and there will be a free wine tasting at the Hamlin House until 4pm. Tickets for the tour can be purchased at Allentown Athletix (583 Delaware Ave.), Quaker Bonnet Eatery 175 Allen St.), Positively Main Street (773 Elmood Ave.), Tops Markets, or www.tickets.com. For more information visit secretsofallentown.org.

justin sondel

11am-4pm. Begins at the Clement Mansion,

786 Delaware Avenue. $12 presale, $15 day of.

Friday, September 12

James “The Amazing” Randi

Ghosts, the Loch Ness Monster, UFO’s. James Randi has made a career of dispelling these legends of the occult. The magician, escape artist, paranormal investigator and author will be speaking this Saturday (Sept. 12) at 7pm, as the first guest in the Center For Inquiry’s 2008 Fall Speaker Series. His early career was as a renowned stage magician and “escapologist” who allegedly beat Houdini’s record with a stunt that had him underwater in a sealed coffin for 104 minutes (Houdini lasted only 93). He was a frequent guest on the Tonight Show during the Johnny Carson era and also toured with Alice Cooper in the early 1970s as the “Dentist/Executioner.” He retired in 1988 at the age of 60 to become a professional debunker, challenging the likes of Uri Geller and Peter Popoff. Geller even brought a multi-million dollar lawsuit against him, which resulted in the plaintiff himself being fined for filing a frivolous lawsuit. There will be a reception preceding the lecture from 5:45-6:45pm (RSVP required).

justin sondel

7pm. Center for Inquiry, 3965 Rensch Rd., Amherst (636-4869 / www.centerforinquiry.net). $10/general; $5/students; free for friends of the Center.

Friday, September 12

Buffalo Boat Bash

Fact: The Edward M. Cotter is the oldest active fireboat in the world. (The folks at the Guinness Book quibble because of a name change, but who’s listening.) Built in 1900, the Cotter has plied the city’s harbor continuously ever since. We’ve less need of a fireboat now than in the days when the waterfront was the centerpiece of the city’s economy, and the Cotter’s main role now is icebreaking. But it is also a historic monument, a conduit to the city’s industrious past. The Friends of the Cotter are throwing a party for the old boat to raise funds for maintenance, and to provide a permanent home for tours and education associated with the Cotter and the waterfront it patrols. The party is at the Bison Rod & Gun Club, and features food, entertainment, and an open bar 6-9pm. Plus you could win a two-hour cruise on the Cotter for 20 people.

geoff kelly

6-10pm. Bison Rod & Gun Club, 511 Ohio Street. $25 presale (Swannie House, emcotter.com, 845-6166); $30 at the door

Saturday, September 13

Jason Ringenberg

Jason Ringenberg practically invented cowpunk in the early ‘80s, as part of Jason & the Nashville Scorchers. Filtering traditionalist country and folk music through a punk spirit, the Scorchers performed at practically every honky tonk and hardcore dive in the nation, attracting a diverse crowd of fans. Signed to EMI in 1982, the band received attention from MTV, opened for Bob Dylan, and earned a devout underground following. Although they split up once or twice, it was nearly two decades before Ringenberg decided to try a second attempt at solo work. Ringenberg alone is able to create as much havoc raise as much hell as his former band, while also creating some touching lovelorn ballads. His first revived solo outing, 2000’s A Pocket Full Of Soul, was both a fan’s and critic’s favorite. More recent endeavors contain engaging attacks on the political climate of the day. Ringenberg performs at Mohawk Place on Saturday (Sept. 13) at 7m. Opening is Matt Smith of the Hammond Shutdown. (Please note this is an early show and will be done by 10pm.)

eric boucher

7pm. Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St.

(855-3931 / www.mohawkplace.com). $10

Saturday, September 13

Niagara Falls Blues Festival

The City of Niagara Falls and the Niagara Waterfront Revitalization Task Force present this year’s Niagara Falls Blues Festival as “A Silver Memorial Tribute to Muddy Waters.” One of the greatest blues musicians of all time, Muddy “Mississippi” Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) passed away in 1983, making this year the 25th (or “silver”) anniversary of his death. It is impossible to overstate Muddy Waters’ influence on the blues—and on the face of American music in general—or on the musicians who revere him. A collection of Buffalo’s best bluespeople are set to perform at this event, including the Downchild Blues Band, Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers, Rockin’ Jake, the Electras, the Filter Kings, Harmonica Dean & Jukebox Scales, the Dave Viterna Group, Junkyard Dogs, and other special guests. The day-long festival will take place on Third St. in Niagara Falls, outdoors between Main St. and Niagara.

—k. o’day

1-11pm. 2008 Niagara Falls Blues Festival (Third St.). Call 510-9997 or visit www.imperialgarage.com for music line up and full schedule of events.

Saturday, September 13

Puerto Rican Day Parade

Summer’s not over yet: There’s one more parade, one more shout-out in the street. The sixth annual Puerto Rican Day Parade takes place on Saturday, celebrating the heritage of the city’s fastest-growing ethnic group. The parade departs City Hall at 1pm and marches north on Niagara Street—dubbed “San Juan Avenue” for the day—then hangs a left on Porter Avenue, and ends in LaSalle Park. In the park there will be activities for children and a free concet in the bandstand featuring Wendell Rivera and his team of Latin jazz all-stars, and William Cepeda’s Puerto Rican Roots and Beyond, among others. There will be floats, beauty queens, dancers, musicians, and food and drink all along the parade route. Visit prparadeofwny.org for more informastion. It’s supposed to be sunny and pushing 90 degrees on Saturday—perfect parade weather.

geoff kelly

Begins 1pm, Niagara Square. Post-parade party at LaSalle Park (foot of Porter Ave.) FREE. Visit www.prparadeofwny.org

Sunday, September 14

(The Final) Spoken Word Sunday

Allen Street Hardware’s weekly literary event is going on hiatus, and presenters Liz Mariani and Mark Goldman will host a special finale this week (Sunday, Sept. 14). The event will bring many Spoken Word regulars, along with special guests, for a grand send-off to what has become a Sunday night staple for many in the literary community. The featured poets/readers are Annette Daniels Taylor, Dwayne Morgan (from Toronto), Liz Mariani, Alex Mead, Gary Earl Ross, Rock Bottom, Amanda Murlain, Lonnie B. Harrell, Ian Belknap, and Lovely. There will also be music by Soundverb—a group that consists of members of the jazz/funk outfit Gruvology and Liz Mariani—with the featured poets performing along with the band. Come for an evening of words and music, art and poetry, food and drinks—and be sure to check out the Hardware’s new room, a recently renovated private bar in the back of the store.

k. o’day

8pm-midnight. Allen Street Hardware Cafe,

245 Allen St. (882-8443 / www.allenstreethardware.com).

Monday, September 15

Visual Studies Speaker Series: Lyle Ashton Harris

The celebrated photographer’s first major museum survey opened at the UB Art Gallery last week. Lyle Ashton Harris Blow Up spans over 20 years of Harris’s career, including new images that reflect his recent experiences in South Africa teaching in a study abroad program (he is a professor at New York University and photojournalist for the New York Times). His work is said to “blow up” cultural preconceptions and mass media constructions through its intimacy and attention to its subject. This collage of work includes early staged/studio photography, found images, photomontage, and incorporated video to create an encompassing retrospective of the artist’s life and work. Harris is well known for self-portraiture, examining his own image as an African American and as a gay male (note: the portrait of Harris pictured here was done by fellow artist Chuck Close). Lyle Ashton Harris Blow Up will be on view at UB Art Gallery through October 18. The artist will give a talk on Tuesday (Sept. 15) evening as part of the UB Department of Visual Studies Speaker Series.

k. o’day

6:30-8:30pm. UB Center for the Arts Screening Room (Room 112). FREE. Call 645-6912 for more info

Thursday, September 18

Jeff Bujak

Jeff Bujak, the one man (with several computers) band, will be performing Thursday (Sept. 18) at Club W on Delaware Ave. Bujak, a Liverpool ,NY native, uses computers, keyboards, effects, samplers, and vocals to create a “progressive piano groove” that will keep you on your feet the whole night. Bujak’s music is inspired by a wide range of musicians, including Peter Gabriel, Album Leaf, Prodigy, and DJ Shadow. This eclectic mix of influences creates his unique sound that has been turning heads in the music industry. His recorded series of live shows, LIVEBUJ, is becoming an internet sensation with thousands of hits/downloads every month from all over the world. (Visit www.livebuj.com). This tour, which hit the east coast last month, will be fodder for LIVEBUJ Series 2, so come prepared to be videotaped. Tickets for the show are only $3, so if you are looking for a cheap way to get out of the house next week, this event is for you.

—justin sondel

10pm. Club W., 119 Delaware Ave.

(840-9552). $3. Ages 21+

Thursday, September 18

Koffin Kats

Straight out of Detroit city, the Koffin Kats claim their musical inflences are both kinds: “country AND western”. However, they are much more than that, having earned an international reputation with their revved up horror/punkabilly. Sounding like a hyrbrid of Elvis Presley, Glenn Danzig, and Dave Vanian (of the Damned), vocalist Vic Victor wails through booze-fueled chuggers that unite the punks, goths, and rockabilly fanatics. Armed with guitar, drums, and stand up bass, the music is catastrophic and will leave the uninitiated listener in a whirlwind because it barely lets up for a second. The Koffin Kats make their yearly stop at Mohawk Place on Thursday (Sept. 18) at 8pm. Opening are local psychobilly punks the Drunkyard Boys and the Lower Town Trio.

eric boucher

8pm. Mohawk Place, 47 E Mohawk St.

(855-3931 / www.mohawkplace.com). $10