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Think Local This Fast

Christmas is less than a week away

If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping by now, then we have you just where we want you: You have to shop local now. There’s no time to order books or clothes online, no time to brave the parking lots at the Galleria or McKinley malls. Your only option now is to run out to the nearest shopping district—Elmwood, Hertel, Grant, Main Streets in East Aurora or Williamsville or Buffalo’s University Heights neighborhood—and partake of the ample bounty offered by locally and independently owned shops and businesses.

Lots of those shops and businesses are listed in the preceding pages, in our AV Holiday Advertisers Directory. You can also find a good list at www.buffalofirst.org, the Web site for Buffalo First, an organization dedicated to building communities by supporting locally, independently owned businesses.

Over the next 20 pages, you’ll find numerous suggestions—books, CDs, charitable gifts—all of which can be procured locally, have local themes, or benefit local people. You’ve got fewer than seven days. Good luck, and get going.


Give a Buffalo Book

Through the Mayors' Eyes: Buffalo, New York 1832-2005 by Michael F. Rizzo

Books are the ultimate last-minute gift—easy to find and easy to wrap. If you really want to buy local and give local, consider any one of these books by regional authors on regional matters. Most are available at local bookstores and at the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society,

An Explorer’s Guide to Western New York by Christine A. Smyczynski.

The Bills Are Due by Rob Thompson.

The Blue Sky Mausoleum of Frank Lloyd Wright by Richard O. Reisem.

The Buffalo Architectural Watercolors by Dr. V. Roger Lalli.

Buffalo’s Brush with the Arts: From Huck Finn to Murphy Brown by Joe Marren.

Buffalo’s Bicycles: Reflections on Buffalo’s Colossal & Overlooked Bicycle Heritage by Carl F. Burgwardt.

Buffalo Central Terminal: A Photo Album by Ken Kraemer.

Buffalo Gal by Laura Pederson.

Buffalo Memories: Gone But Not Forgotten by George Kunz.

Buffalo-Niagara Connections: A New Regional History of the Niagara Link by John W. Percy.

Buffalo Soul Lifters: A Homespun Collection of Inspirational Stories by Frank Thomas Croisdale.

Buffalo Voices & Visions: A Literary Journey & Paean to a Great Lakes City by G. E. Murray.

Chicken Wing Wisdom by Christina M. Abt.

City on the Edge by Mark Goldman.

Coming of Age in Buffalo: Youth and Rebellion in Postwar Buffalo by William Graebner.

Crystal Beach: The Good Old Days by Erno Rossi.

Erie Canal Legacy: Architectural Treasures of the Empire State by Andy Olenick & Richard Reisem

The Fine Art of Capturing Buffalo by Mark Donnelly.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Larkin Building: Myth & Fact by Jack Quinan.

Garden Walk Buffalo edited by Elizabeth Licata.

The Golden Age of Buffalo Sports, 1945-1950 by Daniel P. Starr.

Harold Arlen by Edward Jablonski.

Joseph Bennett of Evans and the Growing of New York’s Niagara Frontier by Kevin H. Siepel.

John D. Larkin: A Business Pioneer by Daniel I. Larkin.

Johnny Gruesome by Gregory Lamberson.

Maria Love: The Life & Legacy of a Social Pioneer by Karen Berner Little.

Mark Twain at the Buffalo Express by Joseph B. McCullough & Janice MacIntire-Strasburg.

The Mighty Niagara: One River, Two Frontiers by John A. Ackson with John Burtniak & Gregory.

Niagara Falls: An Intimate Portrait by John Grant & Ray Jones.

Nickel City Nights: Erotic Writing in Western New York edited by UB professor Gary Earl Ross. Poetry, prose, and art from 60 contributors.

Peace Bridge: The Dream and Its Evolution by Mike Cloutier.

Peaceprints: Sister Karen’s Paths to Nonviolence edited by Evelyn Brady.

The Polonian Legacy of Western New York edited by Edward Szemraj & Wanda Slawinska.

Postcard Views: A Walk Down Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 1910 by Joseph Bieron.

Power Failure: Politics, Patronage and the Economic Future of Buffalo, New York by Diana Dillaway.

The Rainbow City: Celebrating the Light, Color and Architecture of the Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo 1901 by Kerry S. Grant.

Red Jacket: Iroquois Diplomat & Orator by Christopher Densmore.

Reconsidering Concrete Atlantis: Buffalo Grain Elevators edited by Lynda H. Schneekloth.

Remembering Old Buffalo by Joseph A. Radder.

Sales and Celebrations. Retailing & Regional Identity in Western New York by Sarah Elvins.

Second Looks: A Pictorial History of Buffalo & Erie County by Scott Eberle & Joseph A. Grand.

Stolen Glory: The McKinley Assassination by Jack C. Fisher, M.D.

The What Was Where? Book of Buffalo’s Canals by Steve Corbett.

Through the Mayors’ Eyes: Buffalo, New York 1832-2005 by Michael F. Rizzo.

Too Close to the Falls: A Memoir by Catherine Gildiner.

Village Ghosts of Western New York by Mason Winfield.

Wedding of the Waters: The Erie Canal and the Making of a Great Nation by Peter L. Bernstein.

Western New York 101: The 101 Greatest Moments in Buffalo History by Dan Murphy.

Western New York Wild: Celebrating Our Rich Natural Heritage by David Lawrence Reade.

While Washington Burned: The Battle for Fort Erie by Joseph Whitehome .

White Death: The Blizzard of ’77 by Erno Rossi.


Give Some Buffalo Music

Whose Names Are Unknown: Music From the Great Depression

Western New York produces plenty of great musicians, who in turn produce pelnty of great recordings. You could do worse than to consider some of these CDS, all of which are available to local record stores:

Whose Names Are Unknown: Music From the Great Depression. Featuring local musicians Jerry Raven, Tom Naples, Peggy Milliron, Jim Mumm, Alison Pipitone, Carl Eddy, the Thirds, Dwane Hall, Joe Head, Carl Eddy, Chris Panfil, Mark Winsick, John Brady, Mike Frisch, and Mary Ramsey. There are 23 songs and 22 pages of liner notes providing historical context and information of the origins and uses of the songs by victims of the Great Depression. Produced by Tom Naples and recorded and mixed at Sessions Studio, Buffalo. Liner notes written by Joan Crouse. Available at the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society and at Talking Leaves Books.

And the Grammy goes to… Two BPO recordings received grammy award nominations for the 2009 Grammy Awards: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan, the world premiere recording by composer John Coriglianos featuring soprano Hila Plitmann, was nominated in two categories: Best Classical Vocal Performance and Best Classical Contemporary Composition. The recording took place in March 2007 at Kleinhans Music Hall. Church Windows, Brazilian Impressions, and Rossiniana, the BPO’s recording of music by Ottorino Respighi, received a nomination for Best Engineered Album, Classical, recognizing the work of recording engineer John Newton. The CD was recorded in May 2006.

Back to Back Hall of Fame Polkas

Back to Back Hall of Fame Polkas. This latest CD by Jerry Darlak & the Touch, featuring Walter Ostanek “the Canadian Polka King” and Cleveland’s Bob Kravos, is Grammy-nominated for Best Polka Album. This marks the third Grammy nod in six years for the venerable polka band, which includes local musicians Jerry Darlak, Ken Machelski, Tadj Szymczak, Mike Nowakowski, Ray Barsukiewicz, Rick Pijanowski, and Steve Michaels. Some members of the band will perform during Forgotten Buffalo’s tour of Polish taverns on December 19. Space is very limited and reservations are required, so contact www.ForgottenBuffalo.com, ASAP.

Some others to bear in mind:

A Lance Diamond Christmas. Available at Dash’s Markets. Proceeds benefit the Kids Escaping Drugs Foundation. Visit www.myspace.com/lancediamond.

Here Come the Comets. Here Come the Comets.

Familiar Addiction. Noa Bursie

Handsome Jack. Handsome Jack.

I Was the Scarecrow. Peter Vullo.

The Found. The Found.

Daughters of Creative Sound. Daughters of Creative Sound.

Buffalo Select Chorus: 2007-2008.

Victor’s Morning. McCarthyizm.

Brent Persia. Brent Persia.

The Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame: Volume One. Various artists.

Eclectic. Marge Merrill/WordFaery.

Promise. Loren Keller.

Phase One. Rose Salley.

My 2 Cents In . MC Vendetta.

Bring Home The Headers For The Holidays. The Headers.

Jerry’s Blues. The Bravuras Band.

Get Free. Edreys.

It’s A Chemical Drag, But It’s Not That Bad. Nick Gordon.


Give Some Buffalo Art

College Street Gallery Co-op

AV is sponsoring the Artisans Bazaar at the Neighborhood Collective—30 regional artists and artisans displaying and selling their work though the month of December—but that’s hardly the only opportunity to quickly and easily pick up some local art:

A Holiday Bizarre. Art show and sale at Grant Street Gallery (216 Grant Street). Open daily 10am-6pm through January 17.

Artful Gifts 2008. Annual exhibition of small original art gifts by local artists at Art Dialogue Gallery/WNY Artists Group (1 Linwood Ave, 885-2251). Open Tue-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 11am-3pm through December 30. 

Buffalo Arts Studio’s Annual Artists Exhibit and Sale 2008 at Tri-Main Building (Suite 500, 2495 Main Street, 833-4450), Open Tue-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat 11am-3pm through January 3. 

College Street Gallery Co-op. Holiday Party/Sale on Satarday, December 20, 8-10pm, and Tuesday, December 23, 8-10pm, at College Street Gallery (244 Allen Street, 882-9727). Work by Gene Witkowski, Glenn Murray, Robert Schultz, Michael Mulley, Jeanine Swallow, Jerry Greenberg, Val Dunne, Amanda Giczkowski, Nick DeMarchi, Fran Amaya, Tim Raymond, Sean Madden, Candace Keegan, Neil Mahar, and Evan Everhart. Open Wed-Fri 4-8pm, Sat 2-8pm, Sun 2-5pm through December 31. 

De Fine Presents. Work by CassGlass, Cathy Miller and mini works by Kristin Brandt, installation of fine art glass, sculpture and paintings. Available at Chateau Buffalo (1209 Hertel Avenue, 873-0074). Open Tue-Sat noon-8pm, Sun noon-6pm.

Gifts of Art for the Holidays at Artsphere Studio (466 Amherst Street, 876-7188). Open Thu-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm through January 3.

Local Artisan Bazaar. Featuring 30 local artists and craftspeople with work for show and sale at the Neighborhood Collective (810 Elmwood Avenue, 877-2921). Open Tue-Sat noon-5pm, Fri noon-8pm through December 24.

Snow and Starlight. Holiday Gift Sale at Starlight Studio & Gallery (340 Delaware Avenue) Open Mon-Fri 9am-4pm through January 30.

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