Cover Story |
Blockheadsby Peter KochThe city continues to abuse its community development block grant—HUD is fed up. |
The Niagara Files |
The Road Not Takenby Geoff Kelly & Louis RicciutiAnother road re-paving project in Niagara Falls, another brush with the region’s radioactive legacy |
Getting a Grip |
Food Fightby Michael I. NimanFrom Haiti to Laos, people are starving—but they won't do it quietly I remember when President Bill Clinton ended “welfare as we know it.” His edict limited an American’s time on public assistance to five years. After that, well, you’re on your own. |
Politics |
Hillary, Obama, and Bubbaby Bruce FisherOn the campaign trail: Old networks vs. new in the democratic primary |
Artvoice Video Feature |
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Mos Def on Barack and Hillary |
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Ralph Nader: The Party Crasher is Back |
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News |
News of the Weirdby Chuck ShepherdAlmost-anything-goes “ultimate fighting,” also known as “human cockfighting,” is a major “sport,” mostly in Southern and Western states, but only in Missouri are kids as young as six permitted on the mats, according to a March Associated Press dispatch from Carthage, Mo. Members of the Garage Boys Fight Crew, ages up to 14, including one girl, regularly square off with only a few concessions in rules and protective gear from their adult counterparts. |
Vine By Line |
California Nomads: A new definition of homegrownby Paula ParadiseMondovino delivers an ominous message with cynical humor: The globalization of wine, which causes a looming threat to the small, family-operated winery, also signals an end to the stylistic diversity and cultural uniqueness that so intrigues wine lovers. |
Dining |
Food News You Can Useby AV EditorialScott and Jaclyn Wisz are off to a sweet start with their European-style confectionery and café, Chow Chocolat (731 Main Street). The brand new establishment, opened just last week, offers a great assortment of international flavors—authentic French croissants and pain au chocolat, homemade artisan chocolates, sipping chocolate, single-origin coffees, and exotic teas—that are otherwise rarely encountered in the Queen City. |
Art |
Up The Attic Stairsby Eric Jackson-ForsbergInto the Haunted Imagination of Jonathan RogersIn 2003, I had the privilege of organizing Jonathan Rogers’ first solo exhibition, Multiple Spirit, as curator for the Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University. One of the most powerful paintings from this show of hard-hitting allegorical tableau was Little Dancer (now part of the Castellani’s permanent collection), a scene of momentary joy in the midst of a sinister, shadowy prison. |
Film |
Reality Movies: Toronto's Hot DocsI’ve just come back from the Canadian International Documentary Festival—Hot Docs for short—which as always presented a mind-expanding selection of real-life films from around the world. |
Film Reviews |
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Redbeltby George Sax |
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Speed Racerby M. Faust |
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What Happens in Vegasby M. Faust |
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The Life Before Her Eyesby M. Faust |
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Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?by M. Faust |
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Listings |
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On The Boards |
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Movie Times (May 9 - May 15) |
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Film Now Playing |
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Calendar Spotlight |
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The Meatmen (May 9) |
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Family FUNKtion and the Sitar Jams (May 10) |
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Joanna Connor Blues Band (May 10) |
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Comedian Sabrina Matthews (May 10) |
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Looking Ahead... |
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See You There |
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AV Pick: The Juche Idea (May 15) |
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Infringement Festival Fundraiser Phase 2 (May 9) |
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Mamapalooza (May 9) |
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Wonderland (May 15-May 17) |
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Theaterweek |
The Year of the Womenby Anthony ChaseThis week, you could see Moira Keenan give a wonderfully compelling performance as a successful author who goes undercover as a waitress and cleaning lady to expose the realities of the working poor in Nickel & Dimed. You could see Marie Costa, a welcome addition to the ranks of Buffalo’s leading ladies, as Serafina, the proud Sicilian widow who must come to terms with her beloved husband’s death and his infidelity in Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo. |
Theater |
Stagefrightby JavierThe fabulous Cynthia Nixon returns to the big screen this summer, starring in the movie Sex and the City which opens on May 30. Nixon, who turned 42 last month, will be reunited with all her co-stars from the popular HBO series. Nixon will be back on the New York stage in February 2009 starring in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Lisa Loomer’s Distracted, a funny look at attention deficit disorder. |
In The Margins |
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Book Review: Inventing Niagaraby Geoff Kelly |
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Flash Fictionby Lisa Forrest |
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Literary Buffalo Listingsby Just Buffalo |
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You Auto Know |
A Car That Runs on Compressed Airby Jim CorbranI’ve got to admit that when I first came across this story in Britain’s Car Magazine I immediately dismissed it. After all, it was in the April issue, and I figured it was just another April Fool’s joke. |
Gaywatch |
News & Eventsby Bryan Whitley-GrassiCan You Hear Us Now? Verizon says no to trans-inclusive policy. |
Horoscopes |
Free Will Astrologyby Rob BrezsnyTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Alison Covarrubias is a mentor for female entrepreneurs. Her Ladies Who Launch program inspires women to be brave and brazen as they develop their own businesses. One of Covarrubias’s prime pieces of advice: “If you don’t feel like you’re going to throw up, you’re not taking enough risks.” That’s also my message for you, Taurus. In the name of smart gambles and tricky success, I dare you to push yourself way out of the comfort zone. |
Letters to Artvoice |
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Subjugationby Terence S. Underwood |
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The US Farm Bill and the Global Food Crisisby Joe Bialek |
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Advice |
Ask AnyoneI work for the city and recently was suspended without pay for 15 days because I was busted using city equipment (okay, and a couple of my employees) to do some work in my yard. I know that’s wrong, etc., but how different is what I did from the white-collar political hacks who take home their city-issued laptops in their city-issued cars? Or who sit at their desks checking auctions on eBay all day long? |