I’m a bit impartial to “A Foul Nazi Pant” and “Fatal Queer Yeast”.

Recently I was at the “Chip Strip” (by the way, a very corny nickname for that area which I intend on never using again) and saw what I believe used to be a bar next to Starbucks had become an Adult Book/Video store which I must admit made me think it was a connection to the Chippewa before my time when smut was word. I thought to myself, “Oh boy, Chippewa isn’t doing so well” but then I let the presence of a decent amount of people around me convince me that things were alright.This article, however, makes one wonder about the future of the street

There were rumors of the downfall of Elmwood earlier with stores closing and ownerships changing but that is no longer a common belief with a new hotel and new apartments being built there-showing that the masses and the big developers belive in the stability of that part of the city. Now as bad as all the bar closings sound on Chippewa, in the long run this could be a good thing. The Calumet was recently sold to someone who is believed to want to make the unused second floor into apartments-creating diversity on Chippewa. Others have complained how Chippewa is so one-faceted with strictly bars and it looks like now, that will have to change.If Chippewa can create a small residental base, and add a market and possible a bit of office space, downtown will be better for it. New bars can go elsewhere-there is plenty of vacant space on Main Street last time I checked.

PS-Here’s hoping that Adult Book/Video store closes ASAP, its something I don’t associate with a nice and stable downtown.

In today’s Buffalo News there is an article on the blogging scene in Buffalo (myself not included)
We have the 63rd biggest blog community according to the article-with Berkely being #1. The blogs mentioned in the article are more than worth your time, especially Buffalo Rising and FixBuffalo (who by the way, refers to this blog in his Feb 6 “State of the Blogosphere”). Looking around, we’re pretty lucky to have a blogging community as good as it is, it almost parallel to the big cities like DC and NYC-at least we can be equal to them in something.

My Darling,
It is month 15 and the air is bitterly cold. The reinforcements have come in but there is no end in sight. The men from Missouri and New York said the deal would be signed but we still are entrenched in battle. I’m not sure how much longer the boys can take this battle, we are growing tired and weary and as usual, supplies are thin. Word on the battlefield is that the agreement is closer to being signed but we can’t be sure. Soon enough my darling, we can go buy big green overalls with lots of pockets and some boots for that big bass fishing trip we planned. Oh the fun we’ll have.
Yours truly,
Dillusional Buffalonian doing a cute impression of a civil war letter (which I apologize fully for)

But seriously, this WBEN article showes you how *ahem* committed Bass Pro is to Buffalo. Anyone who thinks store is going to save us is rediculous. The parts of the project that benefit the city are the multi-modal transportation center, hotel, restaurant, and musem. The wide selection of fishing poles is not.
Obviously this won’t happen but what if we just perserved the Exchange St. facade of the Aud and then extended the Erie Canal Harbor closer to its original location that would give us more possibilites for developement. I’ll shut up now since thats not going to happen.
All in all-I’m for the overall project, I just think its silly that there are so many people who feel elated that Bass Pro is coming here (allegedly). The best part about the store is the selling of the Aud seats which sadly, Giambra said should cost $200 a pop.
It will get done people, just don’t hold your breath. Seriously.

So the bisons have a new website…good times

…why yes it is a slow news day, in fact.

Lots of people hate the newest head of Public Schools, James Williams. But for me, it was love at first sight *no homo*. As a victim of an inner city school before going into the Olmsted program and then fleeing for Montgomery County, Maryland which is known for having one of the top public school systems in America…I can say the the Buffalo PS needs a hell raiser like him who will not give into anyone and is set on establishing order in the city schools. My aunt teaches for a Public School and absolutley loves Mr. Williams since she has seen firsthand the terrible conditions the schools are in. But she is an acception since most teachers hate him greatly over the differences between the teachers union and him.
As much as tax credits go towards bringing in businesses, the quality of public schools has a direct correlation with population and economic success…perhaps that explains the struggles of Buffalo?
Well, Mr. Williams unveiled his new plan of attack for bettering public schools and it all sounds good and doable, yet somethings that previous people in charge would never do.

Oh, and by the way he said that he has..
“an alternative school plan that’s going to shock the world.”

Should be good times. Something BPS hasn’t seen in a while.

Some excerpts…
“The people are so friendly in Buffalo,” Krupp said Monday. “It was very easy for me to fit in. It was a great team and a great organization. It was like a family. The Knoxes were great people. I loved Buffalo.”
“Buffalo is definitely a place where I had great memories,” he said. “I like the people there, and they left a mark.”

I tell ya man, we got a market here for Western Europeans!

So I picked up a copy of UB’s student magazine, “The Generation”. In general, I don’t like the magazine at all and therefore have vowed to only pick it up when there is an interesting cover (i.e. Thomas Vanek) but the latest issue’s coverstory was the student populations effect on the environment so being the Urban Planning fiend I am, I picked up a copy. Inside I found a well written article about the NFTA student pass system and how UB has not signed on. The alleged reason for UB students not having the pass provided to them is the demand is in question. Okay…so seemingly every school that is significantly smaller than UB has the pass but UB won’t have enough demand? Please, if 30% of the students used it (grad students included) then that would be more than the entire student body of Daemen College so end of arguement there. We already pay $30 in tuition for our super duper “UB Stampede” bus service, and extra $25 for a pass that takes us all over the Buffalo-Niagara region would be great for Buffalo. Unlike the other schools around here, UB has a significant amount of people who are completley unfamiliar with Buffalo (and of course only have the preconcieve notion that all of Buffalo is a dump of fat people who just watch Bills games and eat wings during 24/7/365 blizzards). Wouldn’t it be great if these out-of-region students could have a convenient way to witness downtown for themselves?
Granted, the stubborn Long Islanders will never say Downtown Buffalo is great, or that our pizza is eddible, but if they see something to do Downtown, they will do it. Being one of the few locals who dorms, I end up getting random calls from people all the time about “where is this?” “how do I get to that” “what is there?”. Usually they all find it too inconvenient so they just stay back in the isolated society that is UB North Campus. With a NFTA Student Pass, the chances of future UB alum looking back and having positive memories of Buffalo-the city, and not just the not-so-stunning architechture of North Campus with its surrounding trees till kingdom come, increase greatly. And with a student body of 27,000 and increasing-that will only help.

Perhaps Barry Snyder is just dangling a carrot in front of the rabbits we are, but according to the Buffalo News, the Seneca Nation is heavily considering retaining the H-O Oats grain elevator as part of its casino in the Cobblestone district.

That would help maintain the theme of that part of town but it still disturbs the emerging real estate potential behind the arena. Speaking of real estate, the Superman of Buffalo (aka Brian Higgins) is looking to make sure the Seneca Nation doesn’t start buying up a bunch of land that will not be used for a casino which could be a problem

…afterall the “Nation” has sold property worth millions for….$4.00 as it retains its sovergnity from the evil white man.
Anyways, the Casino is moving quickly and will be ready in plenty of time…hopefully this thing becomes an asset to Downtown and not some evil black hole that many are precieving it to be. My opinion? It will be neither great nor horrible for the city. There will always be plenty of people who choose to eat and be entertained at Buffalo establishments. There will be poor, pathetic souls who waste away their life and money at the casino. In the end it will balance out into something we can all tolerate-so let’s cool down with the whole thing. If Buffalo could survive losing half its population and almost all of its young and bright, it can surive some old men from Cheektowaga and Lackawanna praying for “7 7 7″ on a slot machine downtown.

So Harvey Garrett decides to CUT GRASS and now he can face 15 days in jail or a discharge if he “stays out of trouble”. You have got to be kidding me. Its as if the city wants to drive out anyone who is going out of their way to help make this city look better bit by bit.

Thankfully, from what I hear about Mr. Garrett and from what he writes on “BuffaloRising” I don’t think this will drive him out of town, but I won’t be suprised if someday he just loses it-and I wouldn’t blame him. How about we try enforcing housing codes and find slumlords who are ruining the same communities Harvey is trying to save, mkay? Mkay.

Ugh.