Buffalo... Who Knew?

“Buffalo…..who knew” that there is an exciting, first-of-its kind (green) glass studio planned for Canalside (ie the terminus of the Erie Canal)?  The Buffalo Electric Glass initiative, conceived of by Rob Cassetti, Creative Strategist and former Senior Director of Creative Strategy and Visitor Engagement at the Corning Museum of Glass, will anchor the DL&W Terminal project, led by developer Sam Savarino and Christa Glennie. This truly exciting project hits all the right notes for Buffalo: it adds to a growing list of attractions [...]

“Buffalo….Who Knew”….that local historian, activist and placemaker, Mark Goldman, is such a treasure? (Well, for those of us who have met, or know, Mark—we ALL knew!) Born in New York City, Mark moved to our fare city over 50 years ago to study at UB, and he became immediately enthralled with, and excited about, the Buffalo’s potential. Since that time, Mark has been involved with, and/or driven, many important shapeshifting (arts-based) initiatives to improve Buffalo. And, his impact has been [...]

“Buffalo….who knew” that there is a major art event located 45 minutes away in Medina, NY? The model, to curate, and place, artwork from internationally-recognized artists into a small, picturesque Erie Canal-era town in Western New York, is a bold and exciting one.  And, it’s catching the eye of international art world publications, such as Artforum, The Art Newspaper, Frieze, etc. The Medina Triennial, which initially launched some programming in the fall of 2025, is a “site responsive contemporary art [...]

“Buffalo……who knew” that our city holds one of the most important literary treasures: the University at Buffalo houses the largest, and most comprehensive, James Joyce collection in the world, which comprises manuscripts and other materials related to the renowned Irish author. And, to make the collection more accessible to the public, UB is in the process of establishing the permanent James Joyce Museum, which will be located on UB’s South Campus. The Museum, which received $10MM from New York State and $1MM from the National Endowment for [...]

“Buffalo….who knew?” that Forest Lawn, the cemetery located in the city proper/adjacent to Olmsted’s Delaware Park that dates back to 1849, was part of the 19th-century rural (or garden) cemetery movement.  The movement, which represented a nationwide shift inspired by Romanticism, aimed to move burials out of cramped, unsanitary city centers into beautifully landscaped, park-like settings. It was centered on three primary tenants: picturesque landscapes, art & commemoration, and public recreation. The visionary founders of Forest Lawn took inspiration from other notable garden cemeteries, including Père [...]

Until recently, I had never paid a visit to the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center (The NACC) in Niagara Falls, NY. So when I was invited to tour the facility with its executive director, Jennifer Pauly, I jumped at the opportunity. It just so happened that when I toured the massive building complex, Phase One of The NACC’s Theatre Restoration Project had been completed, including ADA accessibility, and six updated ADA toilet rooms. Both of these major restoration and adaptive [...]