"Linwood Home Tour" written by Joe on estrip.org

05/05/14 12:41 - ID#58958

Linwood Home Tour

Yesterday (e:paul), (e:terry) and I went on the Linwood home tour with Paul's mom.

The concept seems kind of ridiculous - people pay $25 to go see a bunch of rich people's homes, and the money makes their already nice neighborhood even nicer. Terry made a point that it wasn't always so nice and that having nice neighborhoods in Buffalo makes it nicer for everyone. I guess the point is moot because I haven't been volunteering or improving Buffalo lately, so what can I say?

The houses themselves almost all beautiful. The only one I thought was pointless was an apartment building at the corner of summer that had nothing to look at inside. We also didn't see the Summer Street cat clinic which was on tour.

This one house had a fireplace in nearly every room. The tile was pretty similar to ours, but just glazed differently. Their heating vents also had the same design. I don't have the book right now so I don't know the house number.

The rest of the house was really modern - the owner is an architect

This house had so much hardwood everywhere. It's crazy to think that Buffalo had so much at one time people could cover everything in it.

Someone was putting on a puppet show? We stopped to eat at the Black Market food truck - I had a tofu Bahn Mi.

A former rooming house that was completely gutted for remodeling. Anything left over from before was in really rough shape. The house was huge, apparently there will be 5 apartments when it's finished.

Sink in a bedroom. Antique champagne or pee bucket underneath?

Saturn Club was cool on the inside. It has a weird medieval theme. I don't understand why you pay a club to drink with other wealthy people.

Permalink: Linwood_Home_Tour.html
Words: 322
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 05/06/14 02:25

Category: house

05/04/14 12:47 - ID#58956

Make sure your wood smells good

(e:Paul) wanted to replace the shelves in the bedroom closet with ones that smelled less. We went to Home Depot and Lenco to check out different wood sizes and prices. But first they had to pas his smell test.

Permalink: Make_sure_your_wood_smells_good.html
Words: 43
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 05/04/14 12:47

Category: shopping

05/02/14 12:29 - ID#58950

Wipe your paws

(e:Paul) found this at target and wanted it - it was so cute - but it was made of shredded PVC and smelled absolutely toxic. We discovered if you strategically cover the bone it works perfectly for pride too.

Who is so bouge they need to buy their kids precut apples, cheese and grapes separately packaged in Disney branded plastic?

Permalink: Wipe_your_paws.html
Words: 63
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 05/02/14 12:44

Category: food

05/02/14 12:27 - ID#58949

Kuni's

(e:terry) finally got sick yesterday :( Poor guy. I thought he dodged it through beer disinfection but I guess it caught up.

(e:Paul) finally felt better, so we went out to Kuni's for dinner. I got the vegetarian combo again, Paul the sashimi, and we split the Japanese slaw and fried tofu. Everything was so good.

Paul's fish was cut into the shape of a rabbit

Permalink: Kuni_s.html
Words: 71
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 05/02/14 12:47

Category: allentown

05/01/14 12:20 - ID#58946

Allentown Association dinner

On Tuesday, I felt better, so I went with (e:Terry) to the Allentown Association dinner at Hamiln House. (e:paul) was still dying :( . I've never been in there before but I couldn't believe how huge and nice it was on the inside - you would never have guessed from the street.

I didn't take many pictures, but the food was really good. The best thing was probably the fried asparagus. There were a raffles, but we didn't win anything, even though Terry has two very long arms. They had a speech and an opening prayer which seemed out of place for a secular group like that.

Most of the people there were very old. If I didn't know what was going on I would have assume it was a dinner for someone who died. Our table had almost everyone that was under 45 there. 6 of us - Henry, Tori, Gaia and Seth sat with Terry and I.

(e:Paul) was probably right when he said it would be good for networking, but I didn't have it in me that night. I did get inspired though, it felt likke everyone I talked to had started their own buisness or group or had some other idea they were kicking around. It makes me think almost anyone can try it - I just need to find a good idea and run with it.

Henry also told us about a new bike ride in Buffalo starting this Friday at 10pm, near Cafe 59. It's supposed to be a rolling bike party like in other cities, where everyone rides together to someone's house or some bars or anything fun. Like Critical Mass but without the angst or message. Link

Permalink: Allentown_Association_dinner.html
Words: 285
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 05/01/14 04:17

Category: architecture

04/28/14 11:11 - ID#58944

Darwin Martin's gargoyle face

(e:Paul) told me he heard at Sameer's party that the gargoyles on the 800 West Ferry condos are really Darwin Martin's face. According to the Buffalo Architecture Index it is true.

Original owner Darwin R(eidpath) Martin was the son of Darwin D. Martin of Larkin Company fame. This apartment house served as an investment -- and as 2-floor penthouse living quarters for Martin and his second wife, Laura Brasnell. As an investment, it was unsuccessful because of the Depression

I guess if you're rich and build something like that you can put your face in whatever concrete you want.

I remember always trying to get into this building in high school with no luck. It seems so crazy nice, and its so out of place. I'll have to befriend someone who lives there one day.

A clearer picture

Permalink: Darwin_Martin_s_gargoyle_face.html
Words: 153
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 04/28/14 11:15

Category: health

04/28/14 11:02 - ID#58943

The plague again

I can't believe (e:Paul) and I are sick I've been sick three times since new years which is more than I have been in forever. I am so done with it.

Anyways Saturday I though I was hungover from Mickey's but I must have been sick because I slept and sweat nearly the whole day. The little I did do was watch TV and movies with Paul and (e:terry). It was kind of relaxing and I didn't want to move, but mentally I still had that itch. It helped a bit when I took a bath with Paul but somehow I murdered my back on the tub faucet.

Sunday I felt slightly better. I got us a Vicks humidifier from Walgreen's which despite the plastic construction didn't smell too cancery and not at all in the steam - BPA free hopefully? Paul has turned the dining room into a rainforest. Later I made him go on a death march with me to the coop since it was so nice and we were out of food. We kept time, contact, and exposure to the bare minimum so hopefully we didn't infect anyone. I got to practice programming the rest of the day and watch more dumb TV.

This house on our walk was still decked out for easter

Today I feel almost 100% but still a bit swollen with a sore throat. I think tomorrow I'll be done with it.

The worst part is that its been nice out, and we missed Matt and Kim, the Mile in Her Shoes run, the Jungle Gym and playing outside. Terry has been lucky and escaped with his superhuman immune system, so at least he has been able to do stuff. Ein bisschen jelly.

Permalink: The_plague_again.html
Words: 297
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 04/28/14 11:05

Category: friends

04/28/14 10:36 - ID#58942

Château Harmon

Friday (e:terry) and I headed over to Mickey's for his housewarming party. His apartment is in the amazing white building with the big porches and columns on Colonial Circle. (e:Paul) was sick although I didn't feel it yet, so we were free to live it up at cat-infested parties for a night.

It was a really nice place, but Terry and I became recluses in the back nook with (e:Robert), Jenn, Callie and her boyfriend. Robert made this dangerous blackberry punch, and cucumber sandwiches.

On the way there and back Terry and I had most of our conversation auf Deutsch. I'm really happy with the progress I'm making in speaking German lately. He made bean dip at home but I fell asleep before it was even ready.

hawt like his bean dip

Permalink: Ch_teau_Harmon.html
Words: 148
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 04/28/14 10:39

Category: buffalo

04/27/14 01:34 - ID#58937

Buffalo's newest tower

Not the Delaware North building. They've been building this at South Park and Michigan for over a month now. Its right next to the NFTA rail depot.

It's not a real building, just a marine grade plywood shell with nothing inside. The lot used to be a tiny grassy corner. It seems weird to be some sort of replica light house, because its definitely inland and nowhere near the actual harbor. I doubt it's anything historic because they're using vinyl siding on it and the old DL&W terminal used to cover this. What could it possibly be?

Permalink: Buffalo_s_newest_tower.html
Words: 104
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 04/27/14 01:34

Category: bikes

04/23/14 12:53 - ID#58931

Skyway/naked bike rides - nsfw

Bike month is almost here.

So the rumors were true, there is going to be a ride on the skyway on May 31st (the day after Buffalo's only critical mass).
It's kind of expensive at $40 a pop for GOBike members but it's a really good fundraising idea. I'm planning on volunteering, if anyone else wants to, it gets you on the ride and a free beer.
You can sign up here.

If only we could get a www.worldnakedbikeride.org in June. It sounds ridiculous but I feel like it'd be so fun. Henry from GoBike said there might be one. Maybe I should start a facebook event for it - if we have enough people you can't be arrested right?