On Thursday I had a great time with the people from work. I just wished I would have thought to find out where (e:ladycroft) was sitting It would have been cool to visit her. The 200's are a great place to see the game from. The Resturant at the 200 level is interesting to, man there where a lot of hot chicks there plus some the waitresses where amazing to. The game went buy quickly viewing it from the resturant and from the seats. It was a great time and the sabres beat Tampa Bay.
Last nights Bandits game was also A lot of fun, even though they lost. It was still a great game. That is except for one the Toronto Fans Having a cow bell, that was fucking anoying. At the beging of the game there was a tribute to John Tavares for the record he set last game that was neat.
I just caught the end of the sabres game on saturday after coming home from my sis's apartment. It was good to see that they won. I helped her download itunes and transfer them to her shuffle. I couldn't figgure out how to get songs from rhapsody on it but maybe her roomate can. The strange thing is that the way there computer is set up the ipod has to be plugged into the back of the computer it is to wide and hits the side of the tower. That was interesting and fun. Now if I ever get one I sord of know how to do it, if I can remember it that is.
The Sabres Play again today I think at 5pm that should be interesting. Tonight the Sopranos start up again and there is some new show on about poligamy called Big Love that might be interesting hopefully the game will be over by then. Hopefully when I reduce the size of the pictures I will update this entry or maybe make a new one.
Metalpeter's Journal
My Podcast Link
03/12/2006 07:42 #28322
Sabres BanditsCategory: sports
03/08/2006 13:38 #28321
Sabres VariousCategory: nhl
I'm going to the Sabres game on Thursday with work a few people from work. It is going to be the first time I think for a hockey game that I've been in the 200's they should be great seats. I havn't been keeping up with the sabres like I should have been lately. I don't come here for a few days and a bunch of things are new. The News has a differant look and there is a web cam or something link that I didn't see. There is New thing called Gather I have no Idea what that does. There are a few new people here. It seems like that Hotel Debate is still going on, I hope that is over I think everyone has said everything they can say about it. The other night I watched this great Show Called Tattoo: Under the skin. They showed jail Tats and gave some of the meanings and showed people in Thailand geting tattoo with spritual power it was verry interesting. It werid how you miss a couple days of posts and chat and you sord of feal like you are missing others lives. I can't read all the posts but I've read some. Hope the Sabres win that would make the day even better but as long as it is a good game it will be fun.
03/06/2006 19:47 #28320
Grant StreetCategory: development
I admit that I was looking for a post that I found [inlink]metalpeter,428[/inlink]. I'm sure those of you who read it may remember it. . It was about how if Elmwood will expand to Grant St and if that is a good thing or a bad thing here is the link to it [inlink]metalpeter,428[/inlink]. I think Paul and either Uncut and or leetee respondend to it. I'm I little bit Tired of the Hotel Debate. The reason that I'm sick of it is it seems to be all about asthetics and looks and not weather or not it is good for elmwood. So I add this thought what if the hotel opened on Grant Street instead? Would anyone stay there? Would that depend on where it was. I remeber growing up when the Black and Gold Signs went up and that was a huge deal that they all matched. In any event this article from the news sounds like it grant might be able to be able to come around and get better.
Former Forever Elmwood chief sets sights on Grant-Ferry
By MICHELLE KEARNS
News Business Reporter
3/6/2006
Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Bob Franke stands on Grant Street where a revitalization effort will be launched to help businesses prosper.
To help solve the puzzle of how to make businesses on Grant Street prosper like they do on Elmwood Avenue and develop a plan for new Grant-Ferry Association, Bob Franke parked his car, studied Guercio's market and watched people dash in and out.
The grocery at 250 Grant with a reputation for obscure variety in herbs, cheeses, pasta, dried beans and produce, manages to draw cooks to the old Italian section of the city even though it now has a bleak, dangerous look with graffitied walls and boarded-up buildings.
Franke, who hopes to start a series of business improvement committees at an upcoming meeting, watched customers climb into their cars and drive away without stopping elsewhere as they do on Elmwood.
"The thing I can't understand is the buildings right across the street from it don't seem to spring to life," said Franke, 50, who quit his job as director of the Elmwood Avenue association in December to work on business-improving community action on Grant Street.
Guercio's faces a record shop and a derelict store with its windows papered in newspaper and a sign promising a new shop opening soon. A hole smashed in the glass revealed a bare room. Franke traces such neighborhood decay to a decline in population after the Italians moved away.
Newcomers from Somalia, Puerto Rico and Vietnam have since moved in, but the numbers are still down. Modern immigrants move out and don't stay as long as others did. "I'd like to see Somalian markets," said Franke. He measured the change by analyzing census data that showed fewer people and fewer homeowners, a sign of socioeconomic decline.
In 1970, the population in the district several blocks west of Elmwood was 23,837 with 4,600 owner-occupied households and 3,000 rentals. In 2000, there were 17,000 people in 2,156 owner-occupied households and 3,925 rentals in the same area. That is a 29 percent population drop and a 53 percent drop in owner-occupied households in 30 years.
"The big goal is to increase the population," Franke said. "You have to start making a more attractive, desireable neighborhood and that starts with the businesses."
To figure out how to make things better for the part of the city that surrounds Franke's own Dorchester Street residence, the former communications manager for Delaware North Companies spent two years with Forever Elmwood and its 600 or so resident and business members.
The Elmwood neighborhood has been thriving lately with million-dollar building projects and increasing residential demand. For the last two months, Franke has been working to apply what he learned to Grant Street. He wants to get businesses and residents to pitch in and develop an identity with a street festival, outdoor concerts and a farmer's market.
Instead of Elmwood's fashion and boutiques, Franke said Grant could become a specialty food district with an international food festival. Already he has offers of help from Guercio's and potential grants and loans from the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC). "This is a project that I've been trying to get somebody to bite for the last two and a half years," said Fred Heinle, CPC assistant vice president.
Louis Guercio, one of the brothers who own the market and restaurant supplier, would like to see Grant Street develop the same kind of walking and shopping traffic that Hertel Avenue has. "I wish they could do that here," he said.
The improvement project will officially begin on March 15 at 7 p.m. when Franke will hold the first organizational meeting of the Grant-Ferry Association at the old library building at 271 Grant. The library's new tenant, the Massachusetts Avenue Project is an agency that helps food entrepreneurs start up and sell their creations, such as quiche and veggie burgers. It is among those interested in collaborating with the new street association.
"I've talked to so many people and now it's time to bring them together," said Franke, who has compiled a contact list of 200 business and property owners. "I just don't want to waste any more time. I'm kind of pushing everybody along now."
As word of Franke's plan gets out, people doing business here say they're willing to consider a new approach.
"Anything that will help the business climate here is a plus," said Jim Lorigo, owner of the Meating Place, sausage maker and meat distributor at 185 Grant. For the last five years that he has been president of the 75-member West Side Business and Taxpayer's Association, he has worked to incorporate charity work, such as food deliveries and winter coat and hat giveaways. Next week, the group, which had about 110 members five years ago, will consider Franke's proposal to affiliate.
"This community is in so much of a need," Lorigo said.
When the owner of Rotundo's dry cleaner at 332 West Ferry St., near the Grant intersection, takes his dog for walks in the neighborhood, he sees houses without footprints in the snow. The population drop and closed shops is a cycle.
"How do you stop it?" said Gary Rotundo. Businesses don't want to open in ailing neighborhoods, and people don't want to move to places that seem decayed and dangerous.
"Elmwood was easy," he said. "Now this one's going to be a real undertaking."
At Russ's Pastry Shoppe at 294 West Ferry, just beyond Grant, the owner has put his three-story building up for sale for $250,000.
When Franke stopped in for coffee and asked the owner's daughter if she could be talked into staying, she shook her head. "Nope. No way," said Rosalie Patronaggio. The bakery's counter stools and window tables were empty. It was Monday, the shop's first day open after closing for the slow months of January and February.
In the third floor kitchen, her father Russell worked spreading carrot cake dough as fig cookies cooled in pans. There was a time during his decades in business when he would sell out of his eclairs and pastry-wrapped baked apples each day.
"Every morning I used to come to work and my shelves were empty," said Patronaggio. "Now I come to work and my shelves are full."
In April he plans to open an outlet store at 1612 Niagara Falls Blvd. in the Town of Tonawanda to lure clients who tell him they won't drive to Grant Street.
Yet Franke is optimistic that dramatic change can come to the street. He wants to start small. To make the point, he stopped at one of the trash bins posted on a pole. The black paint on the metal holder had rust spots. To him, that made it look like nobody cared about the street.
"That's a few bucks and a little bit of paint. That's something we can do right now," said Franke, who expected to talk to business owners about the trash, as he had on Elmwood. "If there's no scold on the street, the culture doesn't change."
Further down the street he tried a gentle "scold" when he stopped by the Rainbow clothing shop at 110 Grant St. Big flakes of red paint hung in peels from the sign. A worker opened the door to explain that someone painted it a couple of years ago and didn't do a good job.
"Maybe you've got to do something again," Franke said before she ended the conversation by closing the door.
e-mail: mkearns@buffnews.com
Former Forever Elmwood chief sets sights on Grant-Ferry
By MICHELLE KEARNS
News Business Reporter
3/6/2006
Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Bob Franke stands on Grant Street where a revitalization effort will be launched to help businesses prosper.
To help solve the puzzle of how to make businesses on Grant Street prosper like they do on Elmwood Avenue and develop a plan for new Grant-Ferry Association, Bob Franke parked his car, studied Guercio's market and watched people dash in and out.
The grocery at 250 Grant with a reputation for obscure variety in herbs, cheeses, pasta, dried beans and produce, manages to draw cooks to the old Italian section of the city even though it now has a bleak, dangerous look with graffitied walls and boarded-up buildings.
Franke, who hopes to start a series of business improvement committees at an upcoming meeting, watched customers climb into their cars and drive away without stopping elsewhere as they do on Elmwood.
"The thing I can't understand is the buildings right across the street from it don't seem to spring to life," said Franke, 50, who quit his job as director of the Elmwood Avenue association in December to work on business-improving community action on Grant Street.
Guercio's faces a record shop and a derelict store with its windows papered in newspaper and a sign promising a new shop opening soon. A hole smashed in the glass revealed a bare room. Franke traces such neighborhood decay to a decline in population after the Italians moved away.
Newcomers from Somalia, Puerto Rico and Vietnam have since moved in, but the numbers are still down. Modern immigrants move out and don't stay as long as others did. "I'd like to see Somalian markets," said Franke. He measured the change by analyzing census data that showed fewer people and fewer homeowners, a sign of socioeconomic decline.
In 1970, the population in the district several blocks west of Elmwood was 23,837 with 4,600 owner-occupied households and 3,000 rentals. In 2000, there were 17,000 people in 2,156 owner-occupied households and 3,925 rentals in the same area. That is a 29 percent population drop and a 53 percent drop in owner-occupied households in 30 years.
"The big goal is to increase the population," Franke said. "You have to start making a more attractive, desireable neighborhood and that starts with the businesses."
To figure out how to make things better for the part of the city that surrounds Franke's own Dorchester Street residence, the former communications manager for Delaware North Companies spent two years with Forever Elmwood and its 600 or so resident and business members.
The Elmwood neighborhood has been thriving lately with million-dollar building projects and increasing residential demand. For the last two months, Franke has been working to apply what he learned to Grant Street. He wants to get businesses and residents to pitch in and develop an identity with a street festival, outdoor concerts and a farmer's market.
Instead of Elmwood's fashion and boutiques, Franke said Grant could become a specialty food district with an international food festival. Already he has offers of help from Guercio's and potential grants and loans from the Community Preservation Corporation (CPC). "This is a project that I've been trying to get somebody to bite for the last two and a half years," said Fred Heinle, CPC assistant vice president.
Louis Guercio, one of the brothers who own the market and restaurant supplier, would like to see Grant Street develop the same kind of walking and shopping traffic that Hertel Avenue has. "I wish they could do that here," he said.
The improvement project will officially begin on March 15 at 7 p.m. when Franke will hold the first organizational meeting of the Grant-Ferry Association at the old library building at 271 Grant. The library's new tenant, the Massachusetts Avenue Project is an agency that helps food entrepreneurs start up and sell their creations, such as quiche and veggie burgers. It is among those interested in collaborating with the new street association.
"I've talked to so many people and now it's time to bring them together," said Franke, who has compiled a contact list of 200 business and property owners. "I just don't want to waste any more time. I'm kind of pushing everybody along now."
As word of Franke's plan gets out, people doing business here say they're willing to consider a new approach.
"Anything that will help the business climate here is a plus," said Jim Lorigo, owner of the Meating Place, sausage maker and meat distributor at 185 Grant. For the last five years that he has been president of the 75-member West Side Business and Taxpayer's Association, he has worked to incorporate charity work, such as food deliveries and winter coat and hat giveaways. Next week, the group, which had about 110 members five years ago, will consider Franke's proposal to affiliate.
"This community is in so much of a need," Lorigo said.
When the owner of Rotundo's dry cleaner at 332 West Ferry St., near the Grant intersection, takes his dog for walks in the neighborhood, he sees houses without footprints in the snow. The population drop and closed shops is a cycle.
"How do you stop it?" said Gary Rotundo. Businesses don't want to open in ailing neighborhoods, and people don't want to move to places that seem decayed and dangerous.
"Elmwood was easy," he said. "Now this one's going to be a real undertaking."
At Russ's Pastry Shoppe at 294 West Ferry, just beyond Grant, the owner has put his three-story building up for sale for $250,000.
When Franke stopped in for coffee and asked the owner's daughter if she could be talked into staying, she shook her head. "Nope. No way," said Rosalie Patronaggio. The bakery's counter stools and window tables were empty. It was Monday, the shop's first day open after closing for the slow months of January and February.
In the third floor kitchen, her father Russell worked spreading carrot cake dough as fig cookies cooled in pans. There was a time during his decades in business when he would sell out of his eclairs and pastry-wrapped baked apples each day.
"Every morning I used to come to work and my shelves were empty," said Patronaggio. "Now I come to work and my shelves are full."
In April he plans to open an outlet store at 1612 Niagara Falls Blvd. in the Town of Tonawanda to lure clients who tell him they won't drive to Grant Street.
Yet Franke is optimistic that dramatic change can come to the street. He wants to start small. To make the point, he stopped at one of the trash bins posted on a pole. The black paint on the metal holder had rust spots. To him, that made it look like nobody cared about the street.
"That's a few bucks and a little bit of paint. That's something we can do right now," said Franke, who expected to talk to business owners about the trash, as he had on Elmwood. "If there's no scold on the street, the culture doesn't change."
Further down the street he tried a gentle "scold" when he stopped by the Rainbow clothing shop at 110 Grant St. Big flakes of red paint hung in peels from the sign. A worker opened the door to explain that someone painted it a couple of years ago and didn't do a good job.
"Maybe you've got to do something again," Franke said before she ended the conversation by closing the door.
e-mail: mkearns@buffnews.com
uncutsaniflush - 03/06/06 22:48
thanks for posting this (e:metalpeter). I was going to but never got around to doing it.
I think that Grant Street needs to be Grant Street with its own identity. Buffalo already has an Elmwood Avenue.
I think that right now Grant could support a motel especially it was where the lumber company is now accross Grant from Buff State.
It couldn't support a boutique hotel or an upscale brand hotel.
Hey, (e:dragonfire1024) How dare you speak for me and my neighbors!!!!! Who died and made you neighborhood spokesperson?
You told me that i have to move to YOUR neighborhood before I could have an opinion.
You made it clear that I don't live in YOUR neighborhood.
When you move to MY neighborhood then you can voice your opinion. It's only fair.
thanks for posting this (e:metalpeter). I was going to but never got around to doing it.
I think that Grant Street needs to be Grant Street with its own identity. Buffalo already has an Elmwood Avenue.
I think that right now Grant could support a motel especially it was where the lumber company is now accross Grant from Buff State.
It couldn't support a boutique hotel or an upscale brand hotel.
Hey, (e:dragonfire1024) How dare you speak for me and my neighbors!!!!! Who died and made you neighborhood spokesperson?
You told me that i have to move to YOUR neighborhood before I could have an opinion.
You made it clear that I don't live in YOUR neighborhood.
When you move to MY neighborhood then you can voice your opinion. It's only fair.
dcoffee - 03/06/06 22:40
Wow thanks Peter, I hadn't heard about this. I don't live too close to Grant and Ferry but it's a great community. I discovered it on foot, walking south from Lafayette, what a neat area. it looks run down but it has so much vitality. It's a really active commercial area. I'd love to help them sweep garbage off the streets and encourage businesses to move in there. I like the west side, I think it's a few steps away from a real progress. I'd like to buy a house on the west side some day. Thanks for the Info.
Wow thanks Peter, I hadn't heard about this. I don't live too close to Grant and Ferry but it's a great community. I discovered it on foot, walking south from Lafayette, what a neat area. it looks run down but it has so much vitality. It's a really active commercial area. I'd love to help them sweep garbage off the streets and encourage businesses to move in there. I like the west side, I think it's a few steps away from a real progress. I'd like to buy a house on the west side some day. Thanks for the Info.
dragonfire1024 - 03/06/06 21:21
No one would stay in the hotel on grant no, but you know what, its not about the looks. I am not going to use the hotel and neither will anyone in the area. It does not benefit the neighborhood, since no one will use it personally. I will not shop there, eat thewre or stay there. As far as I am concerned, if I or anyone else will not use it, then its NOT beneficial to the community.
No one would stay in the hotel on grant no, but you know what, its not about the looks. I am not going to use the hotel and neither will anyone in the area. It does not benefit the neighborhood, since no one will use it personally. I will not shop there, eat thewre or stay there. As far as I am concerned, if I or anyone else will not use it, then its NOT beneficial to the community.
theecarey - 03/06/06 19:58
check journal #428
weird.. I recall looking for this entry not all that long ago.. I didnt remember that it was #428.. but I recalled that it was in the fall.. shortly after I joined the strip. Odd how such random things can be remembered.
Hope that helps..
check journal #428
weird.. I recall looking for this entry not all that long ago.. I didnt remember that it was #428.. but I recalled that it was in the fall.. shortly after I joined the strip. Odd how such random things can be remembered.
Hope that helps..
03/05/2006 15:33 #28319
BUFFALO banditsCategory: photos
Yesterday I went to the Bandits game. The Bandits lost the game started out verry good. John Tavares did get one Point so he broke the record, wich is cool, to bad The Bandits didn't win. At the game I found out the Guys who sit next to me where the weekend Warriors in the print ad in the papper. How did I miss that ad, I would have loved to see it. On the way to the game I took a few pictures of downtown and a few Bandits pictures as well. I only put up a few Bandits pictures including a kinda fuzzy one of the celerbration at midfield. Hope people at least like the Buffalo Pictures.
mrdt - 03/05/06 15:45
we really have some wonderful architecture and masonry work in this city. it would be nice to see a few more well appointed buildings like in TO, NYC & Boston going up. I didn't even know the bandits still played, i think they need some pr & marketing work because i used to go to many games.
we really have some wonderful architecture and masonry work in this city. it would be nice to see a few more well appointed buildings like in TO, NYC & Boston going up. I didn't even know the bandits still played, i think they need some pr & marketing work because i used to go to many games.
metalpeter - 03/05/06 15:36
ok I messed up and put the same pic up twice oops and the first two are of some families friends cats still hope you enjoy them.
ok I messed up and put the same pic up twice oops and the first two are of some families friends cats still hope you enjoy them.
03/04/2006 15:05 #28318
Hotel, Hoddies and Best Blog updatedCategory: artvoice
Before I forget I picked up this weeks Artvoice on the way home from the bank, man there are some cuties working there. They Have a verry intrersting article about 
the Elmwood Village Hotel. It covers a bunch of differant points of view. There is one part that seems like an attack on the Buffalo News. I wish those two would just give there thoughts with out attacking each other, other then that it is a good article. There is another interesting article about the banning of Hoddies at the Regal movie Theatre. I had never heard of this but I do go during the day and havn't been in some time. There is a third piece I havn't read yet about improvment ideas for the HSBC Arena. I'm going to the Bandits game tonight so hopefully I will read it then when at the game look at some of those improment ideas and see what I think. One thing they suggested was doing something with the adelphia Internet kisok area that hasn't been used in a long time. I know somepeople don't agree with a lot of what artvoice says and thinks it is a shitty paper but I think this week they may like it. Oh by the way "Buffalo What"
"B'andits" "Lets go Bandits, Lets go Bandits" " B O X B O X, To The Box To Box To the Box Box Box" . Sorry I had to add that, if Tavares gets one more point he sets the record for most points ever in the league.
The main reason to get this weeks artvoice if you are someone who likes to have there opions heard this is a good week. They have another buffalo's best Ballot. There are at least two Catogories that everyone here might be interested in Best Blog and best website. .
I started reading the Arena article then remembered the other thing in artvoice that is in italics. Hopefully that link leads to the hsbc arena part. Yeah it does lead to the article that I found interesting agreed with some of it and not all of it. But that reminds me I saw some of the Pat Lafonte Jersy being raised in the HSBC Arena on TV last night that was preaty cool. But couldn't stay up for the game.I'm supposed to be going to one more game next week with work. That should be a lot of fun.
the Elmwood Village Hotel. It covers a bunch of differant points of view. There is one part that seems like an attack on the Buffalo News. I wish those two would just give there thoughts with out attacking each other, other then that it is a good article. There is another interesting article about the banning of Hoddies at the Regal movie Theatre. I had never heard of this but I do go during the day and havn't been in some time. There is a third piece I havn't read yet about improvment ideas for the HSBC Arena. I'm going to the Bandits game tonight so hopefully I will read it then when at the game look at some of those improment ideas and see what I think. One thing they suggested was doing something with the adelphia Internet kisok area that hasn't been used in a long time. I know somepeople don't agree with a lot of what artvoice says and thinks it is a shitty paper but I think this week they may like it. Oh by the way "Buffalo What" "B'andits" "Lets go Bandits, Lets go Bandits" " B O X B O X, To The Box To Box To the Box Box Box" . Sorry I had to add that, if Tavares gets one more point he sets the record for most points ever in the league.
The main reason to get this weeks artvoice if you are someone who likes to have there opions heard this is a good week. They have another buffalo's best Ballot. There are at least two Catogories that everyone here might be interested in Best Blog and best website. .
I started reading the Arena article then remembered the other thing in artvoice that is in italics. Hopefully that link leads to the hsbc arena part. Yeah it does lead to the article that I found interesting agreed with some of it and not all of it. But that reminds me I saw some of the Pat Lafonte Jersy being raised in the HSBC Arena on TV last night that was preaty cool. But couldn't stay up for the game.I'm supposed to be going to one more game next week with work. That should be a lot of fun.
(e:nejifer) and i will be at the game too. we have to take 20 of our hilbert kids.