FOURTH ANNUAL BUFFALO’S BEST PIEROGI CONTEST: My Judging Experience

On July 18, I received an email asking me to be a judge in the Corpus Christi 4th Annual Pierogi Contest.  You would have thought that I was given a million dollars with how excited I got.  Not only would it be an extraordinary experience, but I'd also get to eat pierogis! I immediately added the event to my Google calendar, but I knew that the date would be permanently engraved in my noggin!

Waiting for today was like being 5 years old again waiting for Christmas day to arrive... but, it came.  I made sure that I ate very lightly and left early enough to get there with out any conflicts.  Oh, and by the way, I had my wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday.  The doctor wanted to schedule it for yesterday, but I refused, as I had a big event that I could not miss.   

Upon entering the Dozynki Festival, the happiness was contagious!  People were laughing, eating, drinking, and dancing!  I was very familiar with Polish music, as I grew up around it. I registered, participated in the Chinese Auction, and sat down anxiously waiting for the contest to commence.  There were about 12 judges, including myself, all of which are Buffalo-centric and active in in the community in some way.  I believe that they were all just as excited as I was.  I got the wonderful pleasure of sitting across from Ben Siegel.  Ben is an editor and designer for the Block Club magazine and he also works to help small businesses with design, marketing, web, and social media needs.

The first pierogi came out. Its filling was almost like the filling of a pastelitos.  It was delicious, but I was so nervous to score it because I didn't have anything to compare it to yet.  The scoring was broken down into three categories: presentation, dough, and taste.  I ate the second, all the way to the eighth.  I sampled everything from cheese to blue-berry, to steak and potato.  But, to my surprise, my favorite one of all was a sauerkraut one.  I typically hate kraut, but this one was seasoned to perfection and had some sort of finely chopped meat tossed in the mix. It had caramelized onions resting on top of it and it was served with a dollop of sour cream with fresh parsley strewn through it.  I, so badly, want to find out who made this one so that I can order a dozen of them.  When I discovered that I was on my last pierogi, I was disappointed but at the same time I was relieved because I was stuffed!  

I sat down at a table, gearing up to hear the results of the contest when the sweetest, elderly man asked me, "Hunny, did your grandparents belong to this church?" After answering that they did not, he spoke so elegantly about the neighborhood and how he grew up two streets over and that he is the youngest of 6 children to be born and raised in the neighborhood.  But, when he mentioned the area's present day status, his words turned solemn and his articulation began to fade in and out.  His wife finished her Polish Platter and chimed into the conversation  by stressing her personal concern for the Aldi's that is set to open across from the Broadway Market.  This lovely couple is definitive of the area's past and I feel that they are desperate for their heritage to progress.

After hearing the winners and seeing how they and the non-winners (I do not feel that the word loser was appropriate here, because they were all winners to some extent) were all excited for one another, I decided to take a leisurely stroll throughout the church's property.  I scoped out the exhibits, the flea market, bought some dessert to-go,  and of course went into the church itself.  I sat down in a pew and just examined the beauty of the church.  It is currently going through restoration which meant that there was scaffolding all over, but that did not hinder its beauty... rather it made it more attractive knowing that people cared enough to maintain it.  

"A great city is that which has the greatest men and women." ~Walt Whitman

When I left, I did the typical thing that most visitors of the area do... I went to Central Terminal, parked, and stared aimlessly.  I used that as an opportunity to reflect on my magnificent day.  I was a participant in the celebration of one Buffalo's finest heritages, I got to eat pierogi, talk to wonderful people, listen to some Polish music, and network with some of Buffalo's finest!  I then thought about how this church and neighborhood was so lucky to have people like Christopher Byrd and the other members of Broadway-Fillmore-Alive.  Those people have clear passion and love for a community and are working ambitiously to preserve the past and maintain its future! 

 

 

 
 
 
 

BUFFALO: Bottom-Up or Master Plan? A blog inspired from my trip to New York City

As the girl who is content staying in her beloved Buffalo, I had to leave it for a week. The tension escalated as the days neared. I am not fearful, in any way, of experiencing what the World has to offer; however, I have never been happier living my life in the Queen City. I was asked to travel to the Big Apple where I'd attend professional development seminars at Columbia University.  Our hotel was the Hampton Inn at Times Square and all expenses were paid! This was an opportunity of a lifetime, yet it was difficult to leave Buffalo. I decided to optimize every second after being released from the University to discover what NYC was doing that Buffalo is not yet doing, but could be.  I posted my mission on my FB wall before departing and was told that Buffalo could never be NYC... OBVIOUSLY, nor was I trying to say that it could! I was simply on the hunt for different, smaller elements that Buffalo could mimic and implement that they have not.  

I am not the "commercialized" type of "tourist," as I like to explore crevices of cities that are more natural and relevant to history.  I did the first thing that all people do, that being a Google Search and NOT to my surprise, I saw the typical attractions pop up... I assume that with all of the ridiculous money that some of those phony places rake-in that they would have phenomenal Site-Engine-Optimization (SEO) and would pop up first.  I, however, wanted the 'beneath the surface' type of places to visit. So, I called a member of BuffaloEXPAT and Preservation Ready Sites. He currently resides in NYC, but has a major influence on Buffalo. I asked him for advice and he was able to respond! Thank you Frits!

First up on the list was the High Line ( http://www.thehighline.org/ ). The High Line was originally a meat-packing transit line that ran 13 miles from 34th street to St. John's Park Terminal that delivered meat and mail. It has been "abandoned" and nonoperational for way too long, 1980. It was discussed to tear it down until Robert Hammond stepped in. I'd like to name him the 'ReUSE Superman'.  He saw it as a 'Park in the Sky,' as a place that was not yet extinct! The High Line had life left to live, just in different ways! What some saw as a perished eye-sore was reincarnated into a new life. A life in which people could enjoy for a walk that was not directly on the busy city streets.   So many of the original elements were maintained. For example, the plant life.  The decisions for the plants were inspired by "self-seeded landscape that grew on the out-of-use elevated rail tracks during the 25 years after the trains stopped running.  The species of perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees were chosen for their hardiness, sustainability, and textural  and colorful variation, with a focus on native species."  Other elements that were maintained were the tracks themselves.  Things such as boardwalks, sitting areas, and food stands have been added to the equation. I am currently on a mission to track this 'SuperMan' down.  I'd love to have him as a guest in Buffalo. I'd take him into one of our grain elevators and literally ask him, "What visions do you have for our industrial history?"  If he doesn't have a straight answer, then hopefully he could provide some insight for Buffalo holistically. There are so many essential areas of Buffalo that should not be decaying away.  The High Line is one example of history that was brought back to live a new glorious era! (continued below) 

“He [Robert Caro] said Robert Moses would have hated this project because it’s bottom-up. It started with a small group of people rather than a master plan.” ~Robert Hammond

      

          


              

Next, I visited NYC's Pier 17! Wow!  I have so many adjectives to describe what I felt while there.  Pier 17 is essentially what Buffalo's Waterfront thrives to become, but is no where near that status.  Upon arriving, there were the classic cobble-stone streets and replicated canal-side / pier style historic buildings.  It was flourished with locals and tourists, which is the most ideal situation!  I had dinner at a brewery that is practically synonymous to Buffalo's Pearl Street.  The food, the beer sampling, and the atmosphere was basically congruent to it.  I felt like it was a home away from home.  I couldn't help it, I had to 'take in' all of the beauty of the vicinity.  Pier 17 has stores, markets, restaurants, kiosks, boat rides, music, dancing, events, etc.  Buffalo's waterfront has some of that, but not all of it.  The entire area where Buffalo's  Aud once lived a grand life should duplicate Pier 17.  Shopping centers housing both local and non-local businesses would attract the Canadians, tourists from the States, and locals.  Local vendors could utilize kiosks, artists could paint scenery and portraits on the spot, and at night time, we could light up the board-walk by Buffalo Harbor Kayak and have Hispanic dancing, etc.  The old NFTA subway storage unit could be developed into markets and restaurants, as already proposed.  Then eventually as this new wave continues to sprawl, developers may come in and decide to "flip" one of Dart's coined grain elevator into a hotel, gym, or condo... OR a combination of all three.   As for the Skyway ramps being in the way, ha! There was an on-ramp 10 yards from where I sat eating dinner in NYC and I hardly noticed it because there were so many other things to view around it. Underneath them housed kiosks, etc. They didn't allow something such as an on-ramp to stand in their way to develop, nor did they consider demolishing the bridge.  Buffalo's waterfront -Inner, Outer, and everything in between- has the potential to obtain the same status as Pier 17!  (continued below)

 

 

     

I, of course, visited many other areas of the city, but it all made me realize that NYC is a nice place to visit and then go home to Buffalo.  The smells and dirtiness, the quantity of people, and subway travel were all more than I can handle.  You may call me a hypocrite because I am trying to make Buffalo a larger city, but let me clarify, NOT THAT BIG! New York City could be classified as its own state and may even be more populous than some small countries.  I definitely want Buffalo to have a better rep.  It has more history than just wide-right, no goal, and cold climate.  We were once the 8th largest city in the country with more paved-miles of asphalt road than anywhere else in the world.  We hosted the PanAmerican Exposition, capped off the Erie Canal as it Western-terminus, had presidential residents and mayors, were the home to philanthropy, three architectural wonders are located here, and we boast Olmstead Parks.  We never should of had a decline... but now it takes the young to revamp our city and if it takes visiting other cities to get ideas, then so be it!

 

 

Blue Monk - Belgian Inspired Tap-Room and Restaurant

Blue Monk

http://bluemonkbflo.com/

727 Elmwood Ave

Buffalo, New York 14222

(716) 882-6665

Hours of Operation:

11:30-2:30     Mon.-Wed.

11:30-3:30     Thurs.-Sat.

11:30-12:00  Sunday

A Belgian inspired establishment with a Belgian menu and 32 Belgian, European, and American craft tap beers as well as a tremendous list of bottled beers!

After enjoying the evening at the Bisons game, where I received my free 'The Aud' replica, my friend, Jessyca, and I decided to use one of her 'Buffalo Dining Out' cards.  The options included places like Sample, Coles, The Wine Thief, Scarlet, Blue Monk, and Bullfeathers.  The hard decision ended up being Blue Monk.  When arriving, there was a wait to sit outside, so we sat inside.  The waitress was very accommodating by allowing us to sit a table near an air vent, as it was very hot in there.  The choices of beers were extensive, but after examining the list, I asked for Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier which is easily translated as hefeweizen.  Unfortunately, they were out of it, so I was given two samples of beers that were practically synonymous of the hef.  I was content.  

We started by getting 'Frito Misto' off of the appetizer list. The menu describes it as "arborio crusted calamari, shrimp, onions, olives and lemon with mustard seed vinaigrette."  Let's just say that it was delectable!  There was an abundance of perfectly breaded shrimp.  The calamari was tossed in with the onion, which I thought was a great twist.  The only element that I didn't care for were the olives, but that is attributed to the fact that I don't like olives! Overall, it was a great dish!

For our meals, we both shared some sandwiches.  Jessyca got the 'Duck Confit Rueben' which is slow cooked duck, red kraut, Gruyère and dijonaisse on grilled marbled rye.  I am very intrigued by the flavor of duck, which was hard to identify in this sandwich because rye, kraut, and dijonaisse has such strong flavors.  Regardless, I knew what we ordered and, as being some-what Irish, I love Ruebens.  The texture, however, was different than corned-beef, was much more healthy, and yummy!  The sandwich was very pleasing.  

I love grilled cheese, and I also love gourmet cheeses, so I, obviously, got the 'Grilled Cheese' which was two pieces of large flavorful bread stuffed with Beemster aged Gouda, Gruyère and smokey bleu cheese.  It was served with chips, in which my friend described as "eating salty air." You can't really go wrong with grilled cheese, but the abundance of melted cheese was fulfilling and satisfying!

I can't wait to stop in again to try some of the other items on the menu, i.e. 'Artisinal Cheese Plate' (selection of domestic and foreign cheeses, breads, nuts and preserves), the 'Breads & Spreads' (three daily spreads with an assortment of artisinal bread) and the 'Ommegang Rare Vos Braised Short Rib Sandwich' (torpedo roll, fresh horseradish, New York white cheddar and Ommengang Abbey Ale caramelized onions).  

The service was great, the food was delivered promptly, and the prices ranged from fair to high.  I just hope that next time it is a little cooler in there!

I give it 5 out of 5 Buffalos! 

Union Ship Canal

This post expresses revitalization but at the same maintains historic significance in regards to the Union Ship Canal, which is a part of the Historic yet Innovative Inner - Outer Harbor Unification !

I decided to take a ride down to Fuhrmann Blvd today to see, first hand, what was going on with the Union Ship Canal, aka Union Ship Commons.  The Union Ship Canal went from being an asset for the the city in regards to shipping --> to being nothing but a somber and ghostly piece of land / waterway that people would dump their trash at --> to a place where you can ride your bikes, fish, enjoy the sun, and take walks.  I drove up Ridge Rd and made a right onto Fuhrmann.  I had to park my car by the old Bethelehem Steel buidling because there wasn't a place to park, unless I went down by Gallagher Beach.  To do that, I would of had to of taken Rout 5 and gotten off at the first exit. 

While on my adventure, I listened to the roaring of the cars above me from Route 5.  Upon onsite, there were flower beds, street lamps, and walk-ways. The area, yet not complete, is tranquil, serene, and historic. I ran into a biker that lives in Pendleton, but drives to Buffalo every weekend and brings his bike to explore the deeper crevices of the city. I also talked with a fisherman that caught the most beautiful bass.  He plans on taking it to the waters of Botanical Gardens.  

The opportunities of the area are limitless! I could see the perimeter of the slip being optimized by local businesses, restaurants, and water activities.  I believe that the progress that has been made, thus far, is fundamental to businesses visioning a future in the property!  It is the final point of the city, and in due time, I am confident that it will leave a positive impression in people's minds as they exit Buffalo... not that I want them to leave =) People need to conceptualize that we have one lake, one waterfront, one city.  The area has not been attractive or even able to be effectively utilized, which led to people forgetting about it... until now.  This area is a historic element to our city and I am appreciative that some history remains visible in the revitalization of it!

 

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir

Cecelia's Ristorante & Martini Bar: Lunch Review

As Grad-School is winding down for the summer, some of my colleagues and me decided to grab some lunch as a last hurrah.  We chose Sole, but they didn’t open until 3 and Acropolis had a water-main break, so we ended up going to Cecelia’s.  I had never been there and, to be honest, only thought that they were a martini bar.  The lunch menu consisted of soups, salads, sandwiches, and sides.  We all decided to order a shmorgishborg of items, as we were indecisive!  I loved how they offered a solo Stuffed Banana Pepper for $3.50! It came served on a piece of baguette with olive oil streamed over it and it was overflowing with cheese stuffing.  It was luscious! Next, we ordered Carolina Pulled Pork.  It was tender, savory, and tangy! Scrumptious!  The fries were thick and potato-ey, with what appeared to be sea-salt on top.  The Homemade Mac & Cheese was good, but nothing compares to Fat Bob’s mac.  Finally, we got the Potato Nacho which consisted of potatoes, melted cheddar, bacon, and chives.  They used the same cheese as in the Mac & Cheese, so I was a little nacho-cheesed-out.  Regardless, they were good.  The restaurant (patio) was clean and the service was great!  The poor waiter had to serve us in the record-breaking Buffalo heat in a long-sleeved shirt and pants, yet he was very accommodating. He split our bill five ways without whining under his breath as he walked away, he refilled our bevs promptly, and he was friendly.  Let’s just say that I am delighted to have gone there and will be going again, soon!

I rate it 4/5 Buffalos! 

http://www.ceceliasristorante.com/index.htm

EAT LOCAL!!

Choosing a Museum: Burchfield-Penney Art Center, BECHS, Buffalo Museum of Science, or Albright-Knox?

An artist must paint not what he sees in nature, but what is there. To do so he must invent symbols, which, if properly used, make his work seem even more real than what is in front of him.                   ~Charles Burchfield 

If, a year ago, someone were to tell me that I could choose any museum to go to for the day, I’d immediately choose the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.  I have spent much time in that museum, as I feel that I have an inner connection to history, primarily Buffalo history.  But, as I live, grow, and become well-rounded, I have come to realize that history, science, and art are all inner related.  They are all elements of one larger picture: life!  So, if today, someone were to ask me to pick a museum, I may just pick the Buffalo Museum of Science, Albright Knox Art Gallery, or even Burchfield Penney Art Center.    All three types, history, science, and the arts, engages you to think critically.  Critical thinking enables you to elucidate, comprehend, analyze, and critique your own deepest discriminations, biases, and misconceptions. Critical thinking requires thought to be investigated and evaluated for its clearness, precision, significance, strength, and coherence.  All of these forms of stimuli are present in the three forms of museums. 

 

Today, I visited the Burchfield-Penney Art Center for the very first time.  Immediately I came across a lithograph of Buffalo’s early street map.  Next, I was introduced to a departed local artist, Charles Burchfield.  I was ecstatic to view local history in varying lenses: the artistic lens and historic lens.  I carefully examined his pieces of works and got lost in them, especially his piece, mid-June.  When I viewed it, I felt instant tranquility.  I got the feeling of peace and liberation.  It was heavenly, remote, lively, and healthy.  I soon learned that the piece was initially smaller and as Burchfield grew as an artist, he, 27 years later, added on to it to finalize and perfect it.  As a teacher, I respect this because that is what I expect my student writing community to do, add details!  I was told by my tour guide that he lived a lonely life.  But, I wonder, was he really lonely or did others perceive that of him.  Upon further investigation into his biography and journals, I wonder that if he was lonely, maybe it was because he thought in ways that were not congruent to others. 

 

Burchfield, born in April of 1893, was an Aries.  He incorporated his zodiac sign along with his initials as his signature to his works of art.  He believed that, as an Aries, he was confident, energetic, enthusiastic, and pioneering.  He initiated his art career in his home state of Ohio.  He relocated to Buffalo, NY at the dawn of the Roaring 20’s and the Prohibition era.  He married, had 5 children, and was employed as a designer at Buffalo's renowned H.M. Birge wallpaper company.  His life as a wallpaper designer was not fulfilling his voids and desires in life and he decided to take a gamble and sell his work as his primary source of income.  Even though this was the era of the Great Depression, his work sold consistently.  "Fascinated by Buffalo's streets, harbor, railroad yards, and surrounding countryside, he adopted a more realistic artistic style. Burchfield's foray into realism lasted for several years." Eventually, Burchfield moved out of the city and into my hometown of West Seneca.  Burchfield continued to produce works of art and even revisited old works.  Much of his work is on display at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center associated with Buffalo State College.   

Learning about and analyzing different artists and their work at Burchfield, today, was just as captivating and entrancing as going to a history museum, due to the fact that the arts and history are connected in critical ways.  Like a historian, an artist studies media of the time, as well as writings. Our country’s Constitution supports freedom of expression and that is precisely what people have been doing since the inception of our country through ways such as paintings and other visual arts.  Art teachers, in schools, should provide students opportunities to interpret American history and culture as the “arts promote alternate perspectives on historical events.  By stimulating emotional connections to the past, art works motivate young people to relate past issues to those in their lives and potentially make connections to events in the present” (Zwirn & Lebresco, 2010, 29).   Artists have been inspired by issues of power and government and have created stimulating works due to it.   The visual world could be portrayed from legacies of slavery, the holocaust, Japanese internment, and even more current history with the Obama presidential nomination.  All have provoked artists to paint, draw political cartoons, or capture the moment through photograph.  Students in a classroom should view this visual history and formulate questions and observations from it (Ring, 2000).  

Again, in the classrooms, art and history teachers must select works of art for study that are appropriate with respect to complexity, historical context, subject matter, and relevance, as well as the design of associated learning activities, when developing lesson plans of instruction (Ring, 2000).  Discipline Based Art Education now calls for the teaching of art criticism and aesthetics, in addition to art production and art history (Stout, 1995). The national standards for the visual arts include an understanding of art in "relation to history" and students "reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merit of their work and the work of others" (VanTassel-Baska, 1998, p. 466). Comprehension of art expression is an inquiry based approach that allows students to predict, form opinions, collaborate with peers to exchange personal views, initiate civil debate and discussion, and reflection (Ring, 2000).  Learning how to read a painting, according to Ring, is as fundamental as learning to read a book.  It is even more fundamental than reading a text and spitting back information that will be forgotten shortly after, whereas if one learns to think critically, the skill will follow them through life (Clark & Day & Greer, 1987).  Weather you are a teacher, a student, or anyone looking to choose a museum to attend, I suggest attending all.  All can be used as a stimulus to deeper thought into the past, present, and future of local, National, and world history.