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malibu theBEST BESTbestofOF OFBUFFALO twothousandandsix buffaloBUFFALO his appears to be a remarkable year for Buffalo. We elected Byron Brown mayor; hockey is back and the Sabres are having a thrilling season; waterfront Tdevelopment is finally getting traction; Marv PEOPLE&POLITICS Levy returned to the Bills; Studio Arena sent a play to Broadway and appointed a promis- : nominees are listed in random order : ing new artistic director; Congressman Brian Higgins won his mega-million-dollar fight for us ryan garko ell, well—people and politics. If against the New York Power Authority; City it weren’t for the Sabres, what Honors High School was ranked fourth in the else would there be to talk country among public schools by Newsweek; about? There is hardly a politi- and, probably most important, a majority of cian in Western New York who people are beginning to realize that a casino in Wdid not receive at least one vote for Best Politi- downtown Buffalo would be about as smart as cian, which proves that every public servant has eating rat poison for dinner. a mother collecting press clips somewhere. On This is also a remarkable year for the Artvoice the other hand—or maybe this is the same hand— Best of Buffalo survey. Between our mail- there is hardly a politician in Western New York in paper ballots and the spiffy online ballot who did not receive a vote for Worst Politician, (designed by our clever IT guru Dave Klein- which proves that after every election there is schmidt), we found ourselves tallying more a sore loser. The city’s new mayor, after just 100 mattrey rose by photo than 75,000 entries. In fact, the response was days in office as of the closing of the Artvoice so overwhelming that we had to move the is- polls, had managed to land on both lists—which Most Eccentric Citizen sue back a week so that we could continue proves that everyone is watching Byron Brown The lady wrapped in white who walks tabulating all the votes. We’ve finished the closely. It’s worth noting that, excepting peren- Elmwood counting and the top nominations are printed nial finalist Sam Hoyt, the finalists for Best Politi- The deer lady here for all to read. While most categories cian are all new to their offices. Optimism? Kevin Gaughan have five nominees, you will notice that some have more. In those categories that have more Kevin Gaughan lived up to both his reputa- Jimmy Griffin photo by rose mattrey rose by photo than five nominees, there were just such an in- tions—good citizen and gadfly—by finishing as a Eric Starchild credible number of votes cast, and the races finalist on three lists: Best Community Activist, were so tight, that we felt the nomination list Best Unelected Public Servant and Most Eccentric Citizen. If only he’d placed in Best Buffalo Best Patron of the Arts had to be expanded to recognize the strength Sabre and Best College Sports Team, Gaughan would the Mark Spitz of the People & Politics The Knox family of those named. category. M&T Bank I would like to commend the Artvoice staff and Best Buffalo Sabre, of course, is a work in progress—the post-season continues and there is plenty Charles Penney interns for making sense of some of the ballots. of opportunity for new heroes to emerge. But we think our finalists, all except Martin Biron who We always have voters who misunderstand the Cecile and Stephen Biltekoff did not play, had a good series against Philadelphia, and the winner…well, let’s just say he made Ani DiFranco concept of Best of Buffalo, voters who tell us Artvoice’s national team. Green Day or U2 are their favorite band and Angelina Jolie is their favorite actress. Forget It’s a little early in the spring to ask our readers to name a Best Buffalo Bison, it’s true, but the Art- Best Politician those. Understanding what a voter has written voice staff was chagrined that Buster—valuable as he is—was a finalist in this category. We suspect Satish Mohan on a legitimate entry can be more challenging it means that too few people take advantage of the cheap seats at Dunn Tire Park. Really, Buf- Sam Hoyt than one might think, too. For example, some- falo—take an afternoon off this summer, buy a bleacher seat, a hot dog and a beer and get to know one, perhaps fond of bellybuttons, chose the your hometown team. Mark Poloncarz Navel Park as the Best Tourist Attraction. Byron Brown Finally, our Drag Queens—a furious contest this year, so close and rife with ties that we list the top Brian Higgins Names are often butchered almost beyond eight finishers instead of the top five. This race is far too close to call. Who will emerge victorious: recognition. Channel 7 newscaster Keith Rad- Vanity Vogue? Vicky Vogue? The indefatigable Chevon Davis? V? You’ll have to attend the Art- ford showed up as Keith Bredford, Keith Rad- voice Best of Buffalo Party on Monday, May 8 to find out. Worst Politician cliff, Keith Rathman, Kieth Radston and “Keith Tony Masiello the-guy-with-the-tan on 7.” Talking Leaves Tom Reynolds Books received a great number of votes. How- Best Buffalo Bill Best Community Activist ever, many of those votes appeared as Fall- Willis McGahee Tim Tielman Joel Giambra ing Leaves, Turning Leaves, Counting Leaves, Takeo Spikes Robert Kresse George W. Bush Reading Leafs and so on. Similarly, Rust Belt Marv Levy Michele Johnson Byron Brown Books appeared as Rusted Root Books or Rusty Belt Leaves. JP Losman Kevin Gaughan Brian Moorman Biggest Waste of Taxpayer Dollars Perhaps, since I’m talking about book stores, Harvey Garrett Eugene Abrahamson Joel Giambra this would be a good time to make it clear that Every other overpaid politician while Barnes & Noble and Borders both re- Best Buffalo Bison Camille Hopkins Endless feasibility studies for Peace ceived a great number of votes, the Artvoice Torey LoVullo Ani DiFranco survey is not intended to highlight national Tim Laker Bridge, traffic on Main Street, waterfont chains. Rather, it is to bring attention to plac- development, etc. Ryan Garko Best Drag Queen es, people and businesses that are unique to Coco Crisp Bass Pro Buffalo. While Barnes & Noble is an excellent Vicky Vogue Buster the Bison Any money spent on a casino in Buffalo store, and Starbucks has decent coffee, and Vanity Vogue many people like McDonald’s fries, these chain Malibu stores offer the exact same product whether Best Buffalo Sabre Best Unelected Public Servant you’re in Albuquerque, Seattle or Rochester. Ryan Miller Jayme Coxx Michele Johnson Apparently some people missed the notice Maxim Afinogenov fanta-see island Kevin Gaughan printed on the ballot in all caps: “NO CHAIN Martin Biron Chevon davis Judy Einach STORES—VOTE LOCAL.” Daniel Briere Armani James Williams Please take note that the finalists are listed in V B. Thomas Golisano reverse alphabetical order, not in the order Chris Drury they finished in the balloting. Winners will be announced at the Artvoice Best of Buffalo Best College Sports Team Best Entertainer Best Use of Taxpayer Dollars Party this Monday, May 8, 6-9pm at the Town University at Buffalo men’s basketball Tom Stahl Waterfront development and greenway Ballroom. Admission is free, so is the food, and Niagara University men’s basketball The Stripteasers Streets maintenance and repair music will be provided by Babik and the Buf- Medaille College women’s basketball Terry Buchwald Police and fire departments falo Gay Men’s Chorus. Come one, come all. Canisius College women’s basketball Malibu Buffalo school reconstruction —jamie moses Canisius College men’s basketball Lance Diamond Arts funding 30 | | may 4, 2006 letchworth state park bestBESTofOF buffaloBUFFALO photo by peter koch by photo WHENIT’SWARMOUT Best Beach Small Boat Harbor Sunset Bay Niagara River : nominees are listed in random order : Sherkston Shores Eighteen Mile Creek Evangola State Park eading the results for our summer category almost always elicits the same set of Crystal Beach Best Golfing reactions from AV staff: First there’s cabin fever, then stunned silence and finally Beaver Island State Park River Oaks Country Club heavy drinking. While the folks who answer earnestly come back with many of Glen Oak Country Club Rthe same answers year after year—Sunset Bay and Evangola in beaches, Allega- Best Bicycling Delaware Park Riverwalk Deerwood Country Club ny and Letchworth in camping, Zoar Valley in hiking, the UB/Amherst bike path for bicy- Niawanda Park Brookfield Country Club cling, Delaware Park and Chestnut Ridge in parks—occasionally a notable upstart makes Niagara Parkway, Ontario the list, like Jones Pond, a gay campground in Angelica. They remind us of why everyone Buffalo’s Waterfront Best Hiking loves summers in Buffalo: long, sunny days and plenty of recreational opportunities. But Amherst/UB bike path Zoar Valley there are others, the ones who cause stunned silence and drinking, who remind of us of Niagara Gorge why democracy is bound to crumble. In the beaches category, many people decided on Best Camping Hunter’s Creek Zoar Valley Chestnut Ridge Park far-off locations, like Laguna Beach, South Beach and Topsail Island, North Carolina. We Letchworth State Park Allegany State Park can only assume that these are not the same people who directed their vitriol toward Jones Pond golfing. One told us to ask the rich white people, and a second simply declared, “Go golf Darien Lakes State Park Best Park in hell, yuppie scum.” Another morbid person likes the “beach” at Mirror Lake in Forest Allegany State Park Niawanda Park Lawn Cemetery. Two responses that raised eyebrows under the camping category fa- Letchworth State Park vored Girl Scout camp. We can only hope that there are Girl Scouts filling out our survey. Best Fishing Glen Falls Park Tifft Nature Preserve Delaware Park Needless to say, none of these answers made the top five lists. Sturgeon Point Chestnut Ridge Park

Best Skating Ellicottville for skiing Pepsi Center Arizona IT’SCOLDOUT Hoyt Lake WHEN Best Winter Activity, Nonsport Fountain Plaza Cazenovia Park rink Sex ur winter category revealed a few indelible truths about Buffalonians. Namely that we Buffalo State College rink Drinking, bar-hopping like winter sports, we are all sex fiends, we really don’t need any excuse to miss work, we Sitting by the fire spend way too much time in Florida and several of us don’t quite get it…any of it. Best Skiing Going to the movies OAs is usually the case, sex ranks high in the Best Winter Activity, Nonsport category. But Kissing Bridge Going to the theater what about these variations that didn’t make the top five—”making love,” “bury the weenie,” “making Holimont whoopee” and “copulating”? These four answers came from a scientist, a romantic, a frat boy and an Holiday Valley Best Winter Excuse for Missing Work 80-year-old—you guess which came from whom. One person’s favorite thing to do in winter is to plan Snowed in, road closed, car won’t start for summer. Either he has a very busy summer or no job in the winter. Best Sledding Skiing Under Best Sledding, Buffalo seems hopelessly outmatched by the hilly southtowns, but Delaware Kissing Bridge Sick Park’s Shakespeare Hill snuck its way in, as did Ellicott Creek Park. This, however, isn’t half as de- Holiday Valley Sex pressing as one answer, the I-90 split. Don’t sled too far, kids! Ellicott Creek Park Hangover Buffalonians favor skating outdoors, as evidenced by three of the top five in Best Skating—Fountain Delaware Park Plaza, Cazenovia Park and Hoyt Lake. Other outdoor faves included the Black Rock Canal and Chestnut Ridge Park Best Winter Sport backyard ponds. When we said “Snowbird Destination” some people must have read “snowbunny,” Snowboarding because Ellicottville was nominated. Best Snowbird Destination Sledding, tubing, tobogganing One fellow who likes to have “snowball fights with the neighborhood kids as a nonsport activity” also The Caribbean Hockey used “took ice-ball to face in snowball fight with neighborhood kids” as an excuse for missing work. Mexico Downhill skiing Serves you right. Florida Cross-country skiing

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�� 32 | | may 4, 2006 2-2-3 allen (the old pink) �� BESTbestofOF �� buffaloBUFFALO �� DRINK �� : nominees are listed in random order : �� uring the Blizzard of ’77, then-mayor �� ceclia’s ristorante & martini bar �� Jimmy Grifﬁn advised Buffalonians to �� stay inside and drink a six-pack of Gen- �� ny. While few agreed with his choice of �� beers, everyone agreed that drinking

�� Dwas a good idea. mattrey rose by photo �� Truth be told, we don’t need a blizzard to drink. Founding Fathers—who won this category last year—and relative newcomer Allen �� Buffalo’s packed with watering holes of every stripe, and a lot of them are Street Hardware. �� even open ’til 4am. Without looking at our list of nominees, you might think �� that “Best Bar Food” means greasy burgers, thick reuben sandwiches and There are plenty of affable bartenders in Buffalo, but Roxy’s Green Room seems �� chicken wings. But Allen Street Hardware and Mother’s, with their cos- to take the cake, scoring hits in Best Bartender with both Jamie and Aimee. Roxy’s �� mopolitan menus, remind us that it simply means good food, served at a was also nominated for Best Lesbian-friendly Bar, along with its new neighbor just �� bar. Beer Selection is key, and if another huge blizzard hit us today, Byron up Main Street, Miss Kitty’s. �� Brown would probably say, “Get out a shovel and dig your way to Prespa.” Of course, all those late nights of boozing mean that we love our coffee, too. It’s not �� Though no one quite understands why they have a neon sign advertising exactly Seattle, but Buffalo has its fair share of coffeehouses that can brew an ex- �� dirt-cheap PBR, Prespa won this category in last year’s Best of Buffalo, of- cellent cup of joe. Among those nominated are the usuals, SPoT and Caffé Aroma. �� fering customers more than 60 beers from around the world. Pearl Street In fact, both were voted in for best coffee and best coffeehouse. Hundreds voted �� Grill & Brewery also made the cut this year, based on its own delicious for Tim Horton’s for best coffee, and Starbucks would’ve been nominated for both �� brews, including the popular Trainwreck Lager, Lake Effect IPA, Canal coffee categories, but they’re national chains, so their votes were tossed. �� Street Oatmeal Stout and their rotating seasonal list. Notable is Café Allegro, a quaint neighborhood coffee shop on Hertel Avenue, �� Three of our Best Dive Bar nominees are conspicuously located in a which was nominated for best coffee and who hovered just off the top ﬁve list for �� two-block section of Allen Street—Mulligan’s Brick Bar, The Old Pink coffeehouse. Allegro is owned by a local family, displays artwork by local artist and �� and Nietzsche’s. All we can say is that we think they’re raising property has almost nightly entertainment. Not to mention they have delicious baked goods. �� values in the neighborhood. When it comes down to it, every bar is sim- Café 59, at Franklin and Allen Streets, also was nominated for best coffeehouse, �� ply a gathering place. But only particularly friendly, long-established sa- and for good reason. The popularity of its coffee and deli has recently merited an �� loons are deemed Best Neighborhood Pub. Among those nominated are expansion into a neighboring storefront that once housed an antiques shop. �� mattrey rose by photo �� Aimee Zinzola at Roxy’s Merlin’s �� Best Bar Food Best Coffee Best Lesbian-Friendly Bar Best Neighborhood Pub �� Papa Jake’s Green Room SPoT Coffee Essex Street Pub Roxy’s Green Room Mulligan’s Brick Bar �� Mother’s Restaurant Solid Grounds 2-2-3 Allen (The Old Pink) �� Q Founding Fathers �� Gabriel’s Gate Caz Coffee Café Miss Kitty’s Founding Fathers Caffé Aroma Restaurant Best Beer Selection Best Gay-Friendly Bar Club Marcella Cole’s Restaurant Café Allegro Essex Street Pub �� Underground Adonia’s Buddies II Prespa Doc Sullivan’s �� The Cathode Ray �� Allen Street Hardware Q �� Pizza Plant Best Coffeehouse Cole’s Restaurant �� Fugazi Best Martini �� SPoT Coffee Allen Street Hardware Pearl Street Grill & Club Marcella Simme’s Martini Bar & �� Best Bartender Higher Grounds Buddies II Restaurant �� Will Waterrose at Amherst Brewery Clarence Center Coffee Co. Shadow Lounge �� Pizza & Ale House Mr. Goodbar Best Upscale Bar �� Caffé Aroma Prespa �� Sammy at Mother’s Best Happy Hour Prespa Colter Bay Café 59 O Restaurant Soho Bar Nektar �� Jamie at Roxy’s Green Darcy McGee’s Irish Pub Nektar �� Cole’s Restaurant Mother’s Restaurant �� Room Best Dive Bar Crocodile Bar Fugazi Buffalo Brew Pub David’s Grille �� Elizabeth Chadwick at Nietzsche’s Cole’s Restaurant Cecelia’s Ristorante & �� Frizzy’s Bar & Grill Alternative Brews Mulligan’s Brick Bar Buddies II Martini Bar Club Diablo �� may 4, 2006 | | 33 ��

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�� 34 | | may 4, 2006 n the history of the Artvoice Best of Buffalo poll—now nearly a decade old—there are certain winners that have held steady throughout. While our readers have been fairly changeable in their top restaurant picks, when asked about the Best Reason to Live in Buffalo a top answer has invariably been “the food.” Year after year the Food & Drink ofOF section has been the one that gets the biggest response out of all the categories. It is also BESTbest Ithe largest in number, and counting the ballots is no small task. It is particularly daunting due to the sheer amount of different places that are offered as potential “bests.” With a few notable exceptions—the bus station for Best Breakfast?—all the candidates are worthy. buffaloBUFFALO In terms of national image, Buffalo is hardly known for “foodiness,” a questionable word that smacks of pretension, a quality the majority of Buffalonians seem to detest. The term “foodiness” implies a certain amount of frivolity that neither the people nor the restaurants in this city have embraced—despite one of the Best New Restaurant nominees being named La Tee Da. (Don’t let the name fool you, the food is carefully prepared, ambitious and quite delicious.) FOOD Nowhere in Buffalo can you find bacon-and-egg ice cream, or spinach-date fritters fried in : nominees are listed in random order : beer batter and dusted with confectioner’s sugar, both of which were dishes described in last Sunday’s New York Times food column. What one can find is an abundance of gimmick-free papaya fare served in all manner of styles and settings. Restaurants with an ethnic bent are terrifically popular, perhaps because the city’s “melting pot” population lends authenticity to many cu- linary ventures and dislodges Buffalo’s blue-collar, meat-and-potatoes reputation. Still, steak- houses and traditional bar food are just as popular, and diners’ loyalties to their choices for Best Steak and Best Burger have remained pretty consistent through the years. Illustrating this point, notable nominees this year in Best Steak include Fiamma and Prime 490, both brand new and both nominated for Best New Restaurant as well. The other three nominees in Best Steak are long-standing Buffalo establishments that seem to pop up on the list just about every time. (Much like the previously glorious but now defunct steakhouse Lord Chumley’s, R.I.P.) Not surprisingly, Best Sushi got loads of votes for the bygone Kuni’s Sushi Bar. We kept it as a nominee partly out of respect for Kuni’s tremendous 10-year run, but also due to the whispers of a Kuni’s take-out joint happening on Lexington—as well as the now confirmed sale of his former business on Elmwood. If this means there will be two good places to get sushi within the city limits, it might make up for the suffering undergone by sushi-deprived city-dwellers. (Had enough of the guilt trip yet, Kuni?) Some categories necessitated an expansion of our five-nominee limit. You may notice that Best Bakery is a huge list with eight possible winners. Best Deli has nine nominees, and Best Italian and Best Patio both have seven. While this may seem extreme, having so many nominees in the food categories is bound to benefit those who attend Monday’s free Best of Buf- falo Party, since all the nominees have been asked to donate “tastes” of their specialties. Now that ought to get people there, considering just how many of you voted for the food as

photo by rose mattrey rose by photo the best thing about our city.

may 4, 2006 | | 35 Best Bagel steve owner of Wegmans Food Markets steve’s clam bar Spot Coffee Discover One Elmwood Bagel and Sandwich of Buffalo’s Bagel Jay’s Best-kept �� Best Bakery �� Romeo & Juliet Bakery Cafe Secrets! Pumpernick ’n’ Pastry Shoppe �� Eileen’s Centerview Bakery Dolci Nominated in �� DiCamillo Bakery Three Categories Delish! Costanzo’s Bakery Best Brunch Butterwood Desserts Best Barbecue • �� One-Eyed Jack’s Best Vegetarian �� Smokehouse Grill • �� Kentucky Greg’s Hickory Pit Best-kept Secret? Fat Bob’s Smokehouse Best Fish Fry Best Japanese/Sushi BW’s Barbecue Meister’s Pub Tsunami Al-E-Oops McPartlan’s Shogun You be the Judge! �� Jade’s O Restaurant and Lounge Best Beef on Weck Hoak’s Kuni’s �� Fuji Grill Swiston’s Beef & Keg Hamlin House Schwabl’s Restaurant Laughlin’s Beef & Barrel Best Kept Secret �� Best French Fries Restaurant Charlie the Butcher Ted’s Jumbo Red Hots Bar Bill Tavern Mother’s Restaurant �� Papa Jake’s Left Bank Best Brunch Louie’s Original Café in the Square Pano’s Restaurant Jim’s Steakout Betty’s BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER Anderson’s Amy’s Place SUNDAY BRUNCH • COOL PATIO �� Left Bank EXTENDED WINE & BEER LIST Deco at Adam’s Mark Hotel Best Greek Best Mexican BOOKING PRIVATE PARTIES �� Cole’s Restaurant Mighty Taco Betty’s Towne Restaurant 370 VIRGINIA ST • 362-0633 �� Lone Star Fajita Grill Pano’s Restaurant Villa_1/4v_ArtVoice_04.06One Block off Elmwood in Allentown 4/20/06 4:39 PM Page 1 Gramma Mora’s Mexican Best Chinese Mythos Restaurant Ying’s Pizza and Subs Kostas Family Restaurant El Canelo Taste Good Chinese Ambrosia Cozumel Grill & Tequila Restaurant Bar Ming Teh Chinese Best Hamburger Cinco de Mayo ��Restaurant Zebb’s Deluxe Bar & Grill ��May Jen Chinese Ted’s Jumbo Red Hots Best Middle Eastern ��Restaurant Teta’s Middle Eastern Villa Maria College Chang’s Garden Jimmy Mac’s Cuisine ...everything you’re looking for! Grover’s Bar and Grill Sahara Grill Best�� Clams Cole’s Restaurant Falafel Bar ��Steve’s Clam Bar Byblos Restaurant ��Root Five Best Hot Dog Amy’s Place ��Marrotto’s Ted’s Jumbo�� Red Hots ��Cozumel Taffy’s Best New Restaurant Boston Hotel Louie’s Original Vado Pazzo ■ ��■ ��George’s■ �� Hot Dogs (Boston, Prime 490 ART & MUSIC Best Deli NY) La Tee Da Fiamma Steak House ■ ��X-Cel Produce ■ ��Dunn Tire Park Music Wegmans Food and Amaryllis Markets Best Ice Cream/Frozen Music Business Niagara County Produce Best Patio Custard Cozumel Grill & Tequila Jazz ��Marco’s Italian Deli Lexington Real Foods Sweet Tooth Bar Interior Design Community Co-op Hanna’s Frosty Treats Mother’s Restaurant ��Fran-celle (Blasdell) Pano’s Restaurant (2- and 4-year) Guercio & Sons �� Globe Market Anderson’s� The Rendezvous � �� Dock at �the Bay �� Fine Art villa.edu�� Chris’s New York Deli � Cecelia’s Ristorante & ��Bidwell Farmers Market Best Indian Graphic Design Martini Bar Taste of India Astoria (New Media) Best Dessert Tandoori’s Photography Sweet Tooth Star of India Best Pizza BUFFALO’S PREMIER Frosty’s Kabob & Curry NY Pizza (Allen St) ART AND MUSIC COLLEGE Dolci India Gate Mister Pizza Dessert Deli La Nova Delish! Best Italian Just Pizza Butterwood Desserts Sinatra’s Trilogy Bocce’s new 4-year program BFA interior design Santasiero’s Best Diner Best Polish Woodlawn Diner Salvatore’s Italian Garden Wiechec’s The Towne Ristorante Lombardo R&L Villa Maria College 716.896.0700 | 240 Pine Ridge Rd., Buffalo Lake Effect Diner Frank’s Sunny Italy Polish Villa Bertha’s Diner Chef’s Restaurant Polish Nook Amy’s Place Carmine’s Broadway Market 36 | | may 4, 2006 ��

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photo by rose mattrey rose by photo �� Most Romantic Restaurant Best Steak Best Vegetarian �� Salvatore’s Italian Garden Prime 490 Off the Wall �� Rue Franklin Kennedy’s Cove Lexington Real Foods Co- �� Oliver’s Restaurant Fiamma Steak op �� Mother’s Restaurant E.B. Green’s Falafel Bar �� Left Bank Buffalo Chophouse � Betty’s �� Best Salad Best Sub Amy’s Place �� Poppyseed Wegmans �� Le Metro Bakery & Cafe Mike’s Subs Best Waterfront �� Globe Market John and Mary’s Restaurant �� Café Allegro Jim’s Steakout Brodo DiBella’s Old Fashioned The Hatch ■ �� Submarines Shanghai Red’s ■ �� Best Sausage Root Five ■ �� Spar’s European Sausage Super-cheap Breakfast Hoak’s Scime’s Sausage The Towne Harry’s Harbour Place ■ �� Peter’s @ Broadway Perison’s Dock at the Bay Market Pano’s Restauant ■ �� Mineo & Sapio JJ’s Hanzillan’s Amy’s Place Best Wings Acropolis Nonna’s �� Best Seafood La Nova �� Tsunami Best Takeout/Delivery Gabriel’s Gate �� La Marina Seafood Market Mister Pizza Duff’s �� & Grille La Nova Hayes Fish Company Just Pizza Anchor Bar �� Harry’s Harbour Place Jim’s Steakout Seeking to enhance your spirituality with- �� Brownstone Seafood Great Wall Best Wine Selection out getting caught up in religion? Trinity �� House & Oyster Bar Oliver’s Restaurant @ 7 offers the wisdom and poetry of the �� ages from many sacred traditions woven Best Thai Mother’s Restaurant �� toghther with music of a piano ensemble �� Best Service (Restaurant) The King & I Left Bank �� Tsunami Taste of Thai under the glow of candlelight. You can be �� Brodo �� Oliver’s Restaurant Saigon Café anonymous or stay around afterwards and �� India Gate Saigon Bangkok Bacchus Wine Bar & ��meet other seekers�� too. �� Hutch’s Rice Paddy Restaurant �� Carmine’s Jasmine Allen Street Hardware TRINIT��Y @ 7PM EACH SUNDAY �� 371� Delaware�� Ave. at the� heart of downtown �� e.b. green’s TRINITYBUFFALO.ORG An ancient sanctuary awash in the amber �� light of candle fl ames�� and fi lled with live �� music that holds and carries�� aloft�� your �� meditations and prayers... sounds peace- �� ful doesn’t it? Trinity�� @ 7 welcomes�� people �� of all faiths and of no faith to�� enter a�� sacred �� space each Sunday evening to hear and �� refl ect on the poetry and ancient�� wisdom�� of Buddhism, Islam, Christianity,�� Judaism �� and Hinduism. �� ■ �� Trinity @ 7 each�� Sunday ■ �� ■ �� 371 Delaware Avenue at the heart of downtown �� TRINITYBUFFALO��.ORG ■ �� ■ �� This announcement sponsored This�� announcement sponsored by Steve’s Wonderful World of by Steve’s Wonderful World of ��Pets in Williamsville Pets�� in Williamsville photo by rose mattrey rose by photo �� may 4, 2006 | | 37 ��

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�� POWER FAILURE �� ofOF Diana Dillaway BESTbest 266 pp (Illustrations) ISBN 1-59102-400-5 / HC / $24 buffaloBUFFALO “Power Failure offers a series of case studies in Buffalo’s failures of leadership and missed opportunities over the past half century....Although politicians make SHOPPING&SERVICES easy marks, Dillaway’s studies place the : nominees are listed in random order : lion’s share of the blame for these failures with the power elite—the city’s oldest and wealthiest families, the heads of banks and inﬂuential law ﬁrms and insurance companies, those who sit on boards of directors for various companies—whose money and control of the city’s institu- tions have always lent their decisions (or lack of decisions) special weight....Reading Power Failure is a head-shaking experience—a painful reminder for the civic-minded of what might have been.” Artvoice “Diana Dillaway has meticulously set out the causes—economic and social—of the decline of Buffalo, NY, once the fastest growing and most promising city in the nation…This compact volume is must reading for any North American student of urban history. It ought to be in every school and college library in Upstate New York. ” Douglas L. Turner The Buffalo News Washington, DC bureau chief

Available through all major bookstores or order directly through Prometheus Books. To order please call toll free at 800-421-0351 or fax at 716-691-0137 or order on-line at mattrey rose by photo www.prometheusbooks.com e begin with a hat tip to some RedHouse. Let the people speak. They like PROMETHEUS BOOKS MOTHER’S DAY our Best Ballot Stuffers, who you…they really, really like you. 59 John Glenn Drive / Amherst, NY 14228 congregate perenially in this As for the rest of this section, our readers’ re- section of the Best of Buffalo sponses begged the same question as every GIFT CARD! Wpolling. one of Artvoice’s special issues: Who needs Of course, there’s a distinction to be made to go to the mall? We are a region rich with between ballot-stuffing and mounting a cam- small, energetic and creative businesses. We paign.�� Plenty of our finalists in this section make special mention of two that are likely handed out ballots to customers and urged to be displaced by the proposed Elmwood them to vote. That’s fair enough. It is likewise Village Hotel at the corner of Elmwood and fair ��to send out emails to all your friends and Forest. Don Apparel placed in the voting for customers with a link to the Artvoice Web Best Antique Store and Best Thrift Shop. site. We like that�� people want to win our Best Mondo Video, owned and operated by Art- of Buffalo awards; it’s flattering. But some- voice film editor M. Faust, placed in the vot- times the lust for recognition leads to perfidy. ing for Best Video Store. Whatever one’s The�� telltales �� are the same �� every year: �� dozens �� position on the hotel, the city can ill afford of�� xeroxed �� ballots, �� for example, �� filled out �� with to lose businesses like these, which thrive the�� same pen, in the same handwriting, mailed on high pedestrian traffic, proximity to col- on�� the same day. Often the ballot stuffers lege students and, frankly, cheap rent. Let’s will fill out just enough categories—roughly hope both shops find new homes that offer 25�� percent of the ballot must be complete, all those conditions. or we throw it out—to make the ballot count. In this electronic�� age we can often uncover online ballot stuffers, as well; it’s trickier, but �� Best Antiques Store our�� tech guys are aces. Stock Exchange To�� give �� an �� idea �� of how �� much �� ballot-stuffing �� Horsefeathers Architectural we’re�� talking about: More than 1,000 ballots were�� disqualified. �� The majority of these �� inval ��- Gothic City Collector’s Cove e her! id�� ballots were chucked because they were Don Apparel yout hleo uvltimate much obvious�� frauds. ��Coo Coo U om how Antique World how M MOTHER’S DAY GIFT CARD! Rotten�� Jack’s Creep Shack was among the S more�� ambitious of our ballot stuffers this year, TTHANKHANK YYOUOU BBUFFALOUFFALO BBESTEST DDAYAY SSPAPA! having�� tried to creep into the winner’s circle Best Bookstore in�� the Best Gift Shop, Best Men’s Clothing, Talking Leaves ANCIENT SILENT KISMET Best Women’s Clothing and Best Web Site Second Reader Book Shop SECRETS $260 195 ~ $ 55 categories.■ �� Perhaps they stretched them- Rust Belt Books selves■ �� too thin; they didn’t send in enough Oracle Junction iincludesncludes votes to win in any one of those categories. ■ �� Old Editions Book Shop and Café • hherbalerbal ppoulticeoultice And once we pulled the fraudulent ballots, they didn’t even place. ■ ��■ Best Convenience Store RedHouse Tattoo also mounted a furious bal- Wilson Farms @ Elmwood/Auburn hhomecareomecare kkitit lot-stuffing�� campaign.�� Curiously�� enough, they We Never Close need not have bothered: We pulled stacks of clearly bogus ballots for RedHouse out of the Lexington Co-op mix—a hundred at least—and they still finished Holly Farms on Allen Street �� as a finalist for Best Tattoo. Dash’s Market 5465 mamainin streetstreet 635.0522635.0522 www.thevillagespa.net �� Have a little faith in yourselves next year, Allentown Trading Post 38 | | may 4, 2006 ��

�� Best Gift Shop Spoiled Rotten �� Positively Main Street � �� Neo �� Everything Elmwood �� Eminent Design �� Best Hair Salon �� Studio 806 �� Salon Rouge �� New Age Salon �� Kenneth James �� Envus �� Elite Salon & Day Spa �� Chez Ann �� Capello Salon & Day Spa � �� Amy-n-Aimee �� Best Head Shop �� Terrapin Station �� Skunk Tail Glass �� Pavilion International �� Desert Reflections �� Decades �� Best Liquor Store �� Spirits of Allentown �� Premier Group: Prime Wines �� Hodge Wine & Liquor �� Gates Circle Liquor & Wines �� ■ �� Frontier Liquor �� ■ �� photo by rose mattrey rose by photo ■ �� Best Day Spa Best Pedicure/Manicure �� Village Spa Studio 806 �� ■ �� Falling Waters Signature Salon �� Excuria Salon & Day Spa ■ �� Salon Bandelian �� Elite Salon & Day Spa Papillon Salon �� Capello Salon & Day Spa Modern Salon Attilio’s Salon & Spa Excuria Salon & Day Spa �� Elite Salon & Day Spa Best Florist Chez Ann Salon �� Wildflowers & Co. Capello Salon & Day Spa �� Mother Nature Plant Emporium �� Michael’s Florist & Gifts Best Men’s Shop �� Maureen’s Buffalo Wholesale Flower Urban Clothing & Snowboard �� Market Ultimate Men’s Shop �� Graser’s Florist Riverside Men’s Shop �� Floristry Napoli’s �� Brighton-Eggert Florist Aldo’s Uomo �� For Franchise Information 1-800-251-5689 �� evertything elmwood �� (express store only)�� Thank you�� for advertising with ARTVOICE.�� This is an opportunity to�� review your ad and check for any�� error such as name, dates, address, phone number, etc.. Your original layout instructions have been followed as closely as possible. ARTVOICE�� offers �� design �� services �� with �� two �� proofs �� at no charge.�� Any revisions�� after your second proof(corner will result of Harris in an additional Hill) �� charge of $25 or more. ARTVOICE�� is not �� responsible �� for any �� error�� if not notified within 24 hours of receipt. The production department must have a signed�� proof in order �� to print. �� (in Niagara Falls) �� LET'S GO SABRES! �� This advertisment is not an offering. An offering can only be made by a prospectus fi led fi rst with the Department of Law of the �� State of New York. Such fi ling does not constitute approval by the Dept of Law. photo by rose mattrey rose by photo �� may 4, 2006 | | 39 � �� CY v5n17 ��

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�� mattrey rose by photo �� Best�� Natural Food Store Best Sex Shop �� Wegmans�� Food Markets Xsentuals �� Washington Market Second Skin �� Pandora’s Boxxx Lexington�� Real �� Foods �� Community �� Co-op �� Kimberly’s Intimate Apparel Globe�� Market �� 2424 Hamburg Turnpike Feel-Rite�� Fresh �� Markets �� Best�� Pet Store Best Shoe Store �� Steve’s Wonderful World of Pets Tony Walker �� Sonny’s■ �� Doggie Bakery Shoe Fly ■ Shoe Biz �� Elmwood�� Pet Supplies Animal■ ��Outfitters Hook’s Shoe Store Fleet Feet Sports ■ ��■ Best Piercings Best Sports/Outdoor Gear Shop HOD Custom Tattoo �� Urban Clothing & Snowboard Hardcore Tattoo Studios Shickluna Bike & Fitness �� Express Yourself Tatooing Phatman Cowpök�� Handlebars Cycle Co. American�� Skin Art Campus Wheelworks Buffalo Fleece and Outerwear Best�� Produce�� Wegmans�� Food Markets Best Tanning Salon �� Niagara�� County �� Produce �� Total Tan Lexington�� Real �� Foods Community �� Co-op ��Tantalize Tan/ City Tropic Tanning Salon Guercio�� & Sons �� Tanning Bed Dash’s�� Market Sun Capsule Plus Bidwell�� Farmers Market �� Allen Tan �� Best Record Store Best Tattoo Sit ��& Spin RedHouse Tattoo Record�� Theatre Cowpök Record�� Baron HOD Custom Tattoo American Skin Art by Dead Ed New�� World Record Home of the Hits Blue Moon Tattoo Strange Brew �� Nickel City Tattoo �� shoebiz�� Best Thrift Shop �� Salvation Army �� Junior League Shop �� Goodwill Industries �� Don Apparel �� Amvets �� Best Women’s Clothing �� Urban Clothing & Snowboard �� Presence Unique Clothing & �� Jewelry �� Half & Half Trading Company ■ �� Downtown Clothing Exchange �� ■ �� Allen Street Dress Shop ■ �� Best Video Store ■ Mondo Video �� DVD Dot �� ■ �� Buffalo and Erie County Public Library �� photo by rose mattrey rose by photo �� 40 | | may 4, 2006 ��

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�� Best Actor Vincent O’Neill �� Saul Elkin �� Paul Todaro bestofOF Jimmy Janowski �� BEST Guy Tomassi �� Chris Kelly �� buffaloBUFFALO Brian Riggs NEW BEGINNERS Best Actress CLASSES �� Mary Kate O’Connell START EVERY MONTH Maggie Zindle �� FINE&PERFORMANCEART Lisa Ann Ludwig �� : nominees are listed in random order : Leah Russo �� Kelly Ann Krupski �� extreme abstration exhibit @ winian theory, those names Josephine Hogan �� the albright knox galleryt truly are some of Buffalo’s most talented individuals. Best Art Exhibit 2005-2006 �� Voting on the Best Actor and The Wall: Reshaping Contemporary Chinese �� Actress awards tends to be a Art @ Albright-Knox Art Gallery silly act of camaraderie among Love & Sex Peep Show @ Lenox Hotel �� the friends of various actors, Georgia O’Keefe @ Albright-Knox Art Gallery �� various acting companies Extreme Abstraction @ Albright-Knox Art Gallery �� and loyal audience members. Art Alive @ Albright-Knox Art Gallery �� While all of the nominees are, �� indeed, very good actors—and Best Dance Company �� we do disqualify animated Zodiaque Dance �� characters and people whose �� Pick of the Crop Dance �� only known acting has been Neglia Ballet Artists in real-life drama—the roster �� should, perhaps, be thought Folkloric�� Dance �� of as a list of some of Buffalo’s Buffalo Contemporary Dance �� ■ �� most fondly regarded actors �� ■ Best Fine Artist �� and drinking companions. �� ■ �� Peter Stephens �� The Best Actor nominees: Peter Fowler Saul Elkin, founder of Shake- �� photo by rose mattrey rose by photo Courtney Grim �� ■ ��■ speare in Delaware Park and co-founder of Buffalo’s Jew- Catherine Parker �� laiming four of the top five spots AJ Fries �� for Best Exhibit, the Albright-Knox ish Repertory Theatre is among Buffalo’s most � beloved character actors; Jimmy Janowski, cur- �� Art Gallery nearly swept the entire Best Literary Artist �� category. Under the leadership of rent star of BUA’s I Am My Own Wife is a gender- �� bending star of remarkable artistry; Chris Kelly, Ron Ehmke �� AKAG director Louis Grachos and Gabrielle Bouliane �� Ccurators Doug Dreishpoon and Claire Schneider, as well-known as an insightful director as an actor, �� is a performer of impressive versatility; Vincent David Butler �� the gallery has completely reinvented itself in �� the past two years. The fall 2005 show “Extreme O’Neill, currently starring in Loot for the Irish Clas- Celia White �� Abstraction” was the first time in the gallery’s his- sical Theatre Company, is a founder and mainstay Alexis De Veaux �� tory that a single exhibit occupied every inch of of that company; Brian Riggs, who starred in The �� Good Thief this season, is equally adept in drama Best Local Theater Production �� the building: walls, staircases, floors, hallways, win- �� dows, upstairs, downstairs, main building, Clifton and musical theater; Paul Todaro, who starred in Shakespeare in Delaware Park Kavinoky’s production of The Cocktail Hour this �� Hall and the sculpture garden. More importantly, Naked Boys Singing � “Extreme Abstraction” was a powerful confirma- season, is also a gifted director; and Guy Tomassi Good �� tion of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery’s strength impressed with multiple roles this season, includ- �� ing hilarious turns in BUA’s Valhalla. Diva by Diva �� and its most defining character: exemplary ab- Always…Patsy Cline �� stract and contemporary art. Best Actress nominees: Josephine Hogan, star Sailing right alongside the AKAG in Artvoice read- of this season’s Juno and the Paycock with the Best Performance Artist ■ �� er popularity is Squeaky Wheel’s outrageously Irish Classical Theatre, is the perennial Artist in Ron Ehmke ■ �� fun exhibit/art party “Love & Sex—the Peepshow,” Residence with that company; Kelly Ann Krupski Real Dream Cabaret ■ �� held at the Lennox Hotel. Sex-themed art instal- arrived on the scene as Patsy Cline in Kavinoky’s Michelle Gigante popular production of Always…Patsy Cline; Lisa lations, live music and hundreds of colorfully clad Franklin LaVoie ■ ��■ people from Buffalo’s various art tribes wandered Ludwig is the current star of Urinetown at Mu- �� sicalFare (and was the Patsy Cline co-star at David Butler throughout the hotel sipping, ogling, chatting and �� bumping politely into tuxedoed gentlemen who Kavinoky); Mary Kate O’Connell of O’Connell Chuck Basil had abandoned Mayor Brown’s inaugural ball at & Company is the silver-voiced star of her com- Amy Taravella the Hyatt for something more lively and gritty. pany, where Diva by Diva continues into perpetu- Aaron Piepszny �� ity; Leah Russo appeared in Number the Stars at �� The finalists in the Best Small Gallery are some- Theater of Youth this season; and Maggie Zindle Best Small Art Gallery �� thing of which we should certainly be proud, too. starred as Aldonza in Kavinoky’s Man of La Man- Sixworks Art Gallery Outside of New York City, you’d be hard-pressed cha. Nina Freudenheim Gallery �� to find the level of activity, energy and creativity invested here in Buffalo’s small galleries. Honestly, As long as Broadway can produce new product, Kepa 3 Gallery in a side-by-side comparison we make toast out of Shea’s Buffalo will provide excellent entries in the Insite Gallery �� the galleries in Rochester and Syracuse. category of Best Touring Production. This year Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center �� we got some grade-A shows. Dame Edna, perhaps College Street Gallery The Best Dance Company nominations are a mix the most celebrated clown in the English-speaking �� running from ballet to belly dancing. Dance is the world, made her Buffalo debut, and Cathy Rigby, CEPA Big Orbit Gallery �� most physically demanding and disciplined fine art the definitive Peter Pan of her generation, made �� form. And unless you consider the hip-pumping her Buffalo farewell in the role. In addition, this Best Theater Company and butt-grinding by Britney Spears art, dance is year, Studio Arena pleased audiences, serving as �� also the least rewarding in terms of fame or money. a launching pad for the Broadway-bound Ring of Studio Arena Theatre Nevertheless, whether it’s attending Neglia Ballet Fire—the Music of Johnny Cash. Broadway didn’t O’Connell & Company performing Don Quixote or dance classes at Folk- love the show the way Buffalo did, but though the MusicalFare Theatre loric, UB’s Zodiaque or Buffalo Contemporary, our show has closed already, it may be back as a tour- Kavinoky Theater readers continue to support dance in Buffalo. ing show some day. Irish Classical Theatre Company In the Best Fine Artist, Best Literary Artist and Best Theatre Company nominees: Buffalo Unit- Buffalo United Artists Best Performance Artist categories the names ed Artists; Irish Classical Theatre; Kavinoky The- appearing on ballots seemed endless. Clearly, we atre; MusicalFare; O’Connell & Company; Studio Best Touring Theater Production have a wholelottaluv for our art people and an Arena Theatre In this category, we compare ap- Ring of Fire �� enormous community of practicing artists. Eventu- ples to oranges, as fans of various theaters cheer Peter Pan ally a handful of names appeared often enough to for their own. It is nice to know we have so many Hairspray �� rise above the throng, and in a fine proof of Dar- theater companies worth voting for. Dame Edna may 4, 2006 | | 41 �� ofOF �� BESTbest � �� buffaloBUFFALO �� for nominating Express Yourself �� Ask about our Wednesday and Thursday specials. MUSIC �� : nominees are listed in random order : �� 822-5358 �� 1101 Ridge Road Lackawanna hether your interest is blues, Band nominee is the acoustic gypsy-jazz playing �� WWW.EXPRESSYOURSELFTATTOOS.COM folk, rock, hip-hop, jazz or what- of Babik, who hold down Wednesday nights at Al- �� WALK-INS WELCOME ever, Buffalo has something for len Street Hardware. The four-man combo, which you. Buffalo has it all—not Lan- takes its name from the son of Belgian swing-era caster, not Depew, not East Au- guitarist extraordinaire Django Rheinhardt, will Wrora, not Williamsville, not Cheektowaga. Buffalo. be playing at the Artvoice Best of Buffalo Party Got it? this Monday, May 8, at the Town Ballroom, 6-9pm. It’s certainly nice to see a few new names on the Also a jazz nominee and a relatively new band on music scene. Not that we have anything against the scene is Peggy Farrell & the Ladies First Big Buffalo’s gifted veteran players or our long-stand- Band. The Ladies First band may be new, but Peg- ing music venues, but new blood is necessary and gy Farrell spent years playing with jazz piano leg- is good for everyone. The Town Ballroom on Main end Al Tinney, who died 2002. As one ballot put it, Street opened this year with concert promoters “Peggy is 75 years old and still cookin’.” And she’s Artie Kwitchoff and Donny Kutzbach and attorney/ not the oldest one in the band either. The Ladies guitarist Michael Lee Jackson running the show. First Big Band ranges in age from about 20 to close The Town Ballroom easily grabbed a nomination to 90. One sweet old gal, tenor saxophonist Fran for Best Live Music Venue and sidled alongside Scharett, toured with the USO during World War mainstays like Nietzsche’s, Mohawk Place and the II and entertained the troops with big band music Sportsmen’s Tavern. when swing was the hot new thing. Jesse Zephle, owner of the former Second Skin The Skiffle Minstrels, led by actor Paul Todaro clothing and sex toy shop, opened Club Diablo on on bass, are a new breakout act in the Best Folk/ Washington Street last year and is enjoying instant Acoustic Group category. With five of the six success. Club Diablo received nominations in both players in the band coming out of Buffalo’s acting the Best New Club and Best Dance Club catego- community, and bringing to the stage rarely seen ries. And speaking of dance clubs, Club Marcella instruments like the accordion, harmonica and fid- also has a new look, a new location and a spot on dle, they make a colorful cast of characters hoot- the list of nominees in several categories. Another ing, singing and thrashing their way through a mix new club nominee is Allen Street Hardware, a of honky-tonk and other classic Americana. ��successful bar, restaurant and live music venue A particularly interesting Artvoice reader nomina- opened ��in Allentown by Mark Goldman, the man tion for Best Vocalist is the Buffalo Gay Men’s ��cited most frequently for starting the resurgence Chorus. This chorus of almost 50 singers will also ��of Chippewa Street. Goldman has also opened be performing at the Artvoice Best of Buffalo an ��Italian restaurant across from Hardware called Party on Monday. They will take the stage imme- Joey’s Hard Times Café with Buffalo renaissance diately following some words from Mayor Byron man,�� chef, actor, playwright and horn player Joe Brown. We are certainly glad that the mayor of ��Giambra in the kitchen whipping up homemade Buffalo has decided to come check out the Best of ��dishes. Buffalo. It makes perfect sense—something we’re ��A �� new face on the jazz scene and a Best�� Jazz not used to seeing at City Hall. �� ■ ��Best Blues■ �� Band The ■Skiffle �� Minstrels Best Musician Willie�� & the Reinhardts The Reminders Rob Lynch The�� Jony James Blues Band ■ ��■ ��Steve Roth & Meredith Marty Peters Harmonica Dean & the Blue Brown John Schmitt Lights�� David A. Moore Doug�� Yeomans & the Lo Blu Best Hip-Hop Act Adam Zadok ��Flame��Rhyson Hall with Type Billy McKewen & the Soul �� Pseudo �� Slang Best New Club Invaders�� New Marcella’s �� Milkfat �� Baby �� Steps Hush ��Best�� Club �� DJ �� Amilcar Hill�� Club Diablo�� Ska�� Bean �� Allen Street Hardware �� Ry�� Diggs �� Adonia’s Old�� Skool @ Diablo Best Jazz Band Lil� Joe @ Club Marcella’s Them Jazzbeards �� Best Rock Band Jessica @ Roxy’s Green Room Taylor Made Jazz �� Tom Stahl & the Charles�� Masters �� (tied �� for Peggy �� Farrell & the Ladies 5th) Dangerfields ��First Big Band Stemm �� Jazz Line Quartet & Allen More Than Me Best■ Dance�� Club Street Jazz Band Roxy’s Green Room Jackdaw ■ �� Babik Hit’n’Run OPM■ �� Lounge �� La Luna Eve’s Apple Club Marcella Best Live Music Venue �� Club■ Level ��Town Ballroom Best Vocalist Thursday in the Square Club■ Diablo �� Tom Stahl �� Sportsmen’s Tavern Paul Todaro �� Best Folk/Acoustic Group Nietzsche’s Mark Valentino �� Tom Stahl & the Mohawk Place Lance Diamond �� Dangerfields�� Icon Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus 42 | | may 4, 2006 ��

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�� Best Annual Festival Buffalo Central Terminal Best Playground Music Is Art/ Ellicottville Best Cultural Organization Shoshone Park Summer Festival of the Shea’s Performing Arts Ctr Maple East Elementary Arts Shakespeare in Delaware Park School ofOF Italian Heritage Festival Hallwalls Contemporary Delaware Park Rose best Arts Center BEST Elmwood Avenue Festival Garden of the Arts Buffalo Philharmonic Como Park Elementary Artvoice Street Festival Orchestra School buffaloBUFFALO Allentown Art Festival Big Orbit Gallery Chestnut Ridge Park Albright-Knox Art Gallery Best Annual Fundraiser Best Reason to Leave Variety Club Telethon Best Place to Shoot Pool Buffalo Ride for Roswell Slick Willie’s Billiard Hall The weather QUEENCITY Artvoice Mardi Gras Pearl Street Grill & The politics Hospice Fundraiser Brewery : nominees are listed in random order : The economy American Red Cross Hippodrome Billiards Lack of jobs M*A*S*H Bash Classic Cue Billiards & Cafe High taxes alk about a changing landscape; it seems Buffalo or Best Way to Improve the City’s Image, it AIDS Community Services 2-2-3 Allen (The Old Pink) only a few years ago that Best Festival is worth pointing out some things that are not evident “Cause for Celebration” comprised the Allentown Art Festival, from simply looking at the nominations. Citizens by Best Reason to Live in Best Place to Take the which is almost a half-century old, and the the thousands expressed frustration with politics—no Buffalo Best Bowling Alley Family Italian Festival, and that was about it. Today, surprise there. One of our favorite suggestions was The weather TArtvoice readers vote for literally dozens of other fes- to require that all politicians live in homes on the East Voelker’s Bowling Center Shea’s Performing Arts Ctr The people tivals that are relatively new: Elmwood Festival of the Side. Our readers said they want dilapidated build- Transit Lanes Delaware Park The food Arts; Music Is Art; Pride Festival; Artvoice Street ings demolished or rehabbed and architectural gems Kenmore Lanes Buffalo Zoo Festival; Wingfest; Wingstock; Irish Festival; Guitar restored. They are particularly vocal that city develop- AMF Thruway Lanes Buffalo Museum of Science The cost and quality of life Festival; Rock the Harbor; Canal Fest; etc. ers should build urban-style developments instead of AMF Lancaster Lanes Albright-Knox Art Gallery Family On a similar note, given the economic stress of both “fake suburban.” Our readers also complained about the city and Erie County, Buffalo’s capacity for fund- the proliferation of billboards for injury and divorce Best Buffalo Tourist Best Place to take Out-of- Best Way to Improve raising is quite remarkable. There are lot of good nom- attorneys that are “ruining our landscape.” Maybe it’s Attraction town Visitors City’s Image time for attorney Steve Barnes to do what his hair did, inations in Best Annual Fundraiser, all great, all quite The waterfront Niagara Falls Promote small business different and all exceptionally successful. and disappear… The city’s architecture Erie Basin Marina Promote & market the arts While the nominees for Best Building are unques- Many, many people want the Skyway down and Main Darwin D. Martin House Elmwood Strip Develop the waterfront Street open to traffic; they also want to “vote down tionably some of our finest architecture, heavy voting Anchor Bar Anchor Bar Clean up city streets pointed out a considerably larger list of buildings that the casino”—which, unfortunately, they were never Be upbeat included the modern Hauptman-Woodward Insti- given a chance to do since Pataki and the state leg- Albright-Knox Art Gallery Albright-Knox Art Gallery tute, a refreshing choice; the Church, home to Hall- islature never allowed any voter participation in the walls and Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records; the Seneca gambling compact. Best Building Best Place to Take Pets Best Street Corner Niagara Square Butler Mansion; M&T’s gold domed building on Main On a more humorous note, it is suggested that we The Guaranty Building The Waterfront St.; the Albright-Knox and many others. find a way to stop people outside of Buffalo from H.H. Richardson Complex Losson Park Elmwood and Cleveland While we obviously can’t print the thousands of com- making wings and that we teach people coming from Ellicott Square Building Isle View Park Elmwood and Bidwell ments sent to Artvoice in the categories for Best the suburbs how to drive. And of course, everyone Darwin D. Martin House Delaware Park Elmwood and Allen Ad-MothersDay 5/3/06 9:41 AM Page 1 Reason to Live in Buffalo, Best Reason to Leave wants the Sabres to continue winning. Buffalo City Hall Chestnut Ridge Park Delaware and Chippewa �� |�� SHE’LL LOVE YOU LIKE A MOTHER. �� If you think your mother is extra special then this 581 �� Mother’s Day is your chance to show her. Take her ■ �� ■ �� to Tempo for a really special dinner. She’ll love you �� ■ mA W �� mL Ap D E R o e E o like you’re one of her own! t �� ■ �� Serving dinner Monday thru Saturday from 5:00 pm food with passion. ■ ��

581 Delaware Ave • in Allentown 885-1594 • www.temporestaurant .com �� may 4, 2006 | | 43 ��

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