Contributors
About Newell Nussbaumer
Newell Nussbaumer is a part time brainstormer who, when not busy thinking of mostly Buffalo related projects, is busy implementing them.
Newell founded Thunder Bay Trading (retail stores) in '93, and by the time the business was up and running, so was his passion for urban activism. He has helped to form business associations and micro-festivals prior to co-founding the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts. During that time, Newell teamed up with Buffalo Rising Co-Founder George Johnson to create an early regional news site called ONE4 (named for the first two numbers in the region's zip code). Through that project, Buffalo Rising was eventually conceived.
Newell is also the Co-Founder of Buffalo Old Home Week - an event formed to promote living and visiting the city. NewellÕs most recent endeavor is to help realize a large city market along the Buffalo River. He has high hopes that a structure like the DL&W train terminal might one day be converted for such a purpose.
About George Johnson
Prior to co-founding Buffalo Rising Online, George was VP, Executive Creative Director at Publicis Dialog/Semaphore Partners/Novo Interactive, a large, multi-disciplinary interactive firm that helps Fortune 500 companies acquire, convert and retain customers through technology-enabled solutions. He managed interdisciplinary departments globally and led teams on select projects.
George grew, organically and through acquisition, a limited design competency into an award-winning comprehensive creative practice. He helped win and directed creative development for one of the largest contracts in the interactive services industry: to architect, build and launch Orbitz, the online travel site backed by five major US airlines. The result was the most successful Web launch in history, counting 3.7 million unique visitors in its first month, and $100 million in sales in its second month.
Before that, George was Design Director for OVEN Digital, a global, top-tier internet development and consulting firm.
- Select List of Clients:
- 3Com, Avery Dennison, BEA, Cadillac, Toyota, Continental Airlines, E*TRADE, Estee Lauder (Gloss), Hewlett Packard, LeapFrog, Levi Strauss & Co., Nabisco
- Awards (select list):
- Communication Arts Interactive Design Annual, New York Art Directors Club New Media Merit Award, Cannes Cyber Lion (Silver x2), Applied Arts Annual, HOW Interactive Design Annual, London International Advertising Award (Gold, Silver)
About Elena Buscarino
Elena grew up in Jamestown, NY, and attended the University of Buffalo and Buffalo State College, where she earned degrees in art and journalism.
After graduating, Elena was hired by Westinghouse of Naples, Florida, where she was given the front page of the real estate section of the Naples Daily News each Sunday to tout the condos Westinghouse was building on their mangrove preserve/golf course/condominium development. She wasn't buying it however, so she couldn't sell it.
She moved back to Buffalo, realizing she preferred the concept of community that came from living among people whose history is rooted in a place. This City of Good Neighbors was the only real choice.
In the past thirty-two years since she first came to Buffalo, the city has changed, and Elena is awed by the strength of the people who've decided to stay, prosper and rebuild this post-industrial city. She values living among the invested because these are the people who affect forward and upward movement.
Currently the Managing Editor of Buffalo Rising Magazine, Elena also sings with the 12-piece Jim Tudini Band, and is raising two teens and one irascible Jack Russell Terrier. Elena believes promoting the positive can benefit the greater good. Buffalo and Buffalo Rising are just the right place for her.
About Chris (West Coast Perspective)
Chris has resided in Sacramento, California since June 200, but grew up in Buffalo. He has worked as a planner for fifteen years, first in WNY and now for the second-fastest growing county in California. His focus today is on open space conservation and habitat preservation.
Chris is passionate about his hometown and intends to move back. In the meantime, he's rooting for the Queen City's renaissance and assisting from a distance by coordinating the Downtown Housing Tour held during Old Home Week.
His contributions to Buffalo Rising reflect his interests: A self-described real estate junkie, architecture and preservation fan, and a habit for thinking about the "too bads" and "what ifs." Though admittedly downtown-focused in his writing, he understands that Buffalo cannot truly be rising until all areas of the City are revitalized.
Chris's select Buffalo favorites:
- Favorite Buffalo Building:
- Guaranty, hands-down
- Last Book Read:
- The Poetics of Cities by Mike Greenberg
- Formerly Useless Hobby that is Now Paying Dividends:
- 20+ years of newspaper clippings documenting planning and development issues in WNY
- Interests:
- Architecture, Photography, Historic Preservation, Travel and Urban Forestry
- Favorite Quote:
- "The world is full of willing people; some willing to work, the rest willing to let them." --Robert Frost
About Steve Stipanovich
Steve has lived in Buffalo's Riverside neighborhood all of his life, except for a year spent in Rochester. When he's not giving unofficial tours of the City or relishing in the local nightlife, Steve is busy analyzing developments and writing on urban planning for BRO.
Steve graduated from the Urban and Regional Planning and Analysis program at Buffalo State in May of 2006. Since then he has worked with the Black Rock - Riverside Good Neighbors Planning Alliance on various projects, most notably the Black Rock Canal Park concept. While in school, Steve worked on the Midtown neighborhood plan (also known as Organic Revitalization: Artspace Buffalo), as well as a conceptual streetscape redesign for Grant Street behind Buffalo State College. He is also a avid auto enthusiast and public transit nut, enjoys fine architecture and a wide range of the arts, and enjoys traveling to other cities to gather urban planning ideas.
Steve chooses to live in Buffalo, even if he can't find the perfect job, so that he can contribute to the impending renaissance that his beloved City will enjoy in the coming years. He knows that this city and its people will rise to the occasion and rebuild itself as a smaller, yet better equipped metropolis for the 21st Century.
About Ed Healy
Ed Healy is the Director of Communications of the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau. A graduate of the University at Buffalo and Syracuse University, he lives with his wife, Karen, and two children in North Buffalo
About Bill Zimmermann
Bill Zimmermann, BRO Critic/Reporter-at-large, is an activist/advocate for all things Buffalo, with a special focus on the waterfront. Bill is also the Director of Seven Seas Sailing School, and an active campaigner for the environment, both out of doors and indoors, a topic that as a science journalist and indoor environment consultant he speaks on and writes about nationally.
About Bob Mazzi
Bob Mazzi, a native and life-long resident of Buffalo, is an alumnus of Riverside High School and Canisius College and also served in the Navy. After retiring from banking, he pursued a number of interests. In fact, his only child Joette jokingly calls him a chameleon because of his varied vocations and avocations. He lives with his wife Joan, their three springer spaniels, an Abyssinian cat, and numerous fish in the Elmwood Village.
About Laila Bondi
Laila Bondi grew up in family whose passion for food was palpable. Learning to make wine and vinegar from her grandfather's grapes, making pasta with her mother and picking fresh herbs from her father's garden, Laila learned to enjoy every element of food. Gardening, menu planning, grocery shopping, reading restaurant reviews, poring over cookbooks, cooking and of course, eating, are some of her favorite activities.
Apart from her food obsession, Laila enjoys walking to the park to watch the sunset on the Canadian horizon, dancing in the backyard and watching the Sabres play. She currently does research on homelessness and poverty at a local non-profit organization.
Laura Chestnut (cityzen)
Laura and her husband (who reverse commutes to Williamsville because they wanted to live in the city) are recent transplants to Buffalo from Philadelphia.
Laura has embraced the city whole-heartedly. While the politics of the area are still a bit of a mystery, Laura enjoys the plethora of activities and events, the passionate people, the art, the food, the houses, and the unexpected treasures around every corner. She enjoys the variety of neighborhoods and people dedicated to making their area of Buffalo thrive.
Though not a writer by profession the opportunity to pursue the interesting things going on in Buffalo was irresistible. It's a wonderful time to be in the city!
Nancy Vargo
Nancy Vargo believes she's a fully qualified Yumster having spent a lifetime living and dining in Buffalo. She's dragged her somewhat reluctant husband out to breakfast, lunch and dinner and back again in search of an inspired spot that will get her out of cooking yet another meal! Even better, her husband - a self-taught, home-chef - enjoys cooking and does an incredible job of duplicating her favorite dishes at home. Her three occasionally fussy daughters - now grown - taught her a thing or two about scouring the city for kid-friendly and diet-friendly menus, too.
Laura Anhalt
Laura, who moved to Buffalo in 1999, was raised in Mexico City, Mexico. Her passion for good food and travel began in her early teens. Pursuing her passion for food, she took 5 years of international culinary courses including gourmet and traditional Mexican cuisine. Laura teaches hands-on authentic cuisines from around the world in her gourmet kitchen, and her Mexican Flavors cooking workshops are a big local hit. She is an enthusiastic food and travel writer and has recently become a contributor to Yum!.
Courtney Bajdas
Courtney Bajdas is presently dawdling her way through life. Look for her prowling about the city.
Adam Fix
Adam Fix is a Buffalo native and UB student. He enjoys playing music, writing, taking pictures, and growing mustaches. If you'd like to play hockey with him, check out the parking lots of the West Side any given evening.
Laura Sargent
Regarding her early years, Laura grew up on a small farm in Lockport where she tailed her father as he puttered around the barn welding folds of metal together. This spurred her love for all things handmade. From there, she went on to attend Buffalo State College where she obtained a degree in Fine Arts with a heavy concentration in metals. Realizing that her hobby was time consuming and expensive, she turned to her second passion, jotting down words about all that she saw. The visionary Elena, at Buffalo Rising, scooped Laura up and she has been scouring Buffalo for its best underground artists ever since. Laura takes a breath of fresh air every Saturday morning at the Bidwell Market- feel free to say hello, she does not bite (usually).
Marilyn Rodgers
Marilyn's primary professional focus is as a grant writer and fund development consultant for area nonprofits. She serves on a number of local Boards which include the West Village Renaissance Group (which she founded); the City of Buffalo Citizen's Planning Council, ReTree WNY, the City of Buffalo Save Our Streets Task Force, the City of Buffalo Quality of Life Task Force, and the Johnson Park Restoration Fund among others. Her volunteer focus is centered within her role as a community advocate for neighborhoods across the City of Buffalo with particular attention to building constructive solutions for Youth, Elderly, Crime, and Housing issues. In her off-time she is an avid gardener, reader, and writer with a penchant for compassion - a result of her practice in Buddhism.
Jim Kupczyk
Jim lives in Allentown and has been a proponent of the city for many years. He graduated from the University of Buffalo & currently loves working in Supply Chain Management for Rich products. Jim sees only the positives relating to Buffalo and wishes for it to prosper as it did sometime ago [he also believes in the cyclical nature of this process- we are due!]. He enjoys his clothing line [andalu13.com], working out, continually living just outside his comfort zone, reading and helping people heal themselves thru energy medicine. Jim digs the many restaurants the city has to offer, the art scene, the people, the seasons & the architecture. He also loathes petty drama and fancied Farah Fawcett [circa 1983].
Al Labruna
Originally from the far outer reaches of NYC?s suburbs, Al came to Buffalo in 1997.
He was struck by the simple things that had been missing from the sprawl landscape of his youth: sidewalks, walkable neighborhoods, streetlights and corner coffee shops. Soon Al was spending his days wandering down alleys and exploring abandoned buildings and occasionally attending class.
After a semester, He went off and joined AmeriCorps (it was that, or the French Foreign Legion). Al spent two years jumping from natural disaster to national park to housing project, then came back to Buffalo to finish his degree in history and museum studies.
With a passion for local politics, urban design and historic preservation, Al occasionally finds a windmill to till at.
Now working in Allentown, he spends his days with his wife and dog looking for good food, hidden treasures, and fixing up his home just around the corner from the North Park Theatre.
Cynnie Gaasch
Cynnie Gaasch moved here in 2001 and immediately fell in love Buffalo' s art scene. Cynnie continues her discovery of Buffaloa s neighborhoods and communities as a freelance writer, artist, activist/volunteer and advocate.
Chris Brown
After spending his formative high school years with the Texas-based Brown family digging wells, burning driftwood and hunting rattlesnakes, Chris Brown jumped at the opportunity to move to Buffalo New York when he was 19 to assist his aging maternal grandmother.
He never thought he'd stay in Buffalo, but, according to Brown, the city "gets in your blood." "I've traveled all over the United States, but Buffalo is where I call home. It's got great bones, people and architecture, plus it has water, so eventually it's the place everyone will want to be," added Brown.
Brown is involved in historic preservation activities in Buffalo, having been involved in the restoration of Symphony Circle, one of the founders of Buffalo Architectural Salvage Committee, creator of Orton Gardens, and is lecturer and author of numerous articles on architectural history for Western New York Heritage and Buffalo Spree magazines.
Brown has been president of the Allentown Association and Kleinhans Community Association. When not writing or researching Buffalo's illustrious history, he serves as a Vice President of M&T Bank's Technology Infrastructure division and serves as a technology director for the Westminster Community Charter School in Buffalo's Kensington Bailey neighborhood.
Brown lives in what he calls the "coolest, most diverse" place in Buffalo, near the corner of Hudson St. and Plymouth Ave., at the western boundary of Buffalo's Allentown neighborhood with the love of his life, David Granville.
Megan Weaver
After migrating from an almost-rural town in Alaska, with transformative mini-diversions in Missoula, Montana; Oxford, Mississippi; Portland, Oregon; Hale Barns, England; and Albany, New York, Megan Weaver has now discovered the most-definite perfection of near-idyllic life in Buffalo. After a two-year stay in Allentown, she now relishes life in the southtowns and the daily commute along the lake back to Buffalo State. She's obsessed with the art of education and learning, the grassroots satisfaction of community activism, and the revelation of what it could mean to commit to a place and the people in it.
Bio for Sarah Rose Stone
Banker by day, baker by night (and when daydreaming about food), Sarah loves the Buffalo food scene. She's always in search of great new recipes, whether they're new ways to use her produce share, fun exotic dishes, or down home classics. She also loves discovering restaurants she has yet to try. Having grown up in Horseheads, NY, where there are roughly 10 non-chain places to eat, Buffalo has become her food Mecca. When not eating, reading about food, or cooking, Sarah can be found on the treadmill, for obvious reasons.
Bio for Michael
Born and raised on Buffalo's west side, Michael lives a few streets away from his childhood home.
His passion for food and cooking started at an early age. "My grandfather was a tremendous cook, and made it look effortless. My mother, following in his footsteps, tells the story of me at two years old eating broiled lamb chops, baby potatoes and steamed spinach for lunch. I guess food and cooking are inbred. Writing is a way to share the experience with others."
In addition to food and cooking, Michael enjoys books, music, art and life in Buffalo.
Great Lakes United
Great Lakes United is an international coalition dedicated to preserving and restoring the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River ecosystem. The coalition is made up of member organizations from all of the eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces, representing environmentalists, conservationists, hunters and anglers, labor unions, community groups and First Nations and Tribes.
For more on GLU go to:
www.glu.org
Blogging for Great Lakes United is Nate Drag. After years of life guarding on Lake Erie and expanding many horizons in college and on cross country RV trips, Nate completed his Maters in Urban Planning through the University Buffalo this past May. In addition to working with Great Lakes United, Nate is currently a participant in the University at Buffalo's Ecological Restoration Through Interdisciplinary Exchange (ERIE) program. Funded through the National Science Foundation, the ERIE program brings together doctoral students from the physical sciences, engineering, and social sciences to work collaboratively on ecological restoration projects in the Great Lakes. The belief that any successful environmental policy must be rooted in a community that has an intimate appreciation and understanding of its local surroundings, both natural and social, is a result of his experience in community development and environmental planning. Nate also enjoys spending time with his dog, Kaya, and trying to start acoustic reggae bands.
Anthony Swinnch
Born and raised in Buffalo, Anthony grew up on a steady diet of chicken wings and Super Bowl losses. He remains ever hopeful for the city and sees true, untapped value in its streets. Daily tours of the city via both cheese and Metro bus since an early age have provided him with an intimate knowledge of most neighborhoods in the area, and piqued a natural curiosity to explore and learn about his surroundings.
Anthony was both the Public Affairs and Program Director at WBNY 91.3 FM, and has a true love for the local music scene. He currently DJs a show and co-hosts a hockey talk show as well. Now armed with a Journalism degree (as of May '08) from Buffalo State College, Anthony is poised to help write this city to the top of the world.
Dr. Richard S. Knaub
A native of Colorado, Richard has intertwined economic development, community outreach and environmental conservation for most of the last 25 years. He was the Founding Executive Director of the Daemen College's Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement when he fell deeply in love with Buffalo. He reluctantly returned to Colorado where he is a writer and consultant to local governments pursuing sustainable development. He remains ever hopeful that he will be able to return to Western New York one day.
Corinne Eberwine
A Western New York native, Corinne grew up in the southtowns and graduated from the State University of NY at Fredonia with bachelor degrees in English and Graphic Design. She now resides in the Elmwood Village with her husband. Surrounded by a large family and many friends, they are very happy to be able to stay here and regularly take advantage of the myriad shops, restaurants, events and nightlife that the area has to offer.
Working as an Art Director at a local advertising/marketing firm, she also devotes much of her time to freelance work, teaching night classes at Bryant and Stratton, and volunteer work with organizations such as Buffalo Rising, Revitalize Buffalo, Erie 1 BOCES Career Education Advisory Council, B.E.A.T. (Buffalo Environmental Action Team), and the Ad Club of Buffalo.
Justin Booth
Whenever I see a person on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. ~H.G. Wells
Susan Marie
Susan Marie is a published author/recording engineer/producer for Think Twice Radio. She possesses two Associates Degrees and is working towards an MFA. Susan promotes art in every genre through writing, booking and promotion.
Cassie
I am a small town country girl who was born and raised on a Dairy farm. I am the oldest of two. Being a country girl I love the outdoors. I go deer hunting with my dad and brother. I got my first 6-point buck opening day in 2006. In high school I went to the Vocational school where I studied Cosmetology. I am a licensed cosmetologist. I am a junior at Canisius College where I am a Communication major, specializing in Broadcast Journalism. I am a proud member of the Canisius television station, channel 98. report the Canisius sports and Anchor the show as well. My career goal is to become a news reporter or a sports reporter. I have a passion for football.
I love to spend time with my family and friends. I enjoy watching movies and listening to music. My favorite music is Country. My family is a big part of my life.
Joseph DiDomizio
Joseph DiDomizio is a local novelist and filmmaker. He loves Hot Dogs, Root Beer and Cheese Fries, in that order.
Sandra Williams Gordon
Born and rocked in the cradle of Southern Literature and Blues music, Oxford, Mississippi, Sandra spent her formative adult years in NYC in the decade of the 80's. Moving to Buffalo in 1989, (really taking a summer break from being a director at Barnard College/Columbia University's Health and Wellness Program), Sandra was initially a reluctant transplant. However, It didn't take much time for her to fall in love with Buffalo and see it as the perfect blend of a large metropolis and a small Southern University town, were everyone eventually knows everyone, and creative thinking abounds.
Sandra has been reincarnated in this lifetime as a musician, actress, dancer, and for the past 14 years as a photographer/mixed media artist.
Sandra happily spends her time with her husband, Craig, musician, composer, teaching artist and jack-of-all-trades, and their ebullient 7-year-old daughter. When not painstakingly rehabbing their home and garden in BlackRock, Sandra loves writing for BuffaloRising, about everything Buffalo, but specifically issues relating to community and family.
Favorite Quotes: "Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right". - Henry Ford
"A cowgirl gets up early in the morning, decides what she wants to do, and does it" - Marie Lords, 1861
Todd Schoepflin
Happiness is....relaxing with my son Troy. I work as a Sociology professor at Niagara University. The loves of my life are: baseball, Sociology, my wife Tina. My favorite place in Buffalo is Delaware Park. For fun I...write fiction, mostly short stories, and I would like to complete a novel someday.
Rachel Dominguez
Rachel Dominguez is a native who happily returned to Buffalo in 2004, after (too many) years away. Having lived in places as familiar as the Bay Area & Boston and as remote as Mongolia & Albania, Rachel is an experienced eater who has had, for example, the pleasure of eating fried scorpion on a stick in China. She has no intention of profiling grubs or insects of any kind for YUM, however.
John Carocci
John Carocci is well-known in the graphic design community for his razor-sharp wit and fearless (some might even say reckless) use of the Franklin Gothic family of typefaces. In his ample spare time, John enjoys reading, music, photography and performing with Buffalo's beloved Real Dream Cabaret. Rumors that he toured with Bananarama are, alas, completely false.
John Carocci grew up in Syracuse and moved to Buffalo after graduating from UB. He is art director/editor for a Buffalo social services agency, and in his spare time enjoys reading, music, photography and performing with the Real Dream Cabaret. John says he loves Buffalo even though (or maybe because?) it can be a difficult place to love sometimes.
STEEL
David Steele is an award winning architect currently practicing in Chicago Illinois. He is a graduate of both Buffalo State College and The University of Buffalo. While these fine institutions provided him with the professional tools necessary to excel in the architectural field it was the city's rich history, manifested in its treasure trove of great buildings, that fed and informed an early interest in the built environment. As a kid, David endlessly wandered the city streets soaking up architecture with each step. Though life's unpredictable paths have led him away from Buffalo, this city remains as a major influence on his life. Many of David's BRO stories highlight Buffalo's architecture, shining a light on this often under appreciated and fragile asset.
Lorne Opler
Lorne is Buffalo Rising's correspondent from the Great White North. He's been writing for BRO since 2005 after he picked up a copy of one of it's earliest print editions while visiting Buffalo. So impressed was he with this new intiative, he soon signed on as a writer, offering his perspectives on Buffalo from a Torontonians point of view. In August of 2007, he moved to Buffalo for several months, where he became acquainted with all the places, sites, streets and projects that he had been reading about on BRO's webpages. Immersing himself in Buffalo's activities, while gaining a better understanding of the challenges and issues facing the Queen City, Lorne wrote several articles from the eye's of a Buffalo Booster newcomer. Now back in Toronto, he has continued to write from BRO, maintaining his commitment to the vision and mission of BRO, and to the future of Buffalo.
Tom Waters
Tom Waters has been ferociously freelancing in Buffalo and beyond for almost ten years. In addition to writing five books (If They Can't Take A Joke, Clean Up After Me, I'm Irish, First Person Last Straw, Zany Hijinx and Born Pissed), he's written for Filmfax, Acid Logic, Quill magazine, Metromania magazine, Too Much Coffee Man, Buffalo Beat, Boy's Night Out, Buffalo Alternative Press, Buffalo Beast, Buffalo Spree and Comic World News. He currently writes a weekly column (Big Words I Know By Heart) for Night Life magazine, a small avalanche of bar reviews for the Buffalo News, and neurotically updates his official web site (Big Words I Know By Heart) which can be found at www.tomfoolery4.wordpress.com. He's also toiling away on an anthology of Buffalo writing as a non-profit project for the Just Buffalo Literary Center. Relevant information can be found at www.buffaloanthology.blogspot.com. Vox Populi is a companion project complemented by his new radio show on www.thinktwiceradio.com. The author lives in Lancaster with his future-wife, a 15 pound liver and their over-indulged cat Allie. He's 32.
Tony Astran
Tony Astran is a publications staff writer at Buffalo State College. Buffalo-born but college-educated at Loyola University Chicago, Tony moved back by choice in 2004 and plans to never leave. He even brought his Cleveland-born fiancée (now wife) with him! Tony previously worked as a public relations account executive with Eric Mower and Associates in Buffalo and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide in Chicago. He’s part of the Public Relations Society of America and also is the marketing and public relations chairperson on the executive board of Brush Up Buffalo.
Tony has just begun taking graduate-level public administration courses in the hopes of gaining the skills needed to fulfill a lifelong dream: bringing a miniature version of Chicago’s Navy Pier to Buffalo’s waterfront.
