Podcast: Chuck The Bubble Guy
Or Click Here to download the audio.
It was over a year ago when we first wrote about Chuck The Bubble Guy. At that point we all thought that the man behind the bubbles was a temporary thing, and eventually he would run out of steam... or breath. Actually, Chuck started off blowing bubbles out of his third floor apartment building as a way to release steam... it was much safer than the previous form of stress relief that he had undertaken. What I didn't realize, before talking to him today, was that Chuck has been entertaining Allentown with his bubble blowing for the last five years.
People ask when you can find him overlooking the street, and all I (or he) can tell you is that he's out there a few times a day seven days a week. The only period of time that he takes a break is when the temperature dips down into the single digits. Otherwise he's set up to operate his fun-lovin' operation whenever he feels like it. Occasionally Chuck comes down from his roost to refuel on coffee from Cafe Taza. It's there where people whisper and point to him and smile... "That's the bubble guy."
Even while conducting this podcast a random customer walked in and told a great story of how Chuck influenced the lives of a couple people waiting at the nearby bus stop. The next time you pass by the intersection of Allen and Elmwood, don't be surprised if you find yourself surrounded by hundreds of bubbles. Stop and wave, and if you're lucky Chuck will wave back. As if that corner wasn't interesting enough, we should be thankful to have the bubble guy take it to the next level.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
My Favorite Buildings
After reading a recent Buffalo News story about funding and delays in renovation of the Buffalo State Psychiatric Hospital I was reminded of how much I love that building. This structure designed by H.H. Richardson is massive and I love the whole thing. However I really love the part that no one thinks of, the 1/4 mile long wings (or should I say wing since one wing was lopped off in the 60's). This building is not considered to be one of Richardson's best buildings. But, t …
- Sep 28th 2011, 11:02am
- Continue Reading
- 26 Comments
-
My Favorite Buildings
This house on Richmond Avenue is very unusual for Buffalo. It stands out among its wooden neighbors not only in material but also in detail and form. Buffalo is overwhelmingly constructed of wood with brick coming in a distant second as a material. Stone houses are very rare. Also rare is the Palazzo styling and shape of this house. Buffalo's Queen Anne Victorians are strong expressions of Buffalo's new money attitude in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Unlike staid Delawa …
- Sep 28th 2011, 11:00am
- Continue Reading
- 13 Comments
-
If You See This Posting, You're at the Wrong Site
We've updated Buffalo Rising. Some people haven't seen it yet, though, so if you're seeing this post, you need to refresh your browser to be taken to the new www.buffalorising.com. If hitting refresh alone doesn't do it, hold the *shift* key and hit refresh. If that doesn't work and you still see this old version of the site, try going to this story. That should certainly take you to the new site and from there, you can navigate around the new BuffaloRising.com.
- Feb 5th 2009, 9:21pm
- Continue Reading
- 3 Comments
-
The Wait is Almost Over - BR's New Site
As we mentioned in our previous post, we’re in the process of changing the Buffalo Rising site. We’re almost there as we expect to launch the new site on Friday, December 19th.
In the meantime, posting will be light as we log new stories in the new publishing system which will only be viewable when we launch on Friday.
As always, we appreciate our users’ patience as we make this transition but we promise it will be well worth it. With faster load times, a comment view … - Dec 18th 2008, 11:32am
- Continue Reading
- 6 Comments
Comment Options
Lizliz
My daughter attends the Elmwood Village Charter School right down the block and we've enjoyed being amidst the bubbles many times. I'm glad to know who's behind the glass, brightening our day! I was just hoping the other day that someone would do a story on him. Thanks.
Report this
al-alo
i used to do the bubble. its a cruel mistriss.
first it was just once in a while. then a few times a week. before i knew it, it was every day. then i started to bubble at work, and in the mornings. i just couldnt stop. id just blow and blow. my apt was filled with plastic neon-colored containers. my savings evaporated like a bubble in august.
then they stopped letting me into the toy store.
the low point was when my friends found me desperately mixing hand soap and water in the sink of the bus station bathroom. my eyes we bright red from all the bubbles that popped in my face. god i was so ashamed. . .
im much better now tho. i just drink a lot.
Report this
Perry
I love seeing the bubbles fly out of that building. It's so odd - I luv it! Good story about a not-so-serious subject.
Report this
halljd39
I love that Bubble Guy - that is awesome!
Report this
Frankenberry
Live on bubble man, live on!!! Bubbles, Bubbles everywhere but not a drop to drink!!
Report this
ElmwoodHeather
If the bubble-man gets a chance to read this: "thank you" :) You've brightened so many smiles on way-too-early monday mornings, lightened people's step on their way home during rush hour, and provided that much-needed jolt to feel extra-ordinary amongst so much that is mundane.
Report this
KavanaghQC
Growing up on "The Prisoner", I have a distrust of bubbles, regardless of size, and particularly when in The Village! "WHO IS NUMBER ONE?"
Report this
Andrew
I say them for the first time the other day and was like "what the ..." now i know the story. Cool hobby bubble man!
Report this
Andrew
I say them for the first time the other day and was like "what the ..." now i know the story. Cool hobby bubble man!
Report this
zimmermann
You're a pleasurable amazement, Chuck, and an amazing simple pleasure.
...Keep bubbling. It's road poetry, rather than road rage. Is that the idea? I love it. I look out for you and at you always doing your bubbles, when on my way to work every day...
Then at night, when I'm writing my own--On This Day in Buffalo-- history series, for BRO... I realize that we each of us have our own respective sort of bubbles we spew about the town. We do it for our own reasons, of course, but we hope the bubbles bring insight and pleasure to our friends and neighbors.
You sir, are a good one, an odd one, and a town keeper.
Cheers, then. Champagne anyone? A little Bubbly?
Report this
11111inBlo
OK, I guess that I am the only person that this annoys? I live on this corner and I have to say I wish that the bubble guy would come wash the soap spots off of my car every day. I know that he means well, but seriously it is completely annoying to wash your car and the next day it is covered in spots from these bubbles. Also, Have you ever been standing in front of Jim's Steak out and had him spill some soap on your head? I have, two times. Not Fun.
PLEASE STOP THIS BUBBLE GUY!!
Report this
TattooDan
As a good friend of the Bubble Man I just have to put in my 2cents worth.Seeing him up there sending bubbles out over Allentown always puts a smile on my face.I sometimes join him up there for an afternoon drink or two and while there enjoy looking out and seeing the faces of everyone looking up at the bubbles.Especially the children.They certainly are a pleasure.The smiles on their faces are priceless. I even included him on my own website so that everyone can see.You can all see more pics at http://mysite.verizon.net/tattoodan Chuck is one of the people that make Allentown a great place to live.
Report this
Crazed_da_Loon
I tried doing the same thing several years back, substituting bubbles with marijuanna smoke. I noticed that the peddestrains were just as happy in my neighborhood as the ones in Allentown! It gave me a sense of pride, until I went broke. Right on Bubble Man!
Report this
fill
What's the great story hinted at in the article ?
Report this
Crazed_da_Loon
What's the great story hinted at in the article ?
The Bubble man has swithched from Prell to Pomolive, that's the scoop, "fill."
Report this
TattooDan
to get the story you'll have to listen to audio download on this page..it contains the whole interview
Report this
RisingDamp666
Thanx for explaining this mystery. I was about to contact Homeland Security about those "bubbles". It turns out my call would have been forwarded by their automated voicemail to "Rajiv" in Bangalore who would have instructed me to walk across the street to a 'safe location' and wait for the bubbles to clear before resuming my stroll to the ATM. Then, apparently, Rajiv would have instructed me to max out the cash withdrawal and send the money to an address in Egypt. We may never know what might have happened, but this remarkable little story could just possibly have saved the Peace Bridge from a horriffic terrorist attack!
Report this
regurge
Hey 11111inBlo, you're right on. I think those damn bubbles are gonna kill someone some day. Very distracting on the tricky intersection of elmwood/allen especially as a cyclist. Lets just say I like throwing rocks at traffic, or spitting on passersby.
Report this