Born Buffalo

WELLNESS WALKS
2023-10-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
WELLNESS WALKS PRESENTED BY INDEPENDENT HEALTH
OCTOBER 5 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Drop by Tifft Nature Preserve every Thursday and join us for a casual volunteer-led tour of the Preserve.
Presented by Independent Health.
Age: All ages
Cost: FREE. $3 donation per person requested.
Please call 716-825-6397 to confirm walk will be taking place.

Stevie Nicks
2023-10-04 19:00 | KeyBank Center, 1 Seymour H Knox III Plaza, Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Stevie Nicks
LEGENDARY SINGER, SONGWRITER AND STORYTELLER
STEVIE NICKS ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL DATES TO 2023 TOUR
CIL will be opening for Stevie Nicks
Esteemed Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Nicks will keep the momentum of her wildly successful 2023 tour going by adding thirteen additional performances to her Live In Concert tour. Produced by Live Nation, the second leg starts Tuesday, August 8 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, making stops in Austin, New York, Detroit, San Diego, and more before wrapping up on Tuesday, December 5 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert.
Joining Stevie Nicks on her tour will be CIL. Hailing from Fort Collins, CO, 20-year old Pop/R&B singer-songwriter CIL is an artist well beyond her years. Having moved to Los Angeles by herself at the age of 18 to pursue a career in music, CIL has never been afraid to live her life the way she sees fit – even when it’s resulted in hurt and heartbreak for her. Unashamedly writing her life’s most raw and vulnerable experiences into her songs, CIL’s material and influence has led her to creating an authentic sound that lives between Pop and Soul music. Having spent the last year and a half developing her sound and her purpose as an artist, CIL is more clear than ever and prepped with a plethora of records ready to release. Now set to put out her debut single “One More Shot” on October 5th in the midst of viral success on TikTok, CIL is ready to spread her music and message to the masses.
STEVIE NICKS 2023 TOUR DATES:
Tue May 16 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson-Boling Arena
Mon May 22 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
Thu May 25 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center
Tue Jun 20 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Fri Jun 23 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Tue Jun 27 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
Tue Aug 08 — Milwaukee, WI — Fiserv Forum
Sat Aug 12 — Houston, TX — Toyota Center
Tue Aug 15 — Austin, TX — Moody Center
Wed Sep 27 — Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena
Sun Oct 01 — New York, NY — Madison Square Garden
Wed Oct 04 — Buffalo, NY — KeyBank Center
Sat Oct 28 — Memphis, TN — FedExForum
Wed Nov 01 — Savannah, GA — Enmarket Arena
Sat Nov 04 — Allentown, PA — PPL Center ^
Tue Nov 07 — Detroit, MI — Little Caesars Arena
Wed Nov 29 — San Diego, CA — Viejas Arena
Sat Dec 02 — Inglewood, CA — The Kia Forum
Tue Dec 05 — Palm Desert, CA — Acrisure Arena
Tue Dec 12 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Fri Dec 15 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.

Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour
2023-10-03 18:00 | Shea’s Buffalo Theatre, 646 Main Street, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
Blippi is coming to your city for the ultimate curiosity adventure in Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour! So, come on! Dance, sing, and learn with Blippi and special guest Meekah as they discover what makes different cities unique and special. Will there be monster trucks, excavators, and garbage trucks galore? You bet! So get ready to shake those wiggles out and OJ Twist your way through this brand-new musical party!

Photography Days!
2023-10-03 16:00 - 19:00 | Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14218-1526, United States
Photography Days!
Take your posed photography at the Botanical Gardens for a discounted rate!
4-7pm
$20 per person (ages 3 and up)
FREE for Members and children under 2
Guest Passes not valid for Photography Days
Scroll below to reserve!
Make your reservation today! Bring along your favorite photographer and join us for Photography Days to get the most out of your photo experience at the Botanical Gardens! We are opening up the Botanical Gardens for the public to take family photos, engagement shoots, senior portraits, maternity photos, baby photos or photos of any special occasion at a reduced rate.
Our Photography Policy (below) will apply during your reservation. Please keep in mind that Photography Days provide a shared space and you must be respectful of other guests.
KEEP IN MIND! As the sun begins to set in the fall and winter, the Botanical Gardens conservatory will also lose daylight as we are an open glass greenhouse. We will be providing our house lights to create a lovely experience during sunset, but please keep this in mind as both a photographer or model as you may need to utilize different camera settings.
If you would like to take posed photography outside of these days and times, a Photography rental reservation is required. To inquire, please contact events@buffalogardens.com.
Photography Policy:
Pets are not permitted.
Furniture and large props are not permitted.
We do not allow drone photography inside.
The Botanical Gardens’ plants, arrangements, exhibits, benches, chairs, tables, signage etc. are not to be moved, walked on, or disturbed in any way. Any destruction will be at the cost of the guest.
If your party is late for your reservation, you will be held to the remaining time of your reservation or you can reschedule for a full session.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the facility. We reserve the right to ask anyone who appears to be intoxicated to leave without a refund.
Some exhibits or special events may be taking place on the day of your reservation; therefore, some rooms may be unavailable or altered.

BUMPIN UGLIES W/ HOWI SPANGLER
2023-10-01 19:00 | Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Bumpin Uglies with Howi Spangler perform live at Buffalo Iron Works on Friday December 1st, 2023!
Bumpin Uglies
Bumpin Uglies knows all about hustle. The Maryland reggae-rock band had spent more than a decade on the road, starting with local open mics and backyard parties and growing into road warriors, building an ever-expanding audience with sold-out shows in clubs and prime spots at festivals from coast to coast, on one national tour after another. Then the pandemic hit, and touring shut down.
After being in motion for so long, singer and lead guitarist Brandon Hardesty wasn’t about to sit still, even if he couldn’t be out on tour.In fact, Bumpin Uglies never really stopped working — they adapted. The group returned to playing backyard parties around Annapolis, where they’re based, and added socially distanced concerts and full-band livestreams. In the fall of 2020, they also started releasing a new song every month as part of a project called the Never Ending Drop.
“We felt like prospectors going out and trying to find gold— it was just uncharted territory,” Hardesty says. “We had to figure out a way to make a living. That’s kind of what being a musician during Covid has felt like to me. You can do it, but you have to be bold.”
Hardesty has been bold from the start. He was waiting tables when he started the band in his early 20s. With an ear for melodies and the determination to succeed, he poured his time and energy into making Bumpin Uglies a success. For years, the band did just about everything themselves, from booking shows to releasing their own albums, building a sense of momentum along the way that eventually became self-sustaining, and then Hardesty wasn’t waiting tables anymore.
No surprise, then, that a musician with his strong work ethic found a way to take maximum advantage of the sudden surplus of time at home. For one thing, he got to hang out with his toddler son, and he and his wife welcomed a new baby. He also wrote a ton of songs. For the first time, Hardesty approached songwriting as a discipline, dedicating time to working on new music rather than waiting for inspiration to strike and then jotting down ideas in the back of the Bumpin Uglies van on his way from one gig to the next.
“I just woke up every morning and I made a pot of coffee, and I had this running list of ideas in my phone for hooks and riffs and progressions,” he says. “I sat down every day and made myself write a song, and85 percent of them were pretty good. And it was awesome. I really, really enjoyed the process.”
The result is the band’s seventh studio album, Mid-Atlantic Dub, which they recorded in2021 and plan to release this fall. After showing the breadth of Bumpin Uglies’ influences on the Never Ending Drop, from folk to classic country to hip-hop, Mid-Atlantic Dub brings the group —also featuring Dave Wolf on bass and vocals, Ethan Lichtenberger on keyboards and TJ Haslett on drums — back to the core of what they do.
“It’s very groove-focused,” Hardesty says. “It’s very hooky, very vibey. It’s very accessible, but there was no compromise on the storytelling or the lyricism.”
In fact, Hardesty had a lot on his mind while working songs for Mid-Atlantic Dub. He had recently lost his own father while he was stepping into being a dad himself and letting go of the vestiges of childhood, all during the uncertainty of a global pandemic. It’s all there on “Slow Burn,” featuring Jacob Hemphill from SOJA.“Before the oak you got the sapling and the seed / Before you triumph you will swallow a defeat,” Hardesty sings over unhurried upstroke guitars and a beat laid back into a deep pocket.
“I was doing a lot of growing up during Covid,” he says. “It was very much like a survival thing, and when you’re in that kind of mode, it forces you to cut a lot of bullshit out of your life.”
What’s left, in Hardesty’s songwriting as in his daily life, is what’s real, and what’s real stands a solid chance of connecting with an audience that appreciates openhearted lyrics paired with a tight reggae-rock vibe.
“For me, it’s just all about honesty,” Hardesty says.“That’s what I listen for when I’m listening to music. I want to feel like whatever the author’s saying is honest.”
Buffalo Iron Works
49 Illinois St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Tickets: $20 ADV/$22 DOS
Doors: 7:00pm
Show: 8:00pm

BILLY TALENT
2023-10-01 19:00 | Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Funtime & After Dark Present
Billy Talent
Ages 12+, Minors under 16 must be accompanied by a parent
Government Issued ID Required

Feed The Fish!
2023-09-30 09:30 | Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14218-1526, United States
Feed the Fish
Gardens Exclusive
9:30am, Select Dates
Adults & Students ages 13 and up – $20.00 Admission is included!
Kids ages 3-12 – $15.00 Admission is included!
Kids 2 and under free but must have a ticket
Member discount does not apply for this special event
Get up close and personal with our family of koi fish with this unique Gardens Exclusive! Enjoy early access to the Botanical Gardens before we open to the public with a special learning experience that’s fun for all ages. Each participant receives a cup of koi fish food and time to help feed our fishy friends! Regular admission for the day is included, so you can explore the conservatory after the feeding! This special encounter is limited to 15 people per experience. All tickets must be purchased ahead of time online. Every person must have a ticket! Member discounts, promotional discounts, and guest passes do not apply.
Masks -Masks are not required at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens. Please be considerate of others’ health and safety when visiting the Botanical Gardens. Keep your distance from others, stay home if you are sick and wear a mask if it makes you feel most comfortable.
Thank you for helping us create the safest environment possible!

Communities: Trust The Front Yard Film Screening Series
2023-09-22 08:00 - 2023-12-22 20:00 | Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14222, United States
Communities: Trust
The Front Yard Film Screening Series
Sep 22, 2023 – Dec 22, 2023
The Front Yard film screening series features seasonally changing projected media art programs, highlighting the work of Western New York artists. The inaugural program revolves around the theme of communities: trust, coinciding with The 2023 Buffalo Humanities Festival. Presentations will begin after dark each night and will run for three months.
Communities: Trust, guest curated by Dorothea Braemer, Lukia Costello, and Meg Knowles, tackles the topic of community and trust through the lens of the diverse perspectives of 10 regional media artists. Tammy McGovern’sAutostorm presents a notion of community disappeared into the confines of our cars. Kyla Kegler’s Monster Society performatively studies alienation and finding ways to approach community. Her Own Hero by Lukia Costello and the late Tilke Hill tackles the history of women’s self-defense, and Harlem Nights by Kaitlyn Lowe celebrates the community of radical artists of the Harlem Renaissance in the form of a visual poem. In Savage Future, Terry Jones interrogates the American-Indian boarding school experience and in Mrs. Snow, Annette Daniels-Taylor explores the mindset of a mid-century African-American domestic worker. Olurotimi Akanbi’sUrban Transitions draws attention to the contrast between communities in urban and rural landscapes in and around Buffalo, while Edreys Wajed’s The Sidewalk imagines community from the perspective of a sidewalk on Buffalo’s East Side. Interwoven throughout the program are pieces by Phil Hastings and David Mawer. Three pieces from Phil Hasting’s poetic fragmentum series metaphorically address community through evocative studies of humans and nature. Seven playful geometric studies from David Mawer reference landing sequences and the pull of gravity through patterns of undulating dots, lines and shapes, sometimes superimposed over maps.
Dorothea Braemer and Meg Knowles are filmmakers and professors in the media production major at Buffalo State University, and Lukia Costello, also a filmmaker, is the founding director of the Spark Filmmaker Collaborative and the Micromania Film Festival.
Communities: Trust – Program Order and Credits:
Tammy McGovern – Autostorm, 2023
Kyla Kegler – Monster Society, 2022
David Mawer – Lerp Puppet Strings, No. 1, 2023
Philip Hastings – fragmentum 62 (c), 2017
David Mawer – Landing Sequence (for an Interdimensional Fleet), No. 3, 2023
Lukia Costello and Tilke Hill – Her Own Hero, 2022
David Mawer – Algorithm for a Gravity Wave: Dots, 2023
Kaitlyn Lowe – Harlem Nights, 2022
Phil Hastings – fragmentum 37 (b), 2018
David Mawer – Landing Sequence (for an Interdimensional Fleet), No. 2, 2023
Terry Jones – Savage Future, 2022
Annette Daniels-Taylor – Mrs. Snow, 2017, 2018
David Mawer – Landing Sequence (for an Interdimensional Fleet), No. 1, 2023
Olurotimi Akanbi – Urban Transitions, 2022
David Mawer – Algorithm for a Gravity Wave: Grid, 2023
Phil Hastings – fragmentum 43 (b), 2019
David Mawer – Landing Sequence (for an Interdimensional Fleet), No. 4, 2023
Edreys Wajed – The Sidewalk, 2018
TRT: 32 mins 48 seconds

2023 NATIONAL BUFFALO WING FESTIVAL
2023-09-03 12:00 - 19:00, 2023-09-02 12:00 - 21:00 | Highmark Stadium, 1 Bills Dr, Orchard Park, 14127, United States
The National Buffalo Wing Festival celebrates the “Chicken Wing”, known nationally as “Buffalo Wings”, which have become a national food icon. Invented in 1964 at the world-famous Anchor Bar by Teresa Bellissimo, Buffalo, NY has become the official “Home of the BuffaloWing”. The popularity of the chicken wing has made it America’s #1 appetizer. Last year alone over 13.5 billion wings were consumed by Americans, 1.3 billion on Super Bowl Weekend alone.
In 2001, actor Bill Murray playing Frank Detorre starred in one of his notoriously eclectic movies entitled, “Osmosis Jones.” In this film Murray played the part of an average Joe addicted to fried food and other artery-clogging fares, who was heading to Buffalo New York for…of all things, a chicken wing festival. At that time there WAS NO NATIONAL CHICKEN WING FESTIVAL…at least not yet.
Realizing that we needed to create one, our community rallied with me to create what is now one of the most recognized food festivals in the country. That was 22 years ago, and since then we have had over 1.2 million attendees that have eaten approximately 5.7 million wings weighing more than 215 tons. We have had over 150 participating restaurants and raised over $440,000 for local charities. We have survived a pandemic, inflation and have found a new location in Highmark Stadium, “Home of the Buffalo Bills”.
The Wingfest has drawn the attention of media throughout the world, including many appearances on Fox News, CNN, The Travel Channel, The Food Network, CBS Morning Show, ABC News, The View and Regis and Kelly, NBC’S Today Show, and was also the subject for a PBS Documentary.
The festival also drew the attention of the Food Network as Food Icon Bobby Flay came to Buffalo for a chicken wing throwdown and Emeril Lagasse filmed the festival for a show on Buffalo Wings.
The National Buffalo Wing Festival has become one of the best culinary road trips in America. Last year attendees were tracked from 46 states and 28 different countries, all for the love of the “Buffalo Wing”. Thanks for joining us this Labor Day Weekend as we celebrate the 22nd annual National Buffalo Wing Festival.
“Keep Wingin’ It”
DREW CERZA
The “Wing King”

Outer Harbor Concert Series - Alter Bridge
2023-08-01 19:00 - 23:00 | Buffalo Outer Harbor, 825 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Get ready to rock out with Alter Bridge, joining forces with Sevendust and Mammoth WVH for the exclusive Buffalo Outer Harbor Concert Series!
The Pawns & Kings Tour will be an unbeatable night of hard rock, featuring the iconic sound of Alter Bridge. Since their formation in 2004, this Grammy-nominated band has created a unique blend of heavy riffs and haunting melodies that have set them apart from other rock bands. Listeners can expect a fusion of metal sounds intertwined with classic blues-rock progressions as they perform fan favorites from across their entire discography.
Be there for what’s sure to be an unforgettable show – tickets are available now! Don’t miss your chance to experience the power of Alter Bridge with Sevendust and Mammoth WVH at the Buffalo Outer Harbor. Get ready to rock!
See you on tour! Live music never sounded so good. Rock on!

Jay Aquarious Presents "The Great Vine Experience"
2023-07-29 19:30 - 22:30 | NY
Grab a vine and swing into Jay Aquarious’s upcoming immersive and fun show! As described by Jay on the ticketing/event site:
“Sassiness. Soul. Sultry. Sensuality. Experience Jay Aquarious and only Jay Aquarious for one night with his background singers, The Auroras, and his background dancers, The Constellations, for a night of live singing, rapping, and dancing you don’t want to miss! All containing the musical elements of Pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Dance, and Rock!”
Their show will have you off your feet and moving! The show will be on Saturday July 29th from 7:30 – 10:30 PM at Fitz Books & Waffles

Bayside @ Town Ballroom
2023-07-26 18:30 - 23:00 | Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Come out and see a night of great music this Saturday! Headlining the show is Bayside, bringing their unique take on punk rock to the Town Ballroom. With catchy melodies, infectious riffs and striking lyrics, they’ll have you dancing along in no time. Joining them will be I Am The Avalanche with their energetic post-hardcore sound that’s sure to get your blood pumping. Opening up the show is Koyo who brings a blend of indie rock and folk that will captivate you right from the start. Everyone aged 12+ is welcome to attend, however anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult – government ID required at entrance. So grab some friends and come enjoy an amazing night of music!

Wage War - The Manic Tour @ Town Ballroom
2023-07-22 18:00 - 22:30 | Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Come and join us for an incredible night of music at the Town Ballroom with headliners Wage War on their The Manic Tour! This is a show you won’t want to miss, as they will be joined by special guests Zero 9:36, Within Destruction and Avoid.
Wage War are a metalcore band from Ocala, Florida, known for melding together elements of metalcore heavy-hitting riffs and intense production with melodic undertones. Zero 9:36 blend hip-hop, jazz and soul into their sound while drawing influence from traditional Indian music. Within Destruction hails from Slovakia bringing in a combination of classic deathcore elements mixed with modern polyrhythmic technicality. Rounding out the lineup is Avoid from Poland playing a mix of djent, metalcore and deathcore.
This show is open to ages 12+, but anyone under 16 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Government issued ID will also be required. So come join us for an amazing night of music at the Town Ballroom – you won’t want to miss it!

Buffalo FieriCon
2023-07-22 | NY
FieriCon, a charitable event benefiting FeedMore WNY, invites individuals to come together on Hertel Avenue, Saturday, July 22, 2023. Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Guy Fieri and take part in the festivities, indulging in drinks and food. No tickets or registration are required; just gather friends, family, and pets, and join the party.
Additionally, businesses in Buffalo are invited to participate in Buffalo FieriCon weekend by offering Guy Fieri themed specials from July 22nd and donating a portion of their proceeds to FeedMore WNY. Business owners interested in participating can connect with the event organizers through social media. The event provides an opportunity for Buffalo businesses to contribute to a worthy cause while engaging with FieriCon attendees.
In addition to the Hertel bar crawl, many local bars and restaurants will be getting in on the action! Candyman Pizza, Mike & Pop’s, Doc Sullivan’s, Forty Thieves, Resurgence Brewing, and Hartman’s Distillery will all be offering Fieri-inspired drink and food specials, and will be donating a portion of those proceeds to FeedMore WNY! If you can’t make it to the crawl, this is a totally FLAVORTOWN option!

Weirdly Wonderful Beer Fest
2023-07-22 | NY
“We’re beyond stoked to bring a bunch of our friends in to Buffalo this Summer for a stacked festival in the Weirdly Wonderful land of Buffalo with our very first Weirdly Wonderful Beer Fest!
We all know it’s the wings, the Bills, the snow, yada yada… but it’s so much more! Come explore our city of good neighbors and indulge in premium beers from some of the top craft breweries from around the country and around the world.
Stay tuned for the brewery lineup, food, entertainment and follow us on Instagram to keep up with the news as we roll it out!”

Cibo @ Rec Room w/ Jazzie Jay, Nick Mass and PUKE
2023-07-15 18:00 - 23:00 | Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, Buffalo, 14202, United States
Ever wanted a peek through the looking glass into the genuine underground art scene here in Buffalo? This is the show for you.
CIBO and friends will be performing at the Rec Room on July 15th! CIBO’s style is ethereally beautiful sounding with smooth soul and jazz influences that cause me to recall Sade and her sensory encapsulating sound. The rest of the bill is full of eclectic artists sure to leave an impression whether Nick Mass’s eccentric style, Jazzie Jay’s melodic flow or PUKE’s junglist bwoy sound!
Doors open for this show at 6 and the music begins at 6:30. 16+ admitted with ID, Under 16 needs a guardian.

Our Lady Peace w/ The Trews @ Buffalo Outer Harbor
2023-07-14 19:00 - 22:30 | Buffalo Outer Harbor, 825 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Calling all alternative rock fans! Our Lady Peace and The Trews are coming to the Buffalo Outer Harbor for an unforgettable night of music. Get ready to be captivated by the unique sound that these two iconic bands have crafted over their many years together.
Our Lady Peace is a Canadian post-grunge band from Toronto, Ontario who have been performing since 1992. With hits like “Starseed” and “Innocent,” they bring an ethereal sound unlike any other group out there today. They incorporate elements of hard rock with a psychedelic undertone, creating a truly captivating atmosphere during their live performances.
The Trews are also no strangers to the stage. This four-piece rock group from Antigonish, Nova Scotia has been around since 2001. Fans of the band love their alternative sound and their ability to captivate audiences with their energy-filled performance. With songs like “Not Ready To Go” and “Poor Ol’ Broken Hearted Me,” The Trews are sure to be one of the highlights of this summer show!
Don’t miss out on this unmissable night of alternative rock music! Get your tickets now for Our Lady Peace and The Trews at the Buffalo Outer Harbor – you won’t regret it!

Drop-in Drawing
2023-07-14 16:00 - 19:30 | Buffalo AKG Art Museum, 1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14222, United States
Fridays, July 14, 21, 28
4–7:30 pm
FREE
In the galleries, location changes weekly
Come draw with us in the galleries! Get inspired by our works on view and fun drawing prompts! All supplies are provided, and no experience is necessary. For ages six through adult. Children ages fifteen and under should be accompanied by an adult. Limited capacity.
No registration is required; just stop by Studio A!

A Light Under the Bushel: Paintings by Julia Bottoms
2023-07-14 08:00 - 2023-10-29 20:00 | Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14222, United States
A Light Under the Bushel: Paintings by Julia Bottoms
On View
Jul 14, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
The practice of portraiture has historically served to not only represent the subject but to also preserve their spirit in its most honest form. For Buffalo-based visual artist Julia Bottoms, traditional portraiture is a means to express the nuance and complexities of Black identity beyond limiting, reductive stereotypes. Thinking through historic periods in which portraits were commissioned for figures of prominence, Bottoms’ practice interrogates portraiture as a concept of record. The inclusion – or lack thereof – of Black and Brown bodies in classical portraiture has inspired a new series and conceptual direction in her work.
A Light Under the Bushel features work from this new series, building upon the artist’s interest in expanding narratives around representations of Blackness. Black and Brown people certainly existed during times like the Renaissance and Victorian eras when classical portraits were created. However, their inclusion in such works is rare and highly circumstantial, their lives rarely deemed important enough to be documented by fine art. Bottoms’ new paintings push against this, emphasizing that they have always been an important part of history. Inspired by portraits of these eras, her work fuses the historic with the contemporary through her models’ dress. Her work is reminiscent of the recontextualization of blackness throughout history seen in the work of portrait artist Kehinde Wiley. However, Bottoms moves in a different direction by employing soft, gestural brush strokes and posing her models to emulate classical depictions of saints, Madonna and Child, warriors, and other angelic beings, imbuing her figures with an ethereal presence.
Bottoms reflects on the allusion to religious iconography as twofold in an artist statement on the series:
First, it’s meant to convey the intangible spiritual aspect of each person depicted. Second, it is a reference to Black and Brown bodies as they relate to the history of Christianity. Growing up religious, I often felt a disconnect between the Eurocentric imagery in religious art and what I knew to be the factual appearance of people from the regions described in the Bible. People from the Middle East and North Africa are people of color. The shades and features of Biblical characters would have varied, but the fact that they were of color is undeniable. So it stands to reason that that would be reflected in classical art depictions. However, that is not the case. This exclusion comes with an implication; The alignment of whiteness with purity/goodness and Blackness with corruption/evil has had far-reaching psychological ramifications for us all. In the case of Biblical depictions, this is not only a lack of inclusion, it is erasure.
As I worked on the series, a particular verse came to mind. In Matthew 5:15-16 Jesus says: “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
I kept thinking about all the talents, all the goodness, and all the truly great accomplishments, lost to time because a person’s skin color disqualified them from being recorded. How many lights were placed under a bushel and how deeply has humanity missed out on great minds for it? How many scientists, poets, mathematicians, and philosophers have been lost to institutional bushels? The light we each possess is still subject in part to the roles we are forced into and the circumstances we must endure. But a light is still a light regardless of its location. In covering it, the light does not cease to be what it is, rather it is *us* who miss out on its illumination.
Overall, this series is meant to spark our imaginations. History cannot be re-written; however, we can find value in reflecting on what inclusion could have looked like. Additionally, perhaps this imagery can inspire an excavation of sorts, in which we search for the accomplishments that have been recorded but ignored or distorted. It is my hope that the work will inspire the contemporary art world and artists going forward. Above all, I challenge the viewer to value the light of every individual and to never be the bushel that conceals it.
A Light Under the Bushel: Paintings by Julia Bottoms is made possible through the generosity of our presenting sponsor, M&T Bank. For his leadership commitment, we gratefully acknowledge Senator Sean M. Ryan, with additional thanks to James & Dorothy Pappas and Gary & Willow Brost for their generous support.

Cobblestone Live
2023-07-14 - 2023-07-15 | Historic Cobblestone District, Illinois, Perry, and Columbia Streets, Buffalo, New York, 14203
Get ready for the 2023 Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival! With over 20 artists performing on four stages in Buffalo’s Historic Cobblestone District on July 14th and 15th, you won’t want to miss this year’s event.
The festival also boasts 50+ local artisan vendors, delicious food, craft beverages, immersive activities and more!
This year’s national and local talent includes Andy Grammer, Twiddle, Andy Frasco & The UN, Jukebox The Ghost, Cooper Alan, Doom Flamingo, The Beaches, Start Making Sense – Talking Heads Tribute, Lespecial, Little Stranger, Joslyn & The Sweet Compression, Funktional Flow, Workingman’s Dead, Dreamville – Tom Petty Tribute feat. Leroy Townes Band, SE2 Silent Disco, Fernway and Space Junk.

Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival
2023-07-14 - 2023-07-15 | Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival takes place in the Historic Cobblestone District in Downtown Buffalo, NY with three outdoor stages & one existing stage in Buffalo Iron Works. Over the last decade, the Historic Cobblestone District has become a breeding ground for live music and entertainment. Cobblestone Live is a neighborhood of bars, restaurants, and venues coming together to put on a two-day festival which will continue to grow to a national-sized festival in the years to come.
Twenty6 Productions and Buffalo Iron Works have announced the lineup for the 2023 Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival taking place July 14 and 15 in downtown Buffalo, NY. This year’s event will span four stages in Buffalo’s Historic Cobblestone District, with two outdoor stages, an indoor stage at Buffalo Iron Works, and an outdoor experience/kid’s village stage.

Less Than Jake
2023-07-13 19:00 - 23:00 | Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
This night of captivating music is sure to be one for the books. Join us at the Town Ballroom and dance along with Less Than Jake and Voodoo Glow Skulls! Both bands bring an energetic sound that will have everyone up on their feet all night long. Experience a mix of punk, ska, and pop as you listen to these talented groups perform. All ages 12+ are welcome but minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Get ready for an epic show – get your tickets today! Don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening! See you there!

Cut and Paste: A Mini Course in Collage
2023-07-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Buffalo AKG Art Museum, 1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14222, United States
Thursdays, July 13, 20, 27
6–7:30 pm
Prices start at $100
Registration Required
Visit the galleries and explore themes such as love, justice, and the self, with a special focus on artists using collage. Learn how artists have reimagined the figure and explore techniques to create your own 2D and 3D projects with a personalized theme in this three-week course.
Register

Art Detectives (Ages 9-11)
2023-07-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Buffalo AKG Art Museum, 1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14222, United States
Thursdays, July 13, 20, 27
2–4 pm
Join us on an artmaking journey filled with gallery tours and hands-on projects, and unlock the secret to your own creative style! Try something new, from painting and printmaking to bookmaking and more. Projects change weekly.
Register

Art Explorers (Ages 6-8)
2023-07-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Buffalo AKG Art Museum, 1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14222, United States
Thursdays, July 13, 20, 27
10 am–12 pm
Explore the galleries and tap into your own creative process through a variety of fun artmaking projects in the studio. Young artists will try something new in painting, drawing, printmaking, and more! Projects change weekly.
Register

Slaughter To Prevail
2023-07-12 20:00 - 23:30 | Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Slaughter to Prevail is coming to town! Get ready for an unforgettable night of metalcore madness as we welcome the thrashing, melodic sound of Slaughter to Prevail. You won’t want to miss this incredible show!
This Russian-American metalcore sensation has been making waves all around the globe with their unique blend of intense heaviness and haunting melodies. Their live performances are truly something special – you don’t want to miss it!
To join in on the wickedness, admission is 16+ with a valid ID. Those attending under 16 must bring a guardian for entry; no one under 12 will be admitted. So make sure you get your tickets soon, and prepare for a night of unadulterated metalcore madness!
We’ll see you there!

Taste of Buffalo
2023-07-08 11:00 - 2023-07-09 19:00 | NY
Join in the celebration of their anniversary at the highly anticipated 40th annual Taste of Buffalo, presented by Tops.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 8, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, July 9, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s an event you don’t want to miss! Experience the festival located on Delaware Avenue, starting from Chippewa St. and extending into Niagara Square. With an exquisite array of culinary delights from Buffalo’s finest restaurants and food trucks, complemented by local wines, craft beers, and captivating live music, this event is sure to leave a lasting impression.

The Strictly Hip
2023-07-07 19:00 - 23:30 | NY
The Strictly Hip LIVE!
@ Queen Of Heaven Carnival – West Seneca NY
7-1130pm

Friday Night Music Bingo & Trivia
2023-07-07 19:00 - 23:30 | NY
Play along, sing along and win prizes in this unique spin on a classic game. Play 3 games of themed music bingo featuring your favorite music from the 70s, 80s and beyond. Compete is our engaging trivia game and find out if you’re he smartest person in the room. Excellent food and drink available as well…admission is just $10 per person!
