While My Garden Gently Sleeps
It is right about this time of year—the end of February—that I start to get the garden itch.
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Everything You Wanted to Know About the Infant of Prague
So ubiquitous was the Infant of Prague statue in West Side homes that as a child, I assumed every house in the world had one.
A Letter of Gratitude to Those Who Read Books
You are the ones who will have the wisdom, the vocabulary, the critical reasoning and the empathy to make the world a better place.
“Snow Sausages,” a Christmas Story of Love and Loss, December 1968
Family traditions are an important element of the Christmas holiday season, and the old West Side of Buffalo had some unique ones.
Whatever Happened to Beggar’s Night?
I have to wonder why the holiday is no longer popular in more Buffalo communities.
The Power of Childhood Memories
It is possible to step back into a childlike state of wonder, if and when we choose to do so.
Why I Wrote a “Love Letter” to Buffalo
I wanted to begin a narrative that would trace the city’s arc from the first warning signs of a collapsing economy to its eventual rebirth and revitalization.
Beyond the Library: The Quiet Evolution of Literary Buffalo
When visiting the city earlier this month, I learned that over the past half-century, Buffalo has become quite the literary town.
Wax Lips, Licorice Sticks and an Homage to the Corner Store
One of the things I miss most when I return to Buffalo is the family-owned corner store.
Secrets of the Scajaquada? Treasures of Tonawanda? Or…
This month I am asking readers, what are the undiscovered gems in Buffalo and the surrounding area that I need to visit this year?
Publishing My West Side Story: It’s About to Get Real
Like every would-be author discovers, if writing a book isn’t difficult enough, the ordeal of trying to get it published tests all one’s powers of endurance.
Why Buffalonians Will Always Love Spring Break
As long as there are long, snowy months in Buffalo, there will be snowbirds of every age winging their way to the Land of Sunshine.