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Cover Story

Thinking Local First

by Lauren Newkirk Maynard

Across a booth at Amy’s Place, Amy Kedron looks a bit bleary-eyed as she dips a French fry into a double barrel of Frank’s and blue cheese. (For the uninitiated, it’s called a “blue-hot,” and is not to be missed.) She has reason to be tired. A third-year law student who is also pursuing a Ph.D. in American studies at the University at Buffalo, Kedron faces a challenge bigger than any academic degree: creating a better business model for Buffalo.

Free Will Astrology

by Rob Brezsny

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Welcome to Part Two of your outlook for the second half of 2007, Cancerian. We’re checking up on how you’re progressing with the long-term tasks you were assigned six months ago. I hope that by now you’re better organized and more disciplined than you’ve ever been in your life. The astrological omens suggest that the year’s best rewards will come if you’re relentless in clearing out clutter, working with maximum efficiency and having precise and well-formulated plans. If done right, your intense attention to detail will help win you access to profound new levels of inner peace.

Letters to Artvoice

Michael Niman’s article on Giuliani (“Getting a Grip,” Artvoice v6n25) was a good start, but there is so much more to say.

News of the Weird

by Chuck Shepherd

■ After several reports of grizzly bears intimidating people near Alaska’s Russian River, the state Department of Fish and Game recently gave several usual-suspect bears makeovers, using ordinary hair dye in bright colors (yellow, green, orange, blue) to make it easier for people to identify the specific bears that are menacing them. Environmentalists were critical, objecting to turning pristine wilderness into a gaudy, “punk”-colored park. Animal-rights activists, too, suggested that colored bears might find socializing difficult (but a bear researcher quoted by the Anchorage Daily News discounted that fear, based on a previous, similar project).

Getting a Grip

Is There a Model T in Your Future?

by Michael I. Niman

I remember the future. I believe we were supposed to be wearing silver suits and zipping about in atomic-powered hovercrafts. The future of my childhood, however, is now, and as far as transportation technology goes, things ain’t all that different.

The News, Briefly

Demolition Decision

by Peter Koch

At this point, the Civil War-era brick Italianate that stands at 399 Franklin Street is as good as gone. Its fate is sealed, the demolition permit granted. Last week volunteers from Buffalo ReUse picked through the decrepit building and stripped it of its salvageable architectural elements—more than 30 doors, two clawfoot bathtubs, 15 porcelain sinks, roof brackets and decorative dental moldings from the façade—putting the period firmly at the end of this building’s nine-year-long death sentence.

Theaterweek

Studio v. Actors' Equity

by Anthony Chase

It seems unlikely that Kathleen Gaffney, artistic director and chief executive officer at Studio Arena, was unaware that she was cruising for a bruising battle with Actors’ Equity Association over two non-Equity productions announced for her 2007-2008 season. In fact, one might suspect that she was working to determine exactly what sort of battle she wanted to fight. As of this writing, she has gained some concessions that would have been hard to imagine this time last year.

Theaterweek

All's Well That Ends Well

by Anthony Chase

Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well presents a number of production challenges. Directed by Derek Campbell, the version currently running in Delaware Park conquers some of these, while side-stepping others. The result is an agreeable production that sprawls out over two and a half hours, but moves smartly through its hurdles.

Art

Clip, Place & Paste

by Gerald Mead

Buffalonians were positively giddy in 2003 when the readers of AmericanStyle magazine ranked Buffalo #8 in their list of Top 25 Arts Destinations in the US. We moved up to #4 in 2004 and in 2006, after the categories were adjusted to account for varying city populations (we are in the mid-sized, 100,000-499,000 category), we soared to a backslapping #1.

Literary

Mad Bomber Melville, Part Four

by Leslie James Pickering

Sam’s sincerity impresses me but also scares me,” prisoner Bill Coons wrote in his diary when he saw Sam arrive at Attica.

Book Reviews

Children of the Outer Dark by Christopher Dewdney

by Geoffrey Hlibchuck

The Last Novel by David Markson

by Gina Myers

Fine Dining

Savoring the Experience: Daniel's

by Marla Crouse

Set in simple white village house on Buffalo Street in Hamburg, across from a local shopping plaza, the unassuming posture of Daniel’s belies the fine dining experience to be had within. The interior is incredibly tasteful and calming, with the palest blue to the walls, white trim molding and intimate spaces in which to sit. In the corner, a small staircase leads to a landing just large enough for one private table for two, by a window. There are just three rooms with 14 tables. One larger table sits in furthest dining room and looks excellent for parties of eight to 10.

Film Reviews

Feelin' Alright?: Sicko

by M. Faust

Memories of Rue: Evening

by George Sax

Film Clips

La Vie en Rose

by George Sax

Early in Olivier Dahan’s biopic about Edith Piaf, the internationally renowned French chanteuse is seated backstage in a theater, head down, looking really bummed out, and bearing an eerie resemblance to the later Judy Garland. It’s probably only an incidental coincidence, but it’s also somehow appropriate.

Music

American Googaloo

by Donny Kutzbach

Like anyone who met Mark Freeland can tell you, you’ll never forget that first time.

Left of the Dial

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

by Donny Kutzbach

Ozzy Osborne: Black Rain

by T-Rox

See You There

Old Crow Medicine Show

by Geoff Kelly

Johnny Gruesome

by M. Faust

Amherst Celebrates the Arts

by Laura Masters

Radio Birdman

by Mark Norris

Calendar Spotlight

Minus Story

Toy Box Heroes

by Cara Sullivan

Ozma

Ana Popovic

by Jodi Hahn

Mother Red

by Donny Kutzbach

Charlemange

Amy Cooper

Lever Down

The Advice Goddess

by Amy Alkon

I am 36, with one son, and I had been dating a wonderful man for a year. We were planning on moving in together and discussing marriage…until one day I said to him, out of anger, “No wonder your wife divorced you and your daughter doesn’t speak to you!” That was two months ago. I have sent a steady stream of cards and flowers expressing how sorry I am for what I said, but he says we’re done. I started counseling because he told me I have an anger management problem and he can’t live with someone like me. I just can’t live with myself knowing I lost the man of my dreams. I’m queasy and I’ve dropped 17 pounds in two months. Is a man really worth this?