Buzz: Autumn in the Key of Buffalo

From lounge lights to honky-tonk nights

Quote

“October’s rolling in, but inside the lounge, it’s always awesome, always glowing — always Buffalo, 1959.”

— Howard, the guy we married, toasting his weekly Friday happy hour at Johnny D’s at the Hyatt

Tree Hugger

Why does Facebook always present us with ancient pictures, the kind that make you shudder at how much time has passed? “We care about you,” they wheedle. If so, why not just show us something from last year? Whatever, we still do love this picture of Howard on Franklin Street, hugging Buffalo’s oldest tree. Singing in the St. Louis Choir, we see this tree a lot because the church is practically right across the street. One day we will have to give it a hug.

So Hot it Burned His Toast

Ann Philippone’s new solo album, “Broken Down World,” is on Spotify and YouTube. Buzz has been diggin’ it. “How I love this broken down world,” Annie sings in the title tune. “It was the moon, the music and wine,” she warbles in “It’s Raining in Tennessee.” And our favorite: “While you’re sittin’ at the bar, I’ll be revvin’ up the car — I’m takin’ the dog.” That’s from “The Dog Never Breaks Your Heart.” No wonder tributes are pouring in. Jazz chanteuse Mari McNeil raves, “If Randy Newman and Billy Joel had a baby, it’d be this music.” Cartoonist Dave Corbett adds, “So hot it burned my toast.” This is a true solo album — just Annie, her honky-tonk piano, her simple melodies, her husky voice. Word is the music is coming out on vinyl— and when that needle finally drops, daddy-o, it’s gonna be heaven in high fidelity.

Game-Day Etiquette, Buffalo Style

Buzz went to a dinner party earlier this week — candles lit, table set, everything cozy and perfect. Then, right after the homemade blueberry pie, the Bills kicked off against the Patriots, and our hostess promptly flipped on the big-screen TV, turned her back to the table, and parked herself on the couch. Conversation over. That’s life in Buffalo, baby. Then the Bills lost, darn. But around here, we always save room for the next game.

Going Ape

Maybe she was aping Jane Goodall, the prime primate expert who just passed on. In any case Buzz’s friend and patron Liz Savino was in Uganda last we checked, visiting a chimpanzee refugee. The obvious question: Who else from Buffalo has she run into there? It never fails. You go somewhere remote, and there’s someone from, oh, Clarence. Seriously, that happened to a friend. We wrote about it in The Buffalo News. She went to a remote island off the African coast, you had to take several boats, and one other person was there — from, yes, Clarence. If Liz doesn’t run into a person from here, maybe she’ll meet a monkey. We haven’t seen the Buffalo Zoo’s Babatunde lately.

The Buzz

“Liz Savino’s in Uganda,” Buzz said to Howard, the guy we married. Howard responded: “I’m here at home, with my favorite coffee cup.” … Speaking of home, Buzz went to a dinner party earlier this week and the minute the Bills faced off against the Patriots, our hostess switched on the big-screen TV and just sat down on the couch to watch, her back to all of us. This is what we do here! … One thing we miss about our old haunt, The Buffalo News, is propinquity to witty colleagues. Our former editor Bruce Andriatch had this to say this week about the sudden October chill: “I had to turn on the furnace. Please respect my privacy during this difficult time.”

Further Reading