The Buzz: Pigs' Feet, Pierogi -- and Pumpkins

Plus, fall jumps the gun, riding in on a cinnamon broom

The attack of autumn at Wegmans. Photograph by the Author.

Quote

“Welcome to the bathroom. A cat will be with you shortly.”

— Joking sign kicking around the Internet

Autumn By Decree

It can be 80 degrees, but it is autumn — Wegmans has decreed it. Heading into the Amherst Street location, we paused to gawk at the heaps of plastic pumpkins, the rows of chrysanthemums. And the air was drenched in this incredible sweet sticky caramel apple aroma. Where was it coming from? We sniffed our way to its source: Cinnamon Brooms. They’re not edible, and that spicy scent might drive you crazy after a few days — still, they’re just $6, and we see one in our future somehow. Just not now, not yet. Buffalo loves to jump the gun on fall, but this is just too much.

Ani Time, Ani Place

It was fun, the interview The Buffalo News ran a few days ago with folk singer Ani DiFranco. Best quote: “I came out of nowhere. I came out of Buffalo, and I didn’t know any industry people. I started just making records on my own, and it was a long journey to meeting a world full of badasses who I could call up.” Buzz was among the first to interview her, back when we were at the Niagara Gazette. A roommate answered the phone and, since Ani had shaved her head at the time, helpfully asked: “You want the bald one?” Ah, the memories. Even with hair, she’s still herself.

A Client’s Choice Words

Realtor Constance Caldwell got a card from a client reading: “Thank you for what you did, and also for being so kind and beautiful and a goddammed inspiration.” We have preserved the spelling. Connie commented: “Not exactly hearts and flowers, but how beautifully thoughtful (and funny)!”

Olmsted’s Orchard

In Buffalo’s Olmsted parks, the trees are as much a legacy as the statues. Roaming with our Seek nature app, we’ve identified hackberries, serviceberries, scarlet hawthorns, and — most intriguing — sweet crabapples, all planted long ago by civic hands. Last week we put up liqueur from Cornelian cherries gathered in Delaware Park. Perhaps next we’ll tackle these forgotten fruits, ripening on historic branches, ready for our creative experiments.

The Buzz

Wegmans now has pigs’ feet. We think they’re trying to be more like Price Rite. One of these days we are going to work up the nerve to tell the checkout clerk: “Gimme a pig foot and a bottle of beer.” … Let the fall eating season begin. The Ukrainian Festival, 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, takes place at 3275 Elmwood Ave. in Kenmore and offers a mighty spread including stuffed cabbage, sausage, and “Pyrohy/Pierogi.” Only in Buffalo would we have two spellings for that treat.