The Buzz: This Week in Buffalo

A mystery at sea, disappearing doors, and a priest we bet went straight to heaven

Quote

“No tractor pulls? No monster truck events?”

— Commenter on The Buffalo News’ list of Independence Day happenings

Don’t move the magic

Why is it that whenever a cultural institution has a makeover, the first thing they do is move the entrance? The Science Museum did it — and poof, we lost that “Harry Potter” thrill of stepping into that venerable great hall. The Zoo did it, too, and now the gorgeous old gates just stand there, abandoned, like yesterday’s giraffe poop. Next victim: the Botanical Gardens. Go now, as Buzz just did, and you swoon as you walk straight into that glorious Victorian glass dome. But the expansion plans? Sure enough, item No. 1: “A relocated entrance.” No! Nooooo! Grow the gift shop, build 10 new begonia houses, add a flowery restaurant — fine, we’d love that. But for once, can’t we stick with what our legendary architects gave us? Don’t fix the magic. Let it shine!

The plot thickens

Who knows what happens on the Cotter? Photo by the Author.

The Cotter, Buffalo’s historic fireboat, always looks so cheery — this bright red boat, spraying its hoses just for fun. But ominous things are afoot: Our friend Leith Chamberlain mentioned that she was booked into a murder mystery on board the boat. “What kind of mystery could it be?” she pondered. “It’s not that big of a ship, and it doesn’t hold that many people.” We say Colonel Mustard did it in the aft deck, with the high-pressure hose! But speaking of mustard, we wouldn’t rule out Professor Weber, by the smokestacks reading “BFD,” with the bottle of Krupnik. Or Miss Rizzo — there’s another Buffalo name — in the galley, with the frozen pierogi. We suspect everyone!

News from the Lounge

No fireworks in Buffalo this Fourth of July? Buzz scoured The Buffalo News’ list and found none within the city limits. We’re not the only one disgruntled: one citizen complains in the comments: ” Happily, the city enjoys one constant: It being a Friday night, Howard, the guy Buzz married, will be entertaining at Johnny D’s at the Hyatt, from 5 to 9 p.m. He promises “Of Thee I Sing,” Gershwin’s greatest song for our money. Plus, you never know who’ll be there: Last week’s crowd included Dixieland great Lew Custode and his wife, Maria. And singer Elizabeth Langan Griffin, up from the South.

Express to heaven

As part of the St. John Paul II Schola Cantorum, Buzz sang for the funeral of Father Richard Poblocki, July 2 at St. Josaphat’s Church. It was an honor. A joy on Catholic Radio, the padre was always kind when we called him from The Buffalo News. He was a true friend to the Buzz column. Witness a Buzz that ran one Christmas Day. The column told how a mother had called Father Rick wondering if it was OK if her son went to hear the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Father Rick admitted he was no fan. “It’s like elevator music, or something you'd hear sitting around a cafeteria someplace,” he said. Still he gave it his blessing: “He could be listening to a lot worse stuff.” Hey, Father Rick. We need a Buzz correspondent in heaven. You’re it.

The Buzz

Buzz went to Jazz at the Richardson on Sunday and loved it — the Ed Croft Trio, with Ivan Docenko on piano and Dave Wasik on drums, playing a Vince Guaraldi tribute that, yes, included the Charlie Brown Christmas classics. Bravo to Docenko for filling such big shoes. The unsung star of the show: Tony Zambito of JazzBuffalo, going from blanket to blanket, lawn chair to lawn chair, making sure everyone was having fun. The next Jazz at the Richardson is July 13. … The Buffalo Zoo has a new tiger, Ash! Well, in last week’s Buzz, we learned we aren’t told the big cats’ real names. But we’ll welcome her, whatever her real name is. Good kitty. Good girl!

Our new tiger, being a good kitty. Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Zoo.

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