Smooth Sailing....

Er, um…. DRIVING... up the newly blacktopped, perfectly smooth Paderewski approach to the Central Terminal!

Amanda and I took a quick drive down the 33 to the terminal during lunch yesterday, specifically to see the fresh, new pavement (thanks for the heads up, Pam!). Well, you would have to have driven up there, dodging huge potholes, for years, like we have, to fully appreciate just how exciting this is to us!

It is a HUGE improvement, both practically and visually! There is not a ripple, bump or seam to be seen or felt. The pavers did an absolutely perfect job. I’m sorry there is no photo to post with this article, but I didn’t bring my camera to work. I’ll get a shot of it this weekend.

I took us down Herman St. to get there and we crossed the western side of Paderewski (west of Fillmore Ave.) and the pavers were resurfacing that street as well. Perhaps the eastern side of Paderewski is next? Then, maybe the circle? And Memorial Drive?

Those of course are just wishes for right now, but it certainly would put the icing on the cake, as far as a freshened view of the terminal and surrounding neighborhood.

I think I’ll see if Council President Franczyk has anything in the works for this. Never hurts to ask…. the worse we can be told is “no”!

Update: Photo compliments of Nathan Vester

Buffalo Central Terminal featured in the New York Times

A photo in today's New York Times shows Saturday's tour given as part of Buffalo Old Home Week. Over 130 people came out to experience the Terminal, many of which were former Buffalonians looking to move back.

We also wish to thank our volunteers for coming out Sunday to help clean up the concourse to prepare for our upcoming model train show on September 10th. Anyone wishing to volunteer their time can email volunteercoord@buffalocentralterminal.org.

Major Improvements Underway at the Central Terminal

The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) would sincerely like to thank the City of Buffalo for the approval of our request to mill and repave the Paderewski Drive approach to the Central Terminal. We would also like to gratefully acknowledge the hard work of Common Council President David Franczyk and assistant Robert Sienkiewicz in facilitating and implementing our request. This major improvement to our approach, and to the entire surrounding neighborhood, could not have been done without their efforts. Thank you very much, Dave and Bob!



The germination of this project began a few months ago, when unbeknownst to the three of us, Russell, Sara and I each approached Dave Franczyk with the idea that the Paderewski approach was most probably city property and was long overdue for repaving (thinking that it was most probably resurfaced more than forty years ago). Being a former CTRC board member and ardent supporter of the Central Terminal and our events, Dave agreed and put the plan into motion. After Bob Sienkiewicz did some research and found that the approach was indeed city property, he completed the necessary paper work and turned it over to Dave to present to the Common Council. I’m happy to say that after only a short couple of months of waiting (seemed like forever though!), I am finally able to make this announcement, as the milling phase has begun.



For any of the 75,000 or more of you whom have driven or parked on this part of the grounds in the past few years, you’ll know what a huge practical, visual and emotionally uplifting improvement this will be to the experience of visiting the terminal and the surrounding neighborhood. To all of us regulars, it means no more crazy, zig-zag paths around a minefield of potholes, no more bent rims and no more risk of flat tires. For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about, yes, driving on it was that bad!



We’re expecting the resurfacing to be complete within a day or two, barring any inclement weather, so for those of you visiting the terminal to see the play “Terminus” this final weekend (9:00 PM Friday and Saturday), or participating in Saturday’s Old Home Week tour at 9:30 AM, your experience will be greatly enhanced.

As always, stay tuned for more exciting news about events and projects at the Central Terminal!

For Immediate Release:

Trains Return to the Buffalo Central Terminal

First Annual Model Train Show


Buffalo, New York August 19, 2006: The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation announces our first annual Model Train Show which will take place on Sunday, September 10th 2006 from 10am-4pm. Come join us for what will be a truly historic event! Model train layouts in all scales will adorn the main concourse of the Buffalo Central Terminal, and over 80 vendors will be selling model trains and related items, videos, DVDs, books, photographs and exclusive Central Terminal merchandise.


Food and refreshments will be available, as well as activities for children, door prizes, and plenty of free parking. Admission to the show is $2.00 for children (3-12), $5.00 for adults, or $10.00 per family (2 adults and 2 children). All proceeds for this event go directly to the preservation and restoration of the historic Buffalo Central Terminal.

Inquires regarding vendor and table availability information please call 716-892-5008 or 585-889-4587.

The Central Terminal is located at 495 Paderewski Drive in Buffalo in the historic Broadway-Fillmore area. For more information about the Terminal or the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation please contact us at (716) 954-2225.

Day of Caring

Volunteers as part of the United Way Day of Caring came to the Terminal today to help clean up the various gardens and planters along the Memorial Drive circle. We sincerely thank them for all their hard work!



Some of our regular volunteers were also present working inside the building. Below is a shot of Merchandise Coordinator Amanda Punaro preparing the Union News Company kiosk for use during our September events.

The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation has always relied on word of mouth and free local advertising to publicize our events. To make the upcoming events a success we are asking for help from our volunteers and members.

If anyone has some free time, and wants to help out, here's how.
Download our Train Show flyer at
http://www.buffalocentralterminal.org/flyers/bcttrainshowflyer.pdf

Print out some copies, take them to work, leave them at your local library, post them on advertising boards at stores and churches, stand on a street corner (ok maybe not that one), etc. Be creative! Even just printing one and posting it somewhere is appreciated.

I will continue to post flyers for our upcoming events as they get closer. All help is greatly appreciated, and the CTRC thanks all of you!

We Need Volunteers!

We are gearing up for our busy September events season, and having enough volunteers to help handle admissions, merchandise and food sales, setup and cleanup is vital to our success. To do this, we are establishing a new mailing list for people interested in volunteering. This mailing list will be the primary method of letting volunteers know about upcoming activities, events, and work days where we need help.

We are in the process of adding people that have recently signed up at the Terminal, but to ensure that we don't miss anyone, please email volunteercoord@buffalocentralterminal.org so we can get you on the list.

Thank you!

TERMINUS: A World Premiere at the Buffalo Central Terminal

Torn Space, a professional theater under the direction and leadership of Dan Shanahan, will present an original production entitled TERMINUS at the Buffalo Central Terminal this August. Conceived by Shanahan, in collaboration with Aaron Miller, TERMINUS follows in the footsteps of the company's hugely successful and original production of MURIEL VANDERBILT GOES WALKING (produced to great acclaim at Sound Lab, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Adam Mickiewicz Dramatic Circle and the SoHo Playhouse.)
Staged by Shanahan and Miller, the production includes Melissa Meola, Sharon Strait, Becky Globus, Greg Greg, Bonita Z., Tim McPeek, Kara McKenney, Candace Lukasik and Geoff Kumm.

TERMINUS: A Finishing Point. A Point of Origin. A Post of Stone Marking a Boundary. The First Limiting Point in Time.

TERMINUS: The Split Occurring. The Embryo Forming. The Destruction Arriving.

TERMINUS. An Installation Performance Inside the Central Terminal.


August 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
Performances Begin at 9PM

Buffalo Central Terminal
495 Paderewski Drive
Buffalo.

Admission $15/$10 Students

About the creative team:

Aaron Miller is an artist specializing in audio, video, performance, and interactive installations. He is co-founder/co-creator of [PAM] the Perpetual Art Machine, an online video art community, resource, and database as well as a traveling installation. This summer he and his collaborators will take [PAM] to multiple venues including the Liverpool Biennial and the Split Film Festival in Croatia. His recent performances and exhibitions include one the premiere projects at the Scope International Art Fair, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery's Beyond/In Western New York and a performance tour of Poland and the Czech Republic with Gary Hill and others. He has also designed software and managed technical production for multiple artists, including Gary Hill, at venues such as The Coliseum in Rome, The Louvre Museum and The Pompidou Center in Paris. Miller received his BA in Fine Arts from Alfred University and his MA in Media Study and Computer Music from the University at Buffalo.
Dan Shanahan is founder and Artistic Director of Torn Space Theater. Under his direction the company has produced over twenty productions for the stage, most of which being area premiers. Recently, Shanahan's production of 'night, Mother was nominated for best direction. "Terminus" is the follow up piece to "Muriel Vanderbilt Goes Walking," which showed at Sound Lab, The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, The Adam Mickiewicz Dramatic Circle and The SoHo Playhouse.

Buffalo Old Home Week

The Central Terminal will be playing a role in the return of Buffalo Old Home Week.

Buffalo Old Home Week last took place in 1907 during Buffalo’s heyday. Now, 99 years later, this remarkable celebration of Buffalo and its many treasures is back!

The goal of this annual event is to build upon the efforts of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise, BuffaloPlace and countless other organizations with a grassroots effort to turn our many "Buffalo Expatriates" into "Buffalo Repatriates". We aim to reposition Buffalo in the minds of our expats as a thriving and emerging market that is home to a burgeoning cultural, technical, and economic renaissance. At the end of the weekend, we hope to have shown both our local and our expat community what "New Buffalo" is all about and turn them into repats and Buffalo boosters.

This potential repat demographic provides the "Four E's" that are absolutely essential to continuing the Buffalo renaissance: Energy, Enthusiasm, Experience and Expertise. These qualities empower the existing populace to see the opportunity all around them and to capitalize on it!

All are invited to join in this special tour, being held at 9:30am on Saturday, August 26th. A $10 donation will go towards the continued preservation of the Terminal.