A Day In Buffalo

Sculpture behind the Albright Knox Museum

Front of Albright Knox Museum in Buffalo, NY

The Gallery staircase

Islamic and Christian symbols merge

Jasper Johns Numbers

William De Kooning

Surfing photo

Portable Home or Living Space

We had an easy ride to downtown Buffalo,  about an hour and a half, as we easily found the Albright Knox Art Museum, right next to Buffalo State University.  The museum is divided into two parts, the older Albright Museum, with columns, pillars, caryatids, built early in the 20th century then the Knox Museum, much more modern, and attached to the older museum.  Like the Cleveland Museum of Art, it's located in a lovely area, with a large pond and walks, much like Wade Park.

In the Albright, they had mostly modern works, an exhibition called Decade: 2002-2012.  Although there were few if any names I recognized, the scope and individuality of the pieces was fun and interesting, as all mediums were used, not just pigment and canvas.  We both liked a work, abstract in concept, of various geographic prints, representing both Christian and Muslim traditions, with horizontal strips of gold leaf, giving it a interesting wavy perspective, as if the piece were three dimensional.

They also have, in the Knox a piece or two from lots of major artists, Picasso's early Woman Dancer with a Man, Gauguins' Yellow Christ, a Cezanne, Manet, Renoir, Seurat, Pissaro, as well as  De Koonings, Pollock, Johns, and the ubiquitous Andy Warhol.  We liked Jasper Johns Numbers, multicolored squares with the numbers 1 through 9, repeated in the painting.  Great colors, patience, repetition. It also has the colors of our kitchen, which we like.  My other favorite was a room composed of large photos taken of surfers, where the water blends into the sky, and the surfers are just small dark figures in the water, waiting for a wave rather than riding one.  There were at least five photographs on each side of the hallway, each 3 feet by 5 feet.  Really neat, emphasizing the need for patience, the emphasis on waiting for the wave, as opposed to the energy and power of the wave itself.

We then went to the chic area called Elmwood, a great street with older houses, shaded side streets, lots of people, restaurants, bars, shops, and grocery stores.  It could easily be a street in New York City, it's so alive and hip.  I loved the older homes, many renovated and chic next to the older, unkempt homes of the aging citizenry.  We had lunch at the recommended SPOT coffee house, a great choice, a bit like a Panera but nicer and less commercial. We had a great wrap, coffee, and our only complaint was their WiFi was not working.  We then walked the area, did some shopping for about an hour before driving a couple of miles into town, to the Hamptons Inn Suites, in downtown Buffalo, a great choice as it right in the center of the city and everywhere we want to go is within walking distance.

At Betty's in Elmwood

We relaxed in our palacial hotel room, lounge, bathroom and bedroom, about the size of our house, then headed to Betty's, about a 15 minute walk, on a beautiful evening, as we passed some of old Buffalo's finest buildings, The Mansion in particular, a millionaire's home converted into a luxury hotel, where we will be staying next time, if I win the lotto,  Betty's was semi busy when we arrived, so we sat at the bar for a beer, then moved to a neat table next to the window, in the bar.  There are three rooms, the bar, with three or four tables, a very well lit and airy dining room, and a smaller,  darker room which, when we were there, was filled with women celebrating a birthday.  Our meals were outstanding, Evie having  chicken breast on fennel, beets, and marinated onion, with a balsamic sauce, and I had mahi mahi on roasted cauliflowers, spiced pecans, cajun pork bits, and an aioli sauce....wow was it good, as I tasted mucho and many flavors as I ate.  A good choice, compliments of the Bergens.  We will go back.

We then walked back to our hotel room, relaxed for an hour, then walked to the Tralf Music Hall, about ten minutes, where we watched Papadosia.  The music hall was basically a bar, with a dance floor, surrounding by tables.  Most of the patrons stood in front of the bands, drank, talked, and danced.  We stayed there till about 11:00, sitting through a pretty good warm up band, then Papadosio.  Before the Papadosio took stage, I was able to see my student, Sam Brouse.  He gave me a big bear hug, sat down with us and talked about his life.   Last year, they were on the rode for 250 days out of the year.  This year they have a bus so things are better and now, with the cold weather, things are slowing down a bit.  Their home is Ashville, NC, and they have spent the last two years putting together their new album which comes out in a couple of weeks.  Sam said he cannot write another note or word, he is so emptied from this experience.  Their band was great, with an emphasis on electronic sounds, an eclectic, at times cacophonous sound, with new age like visuals, something they are trying to create and sell.  It's hard to tell who is their influence because they are so different, with a range of sounds, combinations, and interludes.  Sam was really touched that we had come to see him play, which was nice.  He was a great kid to know and teach and still is.  I don't envy him his life but he's doing what he loves.

With Sam Brouse, of Papadosio

Papadosio at Tralf Music Hall in Buffalo

Sam Brouse on Keyboards

We walked home, made the mistake of getting a couple of tacos at an all night shop near our hotel, came back, watched Stephen Colbert, ate our tacos, and at least I went to bed with a queasy feeling though I feel fine this morning.  It was a great day in Buffalo.

Right now, it's overcast outside, a bit warmer, around 55 degrees, with rain in the forecast on and off during the day.