David Landrey reads from “Consciousness Suite,” Andrew Galarneau talks about dining and food culture in Buffalo, and a Fundraising Gala for Intersect: A Pride Arts Festival

Photo: David Landrey reads from Consciousness Suite Wednesday at The Center for Inquiry


Wednesday, May 6, 7 p.m.: Buffalo, Books & Beer presents “FOUR BITES: WHERE TO EAT IN BUFFALO” by Andrew Galarneau.

Andrew Galarneau, author of FOUR BITES: WHERE TO EAT IN BUFFALO, 2026 EDITION, is a former Buffalo News food editor and restaurant critic. He currently operates as a food guru under his own multiplatform banner, Four Bites, on Substack, TikTok, Instagram, and X.

With his book, Galarneau has compiled a guide that spotlights 165 locally-owned restaurants, bakeries, and food stores that make “Buffalo one of the best eating cities, dollar for dollar, in America.”

Location: The Place, 229 Lexington Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222-1717

Wednesday, May 6, 7:30 p.m.: CFI Literary Café Series reading hosted by poet Ryki Zuckerman and featuring poet David Landrey. Ten additional reading slots available. Center for Inquiry, 1310 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst. Free and open to the public.

About the Poet

David Landrey is the author of Consciousness Suite, (Spuyten Duyvil, 2008), Psyche & Ares, (Fairfield Press, 2016), Intermezzi To Divorce Poems and Dinner Table Scenes, (Jensen Daniels 2002), and other books.

A former student of Charles Olson at the University of Buffalo in the early 1960’s and Fulbright teaching scholar in Turkey, he taught literature and American postmodern poetry at SUNY Buffalo State University for over 35 years. His immersive style of teaching, focused primarily on Nineteenth Century and Post-Modern American Literature and letters, inspired his students to live in and through the works he introduced them to and taught; not just as works of art to be analyzed, but dimensions of consciousness required to be explored, opening minds and hearts to alternative and deeply humanist modes of understanding and navigating the myriad passages and experiences of life.

Friday, May 8, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.: “The Intersect Gala,” a fundraiser at Duende in Silo City organized by Intersect’s Performer Selection Committee of Intersect: A Pride Arts Festival.

This event will support and broaden the arts and entertainment budget for Intersect’s Pride Arts Festival in June.

The program: An evening of burlesque. A snapping dash of poets. An exclusive raffle from a variety of local businesses & arts institutions. And displays by vendors, live drawings by Fat Chance, and DJ DirtyWifi.

Performances by:

Dollie Duhh

Sunya Steel

Lookie Lou

SugaTush

Eevee Es’tetaz

Gendr01d

Blue Darlin’



Poets:

Nati

Juniper Thunders The Dharma Dyke

Fawn Iris Astrid Thunders

Jazz De Nero

Doors @ 7 p.m. Show @ 8 p.m.

18+ to be admitted.

Presale tickets are $15.

$20 on the day of the event.


Saturday, May 9, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Just Buffalo Literary Center presents Eco-Gratitude at Silo City: A Walking Workshop with Christina Vega-Westhoff.

How does our gratitude shift when we ground it in the earth? Join poet, translator, and aerialist Christina Vega-Westhoff for a morning of “Eco-Gratitude” amidst the post-industrial, natural landscape of Silo City.

As part of the city-wide In Gratitude initiative, this generative workshop invites participants to walk the Silo City grounds, practice the art of noticing among the silos, and compose reflections that celebrate our interconnectedness with the natural world.

About the Teaching Artist

Christina Vega-Westhoff is a poet, translator, choreographer, and educator living in Buffalo, NY. She is the author of Suelo Tide Cement (Nightboat, 2018). She served as translator for the bilingual Stories that Cook: Art, Memories, and Recipes / Historias que Cocinan: Arte, Recuerdos, y Recetas (Genesee Valley Council on the Arts, 2024), which features recipes, stories, and art from students, teachers, and staff associated with migrant education programs in Western New York. Her poetry has recently appeared in The Capilano Review’s Speculative Feminisms issue and Black Sun Lit’s Vestiges and her work is currently being supported by a New York State Choreographers Initiative Grant and an Artpark Writer’s Residency. She teaches aerial dance at The Bird’s Nest Circus Arts and is a teaching artist with Just Buffalo Literary Center.

Location: Silo City (The Meadow)

Silo City, 85 Silo City, Buffalo, New York 14203

(Note: Meet outside of Duende at 11 a.m.)

Free and open to the public.