And a look back at some of our best work

(This originally ran in The Buffalo Hive newsletter, “The Buzz,” but we decided to run it here as well in case you haven’t subscribed to the newletter yet. To do so, click HERE or just follow the link at the top of the page).

One great thing about the end of the year is that it presents an opportunity to look back at some of the great work The Buffalo Hive was able to do during 2024 (or at least since our test launch in June and our official launch in July!).

Here are some of our favorites from the year:

1. You can’t say that in a restaurant review. Andrew Galarneau played a huge role in getting The Buffalo Hive rolling, and he gave us this piece for our opening week in July. It’s vintage Andrew, funny, biting and oh so true.
2. Deeply weird, man, deeply weird. David Staba’s look back at the Old Pink in the wake of the fire in June was one of our first pieces as we started fine-tuning The Buffalo Hive for its official launch. It was also one of our best!
3. Frank Housh (another of The Hive’s originators) wrote a piece on 97 Rock firing DJ Slick Tom Tiberi that was our most read piece of the year, really resonating with readers.
4. It’s been fun getting to work with some of the younger writers, such as Tanya Gamble, who has been introducing us to some of the area’s rappers (such as this piece on Myla Hooks); Mia Ciechalski, whose “Wicked” film review was another of our most read pieces; and Casey Huber, who wrote a holiday intro to TTRPGs (that’s table top role playing games).  
5. Benjamin Joe is a veteran newspaper writer, but we’re getting to know him with his stories from the punk scene (“Core Values” is his series), like this one on longtime scenester Mark Miller.
6. We had single appearances from some great writers! Colin Dabkowski reminded people how much fun his writing is with his review of the Hallwalls member show. Likewise Ron Ehmke recalled the early editions of the Buffalo Infringement Festival, David Tunis-Garcia wrote about the inaugural Amazing Fantasy Festival and Mike Desmond reported on MusicalFare’s impending move downtown into the Shea’s empire. I’m sure I’m forgetting some other writers!
7. Bob McLennan’s preview of the Dave Alvin/Jimmie Dale Gilmore show at the Sportsmen’s Tavern included an interview with Alvin, one of the great American songwriters and performers of our era. Kevin J. Hosey also contributed a couple of great pieces in an American vein with his story on the Whitford Klyma Band and Roger Bryan & the Orphans/Harvest Sum anniversary show.
8. Melinda Miller’s theater writing is always delightful, whether writing about a piece as serious as “Remember This” or as light as “Something Rotten.” It’s tough to pick a favorite, but let’s go with her review of “Shylock.”
9. Likewise, M. Faust’s film reviews are the embodiment of pithy criticism, placing films in their proper place in the cinematic universe. I particularly enjoy this review of “The End.”
10. Our other collaborators have made huge contributions as well, whether it’s Jeff Miers with his “Where the Bands Are,” R.D. Pohl filling us in on literary happenings, Monica Power telling us what’s playing every single night, Jason Pomietlasz’s weekly comedy roundup, Miggie J doing daily doses of Infringement Festival or Seamus Gallivan telling what’s going on in scenes that sometimes get ignored. Greg Hennessey’s “In the Flamingo Lounge with Rockabilly Greg” and Fredonia Radio Systems’ “Local Lo-Down” are big contributions as well.
11. OK, I’m going to throw some of my own stories in here. It’s been fun writing about the arts again, and I humbly suggest you check out stories on the creation of “The Fitzgeralds of St. Paul’s” at the Irish Classical Theatre Company; the story of ArtPark’s wild early years; and the connection between artist Jerry Ross, activist bookstore owner Martin Sostre and a painting.

Now let’s see what we can do in 2025!

Elmer Ploetz
Editor-in-Chief