The Buffalodown, Vol. 2, Issue 4
Stories & Events for Social Connection
By Seamus Gallivan
- The Bills Have Us by the Heart
- Musings on Music: Rest in Limbo, Mohawk Place
- Featured Events: 20 is the new norm, welcoming submissions!
- Listening Links: Step into the Flamingo Lounge
- Reading Rundown: Beware of “sanewashing”
Welcome to the Buffalodown! Always welcoming submissions.
Thank you for tuning in! Last week’s edition was the most-read in four months!
Like most of y’all, I imagine, I’m sad to see another Bills season end so close to the mountaintop. Still, I’m grateful for the wild ride, the bunch of guys who are fun to root for, and the ways they bring us together – right down to our “Buffaloha,” as “Go Bills” works in place of hello, goodbye, and even I love you.
Though I know some folks lose their minds over the wins and losses, even as a daily devout fan I was able at the end to smile and be grateful for the ride, as one friend immediately got up to go home and another in a feverish group chat signed off, “love you dudes, goodnight.” I love how the host of the one Bills podcast I listen to, Joe Marino of Locked On Bills, ended his postgame recap, kinda justifying my choice to look to him in particular in the sea of sports punditry, as he’s brilliant in breaking down the Xs and Os and also appreciates the overarching social connection:
“There’s nothing disappointing about the relationships, the connection – none of that is disappointing. To be connected to people from all over the world, from all different backgrounds, and to be able to connect over the Bills – and because of that, we care about details of people’s lives, it’s incredible.
“So I hope that the disappointment of this season, and this result, doesn’t take away from what is a very special thing that exists that connects people. And I love things that unify people – it’s a very divided world that we live in – and so I hope we’ll be able to keep the right perspective and enjoy how this team connects so many people.”
Ultimately, that’s it for me – I love sports so much that it used to be my livelihood, yet now all I really follow are the Bills and Sabres, because they represent my community and thus give us a common connection. And while I have so many feelings about the NFL as a shady entity that warrants scrutiny, in the end, as we already schnow, the Bills have us by the heart.
I’ll leave those last two “Buffaloha” words to Reconnecter member Dee Adams, who recently wrote us a fun-loving anthem…
Musings on Music
Rest in Limbo, Mohawk Place
I said it here earlier this month, and I’m saying it again – in my optimistic reading of the tea leaves, I refuse to believe that Mohawk Place is closing for good.
After all, current ‘Hawk owner Rick Platt is its third, and the place was dark for a while before he took over. Wishing Rick good health and open ears to the apparent offers from prospective buyers.
Elmer Ploetz, editor of the new nonprofit Buffalo Hive (which has been abuzz with new subscribers in the wake of The Buffalo News sunsetting its Gusto section for arts and entertainment), opened a piece upon learning this news, “How many lives does the Mohawk Place have? I guess we’re about to find out.”
Meantime, while we mark this week another closing throwdown for this storied music club, complete with the tombstone poster – I say, leave the band pictures on the walls, y’all, bet this ain’t the end. Write another eulogy for the closing of Chapter Three – reckon it’ll sound like the previous one (see below), that turned out to not be the last one, viva Mohawk Place!
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Events in the Week Ahead
Thanks to all who’ve submitted their events! Welcoming submissions with a flyer and link to seamus@reconnecter.org.
Grace Lougen & Alex McArthur at Flying Bison Brewing, Saturday, February 1st, 4-7pm
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Listening Links
What are you listening to? Please send links!
In the Flamingo Lounge with Rockabilly Greg, episode 150: Seamus Gallivan – who wants to listen to a whole hour of me rambling?! Seriously grateful for Greg and this historical document of Buffalo’s music scene, now 150 episodes of open-ended stories behind the scenes – hopefully you’ll find this episode enjoyable, especially if you’ve bothered to subscribe to Reconnecter and read this far into it.
Reading Rundown
Always welcoming links to read and share at seamus@reconnecter.org.
‘Ready for Whatever’s Next’: Damar Hamlin Reflects on Journey to AFC Championship – Sports Illustrated – Shout out to former intern at The Buffalo News Greg Bishop, now a longtime long-form writer for SI, for getting to the heart of Damar’s story and the moment he’s in now.
What Buffalo mayoral candidates think about the Kensington Expressway project – The Buffalo News – The issue that inspired the conception of Reconnecter.
The Caz is banking on the future of music in South Buffalo – The Buffalo News – “We want this to be a listening room. We want it to be artist focused,” said General Manager André Pilette. “We also want this to be a comfortable, welcoming community place where people gather and have social hours…”
The Editorial Board: Partnership for Public Good’s 2025 agenda addresses urgent needs and deserves support – The Buffalo News – “Agendas for Buffalo’s future don’t always come from City or County Hall, nor should they. Those looking for ideas and solutions for the region’s most pressing needs can also turn to the Partnership for the Public Good, which released its 2025 Community Agenda last week.”
Another Voice: Ranked choice voting can transform Buffalo – The Buffalo News – “This system could transform how Buffalo’s citizens engage with elections, creating a more inclusive and representative political landscape.”
All the executive orders Trump has signed after 1 week in office – NPR – “During his first week in office, Trump signed dozens of executive orders affecting everything from immigration, climate change and oil exploration to health and medical research, as well as eliminating federal diversity programs, directives defining gender and much, much more.”
Beware the sanewashing ahead on Trump’s second term – American Crisis my Margaret Sullivan – From the former editor of The Buffalo News, now an internationally-renowned observer of media and politics: “It’s distressing. But tuning out, however tempting, is not the right move. Right-thinking Americans who want to see an eventual recovery from this mess need to stay engaged. The excellent organization ProtectDemocracy.org has 29 ways to do that. I suggest reading the list, and choosing at least one or two items to pursue.”
Thank YOU for reading this far and being part of it all – extra thanks to everyone supporting this work with a membership at www.reconnecter.org!
Please share with friends to sign up for next Tuesday’s Buffalodown, and reach out with any feedback, all ideas welcome!
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