The Buffalodown, Vol. 3, Issue 9
Stories & Events for Social Connection
By Seamus Gallivan
- Introducing the Sidewalk Food Club
- Next I-Post event July 30th at Sportsmen’s Tavern
- Musings on Music: RIP Denise Hall; free concert series in Ralph Wilson Park
- Featured Events: 25 this issue, always encouraging submissions!
- Links to the Deep End: Investigative Post, local nonprofits, radical acceptance
Thank you for your attention!
Please forward this to kindred souls, and subscribe here if you haven’t yet!
Leading with a tease of a new venture from the family behind Sun Cuisines – please save the date of Wednesday, July 22nd, 5-9pm, for the launch of the Sidewalk Food Club, a gathering of food trailers and trucks at 1989 Niagara Street in Black Rock!
A weekly Wednesday night social will feature a DJ along with a lineup of both new and favorite food trucks, while the food trailer park is already open daily anchored by ZIn’s Kitchen; please stay tuned for a full announcement next week, and if you’re on social media, you can follow the Sun Cuisines and the Sidewalk Food Club on Facebook and Instagram.
The next event from Investigative Post is the annual benefit concert featuring beloved cartoonist Tom Toles (The Buffalo News, Washington Post) along with the Junkman’s Choir at the Sportsmen’s Tavern on Thursday, July 30th, always a good time, please join us!
Beome a paying member to support social connection!
Musings on Music
RIP Denise Hall; live music returns to Ralph Wilson Park
The matriarch of the Sportsmens Tavern has passed. From balancing the books, to welcoming the bands, to posting patrons’ birthdays on a board for all to celebrate, Denise Hall was the rock holding down the heart of Black Rock.
Appreciate this obituary by Dan Herbeck in The Buffalo News – unsure if they remove the paywall for obits. “‘We met as neighbors on Military Road at age 9, started dating at age 15 and got married at age 18 in 1972,’ Dwane Hall recalled.”
Lucky are we to have known Denise and enjoyed the fruits of her labor, between her boys and the family business – and many are we, too, as the receiving line at her wake yesterday snaked throughout and around the funeral home.
I’ll be raising a parting glass to Denise this Saturday in Sportsmen’s Park during the Americanarama 250th Independence Day celebration featuring five bands, say hey and salute with me if you’re there!
In the previous edition of the Buffalodown I laid out lineups for a slew of free outdoor concert series, and called for any more that I’d missed – thanks to a tip from a subscriber and a public announcement since, here’s another with much to be intrigued about, from the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy:
“This summer, Ralph Wilson Park will become Buffalo’s newest Monday night destination. The Levitt VIBE Buffalo Music Series kicks off July 6 and runs every Monday through August 17.
“The series will bring seven free, family-friendly outdoor concerts featuring a diverse lineup of funk, jazz, R&B, blues, salsa, and more from local and national artists. Arrive early to grab a bite from on-site food trucks, or bring a picnic, and find your spot on the lawn.
“The Levitt VIBE Buffalo Music Series is supported in part by the Levitt Family Foundation, which partners with changemakers and nonprofits to strengthen the social fabric of communities in America through free, live music in outdoor public spaces. In 2026, the Levitt Family Foundation is supporting over 900 free concerts in 90+ towns and cities across the country, bringing joy to over a million people.”
And here’s another on the water, this one unfortunately with an AI sloppy poster:
Become a member to help us present and promote more music!
Upcoming Events
Thanks to all who’ve submitted their events! Click the flyers for more info!
Welcoming submissions with a flyer and link to seamus@reconnecter.org.
Kindred calendars:
Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA)
Become a member to help us promote community events!
Links to the Deep End
- Among the latest from Investigative Post: Sheriff hires jail guard accused of breaking law, Feds tried to deport Tibetan migrant to Uganda, Two political defeats of note, and Have fun supporting a good cause – Investigative Post. I recommend subscribing to their two weekly newsletters for these and much more.
- More news from Ralph Wilson Park – construction progress.
- Two local grassroots nonprofits have named new executive directors – Grassroots Gardens and the WNY Peace Center.
- Finally, an episode of maybe my current favorite podcast, Hidden Brian by NPR – its title, Radical Acceptance, relates with my philosophies around radical empathy, and making the Buffalodown an example of radically inclusive social connection. Please share any thoughts if you listen, and send me your favorite podcasts!
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 the next Buffalodown, and reach out with any feedback, all ideas welcome!
Related Posts
