A Bash in Babeville

Last night kicked off Buffalo First’s Buy Buffalo Week with a smash party at Babeville.  The Buy Buffalo Bash was a great success, by all accounts.  Dozens of local, independent stores donated items for the Chinese Auction and Silent Auction, from locally designed clothing to Sabres tickets to framed art and photography.  The whole gamut of artistic and creative products was there, along with staples like wine and bicycles.  (Please, no drinking and driving.)

Local food vendors like La Dolce Vita and Shango (you had me at Shango) were distributing their goods as well.  Amy’s Place and Pizza Plant (best veggie chili ever!) were also represented, adding to the “we’re-in-the-suburbs-too!” vibe Buffalo First is all about.  We’re a region of consumers, and so long as we think to include our region first when compiling our shopping lists, then we will have a region in which to shop and live.  (Read more about Buffalo First and the Buy Buffalo Week in the current issue of Block Club Magazine.)

Buffalo First founder and director Amy Kedron was all aglow in her shining yellow BF t-shirt, as was her young staff in matching tees.  This was definitely a youthfully driven initiative, which gives further hope to such causes regarding Western New York’s future.  Kedron had great support last night, too.  WBFO personality Gabe DiMaio and gypsy-jazz band Babik hosted the evening and kept the night moving along.  A creative and responsible “no garbage allowed” policy meant every item of trash—including dirty paper plates from food vendors, and forks, and apple cores and everything else under the sun—was recycled in the corner Compost area.  Wonderful idea, bringing other areas of importance to the center of the attention.

All in all, a wonderful night for a wonderful group that does nothing if not promote the underdogs of our local economy.  We’re all in this together, and whether or not you fancy yourself a mall shopper, you’ve got to admit, you can’t find this kind of hospitality or charm in a big box store.

Some photos from last night…

Visit Buffalo First online.

Posted by on 11/15 at 03:03 PM