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The Darwin D. Martin House Complex:
America’s First-Ever Re-construction of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Building
While other communities struggle to save their Frank Lloyd Wright assets, Buffalo has summoned the will and the resources to preserve and restore an internationally recognized architectural treasure. Work is nearing completion at the National Historic Landmark Darwin D. Martin House complex (1903-05) on the reconstruction of three previously demolished elements of the original Prairie Style complex — the pergola, conservatory and carriage house. These re-constructions — the first ever of a major Wrightian building — will complement the ongoing restoration of the main 15,000 sq. ft. Martin House, and the associated Wright-designed Barton House (1903), bringing back to life one of the most important publicly accessible Wright sites in the eastern United States. The Martin House Restoration Corporation is also preparing to construct a significant visitors’ center that will stand on a parcel of land to the west of the Martin House designed by Toshiko Mori, chair of the department of architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Mori describes the Martin House simply as “the most significant residential compound Frank Lloyd Wright has ever designed.”

Stellar Works and Sophisticated Ambience:
New Vision, New Energy, New Leadership at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery has one of the finest collections of modern art in the United States outside of New York and Chicago and should be on everyone’s list of top art destinations. Director Louis Grachos, a Toronto native, came to the Albright-Knox three years ago from SITE Santa Fe and has infused what had been a somewhat predictable institution with youthful energy and creative programming, re-connecting the gallery with its roots as a center of contemporary art. A jazz concert series, lectures and other performing arts have made the Albright an exciting and invigorating place to be for both residents and visitors.

Erie Canal Harbor:
Restoring the “Gateway to the West”
Buffalo’s position at the western end of the Erie Canal made it the Gateway to the West for millions of immigrants and fostered its growth as the quintessential 19th century boom town, a history little remembered today. The Buffalo community is hard at work reviving this influential piece of American history through the excavation and restoration of the original terminus of the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal Harbor is a $50 million dollar project that will include the re-creation of the notorious Canal District that was home to sailors, stevedores and the saloonkeepers who served them. A Great Lakes museum and interpretive exhibits are also scheduled for completion by fall of 2007

Ani DiFranco Rocks Buffalo:
A Righteous Babe Restoration
Buffalo’s already vibrant theater and performing arts scene received an infusion of new energy in 2006 when folk-rock superstar Ani DiFranco’s Righteous Babe Records opened a state-of-the-art performance space in the former Asbury Delaware Church. Re-christened The Church, this remarkable adaptive re-use of a Buffalo landmark dating from 1871 will play host to an eclectic array of performers and styles and provide another anchor to the city’s burgeoning entertainment district. Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, long at the cutting edge of contemporary art, shares the space and continue its tradition of presenting exhibits, film screenings and musical performances by the most adventurous and provocative artists working today.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buffalo:
The Friendship that Changed Wright’s Life and the Course of World Architecture
The story of the long and lasting friendship between Frank Lloyd Wright and Darwin D. Martin has been seldom, if ever, told. Darwin Martin first brought Wright to Buffalo in 1902. In short order, Wright received a series of commissions that represented his first major work outside of the Midwest. Martin would come to act as Wright’s
patron on numerous occasions throughout his career, sustaining him financially when his fortunes changed.

36 Hours in Buffalo
Expect the Unexpected
by Ed Healy
CVB Director of Communications

“Not exactly what you expected, is it?” I asked my guests as we sipped espresso at Spot Coffee in the heart of Buffalo’s charming Elmwood Village, surrounded by a noisy gathering of college kids, young couples, chess players and people perusing the Sunday New York Times.

George, a friend from Ontario, and his wife Patty were in Buffalo for the first time since a long ago visit to see the Sabres play the Leafs. Their mental image of Buffalo was an out-of-focus mixture of old Eyewitness News clips and a half-remembered shopping trip to the Walden Galleria. They weren’t prepared for the new Buffalo I had to show them.

After George and Patty arrived on Friday afternoon, we immediately headed for the Albright-Knox Art Gallery (1285 Elmwood Avenue – 716-882-8700) for Gusto at the Gallery, an ongoing series of concerts, lectures and special events that is free of charge every Friday from 3-10 p.m. We stumbled upon a screening of The Motorcycle Diaries, a poetry slam and a Tango performance meant to celebrate a survey of Latin American abstract art then on exhibit.

After taking in the Gallery’s stunning collection of modern masterpieces (including Picasso, van Gogh, Gauguin, Pollock, de Chirico, Modigliani, Mondrian, and Warhol), we headed down Elmwood Avenue for dinner and drinks at Nektar (451 Elmwood Avenue – 716-881-1829), a funky but chic restaurant that features an eclectic menu and memorable martinis.

After dinner, we made our way downtown to the city’s nightlife nexus -- Chippewa Street -- and continued our Latin theme at La Luna (52 W. Chippewa – 716-855-1292) where the DJ was playing the latest in salsa, meringue and samba. We hit a few more clubs on the “Chip Strip” before ending our night a few blocks away at The Allen Street Hardware Store Café (245 Allen Street – 716-882-8843), a hip little pub in the city’s Allentown district. \

We began Saturday morning with a breakfast of crepes and omelets at Ambrosia (467 Elmwood Avenue –
716-881-2196), a classy Greek coffee shop at Elmwood and Hodge, before setting out on a walking tour of a few of my favorite streets. Buffalo is a city of amazing architecture, with major works by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan and H.H. Richardson, but it’s the turn-of-the-century neighborhoods filled with old school craftsmanship and character that conjure up the Buffalo I like to share with visitors.

We strolled past the regal homes of Oakland Place and the compact cottages of Little Summer Street before making our way down Richmond Avenue to Symphony Circle for a look at the majestic Kleinhans Music Hall and its towering neighbor, the First Presbyterian Church. We then ambled over North Street to Delaware Avenue and “Millionaire’s Row.”

Next, we jumped in the car and drove to the beautiful Parkside neighborhood. Parkside is filled with all manner of architecture but it’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House (716-856-3858) that attracts visitors from all around the world. The Martin House is one of the finest examples of Wright’s “Prairie Style” in existence and is in the final stages of a ten-year, $30 million dollar restoration.

We satisfied our post-tour hunger at La Dolce Vita (1474 Hertel Avenue – 716-446-5690) on nearby Hertel Avenue in the city’s North Park neighborhood. The roasted red pepper soup was just what the doctor ordered for a crisp winter day.

Hertel Avenue is the city’s antiques row. After lunch, we stopped in at Knot by Knot, a Turkish rug emporium; Coo Coo U; the Antique Lamp Company (1213 Hertel Avenue – 716-871-0505); and the Second Reader Book Shop where Patty picked up a book of stunning black-and-white images by renowned Buffalo photographer Milton Rogovin.

We had dinner at Papaya (118 W. Chippewa Street – 716-856-2444), a pan-Asian hot spot in the Hampton Inn Hotel downtown. The atmosphere is casually hip and a young crowd filled the bar. George raved about his Hawaiian butterfish and Patty couldn’t get over the grilled prawns with eggplant.

We skipped the usually outstanding dessert and rushed off to see A.R. Gurney’s “The Cocktail Hour” at the Kavinoky Theater (320 Porter Avenue – 716-829-7668) on the campus of D’Youville College on the city’s west side. An intimate jewel of a theater, the Kavinoky is one of Buffalo’s hidden cultural treasures.

We finished our evening with a nightcap at Prespa (439 Delaware Avenue – 716-842-2255), a sleek lounge across the street from the Mansion on Delaware, the breathtakingly beautiful boutique hotel where George and Patty were staying.

The next morning at Spot Coffee (227 Delaware Avenue, 765 Elmwood Avenue) they both confessed they hadn’t come with high hopes for a great weekend in Buffalo. “But we can’t believe how much it’s changed,” George said. “We had no idea there was so much going on. We will definitely be back.”

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