The Venue Menu: Buffalo Edition

Cool New Buffalo Flea Market Venues, 

(Covered in Hot Sauce.) 

For the past few years, Buffalo has been growing as a city. There are numerous articles about how cool we are (literally and awesomely), how hot our residents and sauces are, how dedicated our fans are to the Bills and Sabres, and how people are really making new stuff happen. Being here for almost two years myself, I have definitely seen the growth. There is something to do every night. (Even in the winter!) There are so many concerts, festivals, markets, pop-up shops, free yoga, drumming in Delaware Park, kayaking, ice fishing, sight seeing, I mean I could list for hours all there is to do. A lot of neighborhoods and abandoned buildings that were originally given up on are also seeing new life. Events are being held, small businesses are moving to abandoned storefronts on the west side, and people are renovating houses that need a little TLC. Buffalo is expanding rapidly with creative minds and progressive people. 

One of those originally-given-up-on places is Larkin Square. It has been renovated in the past few years and it is spectacular. They were able to create an environment and space that is safe, fun and accessible. (They = the Zemsky family.)  Larkin Square is located downtown right off Seneca Street. There is TONS of free parking (yes, FREE,) events during the week, and awesome lounge chairs, hula hoops and beer! Tuesday night is Food Truck Tuesday, Wednesdays are live music from local musicians and Thursday is the Larkin Market. I was lucky enough to be selected as a vendor for the Larkin Market and I couldn't be happier! 

There are tons of vendors ranging from artists, leather goods, locally made Fudge, coffee, jewelry, clothes and vintage! Its such a cool market in a really up and coming neighborhood.  Keeping an inventory for three flea markets hasn't been a challenge either. I mean, who doesn't like to pick?! I have been out and about filling Peggy with tons of neat stuff to bring with me. Check out my stand and the banner I made! 

Book case? Check. Clothing Rack? Check. Handmade sign? Check.

Turquoise fo lyfe. 

Those flowers are not for sale. 

I will not be at Larkin this Thursday, but I will be on Thursday the 28th. Jordan is usually down there too with his awesome juice keg. (Yes, cold press juice on tap!) 

Another really cool venue is Silo City. It is a complex made up of three abandoned grain silos. The land was bought by a local guy (can't remember his name) and he lets people rent it out for different things. There are music festivals, art shows, historical guided tours, kayaking or stand up paddle boarding the canal, and even weddings! Scott, who runs the Peddler, also organizes the Silo City Flea. It is a flea market on specific Sundays in the summer. I wish they were every Sunday, but one can only dream. Being around the huge buildings all day is really eye opening. They have been there for 50+ years,  are close to or higher than 100ft tall, and they were once utilized to ship and store grain. I almost feel like the spirits of the workers are there peering down from the windows... ok, no more ghost talk. For my viewers who are not local to western ny, maybe these pictures will make you feel like you were there. If not, you should visit so you can actually be here. 

 Getting it all up in and on Peggster. 

Peggy is a beast. 

Don't mind if I do... 

Don't worry ma, this was taken through the window. 

Said window.

Is it trespassing if you paid to be there? 

Lovin the light. 

Cats love Silo City too!

Wide open spaces. 

Sell! Sell! SELL!

Its a really cool venue and we have another flea market on September 7th, so you should come buy some cool stuff, explore an abandoned silo and take a walk down to the canal to see a barge go by. 

Wherever you may live, I hope you are enjoying the rest of summer, and all the seasons for that matter. I know Buffalo isn't the only city to have cool stuff going on, so: get out, explore, and experience what your town has to offer! 

See ya at Silo! 

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, or any other space filled with stuff that needs to be picked over? Get atcha girl!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe have cranberry goat cheese.

Feature Friday: Dance Party!!!

I have to admit, its not Friday. Its not even Saturday. Its Sunday (yikes!). I am two days late and always a few bucks short. But hey, thats life, right? So anyway, now that I am finally sitting down for longer than 20 minutes, let me tell you about this weeks: 

FEATUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY!! 

This Fri.. erhm Sunday, I bring you Serife! Lets time warp back to August to a hot summers night, hanging out at Silo City for the City of Night Festival, eating food truck deliciousness, walking amongst abandoned grain elevators full of art, and sweating the sweet summer sweat. Ok, we are there. So, like any normal human being I am enjoying the festivities when nature called! If there is one thing I hate in this world, (and hate is a strong word,) its port-a-potties. Why can't I just pee in a bush? I mean, you are telling me that it is more sanitary to get in a 3 ft-by-3 ft traveling poop bucket with little to no ventilation than to find a nice hidden spot in the trees? Well, I unfortunately follow the rules so I get in line for the poop buckets and boy oh boy did I have to pee. Have you ever been driving home when the urge hits you to pee and you're like, "no worries, I'll be home in five minutes." Then you get home and you drop your keys at the door, pick them up in a hurry, can't find your house key but you swore it was on there, then you find it and it gets stuck in the lock and all of a sudden you are about to pee your pants. Come on door! Don't you know I am about to be standing in a puddle?! Ok, so thats how I was feeling so I started doing the pee dance. Every one has one. It can be subtle or it can be a full blown "get the cardboard out cause I'm about to bust a move" dance. I chose the latter. Guess who was also on line for the portable poop bucket? Serife and her friend Denise! We had a mini pee dance circle until we could relieve ourselves. Fortunately for us, there was a DJ laying down some beats so we didn't look too crazy. After our first dance party ended with no accidents, I noticed that Serife and Denise were still dancing by the DJ so I joined them and a lovely little dancing friendship blossomed. 

Fast forward to September: I am selling at the Peddler when I see Serife eyeing up a suitcase of mine. As if you couldn't figure it out, she bought it! And this is what she did with it:

Suitcase perfection.

I was really happy to see that the suitcase was put to good use. I mean, your records can't go in just anything. I saw Serife again this past weekend and she invited Jordan and myself to her houewarming party! I can't wait to dance, boogie and jive some more!

Smell ya later, 

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe chew some gum.

Feature Friday: Kittens! Inspired by, KITTENS!

Aloha friends! I must admit, I was feeling a little down today. I went to work without eating or drinking any coffee. I had a headache that would bring a lesser woman to her knees. So you know what I did? Took a nap. Anyway, Jordan brought me some Kangan water and made me coffee and I feel like a new person! 

So without further ado, here is this weeks: 

FEATUUUUUURE FRIDAAAAAY!

I had the privilege of meeting and selling to Therese, the owner of a local shop, Thin Ice, in Buffalo! She has a super cool shop with a super cool concept. Everything is handmade by local artisans and super cool. (Yes, I use that phrase a lot.) If they aren't local, they are in the states and she talks and interacts with each and every one of them. I stopped in the other day to get my best friend a birthday present (Happy Birthday Chrissy!) and to check out what she bought! 

What a nice display!

So she bought this super cool red "cooling rack" and is using it as a display in the shop. Right now its at the register showcasing some handmade leather wallets. BUT, when she bought the rack from me at Silo City, she said she might put some kittens on there too. UM, YES PLEASE. Kittens make anything better. Yes, anything. So prepare to shout: 

KITTENS! 

Seeing this picture reminded me of this video:

You're welcome.

So there you have it folks, Feature Friday featuring: KITTENS!  I'm so glad Therese was able to put that rack to use. If you want to see it in action, or any of the super-awesome-crazy-cool-handmade-I-want-to-buy-everything-in-the-store-items, go to Thin Ice on Elmwood or check out the website! 

www.thiniceonline.com

Side story: Remember that cider we pressed at the beginning of the week? Well, we had 15 gallons of it sitting in a fridge at Ashkers. So, we concocted a little wagon, heated it up, and slung cider on the sidewalk. Jordan did it on Wednesday night and we both did it last night. We were actually pretty profitable and we will be doing it on a regular basis! We are super excidered! 

Its all about the pour.

Now that I am not working 9-5, I have found more time to dedicate to the things I love. I might have never known that I love making cider unless we crashed that date, found that guys garage, and stayed up smooshing apples. Life works in mysterious ways, and I think that we should and could take a step back from the things we think are important in life, and find out what actually is important. Let it marinate. On that note, adios amigos! 

Smell ya later,

-Stephanie 

*Want to be featured? Buy something from us! Turn it into something new! Send us a before, during and after picture! Its as easy as that folks!

 

**Know someone that has a barn, attic, basement, chicken coop, secret room, garage, (you get the point,) that needs to be picked over? Holla at me!! PoorGirlPicker@gmail.com and we can talk about what you got, what I want, and maybe drink some cider.