Buffalo has a strong literary undercurrent. Just as important contemporary literary figures live and work among us layfolk today (check that noun usage off on my writing bucket list), our city has a wonderful history of welcoming authors, poets, filmmakers, and artists.
This fall, Step Out will help you keep your scholarly interests alive with the “Buffalo’s Leaves and Lit”weekly guide. We’ll alert you to the high-minded going-ons around Buffalo – dinner and drink recommendations included (you know us).
Scholarly Event: Annual Empire State Poetry Slam
The Barrel Factory, 65 Vandalia St in Buffalo
Saturday, Oct. 29 from 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.
$10/advance or $12/door
More Info + Tickets
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Scholarly Eats: Gypsy Parlor’s Halloween Special
376 Grant St, Buffalo
Opens at 5 p.m.; kitchen open until 12 a.m. on Saturdays
More Info
I tend to be one of those people who scrambles at the last minute to finish my Halloween costume and find plans for the best night of the year. And while this year I actually did intend on really planning ahead, I scheduled myself to get my wisdom teeth out Friday, Oct. 28 so all my hopes and dreams of using a wonderful vintage Mexican dress I found to be Frida Kahlo have been dashed. Instead I will probably lay with an ice pack on my mouth all weekend.
Weep, weep. Pity, pity.
But you don’t have to be like me! You can dress up and listen to poetry – all in one place! What could be better?
This Saturday, Oct. 29 is the Annual Empire State Poetry Slam. Poets from across New York State will gather to perform slam poetry and compete to become the Empire State Poetry Slam Champion (and win a cool $700). But you don’t need to perform to be a real winner – after the slam will be the costume contest. What’s the criteria? Who knows! Just have fun and seriously go all out.
Slam poetry is an especially fun, enthusiastic form of the art. Poets gather to read – more like, perform – their poetry to an audience. These poems are not meant to be silenced – they should be loud, or hushed, or rushed; slam poets had better speak their voice, their truth.
Either before you head to the slam, or after you win the costume contest stop by one of Buffalo’s funkier bars, The Gypsy Parlor, for the Halloween Special night. At 7 p.m. will be adult disco and DJ KC will come on from 12-4 a.m. You’ve got one long Saturday night ahead of you!
The Gypsy Parlor is rightly famous for its TuTuTuesday’s, but maybe a little less known for its eclectic menu. The selection ranges from Wasabi Pork Loin, to Black Bean Burgers, to Papanasi, to Tabouleh.
Have a spooky, strange, festive night – for me!
