What’s Good – August 17-23, 2023
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 8/17
Bob Woodward (Chautauqua Institution, One Ames Ave, Chautauqua, NY, 10:45am, $30)
The Chataqua Institution hosts a talk by one of America’s most celebrated journalists, who’s written about 10 presidential administrations since uncovering the Watergate scandal alongside Carl Bernstein. Woodward is also the author of 21 books, and is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare in Delaware Park, 199 Lincoln Pkwy, Tue-Sun 7:15pm, FREE)
The Bard’s tale of star-crossed lovers is performed nightly (apart from Mondays) in Delaware Park, through 8/20.
American Idiot (Ujima Theater Company, 429 Plymouth Ave, Thu/Fri/Sat 7:30-9:30pm, Sun 3-5pm, $25)
The post-9/11 Broadway musical based on the Green Day album of the same name (and their subsequent album, 21st Century Breakdown)
The 183rd Erie County Fair (Hamburg Fairgrounds, 5820 South Park Ave, Hamburg)
Rides, games, corndogs, and funnel cake await, running through 8/20.
Christie Lenée (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $20)
Virtuosic instrumentalist Lenée was recently named one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world by Guitar World.
Hot Club of Buffalo (Thin Man Brewery, 166 Chandler St, 6-8:30pm, FREE)
Hot Club is the latest offering from the weekly Jazz at Chandlerville series.
Food Truck Thursdays (Northland Workforce Training Center, 683 Northland Ave, 5-7pm, FREE)
Every Thursday evening in August, a wide array of food trucks convene, alongside craft vendors, live music, bounce houses, and more family-friendly fun.
Friday, 8/18
Chocolate Truffle Class (The Sweet Whisk, 27 Chandler St, 6:30-8:30, $65)
Learn how to make ganache-filled chocolate truffles in this hands-on workshop. Beginners welcome, tickets must be purchased in advance.
Third Fridays (The Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court, 10am-5pm, FREE)
The third friday of every month, the museum hosts a special program of kids’ activities and crafts, including an “artifact detective kit,” where kids can hold items from the collection.
The Damone Jackson Outcome w/Smac! (The Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court, 5:30-10pm, $15)
Jazz drummer Jackson headlines the final show in the museum’s Party on the Portico summer concert series. Cash bar, complimentary snacks, and a spectacular view of Mirror Lake and Delaware Park.
Star People: Music of Miles Davis (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7-9:30pm, $10)
Star People celebrate one of the greats, focusing on the Kind of Blue, Milestones, and In a Silent Way eras of the legendary trumpeter’s career.
Past Masters w/Cami Clune and the Glass Hearts (Village Municipal Green, 2919 Delaware Ave, 4:30-10pm, FREE)
Free concert along with food trucks and a beer tent. Bring your own lawn chairs.
Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 10pm-1am)
Sing the hits in front of a real band, with a different genre theme every week. Tonight: emo and pop punk.
Jazz on the Plaz (Seneca One Tower, 1 Seneca St, 5-8pm. FREE)
This week’s artist has not been announced as of press time, but free weekly jazz concerts continue through September 1.
Creators at Sunset (The Boardwalk at Canalside, 6-10pm, FREE)
Local craft vendors showcase their work, with live music and family-friendly activities.
Silo City Walking Tours (Buffalo Boat Tours, 44 Prime St, Fri/Sat/Sun 11am-1pm, $38)
This two-hour tour includes a boat ride down the Buffalo river to Silo City, then a walk through the silos, to see their inner workings, and learn how Buffalo was the largest grain port in the world for 100 years. Please arrive 30 minutes early.
Forest Lawn Children’s Walking Tour (Forest Lawn Cemetery, 1990 Main St, 11am, $10)
Naturalist Paul Fehringer leads a walk geared towards elementary and middle school-age kids, teaching about the animals that can be found in the cemetery and the region.
Party at the Pier (Wilkeson Pointe, 225 Fuhrmann Blvd, 6-9pm, $75)
Spend a summer evening enjoying fine dining on the waterfront, as admission includes a New England seafood boil from Fresh Catch Poke co., beer, wine, and hard seltzer, plus non-seafood, vegan, and gluten-free options. $125 VIP tickets an expanded menu and an open bar.
New Movies This Week
Landscape with Invisible Hand (Transit Center)
A teenage couple try to make money by broadcasting their dating life to the aliens who have taken over earth, but when their relationship sours, they can’t afford to break up.
Back On the Strip (Elmwood Center, Transit Center, Walden Galleria)
An aspiring magician (A.P. Bio’s Spence Moore II) moves to Vegas, but ends up performing with an all-black troupe of male strippers. An all-star cast includes Wesley Snipes, Tiffany Haddish, JB Smoove, Bill Bellamy, Faizon Love, and Kevin Hart.
Blue Beetle (in wide release)
Jamie Reyes starts in this superhero adventure which, for better or worse, serves as the bridge between the Zach Snyder and James Gunn eras of the DCEU.
Strays (in wide release)
A murderer’s row of comedic talent (Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Will Forte, Isla Fisher, Randall Park, Brett Gelman, Jamie Demetriou, Josh Gad) voice talking dogs in this R-rated comedy.
The Monkey King (Netflix)
For whatever reason, everyone is adapting Ming Dynastic epic Journey to the West this year, as Netflix’s animated retelling even shares some cast members with Disney+’s American Born Chinese from earlier this year, loosely based on the same source material.
Ghoomer (Elmwood Center)
A young cricket prodigy loses her right hand in an accident, but attempts a comeback when a washed-up former cricketer trains her in an unconventional bowling technique. In Hindi w/English subtitles.
Metallica M72 World Tour Live From TX (Amherst Theatre)
See the godfathers of heavy metal perform live via satellite.
Saturday 8/19
Puerto Rican & Hispanic Day Parade (Niagara Square, 65 Niagara Square, noon, FREE)
Celebrate Buffalo’s growing Hispanic community with a parade that opens with a flag raising at noon in front of City Hall, and culminates with a free concert in Niagara Square at 1pm.
Rage Fest IV (Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St, 2-11:30pm, $20)
A full day of all kinds of heavy metal, including Nunslaughter, Carpathian Funeral, Leprosy, Mafia, Sadistic Vision, Vile Tyrant, Ritual Sin, Order of the Dead, Debrained, Deiphage, Vicious Intent, and Vermin Host.
Rock For Hope (Harbor House, 369 Sweeney St, N. Tonawanda, 2-6pm, $30)
The Tim Britt Band headline this benefit for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Tickets include dinner, drinks, door prizes, and dessert from Just Say Cheesecake.
Buffalo Music Club (Wilkeson Pointe, 225 Fuhrmann Blvd, 7-9pm, FREE)
The Sounds of Buffalo summer concert series wraps up with an all-star lineup of the city’s best hip-hop, indie rock, funk, and soul.
Ultimate Night of Destruction (Erie County Fairgrounds, 5820 South Park Ave, Hamburg, Sat 7:30pm, Sun 1pm & 6pm, $28)
The last two days of the Erie County Fair host the World’s Largest Demolition Derby, including a school bus demolition derby, and a double figure 8 racing championship.
Sunday 8/20
The Offspring w/Sum 41, Simple Plan (Darien Lake, 9993 Alleghany Rd, Darien Center, 7pm, $41+)
Our favorite story about The Offspring: singer Dexter Holland has a PhD in Molecular Biology, and when the drummer became an outspoken antivaxxer, Holland threw him out of the band. See their new and improved lineup headline a night of pop-punk favorites.
Catch 22 w/The Abruptors, Working Class Stiffs (Rec Room, 79 Chippewa St, 6pm, $18)
A lineup of ska-punk, led by scene veterans Catch 22.
Monday 8/21
Waterkeeper Ride (Trinidad Park, 40-22 Trinidad Place, 6:30-10pm, FREE)
This week’s Slow Roll group bike ride starts at Trinidad Park, where the 33 meets the Scajaqueda. The route had not been announced as of press time, but every Slow Roll takes a tour of several Buffalo neighborhoods.
Gypsy Parlor Jazz Jam (Gypsy Parlor, 376 Grant St, 8-11pm, FREE)
Gypsy Parlor has expanded their free jazz open jam to twice a month — the first and third Monday. This week’s lineup includes Becky Davis, Bob White, Abdul Rachman, and Marvin Jolly, but anyone with some jazz chops is welcome to join in. (Guitar/bassists should bring their own amp)
Tuesday 8/22
Sunny Day Real Estate (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 7pm)
SDRE helped establish the emo scene in the 90s, and reunited last year after nearly a decade apart.
Food Truck Tuesdays (Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St, 5-8pm)
Dozens of food trucks from Buffalo and Rochester ply their wares, along with live music.
Wednesday 8/23
Grosh & Guests (Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St, 5-8pm, FREE)
Local high-energy rock band Grosh play the second-last Live at Larkin of the season, alongside food and drink vendors.
Mikaela Davis (9th Ward, 41 Delaware Ave, 8pm, $20)
Rochester-born singer-songwriter and harpist Davis has found worldwide success, playing alongside the likes of Bon Iver and The Grateful Dead.
Ahsoka (Disney+)
Anakin Skywalker’s apprentice finally takes the lead role, as Rosario Dawson take the character from animation to live action in the latest small-screen Star War.
Invasion (AppleTV+)
An alien invasion is seen through the eyes of people in several parts of the world, unfolding in real time. The series returns from Season 2 after an 18-month hiatus.