What’s Good – May 30-June 5, 2024

Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.

Thursday, 5/30

Yoonmi Nam: Among Other Things (UB Center For the Arts Gallery, first floor, through 6/21)
Nam deconstructs everyday objects and reconsiders them as scupture.

Wuon-Gean Ho: The Heart’s Sight (UB Center For the Arts Gallery, second floor, through 6/21)
A broad selection of Ho’s work from the past 15 years, including prints, books, and short films.

No Warning (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm, $27, 16+, <16 w/parent)
Toronto hardcore band. w/Haywire, Final Declaration, Terminator.

Drew Lynch (Helium, 30 Mississpi St, 8pm, Fri/Sat 7:30/10pm, Sun 7pm, $37)
Lynch finished second on season 10 of America’s Got Talent, and has since appeared on Maron, Conan, and has over two million subscribers on YouTube.

Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker (Niagara University, 7 Varsity Drive, 11am-1pm, $10)
This documentary explores the life of an early 20th-century illustrator who incorporated LGBT imagery into his work decades before the gay rights movement.

I Am Here You Are Not I Love You (Hallwalls Cinema, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, FREE)
Aidan Ryan’s documentary memorializes his late godparents, visual artists Andrew Topolski and Cindy Suffoletto.

FIGMOS PTL (Lipsey Auditorium, Albright-Knox Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave, 7pm, FREE)
Doug Ruffin, filmmaker and owner of Urban Legacy Filmworks, will screen his film (short for Finally I Got My Own Supermarket, Praise the Lord), a documentary short about a black-owned grocery on Jefferson Ave., and then discuss documentary work, storytelling, and the founding of the Buffalo History Channel, which he launched in 1997.

Magic Beans (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $15adv/$20)
The Beans’ eclectic sound combines funk, soul, electronica and bluegrass. w/Zuffalo

Tim Wendel (The Place, 229 Lexington Ave, 7pm)
The author of Civil War-era thriller Rebel Falls discusses the book, and how it’s relevant in our current polarized era.

Choro-Samba (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6pm)
Guitarist Stephen Guerra and mandolinist Titus Stevens perform Instrumental Brazilian music.

Delaware Ave Mansions Walking Tour (Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave, 10-11:30am, $7)
Explore the city’s Gilded Age homes and hear the stories of the wealthy families who built them. Reservations required.

Downtown Architecture Tour (Hiker Statue, Roosevelt Plaza, 11am-1pm, $8)
This walk spotlights archtecture from the beginning of the 20th century, when Buffalo was the eight-largest city in America.

Hoyt Lake Walking Tour (Abraham Lincoln Statue, Delaware Park, 199 Lincoln Parkway, 1-2:30pm, FREE)
Take a walk around Hoyt Lake and see other features of the Frederick Law Olmstead-designed park.

The Music of Stevie Wonder (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 7:30-10pm, $15)
George Caldwell plays favorites by the soul music legend.

Improv Mixer (Amy’s Place, 3234 Main St, 7:30pm, $5 suggested)
Buffalo Improv House hosts this informal meetup, where everyone’s invited to join in the performance alongside veteran improv comics.

Poetry Open Mic & Game Night (26 Allen St, 6pm)
Co-hosted by Sara Ali and Meg Specksgoor

Karaoke Night (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm)

We Are Lady Parts (Peacock)
The BBC series about an all-Muslim-girl punk band returns after three years for a second season.

Friday, 5/31

The Glam Vamps (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
The local burlesque troupe’s latest show, Love Cats in a Tutu, is a burlseque tribute to the Smiths & the Cure, backed with a live band.

Drag Ride (The Westin Buffalo, 1716 Main St, 5:30-8pm)
We’re taking this drag show on the road, as Aggy Dune, Katie 88, and Tonya Tonawanda lead a drag bike ride, with music from DJ Lil’ Gabby and a free drink when you’re done with the ride (and seating if you’d prefer to stay stationary). Proceeds to go GLYS WNY, a nonprofit that serves queer youth in WNY.

Gag City (Elmwood Ave btw Breckenridge & Auburn, 6-9pm)
Kick off Pride with Elmwood Village’s outdoor Vogue Night.

Pride in Focus (Pine Apple Company, 65 Allen St, 5-9pm, FREE)
Opening reception for an exhibition of photography by Brianna G Robinson.

Pride Weekend Kickoff Party (The Banshee, 257 Franklin St, 6-11pm, FREE)
Music by Trav1sTw1n and Dirty Wifi, and drag performances by Logan Betty, Willa DeWhisp, Damsel ‘n Disdress, Freddy Hercury, and Cella Rhee. Pre-register for food and a drink ticket. Donations welcome for Harm Reduction Center at Evergreen Health.

Buffalo Greek Festival (Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 146 W Utica St, Fri/Sat/Sun all day)
Celebrate food, music, dance, faith, and culture.

Grizzly Run Album Release (Riff City, 166 Chandler St, 7pm, $15adv/$17)
The local hard rock band releases their new album, The Great Panic. w/Inertia, Pale Hell

Titanic (Shea’s 710, 710. Main St, 7:30pm, Sat 2pm/7:30pm, $26-79)
The epic tragedy, plus original songs, won five Tony Awards when it debuted in 1997.

The Floozies (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 8pm, $24.50, 18+)
The electronic-punk due come to town on their Porty Hord tour. w/BUKU, MZG.

Big Wreck (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $40)
w/Moon Fever

The Cloves (The Cave, 71 Military Rd, 8pm, $10)

The Music of Vince Guaraldi (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6pm)
Ed Croft, David Wasik, and Ivon Docenko perform Guaraldi’s music (and not just the Charlie Brown Christmas stuff!).

Grace Race 5k (Christian Central Academy, 39 Academy St, Williamsville, 5:30pm)

Elliot Scozzaro Quintet (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $16-19)

Live Band Karaoke (Rec Room, 79 W. Chippewa St, 10pm, $8)
Belt out your favorites in front of a live band.

New Movies This Week

Young Woman and the Sea (Quaker Crossing, 3450 Amelia Dr, Orchard Park)
Daisy Ridley stars in the true story of the first woman to swim across the English Channel.

Ezra (in wide release)
Bobby Cannavale stars as a stand-up comedian living with his elderly father (Robert de Niro) and raising an autistic son with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne).

Summer Camp (in wide release)
Childhood friends Diane Keaton, Kathy Bates, and Alfre Woodard stage a summer camp reunion in this comedy.

Deer Camp ’86 (Walden Galleria)
A group of deer hunters become the hunted when something horrific awakens in the woods.

The Great Lillian Hall (Max)
Jessica Lange stars as a fictional version of American stage actress Marian Seldes.

Bhaje Vaayu Vegam (Transit Center, 6707 Transit Rd, Williamsville)
A man is chanced by cops, gangsters, and politicians after being accused of killing a cop. In Telugu with subtitles.

Gam Gam Ganesha (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
Anand Deverakonda race gangsters and corrupt politicians to recover a coveted idol of Ganesha. In Telugu with subtitles.

Garudan (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
Two childhood friends’ bond is tested after a betrayal. In Tamil with subtitles.

Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle (Elmwood Center, Maple Ridge 8, North Park Theatre, Walden Galleria)
Two rival high schools face each other in a heated volleyball match, in this followup to the anime TV series, based on Haruichi Furudate’s manga series. In Japanese with subtitles.

Mr. and Mrs. Mahi (Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave)
A failed cricket player encourages his new bride to pursue the sport in this romantic sports drama. In Hindi with subtitles.

Saturday 6/1

Joe Pera (Town Ballroom, 681 S. Main St, 6:30/9:30pm, $35, 16+)
Local comedian made good, who hosted Joe Pera Talks With You on Adult Swm and wrote the book A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing but Using the Bathroomm as an Escape, and let’s face it, we’ve all been there. 6:30 show SOLD OUT.

Taco Fest (Deep South Taco, 291 Ellicott St, 11:30am-10pm, $34)
This all-day music festival raises money for suicide prevention and includes free tacos all day. Lineup includes akloh., Daisychain, Reese Daniels, Dirty Dishes, Goodbye Metro, Grosh, Johnny & the Man Kids, Little Liar, and Prairie Pavement.

Intersect Queer Arts Festival (Twentysixallen, 26 Allen St, 2-10pm, FREE)
Allen will be closed from Franklin to Main for a Pride street festival with art vendors, live art creation, kids activities, a sober safe space, and performances by DJs Nunu & Brian Buttlett (2:00), Queer Poetry Collective (3:30), Jay Aquarius (4:00), Buffalo Burlesque (5:00), Vogue Buffalo (5:30), Dyke Nyte Talent Show (6:30), Daphne York, Vanna Deux, and Freddie Hercury (7:30), and DJ Tori Vee (8:30).

Pride Dance Party (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 8pm, $20adv/$25, 18+)
DJ Spencer Huff headlines a lineup of local house and EDM DGs and go-go dancers.

Gaga Night (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6pm, $30, 18+)
Celebrate Pride with DJ Brian Buttlett spinning nothing but Gaga, with an all-Gaga drag show.

Drag Me to Brunch (Riff City, 166 Chandler St, 11am-1:30pm, $80-91
Stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race perform, with a brunch buffet and unlimited mimosas.

Drag Brunch (Hombre y Lobo, 149 Swan St, 11am-3pm, $40)
Hosted by Vanna Deux, with Daphne W. York, and Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Kimora Blac.

Rainbow Moon (Underground, 274 Delaware Ave, 10pm-4am, $5)
Underground celebrates Pride with a show-stopping drag show.

Various Factors Musical Improv (Hallwalls Cinema, 341 Delaware Ave, 7:30pm, $15adv/$20)
Musical improv comedy team performs a fully improvised musical comedy.

Sophie Klin & Megan Wike (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 1-2pm)
Violinist Klin and Violaist Wike perfom works by Marinu, Auerback, Bach, and more.

Comienzos (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6pm)
This marimba/bass/accordion trio performs folk and jazz from Brazil, Central America, and Europe.

Swing Street (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $15-19)
Swing music from the familiar to the obscure.

Celtic Sessions (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 4:40pm, FREE)

Sunday 6/2

Buffalo Pride Parade (Elmwood Ave, from Forest to Allen, 11am, FREE)
Celebrate LGBT+ life and culture with a parade kicking off Pride.

Kevin James (Shea’s Buffalo, 650 Main St, 5pm, $43-153)
The erstwhile King of Queens returns to his stand-up roots.

Sundub (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $15adv/$20, 18+)
This Brooklyn band plays classic and original reggae and soul. w/Willofthepeople.

Halluci Nation (Electric City, 433 Pearl St, 7pm, $25-60)

Maria Sebastian’s Songbook Band (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 4-6pm, FREE)
Sebastian plays folk, rock, and Americana standards. (She also performs solo at Duende on Wednesday)

Monday 6/3

The Parishables (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St)
w/Anxiety at Best, Little Liar

Monsoon (Electric Avenue, 300 Ellicott St)
w/Bryan Dubay, akloh., The Weather Might Say Otherwise

Tuesday 6/4

Helen Gillet (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $10adv/$15)
Belgium-born, Singapore-raised singer-songwriter and cellist. w/Sally Schaefer, Tyler Bagwell

Jeff Leeson (Helium, 30 Mississpi St, 8pm, $33)
Leeson has been combining stand-up with long-form improv for 20+ years, and has a new YouTube special, Sorry I’m Not Kevin Hart.

Autopilot (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St)

Open Mic (Cucina @ Hotel Richardson, 444 Forest Ave, 6-8pm)
This weekly open mic features music, poetry, and comedy. Register at jkonze@douglasdev.com.

The Steam Donkeys (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 6-8:30pm)

Rustbelt Comedy Showcase (Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St, 9pm, FREE)

Open Mic Night (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 6-9pm)

Dragula Viewing Party & Drag Show (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm; $10)

The Acolyte (Disney+)
After multiple series featuring charaters we already saw die onscreen in the movies, Star Wars finally moves away from the films’ timeline, as the Jedi investigate a series of crimes decades before the events of The Phantom Menace. With Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, and Carrie-Anne Moss.

Wednesday 6/5

Jiaoying Summers (Helium, 30 Mississpi St, 8pm, $33)
Summers is fresh off the Netflix Is a Joke festial, and her special Hot Girl Summers is streaming on Peacock and Prime.

Maria Sebastian (Duende, 85 Silo City Row, 6pm)
Sebastian plays folk, rock, and Americana standards.

Comedy Open Mic (Milkie’s, 522 Elmwood Ave, 9pm)