SPREE INSIDER A time for art, tributes, and wine By Joann Pan Summer is often too busy with festivals, concerts, and family events to really relax. But making July and August a time for a little contemplation is certainly a good idea. A fine way is to walk one of Buffalo’s prettiest, most interesting streets, and enjoy this year’s Elmwood Festival of the Arts—the eleventh annual—on August 28 and 29. Spree is a sponsor of this nonprofit, volunteer-run street fair which draws thousands of people to enjoy the work of 170 world-class artisans in a wide range of media. The popular “Kidsfest” features six tents of hands-on activities, and there’s also a dance tent with lessons, four stages of music, dance, and puppetry performers, all kinds of food, and a showcase of Elmwood merchants. There is also the “Cultural and Environmental Row,” with forty cultural groups, composting, and two solar-powered stages. The event runs Saturday, August 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, August 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is also an after-hours party at the Lafayette Stage on August 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. featuring music from the Skiffle Minstrels. For more details, visit www.elmwoodartfest.org or call 830-2484. Speaking of contemplation, the WNY Women’s Fund wants Buffalo to do exactly that—contemplate a remarkable woman who has had a positive effect on you, on her community, and celebrate all the qualities that make her great. Against the backdrop of red carpet, elegant stairs, and formal settings, the organization’s “What She’s Made Of” celebration begins at 6 p.m. on July 21 in Kleinhans Music Hall. “[The fundraiser] will be an opportunity for business executives, community leaders, and all residents of the region to show their support for the women and girls who have made a difference in their lives and in the lives of others,” says Monique Watts, director of development for WNY Women’s Fund. Emmy Award-winner Cokie Roberts will be the event’s guest of honor and keynote speaker. Tickets can be purchased by calling 887-2621, by visiting whatshesmadeof.org, or faxing your ticket order and credit card information to 887-2770. Another Spree-sponsored event taking place at the end of July is the annual “Wines of the Wild” presented by the Buffalo Zoo’s ProZoo Board and the Women’s Board. Admission includes a variety of food, dessert, wine, beer, and specialty service vendors. Tickets will be sold for $40 up to July 27, and for $50 on July 28, the day of the event. “Wines in the Wild is a very large production for us,” says Michael Powers, the Zoo’s marketing manager. “We hope the audience is vast, first and foremost, with ticket sales being the chief revenue generator for the Zoo. The event is a fundraiser for the Zoo’s Adopt-an-Animal program, which aids in the care of our living collection of over 1,200 different animals from around the world.” With the Adopt-an-Animal program, patrons can sponsor various amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals by donating from $25 to $500 and above. In return, the Zoo provides a Certificate of Adoption, adoption decal, fact sheet about the animal, and a listing on the “parents” board. The “Wines of the Wild” event last year saw over 2,500 guests participate in festivities including multiple wine and food stations, basket raffles, and silent auctions. Attend this event and support the Buffalo Zoo’s conservation efforts, which continue to help various species of animals, including the black ape, speckled bear, great Indian rhinoceros, snowy owl, and many more. Visit buffalozoo.org for more information and to purchase tickets. SUBSCRIBE NOW Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top