This sounds like a whole lot of AWESOME!

From the Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle’s Facebook page:

So you think you can make kielbasa? Maybe you even think that your kielbasa is the Best in Buffalo. Here’s your chance to prove it. Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle (Mickey’s) and Tornspace Theatre are revitalizing “Buffalo’s Best Kielbasa Contest” on Dyngus Day, April 9, 2012 at noon. This way you can start your Dyngus Day celebration early in Polonia at Buffalo’s Most Authentic and Original Dyngus Day Celebration.

This Contest will converge Dyngus Day revelers, polish beer connoisseurs, and polish sausage lovers into the Heart of Polonia to determine Buffalo’s Best Kielbasa. The sponsor of this event is Fillmore District Council Member David A. Franczyk and he is looking for the best kielbasa-makers in the area.

The winner of this year’s contest will receive a basket of Polish Cheer and best of all, the honor of being designated Buffalo’s Best Homemade and Commercial Kielbasa and People’s Choice Winner. The contest will be held at the Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle, 612 Fillmore Ave, Buffalo, NY from Noon- 3pm.

During the contest, Polish Beer Tasting will be conducted at the bar with the unique brands of Polish Beer we feature throughout the year. Tastings will be offered (3 for $1 or 6 for $2) and you can certainly buy a bottle to enjoy. Authentic Polish food will also be available.

Anyone who wishes to participate in the kielbasa contest must register in advance by completing a registration form. Any questions can be emailed to Aniela Thant at buffalobestkielbasa@gmail.com, or by calling 716-479-2342.

Admission to the contest is $10. Admission includes a ballot to vote for the People’s Choice Contest, one draft beer, a commemorative cup for beer tasting, and admission to evening activities at Mickey’s beginning at 5pm.

I am experiencing quite the pączki rush as I am posting this.

Happy Pączki Day to all out there in BFA land!!!

Last week when I posted about the Lumen Bearing Company, Greg Witul commented on the post asking where I got the old picture of the factory.  I couldn’t remember exactly and then pulled out the book I thought it was from.  It came from a 50th anniversary book for Saint Stanislaus Church.

While flipping through the book, a photo of 897 Broadway caught my eye.  I scanned the photo tonight and pulled some pictures from Google Maps of what is there now.  When I started looking at the photos, I noticed right away that the original building is still there.  It is hidden behind what was built out of it.

If you examine the pictures closely, you can see it.  You will also notice that part of the building’s white facade is still visible.  I don’t know how much else of it remains, but it was cool to make this discovery.

The 1923 photo shows the Broadway Bakery.  Truly a great looking building.

UPDATE from Andy Golebiowski in comments:

Description from the Intensive Level Historic Resources Survey:

Broadway Bakery
897 [881] Broadway

Date: 1914
Architect:
Władysław H. Zawadzki,
Original Use: Commercial
Current Use: Vacant

NR Criterion: C

Built as a bakery, store, and
dwelling for Władysław
Niebieszczanski. Its original
richly executed Broadway
façade, of brick and white terra
cotta with copper bays, was
largely effaced when the former
bakery was joined to a
nondescript, late twentieth
century building to the west.

(click on image for full view)

Ash Wednesday is February 22nd.

Corpus Christi Church – 11:30am & 6:30pm
http://corpuschristibuffalo.org

Saint John Kanty – 9am & 5:30pm
http://stjohnkantychurchbuffalo.wordpress.com/

Saint Stanislaus – 11am & 7pm
http://ststanislauschurch.com

—————————–

Begin Lent at one of Broadway-Fillmore’s historic churches!

Each year the parishioners of Saint John Kanty Church get together before lent and make pierogi to sell to the community and parish as a fundraiser for the church…last year they made 5000.  That’s a lot of pierogi.

I caught a little bit of the process yesterday.

Being a Kanty’s kid, it is always great going back to the church and yesterday was special.  Any time in you get in a kitchen with Polish ladies, you can’t help to feel like they are welcoming you like you are part of their big extended family.

One thing that kept coming back to me while I was at Kanty’s yesterday and later reflecting on the experience when piecing together the video was that these people and many like them are at the core of what keeps churches like Saint John Kanty alive.  You will never see their names in the paper or their faces on TV news bragging about what they do.   They go about their business working together to preserve this place they believe in.  It is when I meet people like I did at Kanty’s yesterday that is motivating and inspiring to me.

Do you want some of their pierogi?  You can find out how to purchase by visiting Saint John Kanty’s website—>

(click on image for full view)

Where else would you want to get Pączki from except the Broadway Market? I thought so.

What is Pączki Day? Click here to find out more—>

http://broadwaymarket.org

Alive!

St. Clare Parish Hall
193 Elk Street (corner of Smith St.), Buffalo, NY
View Map · Get Directions

Your invited to Saint Clare’s famous Spaghetti Dinner this Saturday (February 18th). Dinners will be served 4-7 PM. Meal includes Spaghetti, Meatballs, Bread, Salad, Beverage & Dessert (Wine & Beer will also be available). Donation $7 and tickets are available after masses, at the rectory (823-2358) or at the door. And if you can’t stay…Take outs available too!!! Hope to see you there!

I heart 703 Fillmore.  It is on Fillmore just south of Broadway.  Long before being the First Holy Temple Full Gospel Baptist Church, it was the Masiel Furniture store built in 1925.

In the pictures above, you can see some of the detail…look at the old awning framework and some of the awning still left.

I am glad the building is in use.

It is another little rough around the edges gem of a building in B-F.

A couple of weeks ago on Facebook, I was introduced to the New Buffalo Brewing Company.

The company is currently in the development and testing phase of its beer.

From Buffalo Rising:

William Campbell is planning big things for the future of brewing in Buffalo. Bill is the owner and founder of New Buffalo Brewing Company, an upcoming microbrewery looking to introduce a variety of high-quality beers to the area. Currently the company is in the development and testing phases of their beer with a proposed opening date of August 2013.

When I found out they are looking for a home, the old Schreiber Brewery on Fillmore near Broadway popped into my head.

I passed along info about the building to them and BFA friend Tracy Land provided some interior pictures from a tour she took of the place a few years ago.

This building could meet their needs and potentially be a huge win for the neighborhood.

Now let’s see if we can get them from point A to point B-F…