Author Archives: Charlie Fashana

Hello Hertel Turns 1 !

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Hard to believe that a year ago we posted our first blog – The Story Behind the Design – which explained why a pack of Camel cigarettes was rebranded into Buffalo Clarinets.

Since then we’ve posted about 40 blogs, earned a hundred or so followers and enjoyed almost 22,000 views of our site.

Buffalo Rising mentioned our blog in a few of their articles and Channel 2 even interviewed me in December for some thoughts on shopping local.

We connected with one particular neighbor, Meg Vaidya, who loved our blog almost as much as she loves Buffalo. Ok probably not that much, but enough for her to come on board and start contributing to the page.

In looking back, I think this blog did exactly what Karen and I had hoped. The blog shared stories of all the exciting things going on in North Buffalo, gave us some creative and artistic freedom, and better connected us with our community.

Hope this post doesn’t come off like were bragging about Hello Hertel. It’s quite the opposite really – just a big fat Thank you! Thank you for reading, sharing, commenting, and most importantly, for North Buffaloving.

Let’s plant some trees!

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If you’ve been paying attention to NorthBuffalo.org, Hello Hertel or Hertel Avenue’s Facebook page, you should know about the upcoming Spring Clean-Up on April 26. (I’ve been practically crying for signs of spring since February)

If you just learned of this now, not to worry, it’s not too late to sign up to help out.

What hasn’t been as widely publicized is: in conjunction with that clean-up will be a Re-Tree spring planting on a few of our NoBo streets. I’ve been working closely with Ryan Sajdak, NorthBuffalo.org’s founder, and we’ve secured an order of 50 trees!

But I also promised Ryan that we’d have enough people to help plant those trees.

So again, it’s not too late to sign up, and if you’re someone who loves lining an urban neighborhood with some beautiful foliage like me, please check the box on the registration form that indicates you want to help with the planting. And feel free to mention Hello Hertel in the comments section too, I’d love to meet any loyal readers of this blog!

In closing, here are some pictures of the trees we’ll be planting, along with their funny names. Hope to see you on the 26th!

Cercis Canadensis (Redbud)

Cornus X Constellation (Dogwood)

Parrotia Persica (Persian Ironwood)

Prunus Virginiana (Canada Red)

 Eucommia Ulmoides (Hardy Rubber)

Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo Princeton Sentry)

Quercus Coccinea (Scarlet Oak)

Quercus Rubra (Northern Red Oak)

A guy walks into a theatre…

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I popped into the North Park Theatre this past weekend to inquire about partnering with the Advertising Club of Buffalo to screen a film. I walked away with much more than an answer to my inquiry.

I had a great conversation with programming director, Ray Barker, who was excited to discuss bringing a new film to the theatre. He also showed me around the lobby a bit. I quickly bought a bag of popcorn.

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I then was given a mini-tour of the theatre by co-owner, Tom Eoannou. It was incredible to hear what he had to say about the restoration work, but what was even better was seeing his enthusiasm about it all. It’s such an exciting time for the theatre and for Hertel.

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Check out what else I had to say about it in my blog written for Visit Buffalo Niagara, here.

Take Two: Is It %&!$#+@ Spring Yet?!

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Just less than three weeks ago I wrote an “I’m at my wits end” blog about how it just won’t stop being cold and snowy and stupid outside.

I took an optimistic and motivational approach by ending that blog with a countdown to spring link.

Clearly, my optimism was ill-timed.

Today is March 12, seven days away from the start of spring, and we’re hanging out with our second blizzard of the year.

I didn’t want one blizzard, but two? That’s just vulcan ridiculous.

So…here’s my second attempt at rallying us around the idea that the better weather is still within reach…albeit a little ways away.

The good folks at NorthBuffalo.org are doing a spring clean-up on our North Buffalo streets – which I’m guaranteeing will be snow, ice and salt free – on April 26.

Sign up here. Hope to see you there!

Oh, by the way…100 days to summer!

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It’s Fish Fry Season!

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It’s Ash Wednesday. Or Ash Humpday as I’ve been jokingly and possibly annoyingly saying all day. To some, today marks the start of Lent; the beginning of the most sacred time in the Christian religions. To others, it’s simply the start of a weekly religious ritual of feasting on beer batted fish with a side of slaw and a potato of your choice.

We like to play in both sandboxes, so we picked something to “give up” for Lent, and we also picked up a couple fish fry’s on the way home from work.

I was told Sterling Place Tavern has a fish fry that rivals their burger, so I was planning on ordering from there. Surprisingly (or not if you know how Sterling’s hours work), they don’t have a phone! Cute. I wish I hadn’t violated the law the entire drive home searching the web for their phone number. I also owe Siri a few apologies.

So, we went to the old standby, Wellington Pub, and were not disappointed. You can’t go wrong with a fish fry from Wellington – huge portion, great flavor, not too heavy.

Wellington Fish Fry

Someday I’ll get to Sterling for a dine-in fish fry experience…but that’ll probably be the day I don’t have any cash on me!

Enjoy the food friends, have a blessed Lenten season.