Artvoice v14n48 by Artvoice

From Grain to Charcuterie >> PAGE 5

three local theater productions wrap up >> PAGE 10

die ďŹ&#x201A;edermaus at buffalo opera unlimited >> PAGE 13

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

SEE YOU WHERE? THU 12/3

PAINTED ZEROS Mohawk Place, 8pm, $6 Brooklyn-based pop/punk trio, Painted Zeros, comes to the Mohawk Thursday night.

THU 12/3

JOHN LEGEND

AND THE KIDS

UB Alumni Arena, 8pm, $30-$60 UB Distinguished Speakers Series presents Grammy/Golden Globe/Academy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actor John Legend for an evening of Speaking, Q & A, and songs from the piano.

TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONIES SAT & SUN

THU

PAGE 26>>

THE SWORD

PAGE 26 >>

4-5

SAT

PAGE 27 >>

FRI 12/4

“LATE WITH LANCE” Buffalo State Donald Savage Theater, 8 pm, pay-what-you-can Actor/comedian Peter Michael Marino brings his 60-minute showbiz spoof, (starring as delusional cruise ship entertainer Lance) to Buffalo. If you can’t make the Friday night show, he’ll also be at Allen Street Hardware on Dec. 6 at 7pm.

Pausa Art House, 8 pm, $5 & $7

GRACE POTTER

The Genkin Philharmonic Orchestra, which is comprised of some of Buffalo’s ﬁnest musicians, will be rocking out on Friday night. Expect to hear tunes from Radiohead, Captain Beefheart, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, and more.

PAGE 27 >>

FRI 12/4

GENKIN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

ANDREW WK

TODD RUNDGREN SUN

SUN

PAGE 28 >>

TUE

PAGE 28 >>

SAT 12/5

COLD WAVE AT THE CAT CAVE Mohawk Place, 8 pm, $5 DJs Collin Gabriel and Shurdo will be spinning post-punk, cold-wave, synth-pop and goth rock at this Saturday night’s dance and art event. Expect an eclectic array of international 80s-90s dance tunes, live art and unique works for sale. Donations will go to the SPCA.

SUN 12/6

WHITEHORSE The Tralf, 7 pm, $15 Canadian husband and wife duo Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland will be bringing their catchy, cool, folk-rock/electric blues style to the Tralf on Sunday night. Check them out.

WED 12/9

JOHNNY A Sportsmen’s Tavern, 7 pm, $20/$25 Massachusetts-based expert guitarist and bandleader Johnny A will make an appearance next Wednesday at the Sportsmen’s Tavern. Playing a signature Gibson guitar, his sound ranges from elements of jazz and soul to Chet Atkins-styled country.

FULL LIST OF VENUES Page 29 >> artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

BEER | WHAT’S BREWING? presented by

SPORTS | PUCKSTOP

SOUTHERN TIER BREWING COMPANY OLD MAN WINTER ABV: 7.5% > WILLARD BROOKS

utside of Buffalo, if one mentions Southern Tier Brewing Company, the first thing out of anyone’s mouth is “PUMKING!” and rightfully so—the creamy pumpkin ale has almost single handedly driven an entire beer style to a crazed national fandom. Unfortunately for STBC, many of their other, more fantastic beers often get overlooked, as is the case with the rarely mentioned Old Man Winter. Brewed in the traditional old ale style, Old Man Winter is equal parts rich malt, hop bitterness, and spiced fruit sweetness. The 7.5% ABV gets lost in the deep flavors, which makes it great for yuletide sipping—as the fire warms the body, Old Man Winter warms the soul. Old ales lend themselves well to aging, and though I haven’t tried an aged bottle, I can see how the flavors might enhance over time. As the season deepens as much as the coming snowfall, ovens begin to fill with roasted meats and vegetables, and stewpots simmer once again. Old Man Winter is a great beer to be had with either of these seasonal specialties—the spice and hop cuts the carmelized vegetables and the malts envelope the deep flavors of roasted meats. Old Man Winter is available on tap throughout the city, as well as in grocery stores and bottle shops throughout the city.

EICHEL VS. MCDAVID… DELAY OF GAME Showdown of two future superstars will have to wait

Eichel > BY ANDREW KULYK AND PETER FARRELL his Sunday had been billed as must see TV for Buffalo Sabres fans.

SIERRA NEVADA—COFFEE STOUT STYLE: AMERICAN STOUT ABV: 6.2% I.B.U.: 53 > CHRIS GROVES CERTIFIED CICERONE ®

’m starting a tradition. I’m going to have an outdoor fire every Thanksgiving NO MATTER WHAT. It will be an open invite after the children have gone to bed and we’ll share in the warm glow of friendship and smoke in our eyes. This is as much a small fantasy as it was real life just last week. It happened to be exceptionally warm that evening though a bit gusty. You’d think a beer choice for around a fire would be easy; not so! When a friend brought the Sierra Nevada “Snowpack” over, a surprise was in store for their Coffee Stout. Perfect. Fire. Beer. The enjoyment you get from a great cup of coffee in the morning exists inside this beer. Deep roast enveloped in bittersweet chocolate and just a touch of dark cherry-like fruitiness are packed into this ruddy brown liquid. The wind blows and a bit of sweet smoke gets in my nose, which the beer doesn’t mind! Each sip is a different beer as it warms, bringing more chocolate to the front, leaving the bitterness behind. This is a complete beer for me, hitting all good points from aroma right through to finish. I have a love love relationship with Sierra Nevada. Every beer they make falls not only into the “solid” category, but is an exemplary representation of style. I think you’ll agree. THE BALLPARK BREW BASH

AND CONSUMERS BEVERAGES P

WINTER

ONLY AT BUFFALO’S BEER STORE

BEER TASTING SATURDAY 12/26, 2015 | 5PM to 8PM PETTIBONE’S GRILLE 275 WASHINGTON ST. BUFFALO, NY

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL CONSUMER’S LOCATIONS

$39 INCLUDES:

A HAND SELECTED BEER LIST OF RARE AND SPECIAL BEERS FROM BREWERIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FOOD FROM:

12-PACK BOTTLES PRICING VALID THROUGH 12/7/15

$14.99

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

CHARLIE THE BUTCHER, WARDYNSKIS, ILIO DIPAOLOS, LA NOVA, BW’S BARBEQUE ea.

BEER LIST AND MORE INFO:

CONSUMERSBEVERAGES.COM/WINTERVIP

Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid, the two hot prospects who people have been talking about for years, were all set to face each other on the NHL stage for the very ﬁrst time. Buffalo and Edmonton, playing at Rexall Place, had all the makings of a media circus and a league-wide sensation. And why not? Both players are touted as “generational”. Their futures and careers are now completely linked, and comparisons will always be made as long as these two are playing in the same league. Remember too, that the Sabres brain trust and especially General Manager Tim Murray coveted the ﬁrst overall draft pick and the right to draft McDavid. When that plan went awry on lottery night back in June, the disappointment on the management faces was easily discernable. Murray and his men went into complete spin mode, and evidently did a lot of behind the scenes fence mending with the Eichel camp leading up to the draft later that month. The frowns weren’t limited to Buffalo’s guys. Edmonton? Edmonton??? McDavid didn’t initially appear all that happy when the lottery outcome was completed. But the showdown will have to wait. It all came crashing down, literally, back on November 4, in a game Edmonton was playing against the Philadelphia Flyers, when McDavid went sliding awkwardly into the corner boards. He got up under his power and was nursing his shoulder. The result? A broken left clavicle that would require elaborate medical procedures to repair. In the scoring race, a statistic which is all but meaningless now, Eichel has 8 goals and 4 assists for 12 points in 24 games, while McDavid had

collected those same 12 points on 5 goals and 7 assists, only playing 13 games. During the Sabres’ recent swoon and 6 game losing streak, Eichel has been particularly hard on himself, telling the media he has been pressing to hard and needing to step up his game. Nonetheless, the goals both these players have scored this season have been pretty and dazzling ones. Neither McDavid nor Eichel score ugly goals. Some have made it to highlight reel shows with more to come. The night after McDavid’s injury, the Sabres hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning, a dreary 4-1 loss for Buffalo. Nonetheless, Eichel brought the house down again, scoring the lone Sabres goal thanks to a feed pass from Mike Weber and a break on net and wrister that even had the Lightning players shaking their heads. Following that game, both Eichel and coach Dan Bylsma played down the McDavid injury and any more broad discussions on the two player comparisons, only expressing wishes for a speedy recovery. And how is that recovery going? Ahead of schedule, according to reports coming out of Edmonton. “He’s in the pool he’s lifting weights,” says Oilers General Manager Peter Chiarelli. “There are no soft tissue injuries, which is important. When you get a break like that, often times there are accompanying soft tissue injuries. That slows down the recovery.” This past Monday, McDavid told reporters that he isn’t experiencing any pain in his injured collarbone, but also stated that he hasn’t resumed skating. “I’ll let the doctors ﬁgure that one out, they’re the smart ones,” McDavid added. At this point, the hope in Edmonton is that

SPORTS | PUCKSTOP

BEER | TAP THIS

FROM GRAIN TO CHARCUTERIE AND BACK AGAIN How Beer Making Byproducts Feed Western New York Restaurants

McDavid McDavid will be ready to return to the ice in 7-8 weeks, which would put that into late January. So far, the Oilers are 8-15-2 this season (as of Wednesday), dead last in the NHL Pacific Division, and going through the same rebuild pains that the Sabres are in the middle of. Taylor Hall has been their workhorse on offense and is the team’s leading scorer, but German sensation and top prospect Leon Draisaitl has been on fire since joining the team. The Eichel vs McDavid dynamic promises an intense rivalry, the magic of skill and athleticism, and hockey at its finest for years to come, with fans already getting a taste of exactly what these two gifted athletes bring to the sport. Unfortunately, not this Sunday. Nonetheless, still a great opportunity to tune in and get a feel of the conversation going on in Edmonton, a city which is saying good bye to the aging Rexall Place and set to debut at their gleaming new downtown arena, Rogers Place, next season. Circle your calendar now for Tuesday, March 1. That is the day that Edmonton and Buffalo face each other right here at First Niagara Center. Barring any other injuries or setbacks, we will all be treated to the unveiling of the Connor vs Jack show. It should be a special night.

TARO SEZ... Props to the operators of the rinks at Canalside, Global Spectrum, for raising the bar on what is becoming an ever more popular attraction in downtown Buffalo, just steps away from the front door of First Niagara Center. But Taro asks...where are the permanent structures? Oceans of snack shacks, ﬁberglass huts and portable toilets might provide interim solutions to serve the public, but the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation needs to step up their game, and, you know, actually develop.

> BY MICHAEL CHELUS he much heralded Farm-to-table movement has been bringing locally grown produce and livestock directly to local diners in Western New York for many years. Another movement—or cycle— that delivers the same increased quality in production and involves local farms, restaurants and breweries, has not received the same popularity. In the last few years, several local breweries have been giving their spent grains from brewing to a notable local farm that supplies local restaurants. Talented local chefs then use these products in their cooking and produce dishes that not only taste great, but pair incredibly well with the beer that was made with the spent grain that started the cycle.

In exploring this cycle more deeply, we start with the local breweries. Community Beer Works (CBW), Resurgence Brewing Company (RBC) and Big Ditch Brewing Company (BDBC) all give their spent grains to T-Meadow Farm, a Lockport farm that raises antibiotic free heritage breed pigs. The breweries are able to rid themselves of a product that would be wasted otherwise and put it to a good use. T-Meadow Farm gets a product that allows it to produce a better kind of animal that suits the needs of local restaurants and chefs while allowing the animals to be raised in a healthy and humane way. The spent grains are very beneﬁcial for TMeadow pigs according to owner, Rich Tilyou. The spent grain is “high in protein, and has a little sugar left in it for quick energy. It also has vitamin B,” said Tilyou. This allows his pigs to gain a “nice, ﬁrm fat” which is very desirable for chefs and diners.

Once they attain the proper weight and fat content, T-Meadow pigs are sold to local restaurants where they are used both respectfully and skillfully. A long time patron and advocate for T-Meadow Farm is Steven Gedra, chef and co-owner of The Black Sheep. Chef Gedra has made a name for himself—both at The Black Sheep and at his former restaurant, Bistro Europa—by using T-Meadow pigs in countless preparations and employing nose to tail cooking that has won him the hearts and stomachs of Western New Yorkers. From the Burro di Chianti made from lard from T-Meadow pigs that accompanies the breads made by his wife, chef and co-owner, Ellen Gedra, to a smoked T-Meadow pork chop that has appeared on The Black Sheep’s menu on several occasions, Chef Gedra’s menu is frequently ﬁlled with TMeadow pork. Another use for T-Meadow pork that Chef Gedra has locally championed is charcuterie or pork that is cured by salting and drying. Chef Gedra’s charcuterie board has changed throughout the years but is held together by one constant—T-Meadow pork. The current version has meat cured in both the French and Italian traditions and features Capicolla, Lonza and Rillettes. The Capicolla salted and cured for two months. Lonza made from the pork loin displays the work of the spent grain. Both would pair well with That IPA from CBW or Hayburner IPA from BDBC. The Rillettes, prepared like pâte was redolent with pork fat and stock and carried the aromatic ﬂavors of thyme and garlic. This rich paste would pair well with Imperial Red IPA from RBC or The Whale Brown Ale from CBW. The effervescence, malts and hops in the varying styles of beer made with these grains each bring something different to the pairing. It’s

not a coincidence that they naturally pair with these dishes and do so wonderfully. Diners can enjoy equally delicious dishes made from T-Meadow pork prepared by Chef Jeffrey Cooke, Jr., executive chef and co-owner of Osteria 166. Chef Cooke is also quite accomplished with charcuterie and other dishes that are made better by the use of T-Meadow pork. For his charcuterie, Chef Cooke offers Spalla, a cured meat made from the fore shoulder of a T-Meadow pig. Cured for over a year, it has developed a wonderful red color and a deep pork ﬂavor that pairs well with local beers with hop content, like CBW’s Frank American Pale Ale or RBC’s IPA. Chef Cooke’s Culatello is a wonderful homage to its cousin made in Italy which some covet more than Prosciutto di Parma. Its salinity and sweet pork ﬂavor would be a natural pair with Low Bridge Hoppy Golden Ale from BDBC. Another dish in which Chef Cooke uses T-Meadow pork is in his Bolognese sauce. His version, made mostly from T-Meadow pork, was balanced and rich—the perfect accompaniment for properly cooked pasta. When paired with a darker beer like a brown ale, the deep caramelization obtained with the T-Meadow pork is highlighted. The life cycle from spent grain to charcuterie that pairs well with local beer is as viable as farm-to-table cooking. It’s a process where everyone wins from the brewers to the restaurants to the diner. It’s just one more way to support and celebrate all that Western New York has to offer. artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

FEATURE | HOLIDAY GIVING

GIVE UNTO THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST

927 Elmwood Avenue

RALPHIE MAY | DEC 3-5

Jazz Vesper Service

from the netﬂix comedy special “unruly” WORLD FAMOUS COMEDIANS

> BY JAMIE MOSES suppose we all should be inspired by Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan’s recent decision to give away 99 percent of their Facebook stock, a charitable giving worth $45 billion. Zuckerberg and fellow billionaires Bill Gates ($31 billion given already) and Warren Buffet ($22 billion given) have inspired another 130 billionaires to follow suit.

PREMIUM EVENT SPACE

PABLO FRANCISCO

JESSIMAE PELUSO

“THEY PUT IT OUT THERE” DEC 10-12

MTV’S “FAILOSOPHY” + “GIRL CODE” DEC 17-19

December 6, 2015 Hindman Chapel Please Join Us for a

POTLUCK DINNER before the service at 6pm!

DOMINIQUE B.E.T. + “LAST COMIC STANDING” DEC 26-27

CLAYTON ENGLISH WINNER OF “LAST COMIC STANDING” DEC 31 | 2 SHOWS

30 MISSISSIPPI STREET » BUFFALO NY 716.853.1211 » HELIUMCOMEDY.COM

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

BEGINNING IN OCTOBER JAZZ VESPER SERVICES WILL RESUME THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH ONE SYMPHONY CIRCLE, BUFFALO (716) 884-7250 • FIRSTCHURCHBUFFALO.ORG EMAIL@FIRSTCHURCHBUFFALO.ORG ‘LIKE’ US ON FACEBOOK FIND US ON TWITTER @1ST CHURCHBFLO

We know the average kind hearted Buffalo good neighbor is not likely to reach such charitable levels. However, the personal reward that being charitable brings is probably much the same whether you’re handing out a bowl of hot soup or a fat check. We’ve put together a few suggestions for our readers to consider.

gear for children is needed as well. A sign will invite those sleeping in Cathedral Park or simply passing by to “Take what you Need.” The Garden of Warmth will continue through winter. Compassion is a blessing for those in need.

M&T Bank’s Gift of Warmth St. Paul’s is not the only one thinking of the often brutal Buffalo winter and those unprepared for it. 30 years ago one M&T employee wanted to help meet the need for warm winter clothing or accessories. That evolved into a bank program that brings in about 3,500 items of winter clothing each year which is delivered to the Salvation Army. Donations of mittens, gloves, scarves and hats for needy Western New Yorkers can be made at any of the 112 area M&T branches until Dec. 31.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral “Garden of Warmth”

Buffalo City Mission

A man stopped at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral at the corner of Church and Pearl and asked if they had a coat to protect him from the cold. They didn’t, so the church’s friends of the bronze statue Homeless Jesus created the Garden of Warmth in Cathedral Park. They constructed a trellis behind the statue held by crosses for people to clip mittens, socks hats and scarves with clothes pins. Larger items like jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, blankets and boots can be placed in clear plastic bags on the wall behind Homeless Jesus. Winter

One of many faith-based organizations locally, the City Mission has been feeding and sheltering the poor and destitute of Buffalo for 93 years, as well as offering limited free medical care and rehabilitation services. This year alone they have served 190,000 free meals to the homeless. Pitch in by shopping at their thrift store at 510 Dick Rd. in Depew, or by donating old furniture, blankets and dishes, as well as non-perishable food items and hygiene products (www.buffalocitymission.org, 100 E. Tupper St., 854-8181)

��

FEATURE | HOLIDAY GIVING

■ �� ■ �� ■ ��

�� ■�� ■�� Friends of the Night People �� For more than 40 years, Friends of the Night �� People has been serving is meals and provid-

SELLING YOUR HOME

��

ing essential support services on a daily basis

�� to the homeless, destitute and working poor

��

all we do!

(Ok, we eat, drink and sleep, too... sometimes)

�� of our community. The nonproﬁt group �� receives no funding from the government, �� and instead relies on contributions from area �� businesses, schools, churches and individu�� (Ken-Ton, Amherst, ��Northtowns als—as well as the collaborative efforts of �� Cheektowaga) many organizations—notably the United Way �� of Buffalo and Erie County, Neighborhood �� Legal Services, and Crisis Services. They also �� receive essential help from the Food Bank �� of Western New York in the form of donated �� RYAN WALLEY and discounted Anyone wishing to �� foods.�� LICENSED R.E. BROKER �� volunteer �� should �� phone 716-884-5375. 394 PARKER CARDINAL LLC �� Hudson Street, Buffalo, NY, 14201 �� 716-249-0905 �� Goodwill parkercardinal@gmail.com

Specializing in:

Homeless Folks One really simple, win-win way to help a homeless person out this holiday season is to give him your empty bottles and cans for deposit. You probably see them everyday, walking their shopping carts down city streets and sifting through recycling and garbage containers, looking for the nickel nuggets that too many of us throw away. It’s easy enough to save up your bottles and set them out by the curb occasionally. Or, if you want to be really sure they’re getting to the right place, wait until you hear the familiar rattle of a shopping cart and ﬂag him or her down. It makes them happy and if you have a small apartment it helps you keep down some of the clutter.

��

Haven House—Providing safe, conﬁdential services to victims of domestic violence. Help out with tax-deductible donations of personal care items, baby supplies and children’s activity supplies. (www.cfsbny.org, 884-6000)

That Could Be Your Mom During the holidays many of the elderly in nursing homes can also beneﬁt from the help and simple camaraderie that volunteers can provide. Here a good course of action would be to contact the nursing homes �� directly to see what kind of assistance might be needed. ��

��

Through the sale of donated items, Goodwill has funded job training and other career services for millions of Americans for over 100 years, helping them become successful at work. Last year alone, Goodwill helped more than 26 million people train for careers and get additional education, English language training, and access to childcare and transportation. You can help out by bringing your � �furniture, � �� computer or old clothes, dishes, even a car to one of the ﬁve area Goodwill Store locations, or by donating directly (www. goodwill.org)

��

Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo & Erie County “If you can read these words, you have the power to enlighten, to offer dignity, to build conﬁdence, to make dreams come true and to create a reader.” That’s the ﬁrst line on the Literacy Volunteers’ Web page about becoming a literacy volunteer, a tutor who teaches reading or English as a Second Language. For 42 years, Literacy Volunteers has been training volunteer tutors to pass on their reading and English language skills to undereducated locals and newly landed immigrants. All it takes to teach someone is the ability to read and two hours each week for one-on-one tutoring sessions with your student. So turn off “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Kid Nation” and use those two hours to get out and make a difference in someone’s life �� by empowering them with the gift of words. �� (www.literacybuffalo.org, 1313 Main St., Buffalo, 876-8991)

��

BOOK YOU R

HOLIDAY PARTY CLEANING

��

NOW!

��

716.544.1398

��

artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

NEWS | FEATURE

CONMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE SHMUEL SHMUELI COMES TO NIAGARA FALLS

Shmuel Shmueli

One Niagara with hole

> BY FRANK PARLATO his week we return to the extraordinary conman Shmuel Shmueli, who defrauded dozens of local lawyers along the way to making me his chief victim. Born April 9, 1951, in Israel, Shmueli came to the US decades ago. He uses several aliases and has made the religious claim to be “Shmuel Shmueli Representative of the Lubavitcher Rebbe For matters on Our Land of Israel.” The title – which he bestowed on himself – is a claim to leadership of the Hassidic Chabad sect of Judaism, a claim which is uncorroborated by any member of the Hassidic community. Shmueli, assuming an air of piety, informs those he does business with that he adheres to a Kosher diet and never works on the Sabbath or Jewish holidays. In our preceding article, we traced how Shmueli formed a weekly Hebrew newspaper in Brooklyn, Israel Shelanu (Our Israel) which closed after Haaretz Daily Newspapers and Maariv Modiin Publishing Co. sued him for plagiarizing their work. They won a $24 million judgment against Shmueli. Shmueli, discharging the $24 million judgement in bankruptcy, never paid a penny. He also discharged the debts to his lawyers on the case, Moskowitz and Book, Andrew Paul Cooper and Jon Lefkowitz, as well as his newspaper employees and vendors to the tune of some $400,000. As a strong reﬂection of his religious sincerity, he included the Wisconsin Institute of Torah Studies in his bankruptcy avoiding a payment of more than $3000 the school claimed was due. Last week we also detailed how Shmueli bought a home in Brooklyn then sold it to his wife, who sold it back to him, who sold it back to his wife, who sold it to his daughter – each time raising mortgage money against

the home. Finally his daughter sold the house for almost $500,000 to a couple who planned to live there. After they paid for it, Shmueli told the couple they could not move in because he had a lease from his daughter guaranteeing him the right to stay in the house. The couple sued in Federal Court; Shmueli lost, was evicted, and federal marshals removed him. The court awarded the couple a $56,669 judgment for legal fees and losses occasioned by Shmueli’s fraudulent lease. But Shmueli, never paid a dime since he discharged that judgment in bankruptcy, as well. After losing his home and his newspaper and his wife, Shmueli wound up in Niagara Falls where I had the misfortune to meet him. The “billionaire” David Ho Sets the Table While Shmueli was in Brooklyn conning people, a Hong Kong businessman named David Ho commenced a development in Niagara Falls called AquaFalls. Ho’s bio lists him as the founder of Caltex South China Investments Limited, a “petroleum ﬁrm” with ties to Chevron-Texaco. In addition Ho sat on the boards of a number of companies that raised investor capital and lost investors’ capital. Ho described himself as a “billionaire” when he promised the $65 million AquaFalls underground aquarium would be built 200 feet from the entrance of the Niagara Falls State Park. The project, announced to great fanfare in July of 1999, was described as an oceanographic experience where spectators could view the sea through a series of glass tunnels. Gov. George Pataki arrived for the ground breaking and many locals, including the mayor, heralded the development. The Niagara County IDA granted AquaFalls’ tax-exempt status. After securing approval from the Army Corp. of Engineers, Ho hired Ciminelli Construction to blast the

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

One Niagara w/ parking

One Niagara food court

40 foot deep, one acre hole into bedrock in front of the old Occidental Chemical building, a mere 900 feet from the brink of the American Falls. Yet somehow “billionaire” Ho could not get financing to build his aquarium. In fact he could not even pay for the hole and one of his partners, Niagara Falls businessman, Harry Williams, arranged for Ho to obtain a $2 million loan from local developer Larry Reger. A Hole is a Hole is a Hole When I was introduced to Ho by his lawyer, Gregory Davis the hole was already five years old. The Buffalo News described it in news stories, as, “The locally infamous hole in the ground, dug in front of the former Occidental Chemical Center in 1999, has never been filled with anything, much less the .... aquarium a group of international investors promised.” And, “There’s a huge hole in the City of Niagara Falls, and it needs to be filled with more than excuses...... It’s the first thing drivers see when they cross the bridge from the Canadian side. They also see an aged sign on the hole-encompassing fence, trumpeting an ‘AquaFalls’ attraction that has been five unproductive years in the making.” By the time I got there, the City of Niagara Falls had taken AquaFalls to court on claims the hole was endangering the safety of pedestrians and traffic; in Nov. 2004, City Court Judge Angelo J. Morinello fined AquaFalls $192,500 for prolonged delays in remedial work to its property. As the News reported, “After five years, the 40-foot hole on Rainbow Boulevard is still not an aquarium, and the protruding metal fences and broken sidewalks around the property still trip pedestrians and force them to walk in the road” in order to get to the Niagara Falls State Park. Reger starts foreclosing

As the hole was creating civic concern, privately, Reger, who lent the money to pay for the hole, was foreclosing. As holder of a second mortgage, his mortgage was legally junior to a $6.8 million first mortgage on the property, placed there somewhat suspiciously by Ho himself – and in Ho’s name. This meant that, if Reger foreclosed, and tried to sell the property, Ho would get the first $6.8 million of the sale price before Reger could collect his $2 million. And frankly nobody thought the property was worth anywhere near $6.8 million. Should Reger decide to keep the property, Reger could not even collect rents – since the rents were assigned to the first mortgage which was held by Ho. While Reger’s mortgage was in effect worthless, he could still foreclose, and, owning the property, he could still prevent anyone from renting it so that Ho stood to lose his first mortgage, as the property, with its giant hole, and mounting expenses, would be condemned and, ultimately, the tax man would foreclose and everyone would lose everything. In late 2004, Reger set a date for foreclosure, but he did not want to foreclose. In fact he told Ho that he would forestall foreclosure if Ho would merely make a payment of $23,000 to cover one month’s interest. The “billionaire” Ho asked me for a loan of $23,000 to stop the foreclosure. I came up with a plan. I approached Reger and negotiated with him to assign to me his $2 million second mortgage and stop the foreclosure. Then I cut a deal with Ho, moving Reger’s mortgage to first position (from second), and making Ho’s $6.8 million a second mortgage. Instead of foreclosing and getting nothing, Reger would get paid first if I could develop the vacant building with its giant hole.

NEWS | FEATURE

Larry Reger I next formed a partnership with Ho, saving him from foreclosure. Ho and I form a partnership Called One Niagara LLC, Ho and I signed an operating agreement for a company that gave me irrevocable rights to manage the property – both the 9-story former Occidental Chemical office building and the one acre hole in front of it - with Ho having no managerial rights whatsoever - but 50 percent of the proceeds of a sale and profits after expenses. The agreement Ho signed – when he was on the verge of foreclosure – read in part: “Frank Parlato shall be the sole Manager of the Company,” with “full and exclusive right to control day to day operations and business affairs of the Company, and .... this provisions shall be broadly interpreted in favor of (Parlato) and (Parlato) shall be entitled to take any and all actions with respect the Property and the business of the Company that (he) determine(s) to be appropriate and in the Company’s best interest, in each case without any further confirmation or approval of (David Ho).” From that day forward (December 9, 2004) Ho had no more obligation to invest in the project and no managerial rights. And Ho never invested a single dime in the project from the day we formed our partnership. In return for my doing all the work and being responsible for all cash calls, the contract gave me the unilateral right to pay myself a management fee which I could set without Ho’s consent. 2005-2006 I develop the property During the next two years I rescued the old Occidental building now renamed One Niagara. I immediately filled the hole and turned it into a paid parking lot for visitors to Niagara Falls. On May 10, 2005, WBEN radio announced, “(A) gaping 40-foot hole in the heart of downtown Niagara Falls is finally being filled.... The removal means a blight that greeted people as they entered the city from the Rainbow Bridge will be no more.” By next spring, as it was filled, as WGRZ TV reported: “The giant pit is filled now, but what’s next? Buffalo developer, Frank Parlato, says he’s turning it and the adjacent building, into a giant tourist center to greet those coming into Niagara Falls, N.Y.” The Niagara Gazette editorialized (5/18/07): “With the

David Ho paving of the dirt lot at One Niagara it truly was an end to all signs of the failed AquaFalls project that has lingered in the city like a ghost for more than seven years. Now, Frank Parlato said he will (use) the site as a paid parking lot in conjunction with a food and souvenir attraction he will operate... on the first floor of the nine-story glass building.... (O)n this side of the border... it’s a pretty big development.” Reger and I partner successfully In April 2006, I entered into a partnership with Reger to operate the parking lot and businesses on the first floor. By 2007 it began to be successful. I filed permits to open up the top floor at One Niagara as an observation deck to provide a panoramic view of the American falls, which the Gazette editorial board called a “good sign”. That same week, the Buffalo News reported: “The first floor now bustles with food stands and souvenir vendors. A 40-foot excavation has been filled and is a paved parking lot that fills nearly daily.” Within two years, Reger got his entire investment back ($780,000) with interest and, starting the third year, (2009) he earned pure profit with no further investment. Between the time I started the business and his death in March 2015, Reger not only got all his original investment back with interest but earned millions from a partnership which started out of a bad investment he had with Ho. Reger’s estate now enjoys a six figure annual dividend from the project I started without having a dime invested into the business. No wonder Reger’s longtime lawyer, Gregory Photiadis, wrote a letter stating that Reger was complimentary of my work with him. Along the way I created more than 60 jobs in depressed Niagara Falls, with more than 20 of them paying more than $75,000 annually and all of this was done without accepting a single dime in public subsidies. Ho brings the kiss of death, Shmuel Shmueli, to One Niagara By 2007, when Shmueli entered my life, the One Niagara project was far from out of the woods. The

1999 Pataki announces Aqua Falls Niagara Falls’ tourist season is only 100 days long and this 9-story, 200,000 square foot building had year round expenses. In July 2007, during a visit to the building, Ho, seeing business bustling, and possessing a disdain for Reger, objected to my partnership with Reger and demanded the deal with Reger be canceled and that he get Reger’s share. As manager of One Niagara with full authority to operate the business, I refused to cancel the deal with Reger. Ho came the next day with Shmueli, whom he stated was his agent, granting Shmueli “the right to exercise all and any legal procedures to enforce ... David Ho’s rights.” Ho left for Hong Kong never to return to the building. By August, 2007, Shmueli was on the scene daily. It soon became apparent that, now that the project was veering from a vacant hole and a condemned building, to a successful tourist operation, Ho wanted it all. Shmueli told me that if I did not cancel the deal with Reger and make him, Shmueli, the new manager he would use Ho’s wealth to destroy the project and me personally. As we sat at a table at Denny’s across the street from One Niagara, I remember Shmueli telling me he was a member of the Israeli secret intelligence, Mossad, and how he would force me to spend $500,000 in legal expenses. “I’m going to toil you a very tiny small leetle secret you vill come to know because you is very smart Mr. Frank Parlato Jr.” Shmueli told me. “You can understand my meaning and vhut kind of a man Mr. Shmuel Shmueli is. “You have hoid of the Mossad? Vell I have steel the ability to do damages to you and your friends like Mr. Lawrence Vreger.... “Now I propose you do not ﬁght and get reed of Mr. Vreger. I voil assume his roil and ve vill be friends for I like you style very much Mr. Parlato, Jr. “If not ve ﬁght in the court and out of the court so that you vill spend much more than you vill make in years with Mr. Lawrence Vreger. “In your store you sell the postcard picture. There are two pictures. Ve vill make you spend half million in lawyer fees or this instead you can keep in your pocket

if ve move Mr, Lawrence Vreger out of the postcard picture - vich you can do as manager. Othervise you vill pay and I cannot stop the move until you are no longer manager and out of the picture postcard. This is David Ho’s demand who hired me as his agent.” Shmueli then proposed that he keep the cash proceeds from the building earned on weekdays, and I take the cash from weekends - with or without telling David Ho. When I said no to his plans, Shmueli started a campaign to disrupt operations and, over the next eight years, Shmueli was true to his word - at least as to cost: Reger and I spent more than $1.4 million to defend Shmueli’s 10 lawsuits against us. Shmueli tries to overthrow the manager, me He began at once. Although the operating agreement of One Niagara LLC permits only the managing member – me - to call a member’s meeting, on August 16, 2007, Shmueli called a meeting when I was out of town and in that illegal meeting demoted me to superintendent of buildings and grounds, and appointed himself as the new manager. At the rogue meeting he passed a resolution that a locksmith be empowered to enter the building and change the locks. I informed Reger of the attempt at a hostile takeover and we agreed to take action to protect our assets and commence a lawsuit. On August 30, 2007, I brought an action against Shmueli in State Supreme Court before Justice Frank Caruso and won a temporary restraining order preventing Shmueli from changing the locks to the facility. Shmueli retained the law firm of Lorenzo and Cohen LLP, which was headed up by prominent local attorney Steven Cohen. It was an odd retainer agreement for, instead of the usual hourly agreement most clients have with their attorneys, this was a flat fee agreement - for $150,000. The payment was contingent on, in Shmueli’s own words: “To get F.P. (Frank Parlato) out of management position in One Niagara Building.” As mentioned in previous stories, Shmueli was to stiff each of some 25 attorneys he retained to fight me in his attempt at a hostile takeover. Lorenzo and Cohen were among the first to be cheated. In next week’s edition, we will see how Shmueli sent them an initial retainer of $40,000 then proceeded to cheat them and Steve Cohen’s subsequent law firm, Hogan Willig, out of more than $112,000 and hired four more law firms, Zdarsky, Sawicki and Agostinelli, Jaeckle Fleishmann and Mugal, Bloom and Shonn, and Anderson, and Anderson, pitting one against the other. All the while Shmueli collected fees from foreign investors who gave him money for the promise of a piece of his litigation. With Shmueli pulling the strings and calling the shots – he was soon able to dupe Ho out of his entire interest in One Niagara. Stay tuned as we report further on one of the great rascals of our area, the amazing conman, Shmuel Shmueli. artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT | THEATRICALLY SPEAKING

THREE IS A CHARM A look at a few local productions wrapping up this week

Above and right: Nora at Torn Space Theater > BY ANTHONY CHASE

NORA The debut of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House in 1879 is generally regarded as marking the arrival of the Modern Drama. Nora’s defiant gesture, asserting her own humanity by slamming the door on a suffocating marriage has resonated across the globe and across time. After the play’s opening in Copenhagen, the play ignited such discussion that for a year Scandinavian dinner invitations might include the request, “Guests are kindly asked not to discuss Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House!” In China, the impact of the play was so powerful that early 20th century feminists in that country were known as “Chinese Noras.” (Mao’s wife played the role during her premarital actress days in Shanghai). Indeed the play embodies a foundational concept of political science, that there is always an oppressor and an oppressed. In this case, Torvald Helmer lovingly oppresses his wife Nora, as her father had before him. The man is oblivious to the fact that Nora’s cleverness has sustained his household, his health, and even his financial stability. When Torvald learns that Nora’s artful management of the household finances has included a forged document that puts him in social peril, he momentarily turns on his little doll, viciously threatening to withhold her meager privileges and to banish her from contact with “his” children. 10

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

Both Your Houses at the Kavinoky Theatre When the crisis is averted, Nora is disinclined to be forgiving. She leaves.

wealthy but terminally ill family friend who secretly loves Nora with devoted focus.

Ingmar Bergman’s 1981 adaptation of the play, called Nora, is one of many returns to the Helmer home. This version is pared down from Ibsen’s three act version to 90 minutes with no intermission—not incidentally as played at Torn Space Theater, where the pacing slows the proceedings down to signiﬁcantly more time, and requires an intermission. Bergman conceives of the play as Torvald’s tragedy.

The elements that have been assembled are excellent, but there is something out of kilter here. The pace for this familiar drama is inexplicably ceremonial and slow. Our progression through the story does not seem continuous. Instead, we witness disconnected moments.

Under the direction of Robert Waterhouse, with an expressionistic set by Kristina Siegel, the production looks very smart, and the world of the play has been populated with some very compelling actors. Here, the action has been moved from 19th century Scandinavia to America of the 1950s. In this setting a patriarchal marriage more overtly resembles spousal abuse. Bonnie Jean Taylor’s Nora is the classic 1950s upper middle class housewife who knows when to lie to her husband, usually for his own good. PJ Tighe’s Torvald begins as benignly loving, but by degrees becomes increasingly menacing. Geoff Pictor, as Korgstad, the banker who knows Nora’s secret and tries to use the information to his own advantage cuts a sadly and appropriately desperate ﬁgure. Kristen Bentley plays Christine, Nora’s world weary and wise friend from her school days, a person far more stable than Nora could hope to be. And ﬁnally, David Hayes plays Dr. Rank, the

Bergman’s conclusion to the play has Torvald try to cement the rescue of his marriage with a symbolic act of sexual bonding. After submitting to this, the next morning Nora is ﬁrm in her resolve to leave. In this production the lights come up and we ﬁnd Nora dressed, seated at a bedside chair, staring down at her husband who is naked and sleeping. The tables have turned. She is empowered, he is vulnerable. The image is arresting. The Torn Space staging, however, does not trust this commanding moment. Nora does not hold her ground. The tension is quickly dissipated. Torvald awkwardly slips on his boxer shorts; Nora disperses the moment with chaotic movement around the room; she unnecessarily raises her voice, undercutting the impression that she is entirely in control. The dynamic is lost. The set, by the formidable and colossally talented Ms. Siegel, is entirely white and very handsome. In some critical instances, however, it fails to accommodate the requirements of the play or to account for audience interpretation. Each character is

relegated to a deﬁned waiting space around a central playing area representing the Helmer home, which works very well. Siegel has conceived a really spiffy mail box that glows when Korgstad inserts his incriminating blackmail letter. Nonetheless, the space proves to be distractingly awkward for the actors to navigate and fails to accommodate one of the most celebrated moments in Modern Drama—Nora’s ﬁnal exit. There is no door, and I suspected that director and designer might cleverly have devised a moment in which Nora would walk out into the world of the audience, joining modernity, but no. At the critical moment, the actress maneuvers her way upstage, through a space formerly relegated to her husband and up toward the back wall. A curtain falls and Nora descends past the horizon, out of our view. Someone near me whispered, “Did she kill herself?” Nora’s future might be uncertain, but her decision should not be. Oddly, this pared down visit, intended to heighten the drama, meanders more than the original. Nora concludes its run this week.

BOTH YOUR HOUSES In 1933, at the height of the Great Depression, Maxwell Anderson, a Broadway titan of the time, spun out a marvelously engaging yarn about corruption in the United States Congress. His play, Both Your Houses, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and has appeared in the repertoire from time to time ever since.

ENTERTAINMENT | THEATRICALLY SPEAKING

ARTISTS IN BUFFALO, INC. PRESENTS THE 15TH ANNUAL

Fri, Dec 4th 5-9 PM Sat, Dec 5th 11-6 PM Sun, Dec 6th 11-6 PM

Visit Talented Local Artists & Artisans A Great Alternative To Hectic Holiday Shopping! Map With Locations at www.artistsinbuffalo.org art.buffalo@gmail.com 716.881.2199

Sponsored in part by:

Stompin’ at the Savoy at Paul Robeson Theatre

In the play an idealistic young Congressman, played here by Christopher Evans, sets out on a wild crusade to clean up the government. The fun of story is the same as the guilty pleasure of any soap opera. We have arrived at scoundrel time, and want to see who can outfox who. At a recent matinee, the Kavinoky production lacked bite in Act One. We get little sense of the distinct personalities of these characters, or the notion of scoundrels we love to hate (or hate to love). Deliciously talented Aleks Malejs and Jessica Wegrzyn as a scheming Lady Macbeth and an ingénue seem to have traded roles, blunting the punch of their performances. An eye-popping set by David King, featuring a stunning view of the Capitol dome, is sometimes slogged down in set changes, including one inexplicably at the top of Act Two. After the confusing set change, Act Two did snap into tighter shape and we began to get the ﬂavor of Anderson’s play. (Other than the inelegant movement between scenes, the production does look great, including costumes by Benjamin Streeter Clothing Design). The shifting votes of the shifty members of Congress are especially enjoyable. If you can stay with it, Act Two is worth the wait, and it is a pleasure to see so many ﬁne actors assembled for this production.

STOMPIN’ AT THE SAVOY Also closing on December 6th is the Paul Robeson Theatre production of Stompin’ at the Savoy, a fun excuse to roll out some of the most beloved tunes of the American songbook. While it is always a pleasure to see the veterans of the Robeson stage, Mary Craig (who directs this production), Sandra Gilliam, and Chalma Warmley, I was most delighted to see the showcasing of some formidable new talent.

��g�� g ��

��

The Kavinoky Theatre has staged a production, directed by David Lamb, that will conclude its run this week.

Melinda Capeles Rowe and Johnny Rowe, a real life married couple who have recently relocated to Buffalo from Orlando make a marvelous addition to our local talent pool. They play an adoring but perpetually bickering couple out for their anniversary at the Club Savoy where she was formerly a performer. That is enough of a hint to this ﬂimsy excuse to perform a whole lot of great music and to indulge in a whole lot of clever clowning. Young performers Perris K. Fortson and Ayana Naomi Williams are appealing as the “chocolate kisses,” hardworking nightclub dancers with seemingly limitless talent. Robin Barker, who choreographed the production, is adorable as a “Savoy Dancer,” tapping away like a female Matthew Clark (who turns out to have been her teacher!)

candles at terrapin station

��

�� artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

THEATER | ON THE BOARDS presented by OPENING

ANNIE, touring production of the Broadway musical presented by Shea’s and Albert Nocciolino. Dec 8-13, Tue-Thu at 7:30, Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 2 & 7. Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. (1-800-745-3000). www.sheas.org CHARLES DICKENS PRESENTS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, solo performance conceived, written, directed by and starring Mike Randall, presented by The Niagara Regional Theatre Guild. Dec 6 at 3. Ellicott Creek Playhouse, 530 Ellicott Creek, Tonawanda (260-2319). www. niagaratheatre.com. FACE IT, two one-act plays by Engelic Everett and Nick Cacciotti presented by Unique Productions (Up!) in collaboration with Subversive Theatre Collective, directed by Beth Geyer. Dec 3-13, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2. The Manny Fried Playhouse, 255 Great Arrow Ave. (2438889). www.uniqueproductionsup.com LATE WITH LANCE, show biz spoof written by and starring Peter Michael Marino. Dec 4 at 8, Donald Savage Theater Arts Building, Buffalo State campus. Dec 6 at 7, Allen Street Hardware, 245 Allen St. Pay-what-youcan. No reservations. LITTLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS, by James DeVita, based on the series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, presented by Theatre of Youth, directed by Meg Quinn. Dec 4 at 7. Dec 5-20, Sat & Sun at 2, plus Dec 12 & 19 at 10 a.m. Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St. (884-4400). www.theatreofyouth.org 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL, by Dolly Parton and Patricia Resnick, presented by Niagara University Theatre, directed by Amanda Lytle Sharpe and Terri Filips Vaughan. Dec 3-13, Thu at 7, Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Leary Theatre, Clet Hall at NU campus (286-8685). THE SANTALAND DIARIES, one-man show by David Sedaris & Joe Mantello, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Kevin Kennedy. Dec 4-19, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2 (no show Dec 17). Road Less Traveled Theater, 500 Pearl St. (629-3069). www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org TWO CHRISTMAS TALES: The Gift Of The Magi & A Charlie Brown Christmas, presented by The Alden Christian Theatre Society. Dec 5 & 11 at 7:30, Dec 12 at 2:30 & 7:30, Dec 6 & 13 at 2:30. ACTS, 470 Church St, Alden (937-7770). www.actstheatre.org

ONGOING

HARVEY, comedy by Mary Chase, directed by Tom Makar, starring Richard Lambert, Caitlin Coleman, Dave Lundy, Betsy Bittar, Tammy Hayes McGovern, Sharon Straight, Jamie Nablo, Nicholas Lama, Todd Fuller, Rich Kramer, Franklin LaVoie. Through Dec 20, Thu-Sat at 8. New Phoenix Theatre, 95 Johnson Park (853-1334). www.newphoenixtheatre.org UH OH! HERE COMES CHRISTMAS, variety performance by Fulghum, Zulia & Caldwell, presented by O’Connell & Company, directed by Joey Bucheker, starring Corey Beiber, Tim Goehrig, Edith Grossman, Mary Moebius, Michael Starzynski. Through Dec 20, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30 (no performance Dec 17). The Park School, 4625 Harlem Rd., Snyder (848-0800). www. oconnellandcompany.com MY FAIR LADY, musical by Lerner & Loewe directed by David Bondrow, starring Kevin Leary, Chrissy Vogric, Scot Kaitanowski, David Marciniak, Alex Hunnell, Katy Clancy. Through Dec 13, Thu-Sat at 7:30, Sun at 2:30. Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster (683-1776).

CLOSING

BOTH YOUR HOUSES, play by Maxwell Anderson, directed by David Lamb, starring Christian Brandjes, Kevin Craig, Kurt Erb, Chris Evans, Anne Gayley, Greg Gjurich, Kurt Guba, Robert Insana, Steve Jakiel, Tim Joyce, Gerry Maher, Aleks Malejs, Russ Papia, Peter Palmisano, 12

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

Norm Sham, Jessica Wegrzyn. Through Dec 6, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 3:30 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Kavinoky Theatre, 320 Porter Ave. (829-7668). www.kavinokytheatre.com THE CRUCIBLE, drama by Arthur Miller presented by The Springville Players, directed by Ed Heary. Through Dec. 6, Thu-Sat at 7, Sun at 2, plus Nov 28 at 2. Springville Center for the Arts. 37 N. Buffalo St., Springville (5929038). www.springvillearts.org. LEGALLY BLONDE, THE MUSICAL, presented by UB Theatre & Dance Department, directed by Keith Andrews. Through Dec 6, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 2 & 7:30, Sun at 2. Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts, UB North Campus (645-ARTS). www.theatredance.buffalo.edu NORA, drama adapted by Ingmar Bergman from Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, presented by Torn Space, directed by Robert Waterhouse, starring Bonnie Jean Taylor, Kristen Bentley, David Hayes, PJ Tighe, Geoff Pictor. Through Dec 6, Thu at 7:30, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 7:30. Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle, 612 Fillmore Ave. (812-5733). www.tornspacetheater.com PAGEANT: THE MUSICAL, by Albert Evans, Frank Kelly & Bill Russell, directed by Doug Weyand, starring Bobby Cooke, Matthew Iwanski, Chris Kelly, Ben Michael Moran, Tom Owen, Marc Sacco, Michael Wachowiak, Michael Walline. Through Dec 6, Wed & Thu at 7, Fri at 8, Sat at 4 & 7, Sun at 2. MusicalFare Theatre, 4380 Main St., Amherst (839-8540). www.musicalfare. com STOMPIN’ AT THE SAVOY, musical by Ron Stacker Thompson, directed by Mary Craig, starring Craig, Chalma Warmley, Sandra Gilliam, Johnny Rowe, Melinda Rowe, Robin Barker, Perris K. Fortson, Ayana Williams. Through Dec 6, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 4. Paul Robeson Theatre at the African American Cultural Center, 350 Masten Ave. (884-2013). www.aaccbuffalo.org

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS FORGET ME NOT, free reading of a new play by Diane Almeter Jones presented by the Emanuel Fried New Play Workshop, directed by Lisa Ludwig, starring Steve Copps, Tracy Snyder, Michael Seitz, David Lundy. Dec 7 at 7. Road Less Traveled Theater, 500 Pearl St. IT WAS A WONDERFUL LIFE, written by Joseph Demerly, directed by Loraine O’Donnell, starring John Fredo, Dudney Joseph, Jenn Stafford, Kelly Copps, Doug Crane, Timothy Finnegan, Mary Craig, Annette Christian. Through Dec 27, Sat & Sun at 2. Forest Lawn Chapel, 1411 Delaware Ave. (885-1600).

UPCOMING ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, play written and directed L. Don Swartz, starring Kirsten Ferree, D.J. Swartz, Isabella Kutzbach, Ben Torres, Ryan Walters, Mikey Swartz, Bailey Blanchard. Dec 10-20, Thu at 7, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda (743-1614). www.starrynighttheatre.com A CHRISTMAS CAROL, adapted and directed by Neal Radice, starring David C. Mitchell, Melissa Leventhal, Stephanie Bax, Roger VanDette, David G. Poole, Jerry Hudson, Joyce Stilson, Radice. Dec 10- 20, Thu & Fri at 7:30, Sat at 5 & 8, Sun at 2. Alleyway Theatre, One Curtain Up Alley (852-2600). www.alleyway.com SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS! by Paul L Jacobson and Glenville Mareth, adapted for the stage and directed by Billy Horn, presented by Patchwork Theatre of Niagara, starring Elliot Fox, Meagan Kurilovitch, Steve Brachmann, Rick Vogt, Trevor Dugan, Daniel Baker, Jamie Moore, Rosie Lorenti. Dec 17-20, Thu & Fri at 7, Sat & Sun at 3 & 7. Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave. at Portage Rd. (628-5347).

THEATER | STAGEFRIGHT

> BY JAVIER

January 22nd through February 14th.

The fabulous Marlee Matlin (pictured above) is making her Broadway debut in the revival of the musical Spring Awakening which is playing a limited engagement through January 24th. First presented in Los Angeles, this production is performed simultaneously in American Sign Language and spoken English. Matlin won an Academy Award in 1986 for her performance in Children of a Lesser God, in which she co-starred with William Hurt. Based on the 1980 Tony Award winning play by Mark Madoff, the Broadway production starred Phyllis Frelich and John Rubinstein, both of whom won Tony Awards for their performances. Frelich died last year at the age of 60.

Later in the season, Theatre of Youth brings back the epic fantasy adventure based on the C.S. Lewis novel, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Directed by Chris Kelly, the production will star Adam Yellen, Jordan Levin, Renee Landrigan, and Jessica Wegrzyn. The show opens on March 11th.

And speaking of Rubinstein, he is now starring as Charles in Pippin, the touring production of the 2013 Broadway revival that will play Shea’s January 26th-31st. Rubinstein created the title role in the original production of Pippin back in 1972, for which he received a Theater World Award. Also, appearing in Buffalo as Berthe will be Priscilla Lopez who originated role of Diana Morales in A Chorus Line. Lopez was a replacement for Fastrada in the original Pippin production. She was most recently in the original cast of In the Heights. She won her Tony Award in 1980 for her performance in A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine. Both Lopez and Rubinstein also performed in the Broadway revival of Pippin. Tickets are now on sale at Shea’s. British novelist, poet, and academic C.S.Lewis, who died in November 1963, has always remained in the public interest. The Fellowship For Performing Arts in New York is currently presenting the new York premiere of the stage adaptation of Lewis’ The Great Divorce, based on his theological fantasy about heaven and hell. Later in the season the company will present the stage adaptation of his novel The Screwtape Letters, followed by the world premiere of the one-man show C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert. Up next for Road Less Traveled, the WNY premiere of Mark St. Germain’s Freud’s Last Session, a play about an imaginary meeting between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis. Directed by Katie Mallinson, the production will star David Oliver as Freud, and Matt Witten as Lewis. The show runs

After the successful run of his First Daughter Suite at the Public Theater in New York, composer Michael John LaChiusa heads to the Old Globe in San Diego where his new musical Rain will premiere in March. Based on Somerset Maugham’s short story about the mysterious Sadie Thompson, the musical has a book by Sybille Pearson. Pearson wrote the book for Richard Maltby and David Shire’s Baby. Up next for Matthew LaChiusa’s ART of WNY, John Guare’s The House of Blue Leaves. Directed by Drew McCabe, the production is set to star Thomas LaChiusa, Dianne DiBernardo Blenk, Maura Nolan, Scot Kaitanowski, Virginia Brannon, Erica Lorenzetti, Heather Reed, Lisa Sember, and Rick Lattimer. Opening date is set for March 12th at a new location to be announced on Amherst St. The company reportedly will not return to Medaille where they previously staged the musical Carrie. The Guns of Christmas, the 2015 Artie Award winning play by Gary Earl Ross, will have a staged reading at Subversive Theatre Collective, December 18th21st. Later in the season the company will present the world premiere of Ross’ new work, The Mark of Cain, set to star Dee Lamont Perry, Greg Howze, Candace Whitﬁeld, and Lawrence Rowswell. The play is a “ﬁctionalized dramatization of Clarence Darrow’s defense of a prestigious black doctor arrested in Detroit in 1925 for shooting at the lynch mob that attacked his house”. Musicalfare will present two holiday events in its Premier Cabaret. A Big Band Holiday featuring Phil Sims and his eight piece band with vocalist Katy Miner will perform on December 12th at 4 & 8, and December 13th at 2. An Old Fashioned Christmas with Randy Kramer, John Fredo, Theresa Quinn, Amy Jakiel and Peggy Scalzo performs on December 19th at 4 & 8.

MUSIC | CLASSICAL

DIE FLEDERMAUS AT BOU Buffalo Opera Unlimited culminates its 30th anniversary season

within close proximity to Rockwell Hall. Also, the tiered seating is perfect for viewing opera productions.” Tickets: $30/Seniors: $25/ Students: $10. Phone 878-3005. Information: www. buffalostatepac.org

Camerata di Sant’Antonio at St. Louis Church

Emily Yancey

Elizabeth Wojtowicz

> BY JAN JEZIORO n Friday December 4 at 8pm and Sunday December 6 at 2:30pm, Buffalo Opera Unlimited will end its 30th anniversary season with a fully staged production, sung in English, of Johann Strauss II’s operetta Die Fledermaus under the direction of Tim Kennedy, in Rockwell Hall Performing Arts Center on the Buffalo State Campus.

can’t think of a better production to usher in the holiday spirit than Die Fledermaus. The tunes, waltzes, entertainment and comedy are sewn together in a masterful way to create a masterpiece of long standing. Die Fledermaus also seems a ﬁtting celebration to close out our 30th anniversary year.”

Is it as likely that Johann Strauss Jr.’s universally beloved operetta, Die Fledermaus, would have become nearly as popular a staple in the repertoire of English language opera companies if the work’s title, and not only its lyrics, had been translated from German to English? It would seem to be difficult to dispute that the German word ‘fledermaus’ (flying mouse) has a more positive connotation than the English word ‘bat’, its more usual translation. In any case, this delightfully complicated comic tale of would-be revenge and mistaken identities has proven irresistible to audiences since Die Fledermaus premiered at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna in April 1874, with its American premiere taking place just seven months later in New York City. “Die Fledermaus takes place on New Year’s Eve,” says Tim Kennedy, founder and artistic director of Buffalo Opera Unlimited, “but I feel that it is a great choice for the holiday season, generally. While it is technically an operetta, it’s been accepted by countless opera companies as part of their operatic repertoire for its wit, vitality and sparkle. I

Robert Zimmerman will sing the role of Einstein, and Holly Bewley that of Rosalinda, while Emily Yancey sings the role of Adele, Lorenzo Parnell that of Dr. Blind, with Jeffrey Coyle as Dr. Falke, Michael Hawk as Frank, Elizabeth Wojtowicz as Prince Orlovsky, Cherie Ruben as Ida and Christopher Teal as Frosch. The sets are designed by David Butler; Tom Kostusiak is the lighting designer and Bernadine DeMike is the choreographer and costumer. “We remain true to our mission statement believing that local and regional talent can be, and sound, professional,” says Kennedy. “One of our lead characters, Rosalinda, is sung by Dr. Holly Bewlay, an associate professor of voice at Buffalo State College; Elizabeth Wojtowicz, who sings the trouser role of Prince Orlofsky, is also on the Buffalo State faculty while David Butler, the set designer, and builder of the set as well, is a graduate of Buffalo State.” “Opera demands an orchestra pit if you want to produce it properly and there are very few in the Buffalo area. The Performing Arts Center in Rockwell Hall provides us with this necessity and we also love that the location is in the city, since many members of our audience are senior citizens and they live

Now that Thanksgiving Day is past, the classical Christmas music season will be getting into full swing this weekend, with several dozen seasonal music concerts scheduled between now and Christmas Day. One concert of particular note will be taking place this Friday December 4 at 7:30pm at St. Louis Roman Catholic Church at the corner of Main and Edward in downtown Buffalo, off street parking available. Music director Christopher Weber will lead his Camerata di Sant’Antonio and the Choir of St. Louis Church in an event that is being billed as a Concerto di Angeli. All of the costs of this event will be paid for by the generous patronage of supporters of the Camerata di Sant’Antonio, while the reception will be donated by Amberliegh Retirement Community of Williamsville. This means that every dollar collected at the door will be donated to support the programs of the Buffalo City Mission. The Camerata has earned a deserved reputation for programming works seldom, if ever, heard elsewhere. It continues that tradition with Mozart’s very early Salzburger Symphony in F, K138, while Maria Hardcastle will be the featured soloist in Telemann’s Concerto for Viola Strings and Continuo in G. Carl Maria von Weber’s irresistible Invitation to the Dance, in an arrangement for strings will serve as an introduction to Richard Heuberger’s Nachtmusik, Op. 7—a beautiful serenade of romantic dance melodies for strings premiered by the Camerata in 2010. Frank Scinta will be playing and leading the St. Louis Choir in short interludes before and between the major pieces on the program, and joining the orchestra at the end for Mendelssohn’s Verleigh uns Frieden and the last movement (Beschluss) of Schutz’s Weihnachtshistorie, or Christmas Story. Admission is by free will offering, $10 suggested donation, with all proceeds going to the Buffalo City Mission. artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

� ��

��

Art Dialogue Gallery and Artists Group Gallery offer exciting, side by side shows

��

NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS

��

VISUAL ARTS | ARTSCENE

��

Snowbound on Lake Erie by Len Kagelmacher

Hertel on Fire by Ester Baum-Taylor

> BY JACK FORAN en Kagelmacher’s photos of Buffalo and near environs on view at Art Dialogue Gallery focus on architectural features hidden in plain sight. But a telephoto lens helps. Features like his City Hall People window jamb statues reminiscent of medieval cathedral door jamb statues—from an historical moment when stone sculpture was just beginning to free itself from the church architectural background—now in an art deco mode.

called Color of Fall. Blend of russet and brown. Rust and decay. But more interest in the strewn miscellany. The ruins and detritus.

Or the cupid relief sculptures along the top of the Ellicott Square Building. Or elegant Roman archway main entrance to the same building, with classical nudes or semi-nudes—male and female— in the corner triangular areas, right and left, above the archway. Both figures with wings. The male alas headless, but identifiable as Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, by the caduceus, the staff with two snakes. The female not so identifiable. Maybe just a friend. Both figures have angel wings. (Mercury traditionally had them on his ankles. Maybe the sculptor misunderstood.) Another architectural sculpture photo of a fearsome-looking animal of unidentified species—snarling and baring teeth—on the old downtown post office building, now the ECC city campus. One also of John Morrissey’s boat former waterfront feature in a snowstorm, huddled as if for protection beside and beneath the adjacent grain elevator. An arrangement in gray and black. Essence of forlorn. Other photos of the Botanical Gardens building, near and far views of the stone “castle” at Fort Niagara, and one of the might industrial mechanisms of the Col. Ward pumping station. Subdued colors pretty much throughout. Photos more about forms than colors. With the possible exception of one of ruins and detritus around the Roycroft Campus Power House in East Aurora,

While next door in the interconnecting Artists Group Gallery, a group members’ show in the form of holiday art sale, called Artful Gifts. Including some beautiful nature scene impressionist oil paintings by Joan Langley Shaw, and superb preimpressionist still life with grapes and a pear; some Robert Schulman stark silhouette city scenario photos; some Dennis Scherer acid-treated copper vermicular pattern works; and Esther Baum-Taylor spectacular skies and hues photos, one in what could be a rural setting, one looking west down Hertel Avenue at sundown. Amid a turmoil of clouds, dual jet airplane contrails aimed straight down the street. Some Don Scheller little black and white photos of solitary tree trunks and branches—no foliage—in immaculate snow-covered landscapes; an Edward G. Bisone abstract torn-brown-paper collage item with ink splotch and ink letter x, a little splotchy also; and Thomas Sundberg enigmatic tiny watercolors—each about two inches by two inches in dimensions—possible landscapes, possibly with water features, in two cases possibly waterfalls, entitled Nine Days, Thirteen Days, and Fifty One Days. And Douglas Bauer’s mystery box entitled Ben Carson Grain Storage Pyramid, including a little matchsticks construction and colorful little medallion with writing too small to be legible, some random glass balls or marbles, fabric, mirror. Several hundred works, it looks like. Maybe a hundred artists. The Artful Gifts show continues through December 31. The Len Kagelmacher show continues until January 8. artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

BOOKS | GRAPHIC TRAFFIC presented by

BOOKS | GET LIT

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE (ISSUE #1 OF 8) By Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello (Authors), Andy Kubert (Illustrator) DC Comics (Publisher) > REVIEW BY BRIAN KEARNEY n 1986, readers were introduced to The Dark Knight Returns, a darker take on Batman, written and drawn by Frank Miller, that is considered a classic. Miller’s 2001 sequel, The Dark Knight Strikes Again, was widely criticized for its sloppy artwork and wacky plot. This past week, the first issue of Dark Knight III: The Master Race was released, the third installment in Miller’s Dark Knight series. And if The Dark Knight Returns is considered a classic and The Dark Knight Strikes Again was considered a flop, then it’s a safe bet that this new series will fall somewhere in between those two extremes. It’s clear that DC Comics is playing it safe this time around. This time, the story is only co-written by Miller, with Brian Azzarello sharing story credit, with Andy Kubert handling the art instead of Miller—although Miller did draw the mini-comic insert. While this first issue is, of course, only setting up many things to come in the mini-series, it does do a good job of reintroducing us into this world and is much more reminiscent of the first book—although the scenes with Wonder Woman and Superman show that this story is going to be about a lot more than Gotham. Part of what makes this feel so reminiscent of the original story is Kubert, whose artwork emulates a lot of what made the original so great. Everything from the use of small panels to build tension to the look of Gotham itself reminds you of the best of Miller’s artwork without looking like a copycat. It’s too soon to tell where this series is going to take us, but it’s definitely is an intriguing reintroduction to Miller’s Batman. It certainly has a lot to live up to — as well as a lot to live down.

JESSICA JONES: ALIAS VOL.1 By Brian Michael Bendis (Author), Michael Gaydos (Illustrator) Marvel Comics (Publisher) > REVIEW BY JOE TELL eet Jessica Jones. One part hard boiled private detective, one part street level super hero, Alias is one of the quintessential comic books for adults of the last twenty years. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, at the time more well-known for his Mamet-esque dialogue driven independent crime comics, and drawn by Michael Gaydos, an artist whose heavy shadow work and subtle character acting are immediately apparent, it tells the story of a former Avenger who decided the super hero life wasn’t for her and traded in her tights for a private investigators license. This collection tells the first two stories of the series, which takes the reader on a trip through the underbelly of the iconic Marvel super hero universe as Jessica deals with political black mail over Captain America and then finding the most important sidekick ever. The story telling leans heavily into the team’s independent roots, being more of a talking heads book than an action book, but the craft of the naturalistic dialogue and the subtlety of the art make it a treat to read. It is violent, brutal, angry, and profane but at the end same time it never forgets that it exists in the world of aspirational heroes like Spider-Man and Iron Man. There are cameos from many of the super heroes now gracing the big screen these days, just as Jessica herself prepares to join Daredevil as a Netflix Original. So whether you want to get to know Jessica before you binge on the show, or if you’re hungry for more afterwards, Jessica Jones: Alias Vol.1 is the perfect comic for you.

Talking Leaves...Books on Elmwood

Sculpture by Liz Lessner

> BY HEATHER COOK

Exhibit and Chapbook Launch

Holiday Book Sale Need to find the perfect gift for your favorite book lover—or maybe yourself? Why not shop local at Talking Leaves...Books. Don’t know what fits your current reading needs? Just take a look at the Staff Picks shelf for inspiration. Talking Leaves’ unique collection of books has been bringing new worlds and perspectives to the bookish beings of Buffalo and Western New York for over 30 years. Their selection is bound to fit your needs if you long for to the new, the old, the idiosyncratic, the unusual, the marginal, and much more. This hand-picked collection has been supplying the community with the books that deepen our self-awareness and understanding of the world we live in; their selection has helped us through hard times and new experiences, while taking us on a journey through an array of cultures and experiences; and their selection has brought us much joy. This week, you will have two opportunities to celebrate the holidays with Talking Leaves. They will host their 28th annual Holiday Open House on Saturday (12/5) at the Main Street store from 10am-8pm. Your second chance is on Tuesday (12/8) at the Elmwood location from 10am-9pm. Members receive their normal 10 percent off of books plus an additional 10 percent on books, cards, calendars, and sale books! (However, special ordered books and periodicals do not receive the additional 10 percent. There is also no gift wrapping on the day of the sale). Come out and support their local independent business this holiday season—as a token of appreciation.

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

On Saturday (12/5), CEPA Gallery, the UB Graduate Poetics Group, and the UB Department of Media Study will host a book launch for Declan Gould’s new chapbook, Model Figure (Shirt PocketPress). This chapbook lures the reader in with the voice of Caroline Bergvall: “The value of dislocation, of being disoriented, which calls on more movement, is part of the process of orientation.” Declan Gould meets us in the middle of the body to orient and carry us through the end. Declan Gould received her M.F.A. in Poetry in 2013. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Poetics at the University at Buffalo. Joining the poet will be Liz Lessner, who provided the cover art for the chapbook. Liz’s work will be on display. She has exhibited her sculptures in group and two person exhibitions in Oregon, Michigan, New York, and Mexico. She has shown her work at Collision Machine, Brooklyn Artist Gym, 3rd Ward, and A.I.R. Gallery (Artists in Residence), the ﬁrst cooperative for women artists in the United States. Highlights include the two-person show “Common China” at 3rd Ward, Brooklyn, and two group shows with Supporting Women Artists Project (SWAP) at Brooklyn Artists Gym and A.I.R. gallery. The event will take place 8-11pm at Big Orbit, 30 D Essex Street. Books will be available for $4. And I hear there will be roasted chestnuts and mulled cider.

NEWS OF THE WEIRD > BY CHUCK SHEPHERD

IT’S SNOT HYGIENIC ■ The manager of the agency in Louisville, Kentucky, responsible for, among other things, development planning, zoning changes and historic landmarks revealed in November that his headquarters has a “boogers” problem and ordered users of the third-floor men’s room to stop hocking them onto the walls adjacent to the urinals. According to an internal memo cited by InsiderLouisville.com, Metro Planning and Design Services manager Joe Reverman called the mucus buildup “a very serious situation” and had his executive administrator post signs instructing restroom users on the basics of proper disposal of “anything that comes out of or off a person’s body.”

GREAT ART! ■ The 1968 Cy Twombly “blackboard” painting sold for $70.5 million at New York City’s Sotheby’s auction in November (higher than experts’ estimate of $60 million). The painting consists of six horizontal lines of continuous circular swirls (white chalk on a “blackboard”)—perhaps the same swirls that might be made by an extremely bored, aggressive first-grader given a supply of chalk and the absence of the teacher.

The Baltimore-based “experimental music” creators Matmos announced the release of their new album, Ultimate Care II, consisting entirely of “music” made by a Whirlpool washing machine (the Ultimate Care II model). According to a November report in Time magazine, the machine’s 38-minute wash cycle will be “sampled and processed” to lighten the original sound. (Matmos previously “played” canisters of helium on stage at Radio City Music Hall and a cow’s uterus at the San Francisco Art Institute.)

■

CULTURAL DIVERSITY ■ In an enterprise somewhat resembling American Idol, amateur performers in China become self-supporting online not by soliciting money directly, but through virtual gifts from enthralled fans, with performers getting a cut of each sale. Beijing’s YY.com hosts original performances, and two of the site’s favorites, Mr. Earth and Ms. Cloud, earned the equivalent of about $160,000 last year from their universe of 1.8 million fans (according to a November Wall Street Journal report). In an ancillary industry (led by 9158.com), hard-core fans can purchase access (think “virtual limousines,” shown “arriving” at a “concert”), giving them bragging rights. (A simple “applause” icon after a song costs about a penny.)

BRIGHT IDEAS The exasperated drug enforcement chief of Indonesia told reporters in November (following confiscation of a massive quantity of

■

methamphetamine from China) that the ordinary death penalty was insufficient for drug runners, who should instead be forced to overdose on their own shipments. Budi Waseso also mused that crocodiles would make better prison guards than humans because crocs can’t be bribed and later added tigers and pirhanas to the proposed guard roster. Even so, Waseso’s boss reiterated that the government is committed to rehabilitation over punishment.

NEW WORLD ORDER

REUNION

■ Watch Your Language: (1) Recently added to the list of words and phrases to be officially discouraged on campus, according to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s website: “political correctness.” The phrase is said to be a “microaggression” that might make some students feel uncomfortable or unsafe if they hear it or read it. (2) In November, the University of Vermont held a (voluntary) three-day “retreat” open only to students who “self-identify as white,” so that they can study the implications of “white privilege” in society (e.g., “what does it mean to be white?” and “how does whiteness impact you?”).

GOVERNMENT INACTION ■ The Queens (New York) Redbird Tourist Information Center was finally ordered to close in July following an extraordinarily unsuccessful seven-year run in which, possibly, not a single tourist ever walked through the door. The New York Post, interviewing neighbors in Kew Gardens, found no one who ever saw a visitor, and the center’s lone staff member said she recalled only lunchtime drop-ins from jury duty at the criminal court building down the block.

TOWNBALLROOM 681 MAIN ST . BUFFALO, NY . 716-852-3900 . WWW.TOWNBALLROOM.COM

THIS SATURDAY! “THE AMERICAN LED ZEPPELIN”

WITH WITH

ROYAL THUNDER SATURDAY DEC 5

SUNDAY DEC 6

THURSDAY DEC 10 SATURDAY DEC 26

DECEMBER 4 - SOLD OUT!

DECEMBER 20 - SOLD OUT!

FEBRUARY 11

BORGORE

EVERY TIME I DIE

GRAVEYARD

(11TH ANNUAL XMAS SHOW)

DECEMBER 9

FEBRUARY 22

DUSTIN LYNCH DECEMBER 11 - SOLD OUT!

ARKELLS

JANUARY 26

EXCISION

YELLOW CLAW

MARCH 9

DR. DOG

DECEMBER 12

DIGITOUR SLAY BELLS ICE

FEBRUARY 9

MARCH 11

CARNAGE

DAVID COOK

GO TO TOWNBALLROOM.COM EVENTS FOR TICKETING. TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE AT TOWN BALLROOM BOX OFFICE OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 12-5PM. PRODUCED BY FUNTIME PRESENTS

��

�

��

THE CONTINUING CRISIS ■ Marshall University (Huntington, West Virginia), seeking a “star free agent” for its medical faculty, hired neurosurgeon Paul Muizelaar in July despite controversy from his previous work at the University of California, Davis. There, Dr. Muizelaar and colleagues, in a daring experiment, introduced live bowel bacteria into the brain—on lab rats—supposedly to stimulate the immune system when other remedies had faltered. However, Dr. Muizelaar, emboldened, also introduced the bacteria into brains of a man and two women who had highly malignant glioblastoma tumors (each patient having consented). However, two died within weeks, and although the third survived more than a year, UC Davis found numerous protocol violations. Dr. Muizelaar’s new supervisor told the Associated Press that he nonetheless felt lucky to land him because “not everybody wants to move to Appalachia.” READ THE FULL NEWS OF THE WEIRD DAILY AT WWW.WEIRDUNIVERSE.NET. OR SEND ITEMS TO WEIRDNEWS@EARTHLINK.NET

��

�

��

�� artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

FILM | REVIEW

ROOM > BY JORDAN CANAHAI wouldn’t blame some audience members for walking out during the first hour of Room; the Canadian-Irish independent drama-thriller is so depressing and difficult to watch that many won’t want to endure it. Thankfully, the film’s second-half proves just as inspiring and rewarding as its early moments were gut-wrenching and painful. Based loosely on a real-life case, it’s the story of a young woman (Brie Larson) who’s been kidnapped, held captive for seven years in a claustrophobic room, and raped repeatedly, which has left her with a five-year-old son (Jacob Tremblay). After they finally escape from their brutal captivity and take shelter with the boy’s grandmother (Joan Allen), the young woman must cope with post-traumatic stress while the boy begins to experience the outside world for the first time in his life. The end result, to quote one of my close friends upon leaving a screening, is one of those rare and wonderful films that comes along and suddenly makes other movies feel cheap in comparison. Lenny Abrahamson—whose previous feature, the darkly-comic fantasy Frank, also dealt with social alienation (albeit in very different ways)—ably directs Emma Donoghue’s script adapted from her own novel. Larson gives a brave, fearless performance, proving even more impressive here than in the astonishing Short Term 12, cementing herself as one of the best actresses of her generation. She’s matched by equally strong work from newcomer Tremblay, whose performance never teeters too heavily towards sentimentality. Room is a small-scale triumph in every way, and like Brooklyn, one of the best films of the year.

BROOKLYN > BY JORDAN CANAHAI

ike many critics who found themselves surprised by how moved they were by the period drama Brooklyn, I’ve been struggling to find the best adjectives to convey my feelings toward it. Resplendent is the one I keep coming back to. Set in the early 1950s, this immigrant story based on Colm Toibin’s novel follows a young Irishwoman, Eilis, (Saoirse Ronan) as she leaves her mother and sister and travels to America to make a new life for herself in Brooklyn. There she works as a front desk employee at a Manhattan department store and falls for a good-hearted Italian youth (Emory Cohen). After a family tragedy brings her back to her homeland of Ireland and she crosses paths with another man (Domhnall Gleeson) she must choose between her new life and her old one. Director John Crowley and screenwriter Nick Hornby allow the coming-of-age tale to unfold with equal measures pathos and insight. Ronan is revelatory in the lead role, perfectly conveying the emotional arc of a young woman torn not just between two men, but two worlds. Her scenes with both Cohen and Gleeson sparkle with warmth and romantic longing. There are also healthy doses of good-natured humor as well, such as in dinner-table scenes at Eilis’s Brooklyn boarding house, where she and her fiesty housemates butt heads with their overbearing landlady. Brooklyn may seem relatively conventional as it unfolds but in its entirety is quite extraordinary, and is also one of the best films of the year.

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

FILM | MOVIELIST AMHERST THEATRE (DIPSON)

3500 Main St (834–7655) amherst.dipsontheatres.com •Spotlight (R) •Suffragette (PG-13) •Trumbo (R) •Bolshoi Ballet: The Lady of the Camellias Sun 12:55 Buffalo Film Seminars: •A Matter of Life and Death/Stairway to Heaven (1946) Tue 7

NOW PLAYING > > > DICK JOHNSON AND TOMMY GUN VS. THE CANNIBAL COP—Locally produced actioncomedy about two mismatched homicide detectives who team up to take down a cannibalistic crooked cop. Directed by John Renna and Chris Rados. The Screening Room Fri 10

ANGOLA SCREENING ROOM/ TJ’S THEATRE 97 N. Main St. Angola (712-7244) angolamoviezone.com •Call for showtimes

DIGITAL POETICS—Special live performance where media artists Alan Bigelow and Tammy McGovern explore the genre of digital poetics using text, image, and sound combined with interactive and playful digital narratives. Squeaky Wheel Sat 7

AURORA THEATRE

673 Main St, E. Aurora (652–1660) theauroratheatre.com •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13) •Love the Coopers (PG-13) •How the Grinch Stole Christmas (PG) Sat 11am

EASTERN HILLS CINEMA (DIPSON)

4545 Transit Rd, Williamsville (632–1080) easternhills.dipsontheatres.com •Room (R) •Brooklyn (PG-13) •Trumbo (R)

FLIX SUPERPLEX (DIPSON)

4901 Transit Rd, Depew (668–1888) flix10.dipsontheatres.com •Krampus (PG-13) •Creed (PG-13) •The Good Dinosaur (PG) •The Night Before (R) •Spectre (PG-13) •The Peanuts Movie (G) •Victor Frankenstein (PG-13) •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13)

FOUR SEASONS CINEMAS

2429 Military Rd, Niagara Falls (297–1951) fourseasonscinema.com •The 33 (PG) •Hotel Transylvania 2 (PG) •Goosebumps (PG) •Bridge of Spies (PG-13) •The Intern (PG-13) •Pan (PG) •Minions (PG)

The Lady From Shanghai

OPENING KRAMPUS—Darkly-comic horror ﬁlm based on the Krampus character from Alpine folklore about a boy who has a bad Holiday and ends up summoning the Christmas demon to his family’s home. Starring Adam Scott, Toni Collette, and David Koechner. Directed by Michael Dougherty. Flix, Maple Ridge, Regal Elmwood, Regal Niagara, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden THE LETTERS—Drama that explores the life of Mother Teresa (Juliet Stevenson) through letters that she wrote to her spiritual advisor Father Celeste van Exem (Max Von Sydow) over a nearly 50 year period. Co-starring Rutger Hauer and Priya Darshini. Directed by

341 Delaware Ave, Buffalo (854-1694) hallwalls.org •Let the Record Show (2015) Sat 8

McKinley Mall, Blasdell (824–3479) mckinley.dipsontheatres.com •War Room (PG) •Pawn Sacrifice (PG-13) •Crimson Peak (R) •Pan (PG) •Everest (PG-13) •Steve Jobs (PG-13) •The Visit (PG-13) •Black Mass (R) •Mazerunner (PG-13) •A Walk In The Woods (R) •Ant-Man (PG-13) •Pixels (PG-13) •Inside Out (PG) •Minons (PG) •Jurassic World (PG-13)

HAMBURG PALACE THEATER

NEW ANGOLA THEATER

HALLWALLS

31 Buffalo St., Hamburg (649–2295) hamburgpalace.com •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13)

LOCKPORT PALACE THEATER

2 East Ave., Lockport (438-1130) lockportpalacetheatre.org •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13)

MAPLE RIDGE (AMC)

4276 Maple Rd, Amherst (888-262-4386) amctheatres.com •Krampus (PG-13) •Creed (PG-13) •The Good Dinosaur (PG) •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13) •The Night Before (R) •Spectre (PG-13) •The Peanuts Movie (G) •The Martian (PG-13)

MCKINLEY MALL CINEMA (DIPSON)

72 North Main St., Angola (549-4866) newangolatheater.com •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13)

NORTH PARK THEATRE

1428 Hertel Ave. (836-7411) northparktheatre.org •Brooklyn (PG-13) 2 4:30 7 9:30 •The Bishop’s Wife (1947) Sat & Sun 11:30am

REGAL ELMWOOD CENTER 16

2001 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo (871–0722) •Krampus (PG-13) •The Good Dinosaur (PG) •Creed (PG-13) •Tamasha (NR) •Victor Frankenstein (PG-13) •Secret in their Eyes (PG-13) •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13) •The Night Before (R) •Love the

William Riead. Regal Niagara, Regal Quaker, Regal Transit, Regal Walden

ETC. BOLSHOI BALLET: THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS—Special presentation of John Neumeier’s drama performed and broadcast from the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. Dipson Amherst Sun 12:55 THE BISHOP’S WIFE (1947)—Samuel Goldwyn’s light-hearted romantic drama about an angel (Cary Grant) who offers guidance to a bishop (David Niven) and his kindly wife (Loretta Young) as the bishop tries to get a new cathedral built. Directed by Henry Koster. North Park Sat and Sun 11:30am

Coopers (PG-13) •Spectre (PG-13) •The Peanuts Movie (G) •Bridge of Spies (PG-13) •The Martian (PG-13)

REGAL NIAGARA FALLS STADIUM 12

720 Builders Way, Niagara Falls (236–0146) •Krampus (PG-13) •The Letters (PG) •The Good Dinosaur (PG) •Creed (PG-13) •Victor Frankenstein (PG-13) •Secret in Their Eyes (PG-13) •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13) •The Night Before (R) •Love the Coopers (PG-13) •Spectre (PG-13) •The Peanuts Movie (G) •The Martian (PG-13)

REGAL QUAKER CROSSING 18

3450 Amelia Dr., Orchard Park (827–1109) •Krampus (PG-13) •The Letters (PG) •Creed (PG-13) •The Good Dinosaur (PG) •Victor Frankenstein (PG-13) •Secret in Their Eyes (PG-13) •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13) •The Night Before (R) •Love the Coopers (PG-13) •Spotlight (R) •Trumbo (R) •Spectre (PG-13) •The Peanuts Movie (G) •Brooklyn (PG-13)

REGAL TRANSIT CENTER 18

Transit and Wehrle, Lancaster (633–0859) •Krampus (PG-13) •The Letters (PG)

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000)—Ron Howard directs Jim Carrey in this live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s beloved Christmas tale which doesn’t hold a candle to the original book or the animated short it inspired. Aurora Theater Sat 11am LET THE RECORD SHOW (2014)— Documentary about various artists and activists who banded together in New York City to address the AIDS crisis, discussing both their private and political journeys. Directed by Demetrea Dewald. Hallwalls Sat 8 A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (1946)— Michell Powell and Emmerich Pressburger’s fantasy drama about a British wartime aviator (David Niven) who cheats death and must argue for his life before a celestial court ranks among the more acclaimed collaborations between the masterful British ﬁlmmakers. Co-starring Kim Hunter and Robert Coote. Presented as part of the Buffalo Film Seminars. Dipson Amherst Tue 7

•Creed (PG-13) •The Good Dinosaur (PG) •Victor Frankenstein (PG-13) •Secret in Their Eyes (PG-13) •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13) •The Night Before (R) •Love the Coopers (PG-13) •Spectre (PG-13) •Spotlight (R) •The Peanuts Movie (G) •Bridge of Spies (PG-13) •Goosebumps (PG) •The Martian (PG-13) •Hotel Transylvania 2 (PG) IMAX: •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13)

REGAL WALDEN GALLERIA STADIUM 16

One Walden Galleria Drive, Cheektowaga (681-9414) •Krampus (PG-13) •The Letters (PG-13) •The Good Dinosaur (PG) •Creed (PG-13) •Victor Frankenstein (PG-13) •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13) •Secret in Their Eyes (PG-13) •The Night Before (R) •Love the Coopers (PG-13) •Spectre (PG-13) •The Peanuts Movie (G) •Goosebumps (PG) •The Martian (PG-13)

RIVIERA THEATRE

67 Webster St, N. Tonawanda (692-2413) rivieratheatre.org •No screenings this week

THE SCREENING ROOM

3131 Sheridan Dr., Amherst (837-0376) screeningroom.net •White Christmas (1954) Fri Sat & Tue 7:30 •Dick Johnson & Tommy Gun

ORSON WELLES FILM NOIR DOUBLE FEATURE: THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1947) & TOUCH OF EVIL (1958)—Orson Welles’ The Lady from Shanghai, which stars himself and his then-wife Rita Hayworth, was famously meddled with by the studio, but it ranks among the weirder of Hollywood’s classic film noirs, and is justly famous for its masterful production design and cinematography as well as its famous finale set in a hall of mirrors. Touch of Evil, which concerns a narcotics officer (Charlton Heston) investigating the perverse dealings of a crooked Police Captain (Welles) stationed at the US/Mexico border, is arguably his greatest masterpiece after Citizen Kane, containing what is probably the greatest extended opening shot in movie history. Free screening presented by the Cultivate Cinema Circle at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Sat 1 & 3 SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS (1964)—Nicholas Webster’s campy sci-fi comedy is basically the Plan 9 from Outer Space of Christmas movies, frequently listed among the worst movies ever but popular for its so-bad-its-good status and its appearance on Mystery Science Theater 3000. The Screening Room Thu 7 WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)—Irving Berlin’s musical romance about a successful songand-dance duo (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) who become involved with a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen) and team up to save the failing Vermont Inn of their former commanding general is a staple of the Holidays. Directed by Michael Curtiz. The Screening Room Fri, Sat & Tue 7:30

vs The Cannibal Cop Fri 10 •Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and Plan 9 from Outer Space Thu 7

SQUEAKY WHEEL

617 Main Street (884-7172) squeaky.org •Digital Poetics Sat 7

TRANSIT DRIVE-IN

6655 Transit Rd (625-8535) transitdrivein.com Screen One: •The Good Dinosaur (PG) •The Peanuts Movie (G) Screen Two: •The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG-13) •The Martian (PG-13) Screen Three: •Creed (PG-13) •Spectre (PG-13) Screen Four: Closed Friday & Saturday only

OUT OF TOWN

TORONTO: BELL LIGHTBOX

King & John Streets 1-877-968-3456 | tiff.net/calendar •Hitchcock/Truffaut (Kent Jones, USA/France 2015) •I Smile Back (Adam Salky, USA 2014) •One Million Years B.C. (Don Chaffey, UK 1966) •Tarzan and Jane Regained, Sort of... (Andy Warhol, USA 1963) •The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (Nathan Juran, USA 1958) •The Innocents (Jack Clayton, UK 1961) •Maurice Pialat, Love Exists (Anne-Marie Faux/Jean-

Pierre Devillers, France 2007) •Secret Ceremony (Joseph Losey, UK 1968) •Cleopatra (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, USA 1963) •Jason and the Argonauts (Don Chaffey, USA/UK 1963) •Monsieur Lazhar (Philippe Falardeau, Canada 2011) •More Milk Yvette (Andy Warhol, USA 1965) •Reflections in a Golden Eye (John Huston, USA 1967) •Rickie Lee Jones: The Other Side of Desire (Gail Harvey/Rickie Lee Jones, Canada 2014)

ROCHESTER

GEORGE EASTMAN HOUSE

900 East Avenue, Rochester (585) 271–4090 eastmanhouse.org •The Big Broadcast (Frank Tuttle, USA 1932) Fri 8 •Kill Bill: Vol. I (Quentin Tarantino, USA 2003) Sat 8 •Ziegfield Follies (Vincente Minnelli, Lemuel Ayers, Roy Del Ruth, Robert Lewis, Merrill Pye, George Sidney, and Charles Walters, USA 1946) Sun 2 •Big Business (Leo McCarey/James W. Horne, USA 1929) and •The Valiant (William K. Howard, USA 1929) Sun 2 •Far From Poland (Jill Godmilow/USA Poland 1984) Wed 8 •Spring Night, Summer Night (J.L. Anderson, USA 1967) Thu 8

artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

NEWS | FEATURE

THE CULT OF NXIVM SERIES:

Keith Raniere, self proclaimed smartest man in the world and spiritually evolved guru

Salzman

Forbes Magazie cover

Clare

Keith Raniere

> BY FRANK PARLATO

Among alleged crimes I have evidence of or information that can be developed into evidence of NXIVM – and its leader, Raniere and its wealthy “justice purchasing” members, Seagram heiresses Sara and Clare Bronfman, are: Hacking into people’s personal emails, phone records, and bank accounts; bribing Mexican judges and politicians; massive tax evasion; smuggling $10 million into the US in cash from Mexico; bringing illegal aliens across the border at Niagara Falls and then imprisoning them; allegations from victims of statutory rape; cover up of at least two suicides; engaging in a classic Klein Conspiracy to impede the function of the IRS, with more than 75 corporate entities and/ or “shell” companies, with scores of shifting bank accounts; paying employees’ salaries and telling them not to pay income taxes – and even a possible admission of having people killed.

• The Bronfmans giving (or perhaps being swindled out of) $100 million to/by Raniere through various shell corporations. Raniere never reported the income. The Bronfmans never reported the gift, preferring to fraudulently list it as a loan with (phantom) interest payments.

• The Bronfmans and NXIVM bundled money to politicians in return for promises of indictments against their enemies.

• The Bronfmans allegedly took more than $1 million fraudulent write off for “litigation support” which was in fact an illegal surveillance on judges involved in their many lawsuits.

• NXIVM had ofﬁces on Buffalo Ave. in Niagara Falls where plans were made to launch illegal attacks on enemies.

lived and worked with NXIVM for several months as their round-the-clock consultant, staying in their properties and communicating closely day and night with their top officials. That included leaders Keith Raniere, hypnotist and president of the organiztion, Nancy Salzman, and the wealthy Seagram heiresses, Clare and Sara Bronfman who fund the operation. At first I thought they were a much persecuted but kindly group of people who were being attacked for having a different belief system. I later came to believe they were operating a criminal enterprise. Since beginning my series last month, victims of NXIVM who were past members have contacted me. They are people who managed to get out and want to lend their testimony to this series. But others are still there, perhaps afraid to leave, intimidated by the vast wealth of the Seagram heirs and the NXIVM history of destroying its enemies. I am therefore creating a new website, www.leavingNXIVM. com, to help those who feel trapped escape the clutches of Keith Raniere and the Bronfman sisters. Starting next week I will detail my personal sojourn with the organization. This week, I am offering hope to those persecuted and who want to escape. These can contact me through the new website or by email frankparlato@gmail.com or by phone at 716-990-5740. All communications will be kept confidential.

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

As some readers know, the facts surrounding my involvement in a real estate deal in Los Angeles involving Clare and Sara Bronfman, and Raniere have been reported on in Vanity Fair, the New York Post and the Buffalo News. A wealth of new information however has never been published - the result of years-long research into this dangerous cult including information I personally witnessed. As former member Kristen Keeffe wrote, as published in the Albany Times Union, “All the worst things you know about NXIVM are true but there is so much more horrendous things going on even you will be horriﬁed.” The alleged criminality also includes:

• Raniere’s cult NXIVM made millions in coaching fees but never paid taxes. • Certain top Bronfman/Raniere aides have not ﬁled tax returns for years. A lot of people are on the hook and sources say they will “roll” on Raniere if law enforcement becomes interested in what is possibly one of the largest tax evasion schemes in the nation. • Bronfmans set up false charities and underreported income while helping launder millions from Mexico into the USA for Raniere. • More than a dozen carriers brought cash to Raniere and these are the ones “who will roll” on Raniere and Bronfman, sources say. • Raniere allegedly hid more than $2 million in cash stored in a basement safe in a suburb near Albany – in a home owned by Nancy Salzman - for his escape to Mexico if authorities come after him. • Raniere has not reported one dollar in taxes.

• Bronfmans may have evaded more than $35 million in unpaid taxes through deceitful “loans” to Raniere.

The NY Post on March 27, 2010 reported that Raniere “Blew through $100 million of (Bronfmans’) fortune.... Raniere ran out of money to fund a long-running commodities scheme and a real-estate development deal involving (the late Edgar Bronfman Sr.’s) two daughters, Clare and Sara”. Many believe Raniere swindled the two gullible sisters out of the money. In another story, “Guru: Blow off taxes” (January 31, 2011) the NY Post writes, “The leader of an Albany ‘cult’ ﬁnanced by the Bronfman booze fortune urged followers to dodge taxes.... and dispatched top advisors to break into the homes and ‘sweep’ the bank accounts of his detractors, according to a new court ﬁling.” On October 22, 2010, the NY Post wrote, “An accused con man who runs an upstate ‘cult’ bankrolled by the Bronfman booze fortune has ‘had people killed,’ he boasts in an explosive new video. “Keith Raniere, who runs Albany-based NXIVM, makes the chilling claim on tape to female followers who confronted him with their concerns about the group, which has been derided by detractors

NEWS | FEATURE

as a harmful ‘cult’.” The Albany Times Union reported that Raniere serially raped underage girls, and used Bronfman money to pursue and hunt down enemies. Today NXIVM continues to operate from its Albany region headquarters, drawing new believers from across North America. About 12,000 people, it has been estimated, have taken the courses paying up to $10,000 for a 16-day “brainwashing” seminar. NXIVM evidently never reported income despite receiving substantial fees from students and large gifts from the Bronfmans. During seminars, students must remove thier shoes, bow and refer to Raniere and Salzman, as “Vanguard” and “Prefect” respectively, and wear colored sashes denoting their rank in the organization. Among NXIVM’s highest ranking members – the knowing enablers of the alleged crimes - are the sisters, Bronfman. Prominent past and present clients include Linda Evans, Richard Branson, TV actress Kristin Kreuk, Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET; Antonia Novello, former Surgeon General of the United States; Stephen Cooper of Enron; and Ana Cristina Fox, daughter of former Mexican president Vicente Fox. “It’s like a practical MBA,” Emiliano Salas, son of a former Mexican president and a member, told Forbes magazine in 2003. A membership urged not to pay taxes Our investigation has uncovered that, among the highly secretive NXIVM membership, some of whom work for the Bronfmans and/or NXIVM and earn money – and some of whom have not reported their earnings - are, Karen Abney, Vera Alvarez del Castillo, Anthony N. Ames a/k/a/ “Nippy”, Vera Autrey Da Costa, Lisa Barwise, Wayne J. Bates, Kimberly A. Beekman, Matthew A. Beekman, Barbara M. Bell, Jose A. Beltran, Michael L. Bennett, Carole L. Bergeron, Shaun D. Bergeron, Alexander (Alejandro) Betancourt Lesdesma, Edgar Boone, Omar Boone, Christopher K. Bowcutt, Channel A. Bowden, Luis Miguel Boy, Anna B. Boyce, Sally G. Brink, Crystal Brooks, Kim Busby, Victor Diego Cadena Boone, Pamela A. Cafritz, Roberto Cardenas, Jack Casey, Claudia Castaneda, Cedric F. Celik, • Esther L. Chiappone/Carlson, Tracy Christopher, Sean R. Claesgens, Lorri E. Clark, Christine Collins, Pam Cooley, Sean H. Craney, Stephen P. Dautell, James J. DelNegro, Katie L. Deming, Lisa A. Derks, Marvin W. Derks, Jeff T. DeWeese, Jennifer A. DeWeese, Franca DiCrescenzo, J. Mark Drexel, Dazzle Ekblad, Peter S. Fallon, Hector Fernandez,

Adrianna Fernandez, Brendan J. Flanigan, Rebecca (“Becky”) C. Freeman, Loretta Garza Davila, Katharine W. Gibson, Mark Hildreth, Allison N. Hlas, Siobhan J. Hotaling, Wende Irick, Barbara Jeske, Edward Kinnum, Kristin Laura Kreuk, Rick Ley, Silvia Lloyd, Lorraine Loshin, Milton Loshin, Allison Mack, Patrick Maloney, Virginia (Ginger) Mcintosh, Eugene M. McLaughlin, Matthew J. McMorris, Dawn Morrison, Megan Mumford, Ivy Nevares, Adrianna Nienow, Steven T. Ose, Sarah Peters, Farouk Rojas, Wendy Rosen-Brooks, Kathy Russell a/k/a “Sage”, Emiliano Salinas Occelli, Lauren R. Salzman, Michael A. Salzman, Michelle D. Salzman, Angelo F. Scaturro, Angel P. Smith, Michael Sutton, Alissa S. Taft, Michele J. Tarzia, Karen A. Unterreiner a/k/ a “Gozer”, Juliana Vicente, Mark A. Vicente, Antonio (Tony) Zarattini. The above named are invited to break from the secretive organization and reveal the activities of the Raniere/Bronfman enterprise to this writer or the authorities. A Host of Shell Corporations NXIVM Corp (New York State corp.) has many related and afﬁliated corporate entities or “shell” companies and appears to be engaged in a classic Klein Conspiracy to defraud the government. The shell companies – all of them under the control of Raniere are ostensibly owned by various Raniere followers. Raniere’s name appears on none of them. The associated bank accounts also do not have Raniere’s name or social security number on any of them. To date we have identiﬁed 75 different entities under Raniere’s putative control which do not have his name attached. Many, perhaps all, according to our sources, have never paid income taxes. The list of companies include: • 26 Realty Property Management, LLC • A Cappella Innovations, Inc. • Aletheia LLC • Alpha Development Group • Axiology, Inc. (Nevada: March 18, 2008) • Buyers Advocate, Inc. (Delaware: June 28, 1999) • Center for Ethical Justice LLC (Delaware: October 7, 2007)

• Crosspoint Communication, Inc.

• Our Evolution LLC

• Ethilogia

• Peak Physique, Inc.

• Elite Housing Corporation

• PERSENSEO, Inc. (Delaware)

• Elite Marketing Professionals, Inc. (Delaware; August 26, 1 999)

• POIESIS, Inc.

• Essence Interactive

• Precision Development, LLC (Nevada)

• Ethletics LLC

• Rainbow Cultural Garden, Inc. (Delaware: September 7, 2007)

• Ethical Principles Inc.,

• Rainbow Cultural Garden LLC

• Ethical Publishing LLC (Delaware: August 26, 1999)

• Remick Consulting (Delaware)

• Ethical Value Exchange, Inc. • Events for Humanity, Inc. (Delaware: November 2, 2007)

• Rochester Media Management LLC • Signature Event Marketing Group • Slate River Farm, Inc.

• Executive Housing & Properties, Inc. (Delaware: January 28, 2004)

• Slate River Mobile LLC (Delaware)

• Executive Housing & Properties, Inc. (New York State: January 9, 2004)

• Spirit@19, Inc. (Delaware)

• Executive Success Programs, Inc. (Delaware: July 20, 1998) • Executive Success Programs, Inc. (New York State: May 6, 2002)

• Slate Sista Farm LLC

• Sunshine Properties LLC • The Art of Movement, Inc. (Delaware: April 12, 2004) • The Athletics Foundation

• First Principles Inc. (Delaware)

• The Dalai Lama Trust

• Grow Sport, Ltd. (Great Britain)

• The Ethical Foundation, Inc. (Fictitious)

• House of Equus LLC

• The Ethical Foundation, Inc. (Massachusetts: January 22, 1979)

• In Lak Ech • International Center for Change, Inc. (New York State: October 14, 1992) • J. Cricket LLC • JM Tax Consulting • Jness • Karmar • Krunch Corporation • Las Casitas Rental • Moving Pix LLC • My Home, Inc. • Nataraja Center for Movement Arts • NXIVM Corporation (Puerto Rico: October 25, 2005)

• The Ethical Humanitarian Foundation The Ethical • (Delaware)

Science

Foundation

• The First Foundation, Inc. • The Raniere Group, Inc. (Delaware: April 12, 1994) • The Think Fund, Inc. (Nevada: October 10, 2001) • The World Ethical Foundations Consortium • Truth LLC (Delaware: August 23, 2007) • Ultima ® (New York State: May 6, 2008) • Veinte Seiz LLC f7k/a Blue Skies LLC • Veinte Siete LLC f/k/a Charly’s Wings LLC • Village Hall LLC

• NXIVM LLC, (NYS)

• Whare LLC

• NXIVM Properties LLC, (NYS),

• World Audience Productions LLC

• Consumers Advocate, Inc.

• NX Trust

• Consumers Buyline, Inc.

• Occam’s Razor LLC

Stay tuned. artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

PHOTOGRAPHY | 2015 TURKEY TROT (photographs by Glenn Murray)

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

PHOTOGRAPHY | 2015 TURKEY TROT (by Glenn Murray)

��

�

��

artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

��

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

Where The City Smokes

��

Jock �� Jim Santella, Classic Rock Classic �� Longtime rock, blues, theater DJ tells his story �� Signing Sat, 12/12, 1-3 pm, Main Street

�� broadway joe’s �� 3051 Main St Buffalo (716) 361-7540 16+ with ID

THU. DEC 3 .6PM

+ DARLING HARBOR �� + SHATTERED GLASS �� + �� + NO VACANCY �� + VADA MARCH �� + DEREK GREGOIRE ��

��

Ann Hood, returns to Larkin Square Author Series �� Wife (novel) Knitting Pearls (essays) + Italian Filling Stn Wed, 12/16, 5:30 pm, Larkin Square ��

��

SAT. DEC 5 .10PM

��

�� THE SPAGHETTI BOYS

�� original!) Project Coat Tree Year 21! (the at now collecting clean coats & winterwear �� both stores for donation to local charities �� Thanks for your support for this over all the years

�� Wednesday ��

DREW ESTATES CIGARS December 2nd

JOSE ESPINOSSA CIGARS

� �� Friday � ��

December 4th

MONTECRISTO MIKE FROM ALTADIS ��

��Tuesday December 15th All Events Scheduled 4 - 8 pm

9th Ward THURSDAY 12/3

Rocky Patel Lounge, 65" HDTV, Service, Unmatched Selection

AND THE KIDS

�� Free Coffee, Great ��

W/ PWR BTTM ��

��

Mon.-Sat. 11AM - 10PM Sun. 12PM - 8PM

Asbury Hall THURSDAY, 12/10

��

6 Virgil Avenue, SLEATER-KINNEY �� (just off Hertel) W/ WAXAHATCHEE ��

SUNDAY, 12/13

JOANNA NEWSOM W/ ALELA DIANE & RYAN FRANCESCONI ��

THURSDAY 12/17

Voted Buffalo’s

��

Doors 7 PM, Show Time 8 PM unless otherwise noted Go to babevillebuffalo.com/events for complete event listings ��

BABEVILLE: 341 DELAWARE AVE.�� (716) 852-3835 | BABEVILLEBUFFALO.COM

�� + ��

ANDREW WK

�� + NV �� + CRYPTIK + SHROOMZ �� + FE’NETIKS

■�� SAT. DEC 10 26 .6PM .8PM �� ■ THU

+ ��

+ MATKA

�� + CHUCKS IN BUFFALO �� WEEKLY EVENTS @�� BROADWAY JOE’S �� TUESDAY NIGHT ��

��

JUDY COLLINS Best Tobacconist ��

■ ■ ■

+ KARAOKE & TACOS

�� 873-6461 ��

�� W/ SPECIAL GUESTS �� + �� WHAT IS THIS? �� MOM SAID NO �� MON.�� DEC 7 .8PM�� U.S. �� TOUR FEATURING: �� + HUBRIS �� UROARBRUNNR �� THU. DEC 8 .7PM

SEKHMET

HOLIDAY EVENTS

��

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CITY UNDER SIEGE

��

�� ■ �� ■ �� ■ ��

��

�� ■ ■ ■

■ ■

��

� �

��

�

��

� artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

�

��

december 3 - 9, 2015 | artvoice.com

��

�

��

artvoice.com | december 3 - 9, 2015

��