Hi friends! We’re excited to start sharing Block Club, based in Buffalo, with a few of our neighbor cities. By now, you’ve noticed stories popping up in our newly re-designed format about cities in the Rust Belt region (and, in fact, around the world). We’re going to continue telling more stories from and about elsewhere, as we expand our vocabulary about what it means to be a 21st-century post-industrial city. Stay tuned for developments regarding that. In the meantime, friends in Rochester, Syracuse and Pittsburgh will soon find free copies of Block Club in some of their favorite coffee shops, locally owned restaurants and independent retailers (see below). You can also read online if you so desire. We’re on Facebook and Twitter, too. :-) If you have ideas about where else you think Block Club would fit, let us know! We want to hear from you. Until then, thanks for reading and for sharing our stories for us. Best, Ben and the team ROCHESTER Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, 1344 University Ave. Needle Drop Records, 304 Gregory St. Thread, 654 South Ave. Java’s Cafe, 16 Gibbs St. The Owl House, 75 Marshall St. Abundance Cooperative Market, 62 Marshall St. SYRACUSE Strong Hearts Cafe, 719 E. Genesee St. Recess Coffee, 110 Harvard Pl. Funk ‘N Waffles, 727 S Crouse Ave., #8 Mello Vello Bike Shop & Cafe, 556 Westcott St. Cafe @ 407, 407 Tulip St. Natur-Tyme, 3160 Erie Blvd E. PITTSBURGH Wildcard, 4209 Butler St. Square Cafe, 1137 S. Braddock Ave. Pavement, 3629 Butler St. East End Food Co-op, 7516 Meade St. Espresso a Mano, 3623 Butler St. 720 Records, 4405 Butler St. Image: mural in Pittsburgh’s Strip District

Hi friends!

We’re excited to start sharing Block Club, based in Buffalo, with a few of our neighbor cities. By now, you’ve noticed stories popping up in our newly re-designed format about cities in the Rust Belt region (and, in fact, around the world). We’re going to continue telling more stories from and about elsewhere, as we expand our vocabulary about what it means to be a 21st-century post-industrial city. Stay tuned for developments regarding that.

In the meantime, friends in Rochester, Syracuse and Pittsburgh will soon find free copies of Block Club in some of their favorite coffee shops, locally owned restaurants and independent retailers (see below).

You can also read online if you so desire. We’re on Facebook and Twitter, too. :-)

If you have ideas about where else you think Block Club would fit, let us know! We want to hear from you. Until then, thanks for reading and for sharing our stories for us.

Best,

Ben and the team

ROCHESTER

Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, 1344 University Ave.

Needle Drop Records, 304 Gregory St.

Thread, 654 South Ave.

Java’s Cafe, 16 Gibbs St.

The Owl House, 75 Marshall St.

Abundance Cooperative Market, 62 Marshall St.

SYRACUSE

Strong Hearts Cafe, 719 E. Genesee St.

Recess Coffee, 110 Harvard Pl.

Funk ‘N Waffles, 727 S Crouse Ave., #8

Mello Vello Bike Shop & Cafe, 556 Westcott St.

Cafe @ 407, 407 Tulip St.

Natur-Tyme, 3160 Erie Blvd E.

PITTSBURGH

Wildcard, 4209 Butler St.

Square Cafe, 1137 S. Braddock Ave.

Pavement, 3629 Butler St.

East End Food Co-op, 7516 Meade St.

Espresso a Mano, 3623 Butler St.

720 Records, 4405 Butler St.

Image: mural in Pittsburgh’s Strip District

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BCM30 is out and about! The topic of our 30th issue is a big one. It discusses the emotion of comfort; the need to use it joyously and warmly, but also judiciously and responsibly. On the other side of our most comfortable comforts are crutches, awaiting our need for more.

We approach this in a civic sense to understand that we can’t grow as a people, community, city or region without stepping outside of our comforts. That said, we all have relative needs for comfort; some need it to live, and some “need” it to be “happy.” Navigating both ends of this word helps us to prioritize the things we should keep holding onto, and the things we need to let go of.

However you come to the word, find yourself a copy soon (if not at one of our distribution points around town, then online), curl up in that sweet blanket you’ve been hibernating in all season, and find what makes you comfortable. Take account of your crutches, while you’re at it.

This issue’s photo series and covers reflect the origin of our attachment to such things. Surely, you’ll recognize a keepsake from your past (or present).

Stay tuned for more posts in the coming weeks featuring elements from our conversations, stories and design. There’s more comfort coming your way…

Best,

Ben

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Buffalo’s grain silos, beautifully lit and exalted for all of this creative city to see. City of Night organizer Dana Saylor, and I’m sure an army of volunteers, has a lot to be proud of.

You can read and watch more about what City of Night was, but all you have to see are these images of light, color, vision and creativity. This event was successful because of all the art, vendors and activism, but more importantly, because it literally shed light on what we have to work with, and what we can create with it.

Good work, all around. Let’s do it again. Where else?

-Ben

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