Saturday, September 25th you’ll have the opportunity to bid on several types of special knobs at our Talent & Treasure Auction! Ian and Kevin have set aside a beautiful complete lock set for you–it has an amber glass knob, an art deco face plate and even the matching skeleton key!
They found a knob set that has an arabic motif and another small crystal french door knob with fluting? flutes? flutations? (idk–it’s just super fancy!)  Ian says, “Like the true crystal knobs they are very clear due to the high magnesium content in the glass and slow cooling rates. These are especially unique because we do not often see knobs so small and finely patterned as these.”

Different strokes for different folks–we’re also offering a studded metal knob and face plate set and a set of HUGE Harvard hinges!  ALSO, you can win a tour of Dr Dale Sponaugle’s impressive doorknob collection, known as, “THE best collection of doorknobs and Victorian door hardware in
the United States!”
Aside from the auction pieces, it will be a very amusing night. I hope you can bring a friend!

If you’d like to help with the Auction, we’ll need folks to help us transport and display the pieces, greeters and other general helpers–please email Danielle volunteer {at} buffaloreuse(.)org

The City Crew is still working on our new sidewalks.  They LOOK AMAZING! We are super glad to have them and so are the neighbors; however, it’s really put a damper on our store traffic last week and this week.

I just hope people can be patient with the road work and keep on coming!  This week we have the rear entrance on Eaton Street open for people to enter and load materials.  You can access Eaton from Jefferson, Masten and Michigan.  Plug 189 Eaton into your GPS and you’ll have no problems.  It is a residential neighborhood so watch out for kiddos, puppies and cute little old ladies!

We’re OPEN Tues-Saturday from 10-6pm and Sunday from noon-4pm.
See you soon!

Tis the season for re-assessing goals.
Summer is ending.
School has started.
For a large majority of Buffalo that means parents shifting attention to their own kids and their development.  For most college students, this season means buying books, meeting people, making baby steps toward a hopeful future and an awful lot of thinking.  In a nutshell, most of us are turning inward and beginning to hunker down.

For ReUse, this time translates to a dip in volunteerism–we definitely see fewer volunteers from now until the Spring.  However, our workload remains constant–there are still things to build, fix, grow, clean, weed, experiment, move, learn and improve.  There’s still lots to DO. Unfortunately, as the weather gets even colder it means fewer people will be working on outdoor projects which translates to fewer residents donating material.

But we’re still here and we’re still working.  As you write down your checklist of things to finish before the cold weather starts, I hope that your checklists include some of the following:

1. Schedule ReUse to come pick up your curbside treasures before your bulk trash date–call Cerrina at the store–882-2800 and she’ll take care of you. (We can also come get it after the bulk trash date, but it means you should keep it in your garage etc.)
2. Sign up with Danielle to be on our Volunteer Opps mailing list so you can get updates on the hundreds of little ways you (your kids, your neighbors, your students, your co-workers, your frat-bros) and your brother’s wife’s second cousin on her mother’s side–was her name Yvonne or Yvette? can volunteer–email Danielle at volunteer {at} buffaloreuse(.)org
3. Call Caesandra and learn how you can intern with ReUse and get some real experience–managing, troubleshooting, organizing, leading and investing in your self and this community.  716-885-4131
4. Talk to Brad and Scott about which DIY projects you hope to tackle before the end of the year so they can plan a gardening or home repair workshop for your needs.
5. Grab some business cards from Kevin at the store so you can give them to your friends.
6. Ask your contractor or handyman what he does with the left over supplies and tools from projects–does he throw it in a dumpster or could he bring it to ReUse and get you a tax break.
7. Visit us before you go to Home Depot or Lowe’s for that new sink, new toilet, new counter tops, flooring, lighting, gutters, stone, block, windows and more.

What are you waiting for?

Ladies & Gentlemen,
Buffalo ReUse invites you to our first-ever live auction!  Join us Saturday, September 25th from 8-10pm as folks bid on treasures from our inventory and talents of our staff and volunteers!

You could win a french toast breakfast in bed, a photographer for you Gramma’s 100th birthday party, a night with Olaf, a potpurri of pickles, a massage, a reprieve from laundry, a cat-sitter, a week of dog walking, a chance to entertain guests with cherries jubilee, wine making lessons, soap making lessons, coffee roasting fresh before your eyes, free car washes from BARB, installation of that rain barrel you bought 2months ago and more!

There’s already over a dozen treasures we’ve set aside.  You could win a kooky attic find like a Wyoming license plate from 1937, antiques, a piece of local history and some architectural gems!  Click on the flyer to see more.  We’ll be sharing details and stories for each piece.
Let’s start with Lot#213…
This case of antique, painted label “Oscar’s Beverages” Pop Bottles.
Brewed and bottled in downtown Buffalo – this is a case of antique, painted label, Oscar’s Beverages bottles, many with their flavor caps (Cola, Gingerale, Grapefruit) and in a matching wooden case. These were retrieved from an attic during salvage operations. Oscar Beverages was founded by Oscar Greenberg, a Russian immigrant who came to Buffalo in 1911. He founded Oscar’s beverages in the late 1920s. These bottles seem to date from the 1930’s or 1940’s. What’s really special is that the frugal person who stored these away so long ago had no idea they were preserving Buffalo history.

Buffalo Bar & Grille
307 Louisiana St
cash bar & light refreshments

Don’t miss this unique opportunity.
All proceeds go toward Buffalo ReUse’s Community Programs.  Our goal is to raise at least $6,000 so that we can continue our community efforts and pay the remainder of our Americorps stipend for 2010.

Thank you for your support.
btw IF YOU have a talent we can auction off, please contact Danielle or Caesandra at volunteer {at} buffaloreuse(.)org

I wouldn’t ordinarily tell someone to go out and buy a book, but this one is definitely one I think should be added to every household.  It’s a great book for newlyweds or college kids or folks who are starting out on their own.  Why?  The book is full of useful, practical, environmentally friendly tricks and tips for day-to-day house keeping.
It’s a compilation from Reader’s Digest–I know, I know–Yes, that book your gramma has on the little shelf in the bathroom.  But think about all the stuff your gramma knows how to fix and organize and DO.  Think of how we have changed our mentality of thrift to going out and buying convenience or buying all kinds of single purpose tools.  Yet, we already have tons of stuff in our pantries and cupboards and junk drawers that could do a lot more if we only thought differently about their uses.
If you try to read it cover to cover in one setting, you’ll be overwhelmed–there’s over 2300 tips!  Instead, read it a little each night or thumb through it and read whatever bits strike your fancy.  There’s tons of photos, drawings, and sidebars which break up all the concentrated information.  You will be a greener Know-it-All in no time.  It has everything from cleaning to cooking, storage to organizing and repairing– making play-dough and more.  You will save money, buy fewer tools, you will use (and flush) fewer harmful chemicals down the drain, you will be more useful to others and you’ll be richer in experience!  Unfortunately, the library won’t let you keep it forever, so get it used from a used book store instead.

is available for you to view and download.
We met over 160 people at the Elmwood Arts Fest and we hope that many of them will become ReSourceful Urbanites!  Maybe we’ll see you at some of the volunteer workdays, DIY workshops or the Talent & Treasure Auction!

If you became a member in 2008 or 2009–your annual $5 dues are due again.  You can renew your membership via paypal or in the store at the register.  Become a member this week (thru Sep4th) and get your chance to win a free car wash from BARB (our Big Arse Rain Barrel)

For two years now, I’ve been sharing a little kooky idea to create a fleet of trikes that have the capability to water the newly planted trees, flower beds and planters throughout our neighborhood–using rain water! (see kooky napkin sketch at left).
The necessity of this hit home yesterday as I was driving up Dodge and noticed too many of the new trees look dry and knowing I don’t have an easy way to fix the problem.
We haven’t had much luck getting the Hydro Buffalo idea funded. I thought maybe “if I could just get it started” with a prototype–at least ONE trike, then riding that suped-up trike around could prove to everyone that it’s not just a kooky idea–it’s a GREAT kooky idea! and eventually we’d be able to expand the fleet.

Before you ask–YES, Blue Bike and Riverkeeper are aware of this idea, and we hope our collective audience is excited to help–we’re all in the same boat though. We need one adult trike to get us started! If anyone out there can donate a solid adult trike we can then weld a cart and get this thing rolling.  If you think you can help–please get in touch with Caesandra at volunteer {at} buffaloreuse(.)org or call 716-885-4131

Here’s the other part of the proposal if you are “People who know People”
Read the rest of this entry »

Join Fancy & Delicious tomorrow, August 22nd, at 153 Eaton Street from 12-5 for our monthly bread workshop.

Arrive at noon if you want to knead and bake your own loaf of bread in our clay oven. There are still a few spots available. If you are not planning on baking, join us at any time in the afternoon to
enjoy some tea or coffee, and good company (the company is always good)!

There will be no special lesson or theme this month. All basic ingredients and supplies are provided, but if you want to experiment with any special flours or recipes, you should bring your own extras.
Instruction and guidance will be available for those who want it. The workshop is free, but we accept
donations to cover the cost of ingredients and to help keep the project alive!

Cheers,
Maura

–
Fancy and Delicious Baking Co.
153 Eaton St. Buffalo, NY 14208
fancyanddelicious.blogspot.com

ReUse is looking for the following donations:

donate your car…bonus points if it’s a small pickup or a diesel powered motor. with all the running around we do on a daily basis…we really could use a fuel efficient vehicle to assist with errands, estimating, and acquisitions…your donation is of course tax deductible.

no car?
donate excess or used tools to support our lending library? mowers, ladders,  power and hand tools accepted.

no car or tools?
how bout a GPS…we could use one to assist with the pickup route, getting to salvage projects, and green demolition estimating

no cars, tools, or GPS???
how bout a kitchen set, or a toilet, or a pile of hardware. Donations accepted at our store Tues-Sunday…or give us a call REUSE PICKS UP!…716-882-2800.

none of that?  how about piles of shredded tree, mulch, bales of straw–even old cow or horse poop for our ReDoo Compost!

ReUse Picks Up: Call 882-2800

REMEMBER:  Buffalo ReUse is a fully licensed, insured and equiped GREEN DEMOLITION contractor. We can take down your garage, barn, or house and everything we save is a tax write off for you! give us a call for a free estimate today…716-885-4131.

Peter and I visited a few of the Delevan Avenue gardens during the Garden Walk a couple weekends back. We were both super impressed with the gorgeous plants, colors, creative designs and SKILL of the gardeners who shared their beautiful spaces.  We also found a few resourceful urbanites who were sharing their reuse ideas!  One example is Jeff Wilson’s back yard patio space that gave broken granite slabs some knew purpose!  If you click on the photo link you’ll see some other great ideas. I know there are lots of clever examples of reuse in your gardens too; I hope you will share those ideas and photos with all of us.