Last Thursday evening was a typical one in Niagara Falls as it pertained to the season and the temperature outside. With the mercury in the thermometer struggling to creep past the teens and a northern wind cutting through the early February night air, it was an evening tailor-made for curling up on the couch under a big blanket. It was also the type of night that you might expect local eating and drinking establishments to have a difficult time drawing a crowd. Thursdays in February leave a lot of barstools empty and a host of songs unplayed on area jukeboxes.
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Such was not the case at Wine on Third as an overflow crowd packed the trendy nightspot as part of the one-year anniversary celebration of the Still Fallin' for the Falls (SFFTF) happy hour series presented by the local grassroots organization Niagara Rises, Inc.
"Isn't this great?" beamed Niagara Rises Vice President Colleen Kulikowski as she flitted about the jammed bar snapping pictures. "Standing room only in February, how cool is that?"
SRO indeed, as approximately 75 people filled every seat in the joint and the rest were standing in groups so thick that folks making their way to the restrooms had to weave and bob like Muhammad Ali rope-a-doping George Foreman. Many in the crowd seemed delighted at seeing such a robust and enthusiastic crowd out on a Thursday in Niagara Falls.
"This is wild," said WYRK trivia master Dennis George upon arriving on the scene. "I'm a huge booster of Niagara Falls, and it's great to see so many people in one place that are all high on the city."
The SFFTF happy hours were launched in February of 2009 and are always held on the first Thursday of the month.
"We thought that Niagara Falls needed a no-pressure forum where people could get together and network their jobs and businesses. We also believed that there were a lot of people in the city sitting at home thinking that they must be the last person still bullish on the city. We wanted to create something that would let them know that they weren't alone, that there were a bunch of other folks that also felt that Niagara Falls is a city on the way back up," Kulikowski said.
Chairman of the Planning Board of the city of Niagara Falls Rick Smith and his wife, Anne, are in charge of finding the venues for the SFFTF events. There are a few simple rules they follow when lining up the next spot to host the merry revelers.
"First, we are committed to local ownership. We want to support people who have taken a risk and opened a business locally. It takes a lot of money, guts and resiliency to bring a vision to life, and there are some great bars and restaurants here that a lot of people haven't ever walked into," Rick Smith said.
"And we want to spread the wealth, so to speak," added Anne. "Every month we are in a new spot. From downtown to Niagara Street, to LaSalle and Lewiston, we've been there and are even looking to expand into other parts of the county in the future."
The first SFFTF happy hour was held at the Old Falls Sports Bar and Grille inside the Crowne Plaza hotel and was an instant success. Since then, monthly gatherings have been held at the Seneca Niagara Casino, Como restaurant, Bakery Lounge, Eddie Jay's and Shorty's, among others. While the venues change and rotate, the enthusiasm of those partaking in the communal fellowship doesn't. Count Mayor Paul Dyster among those who believe that SFFTF is a tradition that will carry far into the future of the Cataract City:
"Networking has become sort of a cliche, but when it is done right it is a powerful tool for a community to pull itself up and move in the right direction. (SFFTF) is a great opportunity for like-minded people to get together in a no-pressure situation. When you look around the room you can see that people aren't just socializing, they're sharing thoughts and ideas about how we can help one another grow the city and get to where we all want to be."
It was a thought echoed by state Rep. Francine Del Monte, looking around at the Wine on Third crowd as she attended her first SFFTF shindig.
"There's great energy here. It's so nice to see such a 'can-do' attitude in so many people at one time," she said.
City Councilwoman Kristen Grandinetti offered her thoughts on the value of the events to bar and restaurant owners.
"It's fantastic to use small businesses and to bridge them to a larger portion of the community. There are a lot of gems in Niagara Falls, and it's great to see new people discovering a place like Wine on Third," she said.
The attendees heard about the event through a variety of means. Many receive reminders by being on the Niagara Rises e-mail list, but John P. Weiksnar got the word through the fastest-growing medium on the planet -- Facebook.
"I saw the Facebook notice and immediately decided that it was the place to be in Niagara Falls tonight," he explained.
The producer/director of a soon-to-be-released documentary on the Niagara Gorge, entitled "Heave Ho," Weiksnar is proof that one need not be a Falls resident to be a huge proponent of the city.
"I'm a Buffalo guy but a Falls' booster. I'm proof that (Niagara Rises) is bridging the online community with the physical community. I'm here tonight to tell people about my movie and to let them know that my Web site (HeaveHomovie.com) can be the de facto destination for the Niagara Gorge," he said.
Eileen Soro was another person using the happy hour to get the word out about a new venture. Soro, who recently opened the acclaimed Pi Bakery on Military Road, is a believer in the power of networking.
"You can advertise until you're blue in the face, but nothing beats meeting people face-to-face and looking them in the eye as you explain what your business is all about. I put my heart and soul into everything I bake, and I think people get a sense of the passion that I have for my craft when they meet me in person," she said, along with the reminder that she will have an official grand opening on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The U.S./Canadian border wasn't even enough of a barrier to keep some people from celebrating one of America's most famous cities. Joe Marino and Kathleen Koornneef of Blue Water Tours are Canadians who have opened a successful new business inside the renovated United Building in downtown Niagara Falls, N.Y.
"I'm an accountant by trade, so counting things comes naturally to me," Marino stated. "Tonight I can tell you that I've counted at least 30 people I've talked to who see the same potential in Niagara Falls, N.Y., that I do -- and I haven't even made it halfway around the room yet."
Koornneef, who was recently ordained as a minister, was tuned into the spirituality evident in the room.
"I just can't get over the positive vibe here tonight. As a Canadian, it's great to see people so positive about the American side of Niagara Falls. We're all in it together and what is good for Niagara Falls, N.Y., is also good for Niagara Falls, Ont. That phrase, 'One city, two countries,' is really true," she said.
While all of this goodwill and networking was transpiring, Dennis George had a large group of people engaged in an impromptu version of his "Original Variety Show" quiz game. A team consisting of Roger Spurback, Norma Higgs and Theresa Brockman took top honors when they accurately named the most answers on a list of "Top 10 Most Memorable TV Theme Songs."
George then generously offered $100 of this writer's money to anyone who could name the recording artist who would have sold more albums than the Beatles had such records been kept in the era when he recorded. The assemblage was stumped until Innovative Placement's (and local singing star) Andrea Todaro correctly guessed Bing Crosby. Thankfully, Todaro settled for a hug in place of the Benjamin.
The crowd at Wine on Third was indicative of most SFFTF get-togethers. Ages ranged from people in their early 20s to retirees.
Ashley Altman was one of those just starting her work career. The box office manager for the newly reopened Rapids Theater was there to promote her venue's Frank Sinatra tribute show featuring Jack Civiletto. She was also there for a reason shared by many of her generation.
"People my age hear stories about the way the Falls used to be and we want to help make it a place that everyone can be proud of once again," she said.
Dr. Maria Crea is retired, but shares young Ashley's desire to see Niagara Falls rise to prominence once again.
"People don't have to go to Buffalo or to Timbuktu to have a good time. It's right here, and anyone who comes out for the happy hours can see it for themselves," she said.
Maybe Relay for Life (relayforlife.org/NiagaraFallsNY) organizer Patricia Frederick summed it up best.
"It's up to us to make Niagara Falls happen. When you talk to everyone here you realize that it is not an impossible task. For a long time we were just falling, but those of us here are still fallin' for the Falls," she said.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | February 9, 2010 |