BuffaLoveFest Vendor Profile - Luna Bear Designs

You've probably heard about our friend, 7-year-old Aly, who is making and selling jewelry for the Our Bears Belong in Buffalo campaign. Her Luna-inspired designs have already raised over $2,000 for the campaign to help build the new Arctic Edge exhibit and keep Luna in Buffalo. While Aly can't attend the 21 and up event, her mom Tracey will be at BuffaLoveFest selling the Luna Bear Designs jewelry. Be sure to stop by and say hi!

How do you embody “BuffaLove?”
I have lived in Buffalo, NY my whole life and am happy to be raising my family here.  The business my daughter and I started to raise money for the Bear Campaign has only reinforced my love of the area.  I am blown away by the generosity of Western New Yorkers who have fully embraced our efforts by donating not only money by buying our Luna Jewelry, but also their time in continuing to promote the business.

What do you consider your claim to fame?
My 7-year old daughter Aly wanted to raise money for the Zoo.  She drew all of the original designs that our pieces are based on.  In the short time that our web store has been live (since April 9, 2013) Luna Bear Designs has been featured on Winging It Buffalo Style, Channel 2 Daybreak and we were hosted by Buffalo Adore in South Buffalo for an entire day of fundraising.

What is your favorite animal at the Buffalo Zoo and why?
Well, we’re partial to Luna right now, but we love all the zoo animals – some of our favorites are the elephants, Isaac the donkey and the ray in the gorilla house.  The Rainforest is always changing – for as often as we go, there is always something new and wonderful to see.

What are you selling at BuffaLoveFest on May 31st?
Jewelry inspired by Luna and her fabulous name. 

How does your business contribute to our community?
A generous portion of the proceeds are being donated to the Buffalo Zoo Bear Campaign. 

Check back here for more vendor profiles leading up to BuffaLoveFest on Friday, May 31! You can find more vendors featured by our pals at The Good Neighborhood!

Don't have your tickets to BuffaLoveFest yet? Get them here.

BuffaLoveFest Vendor Profile - Buffalo History Buff

Our goal for the inaugural BuffaLoveFest at the Buffalo Zoo is to showcase all things Buffalo, and to celebrate our Buffalo pride! The fine folks at Buffalo History Buff embody that spirit with their posters of retro Buffalo company advertisements.

1. How do you embody "BuffaLove?"
Buffalo History Buff is very much the manifestation of our love for Buffalo. Our mission is to remind Buffalonians, near and far, of how great our city once was and continues to be. Our prints of restored vintage local advertisements flash back to a time when Buffalo was the industrial center of the United States of America. Our images educate, entertain and inspire, but most of all provide ourselves and our customers with opportunity to show pride in our city, the Buffalo we all love.

2. What do you consider to be your claim to fame?
While Buffalo History Buff is far from famous, our love of our city and its history evolved from the love of our home and studio. We are lucky enough to live and work from Allentown's Coatsworth mansion. Our house has appeared in the newspaper, magazines and even in the book "City of Light". We hope that our upcoming participation in the Buffalo Zoo's BuffaLoveFest and the exposure to the hundreds of Buffa-lovers in attendance will allow Buffalo History Buff to enjoy some of the same "fame" as its inspiration.

3. What is your favorite animal at the Buffalo Zoo and why?
While the majority of the attention may currently be on the cubs, our favorite animals at the Buffalo Zoo are all of our polar bears. Our polar bears and their habitat requirements are the catalyst for the Buffalo Zoo's current, and most ambitious renovation project. The new Arctic Edge exhibit will be a beacon of pride and progress, and has already been the impetus for the "Our Bears Belong in Buffalo" campaign, with billboards and commercials not just reminding us to help, but to also be proud of the Buffalo Zoo. Recently, when visiting the Zoo with our three small children, we were lucky enough to see the future parents of Luna spend some quality time cuddling. These amazingly enormous beasts deserve not only our respect, but our adoration.

4. How does your business contribute to our community?
Our mission is all about community pride. Whenever people view our images, inevitably somebody says something to the affect of "I didn't know there was this much in Buffalo". Buffalo was once the eighth most populous city in the United States. Buffalonians have now established communities all over the country. In a sense, Buffalonians are very much our own immigrant ethnicity in many cities. Every national story seems to have a Buffalo connection. Our goal is simply to perpetuate the civic pride that exists within all Buffalonians; whether or not you've fled the snow, we all share Buffa-Love!


Check back here for more vendor profiles leading up to BuffaLoveFest on Friday, May 31! You can find more vendors featured by our pals at The Good Neighborhood!

Don't have your tickets to BuffaLoveFest yet? Get them here.

BuffaLoveFest Vendor Profile - My Buffalo Shirt

The types of Buffalo-centric goods you'll find at BuffaLoveFest range from chocolates and jewelry to tea cups and craft beers. But you can definitely expect to see a whole lot of Buffalo-themed t-shirts because as we all know, Buffalonians LOVE Buffalo t-shirts! One of the many shirt companies you'll be able to check out at the event is My Buffalo Shirt.

How do you embody "BuffaLove?" 
This is easy, Buffalo is the focus of what we do. We create shirt designs around the great things in Buffalo, from sports to heritage.  Being born and raised in Buffalo enables us to put our heart and soul into each design.

What do you consider to be your claim to fame? 
Our very first shirt was our blue Buffalo Hockey design to which My Buffalo Shirt was built around. It stemmed various other designs and many more are being worked on as we speak. 

What is your favorite animal at the Buffalo Zoo and why?
Hands down Lion; it's a ferocious yet beautiful creature.

How does your business contribute to our community?
We donate shirts from time to time to not-for-profit companies and events for silent auctions to raise money for their overall cause. 

Check back here for more vendor profiles leading up to BuffaLoveFest on Friday, May 31! You can find more vendors featured by our pals at The Good Neighborhood!

Don't have your tickets to BuffaLoveFest yet? Get them here.

Donate Your Unwanted Items to the Buffalo Zoo Animals!

Want to help out some of the animals at the Zoo, but don't know how? The animals have put together a wish list of some items they need (okay, their keepers wrote the list, but the animals will be super grateful to receive any of these items from you!) You might be able to find some of these items around your home. Some things, such as Kongs, and Jolly Balls can be found at your favorite pet store. Take a look at the list below to see what your favorite animals need!

Animal/Exhibit Area	Items
M&T Bank Rainforest Falls	Kongs macaw toys Boomer Balls large dog houses kitty litter bins
Reptile House	live and/or artificial plants coconut hides pillow cases edible flowers locking Tupperware
TOPS EcoStation	artificial plants extracts (vanilla, coconut, almond, banana) food processor humidifier
Delta Sonic Heritage Farm	water buckets large Jolly Balls
Giraffes	extra large Kongs Jolly Balls
Hoofstock (Zebras, Antelope, and Bison, etc.)	large yard paper clean up bags (no plastic) extra large Boomer Ball plastic barrels
Vanishing Animals North	5 gallon plastic buckets basketballs, footballs, soccer balls

For more information about what kinds of items the Zoo animals need, visit the Wish List section of our website. If you have some items you would like to donate, please call (716) 995-6158.

Thank you so much from all of the animals!

Arctic Edge Assistance from Forestville

Thanks to the great kids of Mrs. Faxlanger’s third grade class at Forestville Elementary for helping out the Our Bears Belong in Buffalo campaign.

 

To get "Our Bears Belong in Buffalo" banks to raise funds for the Arctic Edge construction, please call the Zoo's development office at (716) 995-6131 during normal business hours. If you would like to make a donation, you can call the same number or go online.

Thanks again to the great third graders in Mrs. Faxlanger's class. Great job, kids, we couldn't have said it better ourselves.

Zoo Teen Naturalists

 

Are you interested in animals and the environment, and are between the ages of 13 and 17?  Are you looking for something wild to do this summer? Then become a Zoo Teen Naturalist!  Applications are now available at http://www.buffalozoo.org/summer_teen_program.html

Junior Zoo Teen Naturalist

For teens 13-14 years old

Program Fee:  $275 members/ $305 non-members

Session 1:  July 8-26, 2013

Session 2: July 29- August 16, 2013

Days/Times:  Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 10:00-3:00

Program is limited to 15 participants per session.

Zoo Teen Naturalist

For teens 15-17 years old

Program Fee:  $300 members/ $330 non-members

Session 1:  July 9-26, 2013

Session 2: July 30- August 16, 2013

Days/Times:  Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays from 10:00-3:00

Program is limited to 6 participants per session.  The Buffalo Zoo must receive your completed application by Friday, May 17^th, 2013 to be considered for the older teen program.

HOW TO APPLY:  You can find more program information and download an application form from our website, buffalozoo.org.  Mail your completed application to the Buffalo Zoo’s Education Department.  If you have any questions or would like an application mailed to you, please call (716) 995-6128.

BuffaLoveFest at the Buffalo Zoo

 
Celebrate everything Buffalo at the inaugural BuffaLoveFest at the Buffalo Zoo! Sample the goods from local food trucks and breweries, and check out some local artisans and bands! BuffaLoveFest will introduce the BuffaLoveBirds, a band featuring some of Buffalo’s all-star musicians, coming together for one exclusive performance. The event will showcase all that Buffalo and Buffalonians have to offer! Tickets are $20 pre-sale and $30 at the door. Admission to the event includes 2 drinks. The first 500 people to purchase tickets will receive a commemorative poster. BuffaLoveFest is a 21+ event. 

BANDS 
Introducing for the first time, The BuffaLoveBirds All Star Band (featuring Lance Diamond, Caitlin Koch, Eric Crittenden, Vinnie DeRosa, Mike Wagner, & Rob Lynch) 
Andrew J. Reimers 
Jony James Band The Albrights 
The Steam Donkeys 

FEATURING 
Buffalo Trivia
Craft Brew Tastings Zoo
Animal Ambassadors
More to Come! 

FOOD TRUCKS 
Black Market Food Truck 
Let’s Be Frank Gourmet Hot Dogs 
Lloyd Taco Truck 
Roaming Buffalo 
Rolling Joe’s Café 
R&R Barbeque 
The Sweet Hearth 

BEER 
Buffalo Bills Brewery – Dundee – Labatt Blue – Labatt Blue Light – Labatt Blue Light Lime – Labatt 52 – Magic Hat – Pyramid – Shandy 

ARTISAN VENDORS Albright Knox Art Gallery – Born in Buffalo – Buffalo Art – Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra – Buffalo Games – Buffalo History Buff – Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village – Burchfield Penny Art Center – C Designs & Illustrations – CC Designs – City Dining Cards – Community Beer Works – Curiouser Teacups – EmbroidMe – Erin’s Apples – FC Buffalo – Flying Bison Brewing Co. – Gizmo’s Creations – Hotroxs Buffalo Bistro – My Buffalo Shirt – Ooo la la Fashion Truck – Oh Pour L-Amour du Chocolat – Park Edge Sweet Shoppe – Pasteurized Tees – Retro Buffalo – Sweet Jenny’s – The Buffalo History Museum – The Buffalo Zoo’s Animal Department – Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site – WNY Book Arts Center More to come! 

SPONSORED BY Mutual of Omaha, Western New York Division