BUF - January Recap

We talked. A lot. What is Creative Eats? What do we want, as individuals, out of these Thursday night gatherings? What are we looking for that we’re not already getting from our design community? What can we do to continue building the creative environment in Buffalo?

Well, we got great discussion, a lot of thought-provoking commentary, and even a few answers. After a few hours of wining and dining, we uncovered a few core points:

1. We want to keep doing Creative Eats. Monthly. And the main purpose will continue to be a meeting of the minds, an opportunity to learn from those around us doing something so different from our daily lives, a chance to open up and think about possibilities, to get inspired. It’ll be the third Thursday of every month, each time with a sort of overlying theme for loose structure, at a different location each time. (I will continue to be the point person planning each event, but we’ll work as a group to choose locations and topics. And next time, we’ll all pitch in $XX. Or at the very least, get separate bills. For real this time.)


2. We’re all looking for purpose. What can we do to tie in with the community, both to improve Buffalo, and to improve the creative scene for ourselves? What can we do to contribute? This will be a regular topic of discussion, and we’ll continue to brainstorm. In one night, we brought up several cool ideas, some new, some tried and true, including a poster design exhibit, our own version of The Dinner Party ( http://www.aigany.org/events/details/09DP/ ), or perhaps a design auction to benefit a group like the Stop The Violence Coalition or Kids Escaping Drugs.


3. We need to keep the discussion going. A once-a-month meeting is not going to make change happen. And it may not hold us over for inspiration either. So let’s keep talking to each other, inspiring each other, encouraging each other. On Facebook. On the AIGA UP State NY website. Via e-mail. Whatever. Just keep talking.

• Can AIGA and the Ad Club combine efforts to make the Buffalo creative community happier, stronger, and more active?


• If you haven’t already, go to www.wnybookarts.org


• Tanqueray Rangpur Gin. Try it.  (If you’re over 21, of course.)


• Beautiful Losers at the Little. Don’t miss it. Unless you have a really really good excuse.


• Someone at our table is a Fulbright Scholar. Yes, really. www.benjaminvandyke.com


• Separate checks are key.


• Get involved. upstatenewyork.aiga.org


• Scope out the Creative Eats location before you book it. (No offense, Laughlins.)


• Join our sweet group. www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28021936047

-Jordan