Starry Night in the Garden - June 19th - Volunteers Needed

Graycliff has been approved as an exhibitor at the Starry Night in the Garden event at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens on Wed., June 19th. 

 This event runs from 6 - 9 PM and features the music of Young Blood Hawke, Ginny Blackmore, and Sara Bareilles.  

We need volunteers to distribute literature at this event (tables and chairs will be provided).  We plan to have 2-3 volunteers working together in blocks of 2 hrs. each (5:30 - 7:30, 7:30 - 9:30). Please call the site at 947-9217, or email one of the Volunteer Co-Chairs if you can assist, and let us know your preferred time slot:
E-mail Phyllis  or E-mail Kathy

Parkin' at Larkin - June 15th - Volunteers Needed

Graycliff has been approved as an exhibitor at the Parkin' at Larkin Classic Car Show at the Larkin Square Marketplace on Sat., June 15th.  

We need volunteers to distribute literature and to sell merchandise (yet to be determined, but probably a few easily portable items ).  The event runs from 11 AM - 4 PM, and we plan to have two volunteers working together in blocks of 2 hrs. each (10:15 - 12:15, 12:15 - 2:15, and 2:15 - 4:15).  

It should be a lot of fun---vintage cars, plus other vendors...see list here: Larkinville Vendors

We are required to be set up by 10:30 AM.  Please call the site at 947-9217, or email one of the Volunteer Co-Chairs if you can assist, and let us know your preferred time slot:
Email Phyllis  or    e-mail Kathy

Our friends at the DDM House asked us to post this event for them to our volunteers and members.  If you wish to attend please RSVP and note there is a cost involved. 

  

Our Blog To Date

                                                  


I thought it would be interesting to do a status report on the blog since it is now about six months old. 

In that time period I/we have published 55 separate postings. 

The blog has been viewed 3,294 times.

There have been a total of 33 comments by volunteers on blog postings, unfortunately 7 of that number have been mine.

Three other volunteers have contacted me with suggestions for blog postings.

To the blog posting asking why we volunteer at Graycliff, the blog received a total of  9 responses (7 of which count toward the above total of 33 comments.)

The blog has been viewed by 158 different people in the US, 7 from the Phillipines, 8 from Germany, 7 from France, 5 from Mexico, 4 from Columbia, 4 from Japan, 4 from Russia, and I from Brazil.

Right now we seem to be averaging about 20 views a day.

I hope to continue to serve the Graycliff volunteers by creating posts of interest and information to our volunteers.  I wish for more contact and communication with other members to make this blog more responsive to volunteers' needs.  You can do that by accessing the blog and clicking on  "comment" at the end of any blog post you wish to comment on.  Or you can send any other communication or posting suggestions to me at   gds2146@hotmail.com  .  I am still feeling my way around with this as is the Conservancy;  we want to make the blog a useful tool for all of you.  I hope you let me know if I am doing it right or/and point me in other directions to make it better.  The purpose of the blog is communication and communication, in order to work best, needs to be two way.  So, I hope these statistics have been of interest and I hope this blog is serving you well.

Thank you,  George Struebel, Blogger and Docent

                                                  

Renovation Update

                                 


If you have not been to the Estate lately, you may appreciate an update on the progress of the work.  First, the bridge to the tower is still in place.  The contractor is having some difficulty in arranging for the large crane necessary to do the job, but it is hoped to be accomplished by the end of the work week, maybe.  The pond in front of the house has been completely removed, new plumbing installed to keep a water flow in the new pond and a new concrete liner with 18" depth has been constructed. The elevation of the yard in front of the house will next be lowered to its original level in relation to the house and the Foster House.  Then the rest of the circular driveway can be completed.

The area on the front of the house is very torn up and care needs to be extended when walking guests anywhere in this area . The driveway surface is chewed up and muddy; there are level lines and stakes all around; and if you can run your tours by using the new concrete and sidewalk to the rear of the Foster House, it may be advantageous.  Docents are advised to arrive earlier than their scheduled tour and scout out the area first to be familiar with what the correct situation is. I had a woman on one of my tours fall today on a loose piece of flagstone knocked out of place by a construction vehicle, so be extremely watchful and at the start of tours at the model advise guests of the need to be careful on their tour.

Despite all the torn earth and construction debris, the house looked gorgeous in the setting late afternoon sun when I left at 4 pm.   And, when all is done, it will look even better.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE LEAD VISITORS TO THE RIGHT OF THE FOSTER HOUSE (IF YOU ARE FACING THE LAKE,) ON THE NEW SIDEWALKS, TO GET TO THE HOUSE.

ALSO IMPORTANT:  THIS RESTORATION PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF JUNE AT THE VERY LATEST...MORE LIKELY,WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.  PLEASE MAKE SURE TO MENTION THIS--PERHAPS A COUPLE OF TIMES--DURING YOUR TOURS.  (Otherwise, word will spread that the grounds are all torn up, and people will think it will be like that all season.)  Thanks!

                                              
                                                          

Why you don't want a Frank Lloyd Wright house

The below linked article showed up on the MSN news feed today.  It happens to reference the Delaware House in the blog entry made  yesterday as well as cites problems with owning FLW houses.  Personally, I don't care; I still want one.


Why you don't want a Frank Lloyd Wright house

Upcoming lecture

 

Tuesday May 28, 2013 at 7 pm

Ten Best Buildings in Buffalo

Orchard Park Library

The above presentation will be made by Chuck LaChuisa  who is one of the area's authorities on local architecture and is already a well respected local tour guide and speaker on the subject.  He is known also  for his photography which includes local architecture.  If you wish to view his work you can go to:

                                                            http://buffaloah.com/.

It is his web site and contains a wealth of information and photos of all things architecturally Buffalo.