Dan returns to ... CHEEKTOWAGA!

[Dan]

It's that time ... for a trip back to Buffalo's favorite suburb.

Yup, we're talking about the Town of Cheektowaga. Let's take a look around, shall we?

A tribute to America's national symbol, the koala bear.

Here's the Town's official symbol.

"HOA? What dat HOA der?"

No flag would be complete without Uncle Sam holding it up.

The horror!

Polish and PROUT!

Uhhh ...

Uhhh ...

Uhhh ...

Note the letter "W".

More flamingos in the wild.

Cheektowaga address sign.

Brotherhood.

Again, uhhh ...

"T" is for "tacky".

Gung ho for the Bills!

IT'S JUST A GAME, FOLKS!

Nature in Buffalo's eastern suburbs.



Finally ... we have a winner!

 

[steveanne]

Galleria

Did you get a chance to go to the Galleria mall and talk to all the girls with the big hair? I was be-fuddled to learn that New Jersey had staked a claim in Cheektowaga!

 

[Chet]

I enjoy *other peoples* yard glurge. Cant stand it in my own yard though.

That could just as easily be Green Bay on packer game sunday. Note the lack of people and cars.

 

[Miles Ignatius]

Great Job, Dere

Dan:

Good pix as always. I did have a question for you...what sort of cultural manifestation will the addition of the Senacas' Casino bring to all this?

Will it become CheektoVega$?

 

[Plannerbabs]

Now my yard has something to aspire to. Only 1 pink flamingo so far, 3 more plus 5 yard gnomes to go. Wow, those yards are impressive. What does it look like at Christmas? Is there going to be another East Coast blackout the day after Thanksgiving?

 

[SkeLeton]

Eyes.Googles.Nothing!!!

Damn... that is horrible, I'd be ashamed to be their neighbors...

What happened to the ol' (real) grass, trees and flowers garden type? Why the hell does your garden have to be 99% plastic? (and 100% bad taste)

/me shivers in pain....

 

[mendelman]

Been there, nice town

I have relatives who live in here! They live in a section where all the res. streets have French female names, Frances, Charlotte, etc. They are my dad's cousins. They have lived there since the early 80s.

So, all of Cheektowaga is full of the those with polish heritage. Sounds about right, my relatives are Cieski, and moved there from the all Polish enclave on Buffalo's eastside.

Off-topic:
My dad grew up in the Polonia neighborhood. He said everyone was Polish or of Polish heritage and Catholic for blocks in every direction. But it seems that neighborhood has hit hard times now. We went on a visit in 1998, and we visited the old neighborhood and it wasn't in in the best shape. My dad was the first ever Protestant marriage in the family. He married a, gasp German Baptist. Polish Cathoilics don't fit well with German Baptist wedding receptions.



Anyhow,
next time I'm in Cheekto-ville, I'll turn on my glurge detector.

 

[Howard Roark]

Priceless!

Any trouble taking pictures w/o disturbing the natives? Seems like the type a thing that could spark a tussel

 

[Cardinal]

Priceless!

Any trouble taking pictures w/o disturbing the natives? Seems like the type a thing that could spark a tussel

I was about to ask the same. I love the photos! They remind me of a few places in and around Chicago from when I was growing up. I am not sure that they have retained their character to that extent, though.

 

[PlannerGirl]

Ok looks like the rednecks from the south moved up north and left the trucks at the Mason Dixon line


ewwww

 

[Dan]

Cheektowarsawers aren't really 'necks, but rather proud, old school, Great Lakes working class types. Kinda' like ...

 

[michaelskis]

Right now, there is some garden center owner driving his new car to his new house, knowing that it is the sale of lawn ornaments that will keep him rich.

WHY DO PEOPLE DO THAT?

Makes me wonder, what is the best picture of a lawn gnome.

 

[Cardinal]

The best garden gnome placement I know of is in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. If you are willing, on a calm day, to swim maybe 200 meters or more from Miner's Beach around the base of Miner's Castle (a big cliff jutting out into Lake Superior), you will find some small sea caves. Placed in the farthest nook of one, in a place where the light and shadows make it hard to see, there is a garden gnome. Not knowing it is there, the effect when you see it is quite eerie and even a bit frightening.

 

[donk]

Matthew Good recently (within the past 2 years) did a video where they stole a garden gnome and photographed it all over the US. It was an interesting video.

 

[jmf]

Matthew Good recently (within the past 2 years) did a video where they stole a garden gnome and photographed it all over the US. It was an interesting video.

In the movie Amelie, she did the same thing to convince her father to travel.

 

[biscuit]

Great picts Dan! You've inspired me to start taking pictures of peoples lawn tack.

As for gnomes...
A scene from Rock City, Tennessee. For those who have been you know that it is a natural wonder that has been turned into the gnome capital of the southern Appalachians.

 

[Plannerbabs]

I like how the dog on the left in this photo looks as though he's trying to decide what the gnome would taste like if he bit him. "Hm, chicken, concrete, or plastic? I like plastic..."

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

Re: Great Job, Dere

Dan:

Good pix as always. I did have a question for you...what sort of cultural manifestation will the addition of the Senacas' Casino bring to all this?

Will it become CheektoVega$?

-It will probally become what the East Side of Buffalo already is. Run down buildings, increased crime (which is already starting to spread to Cheektowaga from the east side), etc.
First off this compact between the governor and the seneca's is illegal. nobody that lives in the affected area approved for these casinos got to vote on the matter which is required by the state constitution (it also states gambling is illegal). but thats NY state for you, screw the residents as well as small businesses.
Its funny how many people don't want the casino now that its being placed in cheektovegas. when people in the city opposed it, many in the suburbs said whats wrong with them (63% in the city oppose it) and kept at it that it should be placed in buffalo, which happens to be one of the poorest cities in the U.S.
Now that the senecas want it in cheektovegas, the residents there, as well as neighboring communities are voicing there opposition, as the fears of crime and other social negatives invade their area. NOW maybe they'll understand why buffalo residents opposed it to begin with!
-Nice pictures, there was something in the news a while ago about knomes being kidnapped in cheektovegas.

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

Cheektowarsawers aren't really 'necks, but rather proud, old school, Great Lakes working class types. Kinda' like ...

-hey dan, were you here for the stomping the bills gave the pats?

 

[Cardinal]

Welcome to Mount Horeb, Troll Capital of Wisconsin.

http://www.mounthorebtrollway.com/fieldguide/list.html

http://www.trollway.com/index1.html

 

[Rem]

I'm surprised about how judgemental some of the posts are here. Garden clutter is just an expression that suits some people and it's harmless. Give these folk a break.

 

[The Irish One]

the garden stuff is cute. My mom likes to put baby deer or chipmunks that are made of concrete (I think)

 

[Chet]

I'm surprised about how judgemental some of the posts are here. Garden clutter is just an expression that suits some people and it's harmless. Give these folk a break.

If I'm going to be opinionated about someone else, better here than at the counter at work.

Besides, its tacky crap. Admit it.

 

[Jen]

Did you notice in Dan's photos of kitschy tacky lawn ornaments all of the yards are well cared for?! These folks are just making an outdoor room of their porches and yards, adding whimsy and color to an otherwise drab slab of turf.

You go Cheektowagan's!

 

[Rem]

If I'm going to be opinionated about someone else, better here than at the counter at work.

Besides, its tacky crap. Admit it.

Jen's got it.

I would have thought that making snide comments about people we 'meet' over the counter is part of the planner's standard coping response. Don't waste that gold on someone that has found happiness in painted concrete.

I didn't see any car tyres reconstructed as swan shaped plant holders. Is this only done in Australia?

PS. Dan, Koalas aren't bears, just Koalas.

 

[donk]

rem noted

I didn't see any car tyres reconstructed as swan shaped plant holders.

I've never seen these, please post a picture.

thanks

 

[Rem]

rem noted

I've never seen these, please post a picture.

thanks

I'll try to find a picture - I did a quick Google search and despite many references, no pictures. I will try to find an real life example for you.