Walking Uphill... Both Ways

This popular photo of Niagara Falls (circa 1911) was submitted by now out-of-towner Chris Fortin - thanks Chris! Funny thing about this photo - when I was a little kid, we had this photo hanging in the kitchen of the house I grew up in on Munson Avenue. My father always told us of his strife growing up and how he had to walk to school everyday in the freezing cold (y'know, the stories of walking uphill both ways barefoot on roads made of broken glass). Throughout my childhood I believed that this photo was my father and his school mates walking to school one frozen Niagara Falls morning! I also believed that he was my real father, but thats another story... (just kiddin' Pops!)

Here are a couple other amazing photos of our mighty Niagara Falls at a frozen standstill:

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The Barenaked Ladies at the Seneca Niagara Casino

Canadian pop (rock?) group The Barenaked Ladies took the stage Friday night and played to a capacity crowd at the Events Center in the Seneca Niagara Casino. The Barenaked Ladies, which consist of singer/ guitarist Steven Page, guitarist/vocalist Ed Robertson, keyboardist/vocalist Kevin Hearn, drummer/vocalist Tyler Stewart and bassist/vocalist Jim Creegan (sorry folks, no actual barenaked ladies performed!) blew the roof off the joint with their energetic, improv-laden performance.


Barenaked Ladies - One Week - 1998

The Barenaked Ladies, known for many of their pop hits in the 1990s (One Week, If I Had a Million Dollars, Brian Wilson and many more) have clearly refined their stage persona over time with a mixture of music, stories, comedy and improvisation. Between almost every song, frontmen Steven Page and Ed Robertson would banter back and forth, making up mostly every word as they went along... Could they really have written lyrics to an on-the-spot song about furry teeth and pork and beans?! Are Fonzie impersonations always part of the act? The improv style made the crowd howl with laughter between each song, just long enough for everyone to catch their breath from the constant dancing and singing along.

The Events Center proved to be a great venue because of the sound quality, large screen videos and diverse crowd. There were adults ranging from 18 - 80, guys in Harley Davidson attire bumping hips with senior citizens, long time fans dancing with brand new listeners, no matter who was in attendance - everyone had a smile on their face. It was a great sight to see so many people having such a good time. At this Casino concert, everyone emerged as a winner.

Check out their official website here: http://www.bnlmusic.com/news/


For more information about future events at the Seneca Niagara Casino, click here: http://www.senecaniagaracasino.com/seneca-events-center.cfm

Good Morning Niagara Falls!

Good Morning America's Whistle Stop Tour '08 paid a visit to our hometown this morning, broadcasting live from the brink of the Falls.

Chris Cuomo does a segment just feet away from the mighty Niagara

I arrived on the scene at about 5:30am (yikes!) and was able to get a close view of all the mayhem and hoopla that springs from a live television broadcast. Although there were about 500-700 people in attendance, I was able to worm my way closer to the front of all the action in order to be "one of those people in the background." Have you ever watched any of the live morning television news broadcasts like Good Morning America or the Today Show and wondered, who the hell would wake up that early and stand there like an idiot in the background? Your boy Stenz, that's who!

Diane Sawyer and the early morning crowd

Niagara Falls, NY was just one of the many stops on GMA's Whistle-Stop Tour as the train makes its way across the nation. Click here for the official site and for some interesting insight about our hometown. You be the judge as to whether the video is an optimistic view of our city (looking forward?) or if our glass is half empty. Either way you view it, I think any publicity is good publicity.

The entire event this morning was a thrill for many onlookers and celebrity seekers (myself included), but no one had a better time than young JT Robertson. Watch the videos from today's broadcast here and also to see the interview and the special surprise that JT received from ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Very cool.

Ty Pennington gets ready to surprise JT

Even more surprises from the cast of Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Sam Champion in the midst of the crowd and in the mist of Niagara Falls!

Robin Roberts signs autographs and talks to fans

Michael Moloney and Paige Hemmis

Michael Moloney and Paige Hemmis with
a real hometown Lebowski Achiever, ME!

It was an eventful morning not only for JT and his family, but for everyone in attendance hoping to get a little glimpse of the Hollywood on display here in Niagara Falls. On a personal note, had I known this morning I was going to meet Paige Hemmis, I definitely wouldn't have complained about having to get out of bed so early!

Fireworks Over the Falls

(photo by Neil Gates)

Great night photo of downtown Niagara Falls from a higher elevation. Thanks to contributor Neil Gates for the snapshot.

Here Comes the Sun

(photo by Ian W.)

This photo (taken for iWitnessNiagara by on-the-scene photographer Ian W.), proves the theory that behind the dark rain clouds that have been haunting the Niagara region this entire Summer, there actually is a sun. Just about to peek out... and hopefully stay awhile. There is still a month of Summer! As much as I want football games and football weather, I can be patient and enjoy what little warmth we can get around here every year.

The above image makes a great desktop background. Just click on the above image, once displayed (large) - right click on it, then choose "save as background."

Beautiful Summer Days in Niagara Falls, USA

Standing right up against the railing, I was able to snap this perfect picture, on a perfect picture day at Niagara Falls. Just one of the many gorgeous sights to be seen on Goat Island.