1) For Winemakers, Time to Chill Out
I really enjoyed this look at how local winemakers make ice wine (there’s a video, too!). I had no idea how ice wine was made before reading this article. I definitely want to buy a bottle once I’m living in the area.

“The grapes are finicky to begin with, and can only be grown properly in a few places in the world, like Western New York and Germany, where ice wine was invented. It requires just the right balance of dry, hot summers and very cold winters.”

2) $56.4 Million Facility will be Operated by Boutique Hotel Planned for Richardson Site
Here’s an update on the Richardson Olmstead Complex that I mentioned in my post last week. They’re turning part of the (architecturally stunning) building into a 90-room boutique hotel, including a “high-tech event and conference center.” To give you an idea of how immense the building is, the newly-renovated space is only expected to take up 1/3 of the available square footage. That’s nuts!

3) In Buffalo, One Man’s Living Museum
Dennis Maher is a professor of architecture at the University at Buffalo and artist-in-residence at the Albright-Knox Gallery. He purchased an abandoned home for $10,000 in 2009, spent $30,000 making it habitable, and now he creates sculptures made from byproducts of demolition. His neighbors even leave stuff for him on his front porch.

4) Returning to a More Hopeful Buffalo
Irene boomerangs back to Buffalo after living in San Francisco.

5) Commuting on Foot Offers New Perspective
This guy has been walking to work for the past 25 years. It’s a nice look at how he’s observed things (and people) change on his route over time…and how people have observed him as well.

6) Wegmans Still a Great Place to Work
In Fortune Magazine’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, the Rochester-based Wegmans ranks #5. That seems pretty amazing, especially since grocery stores aren’t known for offering very high salaries. I recently read that Buffalo-area Wegmans stores set themselves apart by offering Friday night jazz concerts. (What?! Live music in a grocery store? I will have to see it to believe it.)