Let there be (green) light

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Garden Walk Buffalo, I'm turning the city green Friday-Sunday, July 25-27. 

Last year I requested the 1966 M&T Tower (20 stories, designed by Minoru Yamasaki, the same architect that designed NYC's original World Trade Center) and the 1912 Electric Tower (13 stories) in downtown Buffalo as well as the 1873 International Peace Bridge– the main local crossing between the United States and Canada – be lit green for the Walk. All three generously accommodated the request.

This year, being a special anniversary, I requested the American Falls and Canadian Horseshoe Falls be it green, as well as the 1899 Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens domes. All have said yes!

The Friday evening before Garden Walk Buffalo last year the Director of the Toronto's International Garden Tourism Conference, Michel Gauthier, was visiting and asked if he could bring a friend he was in meetings with all day. I mentioned to them both, as we walked down Elmwood Avenue on a beautiful evening, that I'd love to turn the Falls green for Garden Walk Buffalo's 20th anniversary. 

It turns out his friend was the Business Development/Events and Promotions Manager at the The Niagara Parks Commission – and is the person I'd have to ask to get it done. I made one email last week and within 24 hours had an answer.

In a meeting on other topics with the Botanical Gardens, Director David Swarts said it would be little effort to turn the historic domes green and would be happy to participate. They are currently having their winter light show extravaganza - NIGHT LIGHTS at the Gardens right now. They're already geared up for lighting the Lord & Burnham-designed tri-domed building.

There's still a couple more requests out there and I have six more months of asking to go!

I couldn't be more excited about this! I'm an advertising and marketing guy and this is right up may alley. This will generate lots of free publicity for the Walk's 20th - and other than a lot of emails, letters, and phone calls, it didn't cost a cent.

My only fear is that we won't be able to top ourselves for our 25th!

So here's the full list and days and times:

• Both the American and Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls (The Niagara Falls Illumination Board)
• Friday, July 25 from  9:00-9:15p.m., and again 10:00-10:15 p.m.
• 1873 International Peace Bridge (Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority)
•  Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 25, 26 & 27
• 1899 Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens (Architect: Lord & Burnham)
•   Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 25, 26 & 27
• 1912 Electric Tower (Architect: James A. Johnson) Iskalo Development Corp.
• Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26
• 1966 M&T Bank Tower  (Architect: Minoru Yamasaki)
• Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27
• 2008 Burchfield Penny Art Center (Architect: Gwathmey Siegel)
• Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 25, 26 & 27

Niagara Falls photo courtesy of The Niagara Parks Commission; Electric Tower and M&T Building courtesy Wikipedia Commons; Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Garden photo by Jim Charlier; Peace Bridge photo courtesy of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority.