Jimmie Vaughan Brings Texas Blues To Buffalo's Asbury Hall
6/27/2023 - Buffalo, New York - Another day of the drill, last minute drive down NYS 90W to 33 into downtown Buffalo, New York to see the Texas Blues Legend, Jimmie Vaughan, perform at the lovely Asbury Hall at Babeville. I arrived a little early without a ticket and just happened upon a nice person at the box office to purchase my ticket two hours before the show. I decided to take a spot center stage first row of the balcony. A good unobstructed view in this nice little church with a capacity of about 1200. This show was full but not quite a sellout. The show opened with a solo performance by blues man Gabe Stillman. He did a decent blues set a nice opening act for Jimmie. Jimmie Vaughan and his Tilt A Whirl Band took the stage shortly after Stillman's set and they played a good almost two hour set of blues. He played some classics like D/FW and the tribute to his brother Stevie Ray, Six Strings Down. Jimmie and band were good and definitely entertained the near sellout crowd. After the show I was able to meet Jimmie and chat a bit and grab a couple pics. I told him I would see him in LA in September at the Crossroads Guitar Festival. Another excellent last minute concert excursion at a nice little venue, I will be back...Slideshow[]
It's Not Unusual For Tom Jones To Croon At Turning Stone
Italy Travel Log - Sorrento Italy
5/26/2023 - Verona, New York - I literally just returned from London in time, to come home and see one of my favorite old school artists perform, Sir Tom Jones. I picked up a ticket a couple hours before the start of the show on Ticketmaster for the show at the Turning Stone Event Center in Verona, New York. I hopped in the car and headed East down the NYS Thruway stopping at Exit 33. The show was close to a sellout and my ticket was okay upper left stage, the venue seems to have decent views from all angles. Tom came out promptly around 8 PM and played a fantastic set. Some classics and some great covers. He opened with I'm Growing Old and then the Dylan song Not Dark Yet. Tom's Surrounded By Time theme of the show seemed a little dark as the 82 year old soon to be 83 belted out tune after tune ! He sang some of his hits like It's Not Unusual, Green Green Grass Of Home, and What's New Pussycat? He did a nice version of the Ry Cooder song Across The Borderline which he recently performed at Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Party. He talked of Willie still touring at 90 and he at 82 has something to look foward too. He also did an excellent version of his classic Delilah. His voice was strong as ever and he sounded excellent still at 82. I am pretty sure I saw at least one pair of panties tossed on the stage. Most of the fans around me were disappointed he didn't play more of his hits but they all appeared to leave satisfied with his show. He finished the show with Johnny B. Goode. I am glad to have had the opportunity to see Sir Tom one more time, great show...Slideshow[]
Sabres Provide Birthday Present Win Over The Visiting Bruins
2/25/2018 - Buffalo, New York - Today to help celebrate my very happy birthday, we headed West down the NYS Thruway and made our way to downtown Buffalo, New York to watch the Buffalo Sabres take on the visiting Boston Bruins at the KeyBank Center. I was lucky enough to receive not one but two sets of free tickets for this birthday game, one from Mike a few days prior and another the next day from Deb who won two seats in a private box. We headed into the arena and watched the Sabres take a 2-0 lead in the first period never being behind the entire game leading to a 4-1 win over the Bruins. Chad Johnson was in the net for the Sabres and Kyle Okposo and Evan Rodrigues added goals in the win. The game also saw my brother-in-law's sister receive a hockey mom honor between periods and get on the big board. Another nice home victory for the Sabres and on my birthday no less, a nice present.Slideshow[]
Bills Pound Colts In Season Opener For Rex Ryan's First Win
9/13/2015 - Orchard Park, New York - Today we headed west to Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York to take in the much anticipated season opening game for the Buffalo Bills and new coach Rex Ryan. We purchased some decent tickets off of Stubhub.com on the 50 yard line in the upper deck. We left early to the game despite the rain and tailgated a little bit. We broke out the tent and old Bills gas grill and cooked up some nice steak and crab legs. A nice tailgate to start game day. We headed into the stadium and barely made opening kick off due to security checks. The place was packed and the sellout crowd was also loud. This game was the first regular season game for new coach Rex Ryan and was also new quarterback Tyrod Taylor's first start. The Bills dominated all aspects of the game beating the Colts 27-14. Highlights included Tyrod Taylor throwing a 51 yard touchdown to new Bills receiver Percy Harvin. The Bills defense dominated shutting down Andrew Luck and causing three turnovers. A storybook start for the new look Bills team, bring on New England.Slideshow[]
Petty and Winwood Close Darien Lake 2014 Concert Season
9/7/2014 - Corfu, New York - Another day and another free show compliments of Deb the contest queen, this time an excellent win from Tops Markets, the classic rock of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and special guest Steve Winwood appearing at Darien Lake. Deb entered the drawing at Tops weeks ago and we got the call a couple days prior to the show, two tickets center stage eleven rows back and VIP access. We picked up a single ticket on Stubhub to allow Dom to join us for this final show of the summer at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center. It was a perfect day, we played golf in the morning, watched the Bills win the season opener in overtime and then off to the concert on a beautiful September evening. We stopped at will call who did not have our tickets we were directed to VIP will call and got our tickets just in time to sit down and watch the awesome opening act of Steve Winwood. Steve and his band played a great but short set of originals, Traffic, Spencer Davis Group and some Blind Faith numbers. Steve played a lighter version of Can't Find My Way Home, jammed out on Dear Mr Fantasy and finished his set with Give Me Some Lovin. Again a great set by Winwood hope to see him in the future as he toured with the Allman Brothers last year when we saw him last. After a brief intermission Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers took the stage and played an excellent set of hits that spanned their entire career. They opened with So You Want To Be A Rock N Roll Star and then jumped into Mary Jane's Last Dance. The crowd was really into it and Tom and the Heartbreakers really seemed to appreciate their tremendous enthusiasm. They played many of their hits and some stuff from their new album Hypnotic Eye. They played classics like A Woman In Love, Free Fallin, Into The Great Wide Open, Refugee and finished the set with Runnin' Down A Dream. The band was pretty tight and again the crowd was raucous and very much into it. The band came out for a two song encore of You Wreck Me and finished the show with their classic hit American Girl. Tom thanked the audience telling them that himself and the band said it was pleasure to play for them tonight. This was a very good show to end a great day and it was FREE !Slideshow[]
Demi Lovato Cranks Up Neon Lights Tour At Air Canada Centre
Framptons Guitar Circus Comes To Town With Cray & Felder
3/26/2014 - Toronto, Ontario - Today we took off for another road trip north of the border to Canada to see Nicole's favorite performer, Demi Lovato. Demi was performing at the Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto as part of her Neon Lights tour. We started the trip with a stop just across the border to give a tax deductible donation to Casino Niagara. We then stopped at the Hard Rock Café where we had lunch and Nicole had her first legal drink. We hit the road and got to the Air Canada Centre early found a spot to park and picked up some Demi souveniers for the Lovatic. We had excellent seats for this show. I picked up a front row seat for Nicole from Stubhub and my seat was only about ten rows back from the stage. The Air Canada Centre was packed and the crowd was pretty loud. The first act was the group Fifth Harmony who I thought were pretty good and the crowd enjoyed them. In between acts the crowd was entertained by young magician Collins Key. The second act was performer Cher Lloyd, who I thought was not that great but again the crowd warmly received her performance and having all the phone lights on was a great effect. After a final magic trick Demi hit the stage. Demi put on a good show singing, dancing, and playing guitar. Her somewhat quick set included songs old and new including Fire Starter, Warrior, and Got Dynamite to name a few. She finished her set with the song Neon Lights from her new album with confetti being shot out into the crowd another nice effect. She finished the evening with two encore songs Skyscraper and Give Your Heart A Break. Even with the camera issues with security it was still a good show that Nicole enjoyed getting close enough to touch Demi.Slideshow[]
6/28/2013 - Rochester, New York - Today the classic rock guitar of Peter Frampton came to downtown Rochester New York to take part in the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. The tour, named the Frampton Guitar Circus, included the awesome opening act of one of our favorite blues guys the Robert Cray Band and also special guest Don Felder. To top all that off they were performing at one of the best venues in the WNY area the Eastman Theatre. We started the evening hopping over to the House of Guitars to jam and check there latest guitar inventory. We headed down to the Jazz Festival and checked out some of the acts in the outdoor venues and had some great steak sandwichs. We headed into the concert where the Robert Cray Band hit the stage promptly at 7:30 and played a very quick set. He played some of his classics like Poor Johnny, Sitting On Top Of The World and finished his set with Smoking Gun. His set seemed rushed and was WAY to short. After a short intermission the Frampton Guitar Circus hit the stage and played a good set. He played some of his classic hits like Lines On My Face, Baby I Love Your Way, Show Me The Way and a great cover of Black Hole Sun. He was joined during the set by Don Felder and they did a good jam on Hotel California and a Stevie Ray Vaughn cover of Pride And Joy. He finished the set with Do You Feel Like We Do. He came out for one encore joined by Don Felder again for a just okay cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps. A good concert overall that had the potential to be great but was just pretty good.Slideshow[]
Dominic Completes Third Season With NY Mets
Aloha To Maui On To Oahu And Waikiki Beach - Part III
6/18/2008 - Parma, New York - Dominic completed his third season in Hilton Little League Baseball playing in the minor leagues for the NY Mets team today. Dom got his first chance to pitch and hit from kids pitching. Early in the season Dom was hit by a pitch and was almost lost for the year but it turned out to only be a bone bruise. He was back for the next game ready to play. Dom had a great year showing a good arm pitching in several games striking out numerous batters. Dom learned many things to help improve his game both hitting, pitching and fielding. Dom was one of the best all round players on his team. Dad was an assistant coach on the team and both Dom and Dad had a great time.Slideshow[]
4/15/2008 - Oahu, Hawaii - The first part of the Hawaii trip ended leaving our condo at Kaanapali Shores in Maui the same way we started with a rainbow. We grabbed our last views of the beach and Lahaina and caught a flight via Hawaiian Airlines where we encountered a clown going through security fortunately he was not on our flight. The flight lasted all of ten minutes from Maui to Oahu. We started are adventure at Oahu, heading to our junior suite at Resort Quest Waikiki Beach Hotel. It provided nice views of Diamond Head Crater, Waikiki Beach and the Pacific Ocean. We spent our first days on Oahu swimming on Waikiki Beach and the ocean front pool, climbing to the top of Diamond Head Crater for spectacular views of Oahu, Honolulu and Waikiki Beach, and enjoying the evening entertainment of street performers and shopping along Kalakaua Avenue. Dom had his portrait done by Maurice the Painter and Nicole cruised the highend shops hitting all the stores on a really long list. More Oahu to come. Part 124567Slideshow[]
Happy Halloween Celebrated By The Florio Kids
Good Day At Finger Lakes Racetrack
10/31/2007 - Hilton, New York - One of the kids and Debs favorite holidays arrived today Halloween. The kids walked in the Hilton Halloween parade in full costumes. Dominic was the scary chainsaw murderer and Nicole dressed as a boy from the hood. Dad arrived just in time from his Europe trip to attend the trick or treating festivities. The weather was excellent for trick or treating and both pulled in tons of candy. The scary house was over the top this year just getting bigger and better every year.Slideshow[]
