Buffalo is a great arts town. We have over twenty working theaters, major galleries, the historic poetry program at UB, live music, independent painters and sculptors galore. But there is one major hole in our scene: literary events.

NBA legend, two-time Hall of Famer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and motivational speaker are just a few honors of distinction possessed by Earvin "Magic" Johnson. The business mogul has successfully parlayed his skills and tenacity on the court into the business world, propelling his company to the status of No. 1 Urban Brand in America.

A former point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, he spent 13 seasons in the NBA. After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers. He won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his rookie season, and won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. Johnson retired abruptly in 1991 after announcing that he had contracted HIV, but returned to play in the 1992 All-Star Game, winning the All-Star MVP Award. He retired again for four years, but returned in 1996 and played 32 games for the Lakers before retiring for the third and final time.

Suzanne Cope, author of Small Batch: Pickles, Cheese, Chocolate, Spirits, and the Return of Artisanal Food. A fun twist on the typical book talk Larkinville is asserting its place in the craft food and drink movement with new and growing neighborhood businesses such Flying Bison Brewing Company and Buffalo Distilling Company, and partnerships at the new Hydraulic Hearth Restaurant & Brewery with Community Beer Works and BreadHive Co-op Bakery, among others. As an extension of this effort, the next installment of the Larkin Square Author Series will welcome Brooklyn-based food author and scholar Suzanne Cope, who will discuss her latest book, Small Batch: Pickles, Cheese, Chocolate, Spirits, and the Return of Artisanal Food. 

Jim Jefferies established himself as one of the outstanding comedians of his generation with the prestigious one-hour HBO special "I Swear to God."  He continued wowing audiences with his controversial, belief challenging comedy in his follow up special "Alcoholocaust" which aired on Showtime in the US, Comedy Central UK, and abroad. 

Beatlemagic is without a doubt the most musically satisfying Beatles tribute band on the scene today! Boasting the high visibility of strong vocals, music and a commitment to the accurate reproduction of the Beatles, this is the Beatles tribute band to see if you want to know what it might have been like had the Beatles toured today.

The Forever Charlie Tour will feature Charlie Wilson, Joe and KEM. Grammy nominated artist Charlie Wilson will make a stop at First Niagara Center on Friday, February 13th. Charlie is joined on tour by highly regarded Kem and Joe, both of whom will perform all of their numerous hits. The Forever Charlie Tour will truly be the "R&B Event of 2015".

Wilson has received seven Grammy nominations and multiple awards throughout his career; he was named Billboard magazine's #1 Adult R&B Artist and has had eight #1 records that topped the Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary radio chart including, "Without You," "Charlie, Last Name Wilson," "Magic," "There Goes My Baby," "Can't Live Without You," "You Are," "Life of the Party" and "My Love Is All I Have." Most recently, Wilson received a Grammy nomination for the song "If I Believe" in the Gospel category. He was also an NAACP Outstanding Album Award winner for the album Love, Charlie and BET presented to Wilson a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Gary Gulman's humor is unique, clever and highly entertaining. He is one of only a handful of comedians who have performed on every single late night show, and was a runner-up on two seasons of "Last Comic Standing." He has his three comedy specials, two on Comedy Central and one on Showtime.

Share a night of romance with the son of one of the greatest singers of all time, Frank Sinatra Jr. Being blessed with the same golden tone as his namesake father, he’s made a career in show business all his own. Allow him to woo you with the signature Sinatra sound, and hear for yourself how the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Saxophonist & Producer  Will Holton has forged his place in the music world with his "Big Tenor Sound" & debut cd titled “Always” in 2009.  Holton has had the honor of sharing stages with music notables as: longtime friend “3x Grammy Nominee & Pioneer of Smooth Jazz” – Najee, American Idol Winner-Ruben Studdard, “Grammy Award Winning Singer”-India Arie and formerly with Incognito-Maysa Leak. Additionally, Will has also played with “guitar virtuoso”-Stanley Jordan, Keyshia Cole, Carl Thomas, “Hands of Soul”-Joseph Wooten, Ryan Leslie, Dwele, and as of latest “Jazz Legend”-Roy Ayers just to name a few. He also toured with “The Universoul Circus” in 2004. One of the momentous occasions for Will was being awarded the Buffalo Music Award as New Original 1st year artist.

Welcome to the fastest-growing and most exciting event of the winter in Buffalo, NY! The Buffalo Soup-Fest has spent the last four years providing tens of thousands of Western New Yorkers with some of the best soups in the area.  During this time, we have partnered with some amazing chefs and the results have been beyond creative! Join us this February 15th at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center to be a part of what everyone is calling the must-attend event of the winter! 

Expect suspense and laughs alike in this popular Sherlock Holmes tale. Canadian Henry Baskerville has inherited a British manor...and a mystery. Strange things are happening on the moor and someone is trying to kill him. Could it be tied to the legend of a fearsome diabolical hound? Join us for this classic Victorian whodunit.

Reservations for tours at these times are not required and there is no charge. Samples are available for free, while larger 3oz cups are also available for a nominal charge. Tours will be offered on Thursdays and Fridays @ 6pm, and Saturdays at 1pm & 4pm.

Join the Buffalo Civil War Roundtable as they celebrate President Lincoln’s Birthday. There will be a short program and a Lincoln orator. Join uniformed reenactors as they perform a rifle salute on the Portico. Local authors will be present and there will also be activities for you and your family.

See the Scottish funk and R&B band that’s sold out shows around the world for three decades. Average White Band (AWB) bring their critically acclaimed show to the stage for a night of infectiously danceable funky soul based on the sounds of Memphis, Motown and Philadelphia. Hear iconic hits like “Pick Up the Pieces,” “Cut The Cake” and “Let's Go Round Again” that have earned the acclaim of audiences for 30 years. It’s a performance that promises to be anything but average.