Anna Gives Eric & Me a Tour of Babeville in Downtown Buffalo, New York

This is beautiful old
church is Babeville,
.
This remarkable building is
on the New York State &
National Registers of 
Historic Places






The former Asbury United Methodist Church had an active parish until the 1980s,  It sat vacant for about ten years and was slated for demolition in 1995. The public was opposed to losing this beautiful building.  Ani DiFranco and partner, Scot Fisher, purchased the building in 1999 and began refurbishing it.

Geothermal wells, 300 feet

 beneath the parking lot,

heat this massive building.

On this particular day, there is no large performance at Babeville.  Anna's schedule allows time for a tour of the building.

Eric, Anna & me outside Babefille.

We start on the first floor of Babeville.

Edited for Content:

Hallwalls Contemporary Arts 

Center 41st Annual Members

Exhibition

The large space is perfect

for an exhibit with many

pieces.

Paintings, Sketches,

Mixed Media Art 

Ashbury Hall is Babeville's

 main performance space,

seats 1,200.

This beautiful venue is also used for weddings.

Ani & Scot kept the original
flooring, stairs, balconies.










 

The Ninth Ward, in the

basement, is the smaller

 entertainment venue.

This intimate space welcomes

performers regularly.

The brickwork behind the performer has been reclaimed from various buildings to create the intricate backdrop for the stage.

The wooden header above

the bar was salvaged

from the church, upstairs.

 

Performers' posters

One of the two

"Green Rooms."

Cleaners will take care of the wedding party's "leavings."

Comfortable seating

The large device in the right

of the photo is the church's

original furnace.

It is no longer working.

The building's original
"vacum cleaner."

Anna quips that it is so
old that the correct
spelling of vacuum 
was not yet invented.

Our next stop is Righteous

 Babe Records.

This statue of Ani was
carved by a fan.

Cherished memories

cover the walls.

Anna & fellow staffers
work beneath this
beautiful stained glass
window.






Thank you, Anna, for giving Eric and me a behind the scenes tour of Babeville.  It is a beautiful, thoughtfully planned series of venues for artists.