Today at 5:30pm, Buffalo’s Common Council holds a public hearing on Mayor Byron Brown’s proposed budget for 2008-2009. This may sound like a dull, wonkish enterprise, but it’s not: It’s a pleasant excuse to visit the Common Council’s beautiful chambers, and anyone can speak. I will be there no later than 6pm to listen to what folks have to say, and will hand out AV swag to the first six people (not counting councilmembers) who figure out who I am and ask me for it.

UPDATE: If you’d like some broad, sweeping questions to ask about the budget, check out this post by Buffalo News reporter James Heaney. I’m a devil-in-the-details guy myself, but Heaney’s got the big picture nailed.

Three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana, The New York Times reported this morning that Senator John McCain, during a visit to New Orleans yesterday, was critical of the Bush administration’s handling of the disaster. “Terrible and disgraceful,” said McCain and ticked off a long list of mistakes by the current administration, saying there were “unqualified people in charge, there was a total misreading of the dimensions of the disaster, there was a failure of communications.”

Gee, John, are you certain you’re not making that observation a little too hastily?

Albright Knox Gusto at the Gallery ( 1285 Elmwood Ave. 882-8700), 3-10pm: “Typiquement Francaise.” Evening dedicated to French art & culture with tours of French paintings for children (5:30pm), adults (6pm); a reading of The Little Prince (6:30pm), screening of Ratatouille (7pm), and a wine & cheese pairing at Muse (7:30-8:30pm). Free admission

Asbury Hall at Babeville (341 Delaware Ave.), 8pm: Hallwalls presents Winston Choi (solo piano). $15/general or $10 members/students/seniors

Broadway Joe’s (3051 Main St., 837-3650), 10pm: The Gladflies, Durham Drunks, and Fatasia

Club Infinity (8166 Main St., Williamsville), 10pm: Klear, Absolution Project, Flood the Shoreline, Red With Envy. $10

College Street Gallery (244 Allen St.), 7-9pm: Reception for Points of Undulation, Wood Designs by Amber Sharlow (through April 20)

Cosmopolitan Gallery (928 Main St.), 9pm: Meet the Artist: Dawn Exton

Nietzsche’s (248 Allen St.), 6:30pm: Michael Meldrum with Joe Rozler, Rob Lynch, & Michael Morrissey. 10pm: The Juliet Dagger, with Mother Red.

International Institute (864 Delaware Ave, 883-1900), 6:30pm: Indian Night. Authentic food, music, and dance. Free

Merlin’s (727 Elmwood Ave.), 11pm: Stockholm, Child Coffin, Bela’s Shadow. $4

Mohawk Place (47 E. Mohawk St.), 8pm: Lucero, with American Princes. Queen City Station supports

Quote (236 Delaware Ave), 8pm: Beer Pong Tournament. Visit http://www.worldpongtour.com to register your team or for more info

Riviera Theater (67 Webster St., N. Tonawanda, 692-2113), 8pm: Harold Lloyd Film Festival (April18-20). Kick off event with an introduction by Anthony Bannon & Patrick Loughney of the George Eastmen House followed by a screening of the silent comedy “Speedy.” $15 or $54 for a Festival Pass. Contact 692-2413 or www.rivieratheatre.org for tickets

Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State College (1300 Elmwood Ave.), 8pm: Great Performers Series presents Cherish the Ladies. $32/general with discounts for students, seniors. Contact 878-3005 or www.buffalostate.edu/pac for tickets

Rust Belt Books (202 Allen St, 885-9535), 7:30pm: Reading by Los Angeles-based poet Diane Ward

Seneca Industrial Center (701 Seneca St.), 7-10pm: Opening reception for Fieldworks: Jewelry and Metalwork by Missy Crowell

Showplace Theater (1063 Grant St.), 7:30pm (doors): Agent Me CD Release Show, with Lovepuddle. $5-$7

Sportsmen’s Tavern (326 Amherst St.), 9:30pm: Stone Country with Paul Zittell & Carl Eddy

Women in the Arts Festival 2008 (April 17-20 at various locations): Showcasing female composers, artists, poets, writers, actors, dancers, singers, storytellers, crafters, weavers, etc. Visit www.agohq.org/chapters/buffalo for details and full event schedule

Xtreme Wheels (356 Hertel Ave.), 6pm: Fighting For First, Black Dog. $8

Blue Lantern Lounge: John & Mary, 8pm

Impact Artists’ Gallery: Just Buffalo/new/RENEW poetry reading featuring Joyce Kessel and Verneice Turner, 7pm

Medaille College: The Write Thing Reading Series presents poet Rebecca Maslen, 7pm

Nietzsche’s: Underground Style Ryme Bustaz Showcase: DJ Optimus Prime with emcees Smells Like Laundry, Circe Madina, General Spade, Askew Artistry, Fresh Guac & Rick Bl@st. Hosted by B-Wiz, 10pm

Rust Belt Books: Just Buffalo/Small Press Poetry reading featuring Tyrone Williams and Gina Meyers, 7pm

Shea’s Performing Arts Center: Annual Wine Tasting Event “Whine in the City.” Various wines and food samples from over 20 participating wine merchants/wineries and restaurants as well as live jazz and raffle prizes, 5:30-8:30pm. $35/pre-sale (847-1410/www.sheas.org) or $40/at door

Sportsmen’s Tavern: Westside Winders, 8pm

Talking Leaves (Main St.). Poet Stephanie Gray reads from and signs copies of her book, “Heart Stoner Bingo,” 7pm

Water Street Music Hall (Rochester): State Radio, doors at 7pm. $12/advance (www.ticketmaster.com) or $14/day of show. Ages 13+

Women in the Arts Festival 2008 (April 17-20). Various locations. Visit www.agohq.org/chapters/buffalo for Festival info

Xtreme Wheels: Story of the Year, Madina Lake, Josephine Collective, 6pm. $16/$18

left: babik

Tonight is the Artvoice Best of Buffalo party at the Town Ballroom (681 Main St.), 6p.m. - 9 p.m. Winners will be announced in categories from chicken wings to car dealers, cocktail lounges to TV news anchors. Artvoice readers have chosen what they love best about WNY. Come along for some great food from nominated restaurants, live music by Babik, the Stripteasers, and DJs Li’l Joe and Lady Atram.

Admission is free!

Albright Knox Art Gallery: The Runway: Fashion Week Comes to Western New York during Gusto at the Gallery. Buffalo State College students stage a “Red Carpet Extravaganza” with paparazzi, lighting, music & more. During Gusto at the Gallery. 5-10pm

Bacchus: The Waz featuring Eric Crittenden. 10pm

Buffalo Museum of Science: Alemaedae Theatre presents “The Listener” comedy stage play (April 11 & 13). $20. 7pm

Hallwalls: “Tale Me More 2.” Featuring Nikki Germany, Black Magic, Rain Behtel Cooper, Devotion, Crusaders Drill Team, SpOken. 8pm

Kepa3 Gallery: Spring Silent Auction of Winter Landscapes. Auction closes at 9pm sharp. 6-9pm
Mohawk Place: The Dodos, with Auger and Nick Gordon. $7. 10pm

Mister Goodbar: The Skin Tight Band. 11pm

Nietzsche’s: The Steam Donkeys, Shakey Stage CD Release Party. 7pm, 9pm

Squeaky Wheel: Documentaries about rural life in the US and China by Seth Wochensky and DieDie Weng. Filmmakers in attendance. $6/general; $4/SW members. 8pm
WNED Horizons Gallery: Opening reception for the Amazing Art of Autism (through April 25). 6pm
Tralf: Haale & Friends. $12 presale (Ticketmaster) or $14.50 day of show. 8pm

Blue Lantern Lounge: John & Mary
Club Diablo: The Amino Acids & Guests

Hard Rock Cafe: (doors). MINK. $5. Proceeds benefit the Hard Rock USA’s Ambassador’s Fund which raises money for charities in WNY. 7pm

Merlin’s: Deep Thinka presents “Fortified Live” with resident musicians Type: Relevant  & Eimaj. 10pm

Mohawk: The Fleshtones, with Handsome Jack, the Thermidors. $10. 10pm

Montante Cultural Center: Canisius College Contemporary Writers Series  presents Native American poet Heid E. Erdrich. 6pm

Nietzsche’s: The Chameleon Project. 9pm
Rust Belt Books: Reading & book signing with Charles Halpern, author of “Making Waves and Riding the Currents:  Activism and the Practice of Wisdom.” 7pm

Sportmen’s Tavern: The Thirds. $8:30pm

Tudor Lounge: Buffalo Mural Arts Program Fundraiser. Collaboration of local artists to create murals on neighborhood buildings in the Broadway-Fillmore district. Drink specials, food, live music & more. Contact buffalomuralarts@gmail.com or 581-4138 for more inf. 5pm

Tralf: Kimya Dawson (of the Moldy Peaches). $12/advance (852-5000/www.ticketmaster.com) or $14/day of show. 8pm

Xtreme Wheels: Stick to Your Guns, Winds of Plague, Impending Doom, Veil of Maya, Perfidious Doom, Kills the Moment. $10/$12. 6pm

At the Buffalo Irish Center: Tempest 20th Anniversary Tour. 8pm.

At Club Infinity: The Dreaming, with Letterset, Definitions, Roxy Loves England. $7/advance (www.Tickets.com) or $10/day of show. Doors at 7pm

At the Town Ballroom: Umphreys McGee. $20/advance (box office, www.Tickets.com, Tops Markets) or $23 day of show. Doors at 7pmAt Squeaky Wheel: Open screening

At Hallwalls: Earth’s Daughters Gray Hair Reading Series presents Charles Bachman and Judith Slater. 7pm

Buffalo First, Inc. is hosting a local food sourcing seminar tonight to come up with creative ways for getting more locally-produced food into Buffalo restaurants, food retailers and institutions. In order to do that, they’ll be connecting farmers with area food service workers. Also on the agenda is examining the region’s best green sourcing options and green buyer’s collectives, and establishing a local/sustainable wish list to work towards. The event is co-sponsored by Massachusetts Avenue Project, Slow Food Buffalo and local farmers’ markets.

Tonight, April 1 @ 6pm. Market Arcade (617 Main Street, Buffalo, 913-1990) $10 suggested donation

Look for further posting later this week from Lauren Newkirk Maynard about what happened at this event.

Comedian/burlesque dancer/stagehand Kristen Becker has been hosting Buffalo’s only weekly comedy show—Doin’ Time Stand Up Comedy Showcase—for two years as of tonight. Doin’ Time, which puts ten performers in front of sometimes unforgiving audiences (they’re cheap seats…what can you expect?), has become somewhat of a litmus test for local comedians looking to test their material—and their mettle—on the masses. And none of it would’ve been possible without the tireless efforts of Becker, herself an accomplished comedian (she won the Queen City Comedy Competition in 2006). Head over to Nietzsche’s tonight as Doin’ Time celebrates its 2nd anniversary. After all, the admission price—$3—is ridiculously cheap admission for an hour or two of good fun. And don’t forget to tell Kristen congrats…

Tonight @ 8pm. Nietzsche’s (248 Allen St., Buffalo) $3