Arriving around 4pm on a Friday, we were able to sit wherever we liked. But when we left the restaurant around 5pm, the parking lot was packed and the dining room was quickly filling up.

The Homeless Alliance of WNY is releasing their 2012 Annual Report on the State of Homelessness in Erie County.  In 2012 (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012) there were 5,681 people who experienced homelessness in Erie County an increase of about 600 people.  There was a 15.5% increase in families experiencing homelessness an estimated total of 2,017, 76% whom are single mothers. 27% of the homeless population is under the age of 18.

"Well I dreamt I saw you walking up a hillside in the snow. Casting shadows on the winter sky as you stood there, counting crows. One for sorrow, two for joy.  Three for girls and four for boys.  Five for silver, six for gold.  Seven for a secret never to be told." - "A Murder of One" from "August and Everything After"

In the early 1990's, the San Francisco Bay Area [California, USA] gave birth to numerous talented musicians. One of them was essential in forming the band Counting Crows that exploded onto the music scene [after years of playing the club circuit] with their album ""August and Everything After" in 1993.  The band sold more than 20 million albums worldwide with 10 albums to date, including their 2013 digital release available only at US Tours, "Echoes of the Outlaw Roadshow."