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It’s finally time to start that side hustle you’ve been dreaming of in your phone’s notes app for years.

Or maybe you procrastinated your actual work after falling into a YouTube wormhole that started with Jimmy Fallon singing and ended with a flat Earth conspiracy video.

Either way, it’s time to get to work. Our board is made up of some of the top creative– and creative-adjacent– professionals in Buffalo.

So we asked them, what coffee shop or bar are you setting up the laptop and popping in the headphones to get some work done?

Lauren Carmer – Undergrounds

Like all of the best places, this little South Buffalo gem is rather unassuming on the outside but filled with character on the inside. It’s a converted funeral parlor that infuses a bit of the macabre in their brand and leans into its Buffalo pride. Here, I can enjoy a killer cup of coffee and knock out some work while communing with my dark side.

Alex Keogan – Tipico

I can barely function without a massive second monitor, but let’s assume I could, and I’m building my dream company, an Event Security Company using only Chihuahuas. ChiForce1. I’d likely post up at Tipico Coffee on the West Side, they have amazing coffee and an even better staff. The shop was featured in Dwell magazine and is a year round destination. Food selection is limited, but that’s probably for the best because I’d certainly eat all day given the opportunity. They’re also *probably* willing to let me test out ChiForce1 Beta at the shop, assuming no customers are threatened by the Ferocious Five Pound Forces of Nature™.

Greg Pokriki – Remedy House

The open air concept and awesome design is perfect for some inspiration as I write the beginning of a new piece that I will most definitely never touch again and eventually completely forget about. If I’m setting up a meeting over a beer, I’d go Misuta Chow.

Paige Meckler – Spot Coffee

I love enjoying an Iced Caramel Macchiato with extra whipped cream (ice cream that calls itself coffee) on a Saturday morning at Spot Coffee. It’s the perfect environment to get (mostly wedding planning) work done. The staff is kind and the atmosphere is Central Perk Friends-esque. If I’m grabbing and going on the way to work, Dunkin’ is my go-to choice.

Casey Kelly – Five Points Bakery & Remedy House

They’re both awesome because I only live a block away! Five Points is best for when I need quiet space and maybe a bit more room. The upstairs addition they just opened a few months ago is wonderful! Remedy House is packed these days, but my favorite, so I go there if I don’t need to spread out, or if I’m meeting someone for a work conversation. It doesn’t usually get too packed til’ after 9:30am, so before then you’re good too. Also, per etiquette, I try not to stay more than an hour or two so that I’m not hogging space. Or I’ll be a good patron and buy something else if I’m staying a bit longer than planned.

Josh Gumulak – Undergrounds

A perfect and spacious shop located just off the Hamburg exit of the 190-South. It’s a place filled with plenty of true Buffalo character from the location itself in South Buffalo to breakfasts named “The Ralph Wilson” and “The Tim Russert.” Add some of the best coffee in the city (with one of say, 20 flavor shots), and it’s the perfect place to check some boxes and get your day started right. My favorite sneaky part about it all are the painted skulls as decor that are very Dia de los Muertos-esque!

Megan Sweeney – Sweetness 7

Located on the Westside of Buffalo, on Grant St., this place is just as eclectic as the neighborhood it is located in. It has tons of character with really cool furniture and paintings everywhere. They have this large long table in the center. Here you can set up camp right next to others getting word done and feed off their hardworking energy or use it as a collaborative space. They also have an awesome menu with some vegan options. When you’re done with your work you can enjoy something to drink other than coffee or tea, as they also have a full bar. Or you can always pop right next door to the Tabernacle.

Ally Balcerzak – Remedy House

I love to hide at Remedy House when the weather is nice. It’s queer-owned, the baristas make a phenomenal cappuccino, and there’s free wifi. I like to sit “inside” to avoid screen glare from the sun, but thanks to the triangle shape of the building and the moveable side walls, it feels like you’re out on the patio no matter where you are in the building.

Shannon Silva – Home

My Polish patio at home is my favorite spot to work and relax.

David Seifert – Undergrounds

Glad to see Undergrounds has made it onto this list a few times. Love the vibe of this place. Coffee is super delicious (coming from someone who takes their coffee black), food is super tasty, and this place just makes me happy. It’s a solid place to get the creative juices flowing and get some work done.

Tim Bouchard – MesQue

On a random weekday afternoon, I can sit in my favorite football viewing establishment with some headphones, have a cocktail, and get my brain moving without too many distractions since usually the games are weekend mornings. I just like the vibe. (Also Undergrounds when I just need a coffee!)

The saints, sinners, and somewhere in betweeners of the local advertising industry gathered in a glitter-filled church turned event space for the 2019 Addys last weekend.

The sellout crowd of 450 witnessed a drag-themed show, with creative donated by The Martin Group (deep dive on show creative). Queens slayed, crowd members were dressed in drag, and most importantly, the creative work of Buffalo’s ad industry was celebrated.

We want to thank everyone that attended, submitted, and helped support our club. We love cultivating a creative community in Buffalo and this year’s award show is proof of our passion and proficiency.

Best in Show

The Martin Group, Asics

Levy-Osborn Award for Excellence in Communication

Douglas Bean, vice chairman & chief brand officer, Mower

Joe Crowley Award for Service

Scott Bartels, former AAF Buffalo board president

Future Star Award

Megan Sweeney

Special thanks to Caitlin Higman, our board’s Addys chair, and The Martin Group who ensured a stellar show.

And as always, thank you to all our board of directors.

If there was ever a year for the commercials to completely steal the show away from the actual football game, it was this 13-3 snooze-fest in which America’s least favorite team triumphed and pretended to be the counted-out underdogs along the way. However, did the ads capitalize on a boring game? Consensus seems to be no, although there were a few bright spots.

We asked our board, what was your favorite Super Bowl ad? We need any silver-lining we can get.

And as always, Go Bills.

Google, Veterans Ad – Paige Meckler

The second of Google’s Super Bowl ads opened with a series of codes. A voice-over explains that while these codes “don’t mean anything” to most viewers, 7 percent are intimately familiar with them – and those 7 percent are soldiers and marines. The company is promoting a relatively new search feature that’s specifically designed to make it easier for veterans to find civilian jobs related to what they did in the military. I loved this ad because it created a connection with its target audience in a language only they’d understand.

Doritos, Chance the Rapper x Backstreet Boys – Megan Sweeney

1. Love spicy things
2. Love Cheese
3. Nick Carter

It was the collab I never knew I wanted but now I can’t live without: Food and male singers.

Washington Post, Democracy Dies in Darkness – Greg Pokriki

The message and selflessness of this ad struck me on first viewing, and its impact seems to be resonating the day after on social media. It wasn’t a WaPo ad, but an ad for the profession– the fourth estate as a whole. As a writer and comms/journalism major, I’m biased, but in a night of boring ads and an even more boring game, I thought this spot stole the show.

Google, Veterans Ad – Caitlin Higman

Overall, I was not impressed with the majority of ads this year! Much like the game, there weren’t very many stand-out moments for me. However, Google’s Veterans ad was one of the few I remember for all the right reasons. First, I think it was extremely smart placement for the target audience. Second, I love when an ad connects with folks outside the target audience and moves beyond a traditional “feel good” ad to raise awareness of a service and not just a brand. The Veteran’s ad caught my attention, held my attention and made me feel something!

Microsoft, We All Win – Lauren Carmer

Maybe I’m getting soft in my old age, but this one got me right in the feels. This commercial had several things going for it, including user testimonials, inclusivity without feeling inauthentic, putting a human face to technology, and a killer final line. Best of all, it reinforced the power of storytelling and a brand’s ability to empathize with its audience.

Doritos, Chance the Rapper x Backstreet Boys – Ally Ruiz Balcerzak

Nostalgia always goes over well for me, especially if it involves music. In a sea of robots and emotional ads, this one was just light-hearted enough to make me laugh and then dance in my seat. Only way it could have been better was if it included NSYNC instead of BSB — but that’s a completely biased opinion.

Audi, Cashew – Casey Kelly

I started off thinking “oh great, another overly heartwarming corporate commercial”, only to find out that someone was choking on a nut. This plot twist is just what a Super Bowl ad needs these days. Props to Audi for being funny in a space where all jokes are relatively played out and ads are often cheesy and overdone.

Sketchers, Big Game “Easy” Ad – Alex Keogan

Super Bowl commercials can be funny, weird, or pull at the heart strings, but my favorite ones are the companies that think a celebrity fits the profile of their business. The commercial has a bunch of fanciful ideas and far fetched ploys on making life easy. The most far fetched is the notion that Tony Romo, who was arguably the MVP of the game with his color commentary, has ever been caught dead in a pair of Sketchers.

Game of Thrones, Bud Light, Joust/RIP Bud Knight – Tim Bouchard

As “easy” as this one seems to pick, that’s why I’m picking it. It packs the largest spender along with the biggest pop-culture reference of all of the commercials. It had a surprise twist in the death of the knight, which has us all wondering if that’s permanent or not. As a fan of GoT it got a rise out of me. As a plus at least it didn’t mention corn syrup. Ads in close seconds would be the NFL100 and Kia Great Unknowns spots.

Game of Thrones, Bud Light, Joust/RIP Bud Knight – Josh Gumulak

What an ad! There’s so much to unpack here. Is the Bud Kingdom officially done? Was this the plan all along since “Dilly Dilly’s” creation in 2017? (There wasn’t a live episode of GoT in that timespan.) Where is Bud Castle in Westeros? Does Drogon wish Bud Light used corn syrup that badly? So few answers.

The real life logistics are incredible themselves: In an era where Super Bowl ads are released days ahead of time, one that featured two immensely popular national brands was kept completely silent. Two of the most competitive global agencies collaborated, Wieden + Kennedy (Bud Light) and Droga5 (HBO). The production value was sky-high, a portion of which was directed by David Nutter, who directed the infamous “Red Wedding.” I’m a sucker for planning and execution working together flawlessly, there was no better example of this last night than this spot.

Name: Emma Roberts

Role/years with AAF Buffalo: This is my 2nd year (last year student member)

Occupation: Student receiving my BFA in Communication Design at Buffalo State

Instagram handle: @emrobc

Let’s hear about your day job.

What drove you to get into the advertising/marketing biz?

I’ve always enjoyed art and like the creative problem solving side of advertising.

What advice do you have for emerging talent in your field?

Join AAF ☺

When you’re not working, how do you spend your free time (hobbies, side projects, etc.)?

I like to read, garden, paint and play video games.

What’s one thing not many people know about you?

My favorite animals are goats.

What’s the last thing you read?

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

What’s your favorite restaurant?

Saigon Cafe

What’s your favorite hidden gem in WNY?

The Cider Mill

Duff’s or Anchor Bar?

Anchor Bar

Now, let’s talk a little about AAF Buffalo.

Why did you join AAF Buffalo?

I wanted to meet people within the industry and I noticed they had a lot of great opportunities and events for students.

What role(s) do you play on the AAF Buffalo board?

I am the student liaison.

What do you enjoy most about AAF Buffalo?

I enjoy the events they have for students and meeting new people.

Have you made any life-changing connections through AAF Buffalo?

I met Megan Sweeney, who is on the board, through Brandhack and she was the one who recommended me for the student liaison position!

Why would you encourage others to join AAF Buffalo?

It’s a great opportunity, especially for students. You’re able to receive tips on your portfolio, have the chance for scholarships, tour agencies, etc.