Buffalo, New York, the “Dyngus Day Capital of America,” was host to over 30 official Dyngus Day locations including those sponsored by the Chopin Singing Society, Pvt. Leonard VFW Post 6251, Polish Falcons Hall, IV Stallions Lounge, Fairgrounds Gaming & Raceway, St. Stanislaus Social Center, Adam Mickiewicz Library, Potts Banquet Hall, George F. Lamm Post, Matthew Glab Post #1477, The Polish Nook, Polish Union of America, Marilla Grill, Market Bar and Rick’s Café American (formally the Polish Villa II).
2005 polka performs included the Chopin Choir, City Side, Eddie Biegaj & Crusade, the White Eagle Dancers, Johnny Rogala & the JR5, the Bedrock Boys, Honky Hoppers, Jan Cyman's Musicalaires, PhoCus, New Yorkers, Stefanie's Honky Tonks, New Brass Express, the Knewz, Lenny Gomulka & the Chicago Push and Frankie Liszka & TBC, John Gora & Gorale, Steel City Brass with Larry Trojak, Polish Aires (Featuring Greg Docenko and Joe Macielag) and Myron Deputat.
Dyngus Day weather was cloudy with temps in the low 50s.
DYNGUS DAY 2005 REPORT
By John "Polka Jasiu" Matyjas
With over a dozen polka events on the calendar for Dyngus Day, everyone shared in an extraordinary day of fun. Monday, March 28, 2005 was a polka dream & holiday for many. Dyngus Day annually proves why "Buffalo is a polka town!" as it plays host to one of the largest and most festive Polish celebrations featuring top polka bands and thousands of people of all ages from all over the country for a day of fun and socializing. The weather cooperated for the most part as the "Polish & Proud" set out for numerous events in the area. Each location was packed with people arriving continuously, spilling out of limousines, busses, cabs, and vans and making each event a success. When reviewing the list of bands performing around town, you cannot argue otherwise. Polka fans and many polka "first-timers" were pleased by the likes of: John Góra & Górale; Jan Cyman’s Musicalaires; Steel City Brass w/ special guest Larry Trojak; Frankie Liszka & TBC; Lenny Gomuł?ka & Chicago Push; Eddie Biegaj & Crusade; City Side; Stephanie’s Honky Tonks; New Brass Express; the Knewz; New Yorkers; Polish Aires; Bedrock Boys; Johnny Rogala & JR5; Honky Hoppers; and many more.
Polka Journalist John Matyjas caught enjoying himself during Dyngus Day 2005
After experiencing a night with a packed house and tremendous party atmosphere at the Leonard Post Pre-Dyngus Day celebration with the Crusade & Chicago Push, we woke up on Dyngus Day to the arduous task of deciding where to go and when. Many people actually wrote up personal schedules with an hour-by-hour itinerary. Unfortunately with so many events going on at the same time, we just cannot visit them all on Dyngus Day. Furthermore, once you arrive at a Dyngus Day venue, it is very difficult to leave. Some highlights of a few Dyngus Day events follow.
For many (say a few thousand), Dyngus Day started with the 43rd Annual Chopin’s party at the Hearthstone Manor. Starting at noon with a wonderful swiconka followed by performances of the Chopin chorus and the White Eagle dance group, the live entertainment was only beginning. It was time to get off your feet to enjoy the sounds of Jan Cyman’s Musicalaires throughout the afternoon and Eddie Biegaj & Crusade along with Buffalo’s City Side to complete the polka evening. The bands had the place packed and hoppin’. There were so many young people in attendance, which begs the question, "Where are they any other time?" The Hearthstone Manor certainly hosted a wonderful party with multitudes of fun for everyone. The diverse yet mixed age groups provided for quite the entertaining evening. Over 5,000 people were said to have entered throughout the day.
Within a couple miles, the IV Stallions on William St. showcased the "Duty Free" sounds of John Góra & Górale. Great to see and hear Jeff Mleczko and Gary Krupski singing a couple tunes with the Górale. A large crowd was there, and it certainly was a nice warm-up for the remainder of the evening.
Back to the scene of the outstanding party from the previous night, it was time to venture off to the Leonard Post to take in the spirit of another packed, lively crowd. Over 1,000 partiers made a stop here. Frankie Liszka & TBC, with recent addition Eddie Siwiec, brought their solid polka sounds to town as Lenny Gomuł?ka & Chicago Push displayed just why they are on fire of late. What a party! Thanks to Jackie & Val for throwing the spectacular two-day event yet another year!
Over 400 people enjoyed music featuring the Steel City Brass with special appearance by Larry Trojak. Trojak was a member of Buffalo's legendary polka band the Dynatones. St. Stan’s Buffalo welcomed over 600 people to celebrate Dyngus Day and fantastic music by the New Yorkers and Stephanie’s Honky Tonks. Bob & Sandy Krawczyk hosted their 1st Annual Dyngus Day party at the Lamm Post in Williamsville. Outstanding music was heard by the debut of The Knewz from Buffalo and the New Brass Express from MI. Both bands were superb and solid. It was great to see all of the "Barstanders" in the house! Hats off to Bob & Sandy on a job well done! Incidentally, their "Polka Menu" lists a Dyngus Day reunion on Sat., June 11 with the New Brass Express and The Knewz in the grove of the Lamm Post. If you didn’t get a chance to hear these two phenomenal bands, make a point to visit the Lamm Post on June 11!
The Polish Nook in Niagara Falls featured the perennial sounds of Danny Mocniak & his Musical Knights. A large crowd of over 200 enjoyed some great food and fun as well as a special guest appearance by Grammy Award-winning Walter Ostanek.
As Christmas brings together close family and friends, Dyngus Day brings together the "polka family." The warmth and hospitality exuded by friends getting together from as far as New England, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario is inexplicable and certainly chased the winter blues away. It is always great to see many "non-polka" people out and many youngsters, too. We can only hope they’ll return for more fun in the future!
ST. STAN'S DYNGUS PARTY
Over 600 enjoyed Dyngus Day at the “Mother Church of Polonia.” Located on the “Mighty East Side entertainment featured polkas by one of Buffalo’s legendary bands, The New Yorkers, and Stefanie's Honky Tonks. More information on St. Stans at www.StStansBuffalo.com
ADAM MICKIEWICZ LIBRARY
ADAM MICKIEWICZ LIBRARY hosted Dyngus Day’s most unique celebration that inlcuded Buffalo’s largest selection of Polish beers, liquors and vodkas. The hall is located in Buffalo’s Polonia neighborhood, one block away from St. Stanislaus Parish. Music was provided by the Polish Aires with Greg Docenko & Joe Macielag and Those Idiots.
Party in the Library 2005
When you've got a polka band playing "I Wanna Be Sedated," a couple with pink hair and pink powder-puff bunny tails dancing on stage, a 10-year-old kid dancing on a table and an old guy with no teeth dancing with two gorgeous young brunets, you could be only one place: the Adam Mickiewicz Library, on Dyngus Day. Oh, the humanity. Bottles of Zywiec. Whispers of "Don't use the bathroom off the hall. There are two guys with water pistols in there, waiting in ambush." More bottles of Zywiec. Marty Biniasz, Buffalo's uncrowned king of Polonia, with a gigantic camera. Oh, the inhumanity! One UB med student from New York attended her first Dyngus Day after taking a grueling nine-hour exam. She saw the wallpaper, a mad melange of piano keys and sheet music, and gasped: "We had that wallpaper in our basement! We covered it up because it was so ugly." Too much, too much! We want to be sedated.
By MARY KUNZ GOLDMAN, Buffalo News 3/31/2005
CHOPIN'S AT THE HEARTHSTONE MANOR
44th year for Buffalo’s original Dyngus Day celebration. Doors opened at 11:30 with the blessing of the Easter Table and then followed by traditional Polish music by the Chopin Singers. Polkas were provided by Jan Cyman's Musicalaires, The City Side Band and Eddie Biegaj & Crusade. The White Eagle Dancers from Toronto, Canada added colorful energy to this year’s event.
MATTHEW GLAB POST #1477
Over 400 people enjoy music featuring the Steel City Brass with special appearance by Larry Trojak. Trojak was a member of Buffalo's legendary polka band the Dynatones.
NOTE FROM MARK KOHAN: Just a note to say thanks to our fans, fellow musicians and family who have followed the band the last 28 years. Our last job was Dyngus Day, at the Glab Post in the band's hometown of Lackawanna, N.Y. I am happy to report the place sold out (about 400 people). They had to set up extra tables and ran out of food. I am extremely grateful to Larry Trojak, who filled in with us for our last job. He sounded fantastic, as usual. There are too many people and promoters to thank. The band really owes a lot to the many musicians who have been SCB members and fill-ins over the years, especially Robin Pegg, Tom Goldyn, Mark Trzepacz, Tom Picciano, Dave Zwawa, Al Kania, Gerry Miesowicz, Ray Barsukiewicz and a host of others. We could not done it without you. Take care. See you all soon.
Pvt. Leonard Post-Sunday
PVT. LEONARD POST - Monday
POLISH NOOK - Niagara Falls, New York
Polish Nook in Niagara Falls hosted over 200 people on Dyngus Day 2005. The band was led by Dan Mocniak and a group of local Niagara Falls musicians. Guest on the accordion was the Polka King of Canada, Walter Ostanek ( in the red shirt). Thank you to Rich Krawczyk for sending these pictures along!
PHOCUS ON WGRZ-TV, MARCH 28, 2005
Phocus with Jodi, Pete and Chesely on WGRZ-TV
POLISH HERITAGE DANCERS OF WNY
St. Stans
St. Stans
Micky's Hall
Micky's Hall
IV STALLIONS LOUNGE
John Gora Speaks about Dyngus Day 2005:
Dyngus Day in Buffalo on Easter Monday is the biggest celebration of "Smingus Dyngus" in the world. Thousands of people converge to Western New York for this event from many states and Ontario. Just few examples: Leonard Post with promoters Jackie and Val had 700 people each day (Sunday and Monday) - Chicago Push and Crusade on Sunday and Chi Push and TBC on Monday. Heartstone Manor event was held by the Chopin Society - over 4000 people went through the doors on Monday. Many people hop from place to place when they come for Dyngus celebration to Buffalo area, I even saw a bunch of limo buses making their rounds. Kenny Machelski (Buffalo Touch member) had one of those groups in the limo bus. SteelCity Brass's event was sold out (over 400 people). Our little bar that we played at (IV Stallions) had over 300 people go through their doors. Many other places had Dyngus day parties in Western New York (please give us some stats if you've been there). If we only had 20% of the Dyngus goers, come to a regular polka dance? There would be no problems with polkas. Our band got a chance to expose polkas to mass audiences this past Monday 'cause we played 4 song on a live TV cable channel from Buffalo that goes to 300 thousand subscribers(so hopefully 10 % watched), also Buffalo's biggest Rock radio station played a cut from our CD which featured Tommy Wanderlich on vocals "Follow You Follow Me". Our regular Dyngus day gig was from 5-9 so we had a chance to visit few other places. Lots of fun. I would like to publicly thank Jeff Mleczko from Dynabrass and Gary Krupski (from G-Notes and Perfect Blend) for sitting inn with our band for few numbers. On behalf of Johnny Winiarz, Greg Winiarz, Robbie Piatkowski, John Fomenko, Jack Beachley Jr. and Tommy Wanderlich (who did the TV gig) we want to thank all our polka fans for their support. Also thank you IV Stallions in Cheektowaga and "ONLY FRANK" from ONLY HUMEN band that followed us, for using part of their PA gear.
DYNGUS DAY IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK: Pussy Willows, Piwo, Polkas, Parades, Parties and a Plethora of Polish Pride...
DyngusDayBuffalo.com is an independent web project. Contact us at DyngusDay@aol.com with questions, comments or additions to site. Website is NOT responsible for changes that might occur with posted times, costs, locations and entertainment schedules. Dyngus Day events may change without advanced notice. Jesli Pijesz to Nie Prowadz SamochoduPlease do not drink and drive. Use of Dyngus Day Buffalo logo IS NOT authorized unless given prior permission. Copyright 2009-2010
