W203 grille grill c320 mercedes replacem

I just had a wild thought and was wondering if it’s even possible. Like by changing the rear lower bumper and changing the front grille and the embelem on the trunk to Q8. Changing the wheels as well and boom I have a Q8 E tron when it’s a E tron🤣. I’ve seen people make their regular mercedes benzes look like AMGs so Is it should be possible right? Lmao

Bought it 6 Months ago after we had an unfortunate accident with our 2018 Toyota Corolla Altis. the car was totaled by a 16-wheeler due to break loss, the Altis rolled 3 times and stopped on its roof. Thankfully and by some miracle every one of the 3 persons inside survived with only minor scratches. I genuinely think we owe our life to that Toyota. My father even framed a picture of that car in his office. It's a lovely daily driver car.
Edit- we also had to buy a new car asap to replace our Toyota. We regularly have to keep up with our clients demands and that one month period between the accident to new car was costing us relations with our business partners we well. Which is why our decisions were in haste.
After the insurance money arrived we decided to buy a new car, we wanted to buy a sedan first but the sedan options were and are limited. The MG salesperson emphasized on its features and we were impressed (it turned out to be just infatuation in the end) we bought our Toyota at 22 lakhs and prima facie this car was above par in terms of features, the salesperson promised 12-13 mileage and the test drive also went smooth.
now here's why we sold it after barely using it for 6 to 7 months
Mileage & Driving exp- gave just 9 Km/L on Highway and 6-8 in the city while commuting. The tank does not last on hectic work days (we provide HR services and have to meet clients city-wide) we used to fill it in the morning and the next day we had to fill it again(never experienced this on our Toyota). As for the driving experience the most noticeable peeve was the power steering, even on standard roads the car had trouble taking a U-turn, the car was just hard to maneuver and park.
Design & user exp- Now at first glance, the car does look great with the wide grill, panoramic sunroof, decent-looking interior, and that large touch screen. but sitting in that car for more than an hour proved to be uncomfortable at best. the AC's PID was faulty giving us cycles of chilling cold. The driver always experienced cold hands while driving. The design on close inspection seems to be affected by cost-cutting. the power window buttons are tiny compared to the surrounding armrest it looks like something that would fit in an alto perhaps. there's cheap plastic everywhere. The touch screen has noticeable lag and the apps were slow to start, the Music system was meh (iirc the car had JBL speakers).
the only good thing in the car was the ventilated seats, also a reason why we bought the car.
Now, do take in mind that my expectations might be skewed as we also own a Mercedes.
We sold it for 18 lakhs (bought it for 24) a loss of 25% within a year. And are planning to buy a luxury sedan soon.
Why did I write this post? just to review it, and to help potential buyers set their expectations. overall it is an ok car but I wouldn't recommend buying it for 24 lakhs (on-road price tier 2 city in Maharashtra)

17-minute read.

summarized segments from PM Pashinyan's 4-hour-long press conference

PASHINYAN: Over the last several years we came to realize that certain issues were incompatible with the idea of having an independent and sovereign Armenia. Certain agendas were shown to have a predetermined outcome with the goal of preventing Armenia's development as a state. I have shared details on numerous occasions. It became necessary to review Armenia's development strategy and the need to develop the "Real Armenia".
Today Armenia has and must have an independent foreign policy. Armenia's internal policy is driven by the will of the people.
The purpose of the existence of the Republic of Armenia is not to serve "historical justice". Its purpose is to establish personal freedoms, happiness, and prosperity for its citizens and diasporans who wish to repatriate.
We must have social justice in Armenia based on the idea of assisting those in need so they can have the skills and jobs necessary to make a living independently.
We must deepen our relations with neighboring Georgia and Iran, control and reduce the hostility with Turkey and Azerbaijan, and integrate with regional communication routes. The Crossroads of Peace logistics project would promote Armenia's integration into economic routes and reduce the likelihood of conflicts in the future.
In the area of defense, we are diversifying our foreign relations, reforming the army, and we need to implement and comprehensive defense system.
To be able to diversify foreign relations [closer ties with the West & the delivery of Indian weapons through the territory of Iran or Georgia], Armenia's stance must be based on legitimacy [no territorial claims against Azerbaijan]. We will never be able to diversify our relations or use the diversified relations effectively without having a position based on legitimacy.
The army reforms must also be based on legitimacy, and its purpose must be the protection of Armenia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. There will be no army reforms [Western advisory & assistance] if our stance is not based on legitimacy.
The economic development, which is a prerequisite for the achievement of other goals, must be based including on the development of human capital in Armenia.
The implementation of all of the above requires peace. The peace agenda has been a priority for us, partly because the mechanism of guarantees [by Russia] didn't work. Only peace can guarantee Armenia's security. The peace agenda is a tool to ensure Armenia's security.
We must create the conditions for peace, and we have launched that process in Tavush. The border posts installed in Tavush are "security guarantees" and we must do everything possible to strengthen those guarantees and multiply them. //
Border Commissions of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on April 19 to reproduce the borders based on the 1991 Almaty Declaration. During the upcoming meeting in Kazakhstan, foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will discuss the inclusion of this principle in the larger peace agreement, said Pashinyan.
The demarcation is conducted based on the latest USSR maps that hold de jure power. That's the principle. They avoid pointing to a map from a specific year because each section of the border could have de jure maps prepared in different years. Pashinyan offered journalists to meet off the record to share more details about the de jure maps. He said it can't be publicized in order not to jeopardize the ongoing delimitation process.
Why are the parties delimiting the borders from the ground up instead of simply using the delimitation work carried out in 1988, during the final years of USSR? Pashinyan says the 1988 efforts were not legally finalized and "didn't have time" to undergo the necessary procedures to go into effect, hence the need for a new process.
PASHINYAN: Today we are using maps that reflect the borders between Soviet Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union. With the Tavush process, we have chosen a path to exclude the possibility of a war. This isn't just about Kirants and Tavush, this is about the Republic of Armenia.
The border delimitation aims to make the possible war illogical, unlikely, and not worthwhile. Some 90% of the work is complete. The further it goes, the more illogical a war becomes. We are delivering on our 2021 promise of taking steps to establish peace.
This is the first time in history that we create security guarantees ourselves, no matter how challenging it is. This is part of being a sovereign state, when you face your own issues and make sovereign decisions to resolve your own issues. This is a major political and socio-psychological shift for Armenia. //
Pashinyan said it's necessary to ensure that Armenia is not viewed as an "occupier" of Azerbaijani villages, and explained why it was important to launch the delimitation from Tavush:
PASHINYAN: We are talking about actual [4 Soviet-era Azeri] communities where people lived. The escalations in 2021-2022 caught the interest of the international community, and sadly, on international platforms, the aggression against Armenia was "justified" including with the use of those Azerbaijani villages. It was both surprising and unfortunate that in a situation [20121-2022] when we thought we were the "plaintiff", we became the "defendant". We were asked whether we recognize each other's territorial integrity or not. "Then what is the problem that's preventing you from resolving the issue of these villages?" So we are launching the delimitation from Tavush to avoid a new war.
Critics and I look at this through different lenses. They talk about "surrendering trenches great for defense", and I'm talking about preventing a war so you won't even need to use those trenches. Today there is a process, including by the clergy, to stop the process of developing guarantees for peace, to stop the process of strengthening Armenia's sovereignty. There will be a war if we don't delimit these 4 villages. I'm confident that this was/is the goal of certain forces that wish to create conditions to allow them to hijack power so they can make some other decisions for Armenia [Tatarstan].
Are you paying attention to what the opposition members are saying? One of their leaders went on air and questioned the expediency of holding free and legitimate elections because they - and certain external forces [in Russia] - understand that they can't win power through legitimate elections so they need to destabilize the situation by inciting a new war so they can hijack power without elections. This is their plan:
(1) Derail the border delimitation and incite a war that will lead to the occupation of Armenian territories.
(2) Use that to overthrow the government.
(3) Install an illegitimate marionette government.
(4) De facto dissolution of Armenia's sovereignty and statehood, ahead of its de jure dissolution.
Who are the supporters of this process [rally against delimitation]? Narco-barons hiding in Russia [Panama Papers' Mihran Poghosyan]; criminal elements recruited by foreign intel agencies or at a minimum people acting under their influence; the former NSS chief Arthur Vanetsyan who was recorded on tape, which wasn't published in full, with the rest of the tape being kept to ensure he served their interests. What could be in the unpublished portion of the conversation? Could we find out one day that Vanetsyan was illegally negotiating with Kocharyan's son-in-law Mikael Minasyan to register part of the Zangezur copper combine's shares under his brother's name [Context: Pashinyan has accused the ex-regime of illegally appropriating the shares of Armenia's largest miner. There was an investigation by an independent media outlet about Vanetsyan's involvement in Zangezur. This was before the recent partial nationalization.]
These are the people who claim they are worried about the homeland today. Why don't they return those illegally obtained shares if they are worried about Armenia? It is inevitable. I want to inform you that these shares will belong to the Republic of Armenia. These illegal assets will be seized and returned under the ownership of the Republic of Armenia. //
Pashinyan vented about the quality of journalism in Armenia, accusing outlets of spreading unverified information as facts and not attempting to ask him directly for clarification when they were given the opportunity during one-on-one meetings.
PASHINYAN: You read these articles about my family members visiting somewhere and returning home with a "submarine", but when the opportunity is presented, these outlets never ask me to clarify whether it was true. Why don't you grill me right now for using a submarine to travel from Gyumri to Yerevan? It's as if these articles are being written for the sake of saying something rather than presenting facts. //
Back to borders.
PASHINYAN: Today the Border Commissions are tasked with reproducing the border on the ground. They are not engaged in politics, geopolitics, or proving the other side wrong. They are reproducing the de jure borders. In the Kirants section, 8 border markings have been clarified and installed. The other 3 are more sensitive [might pass through a house] and more detailed work will be done because, in those 3 points, every centimeter will matter. It has to have a centimeter precision. It's a laborious task but the problems of Kirants residents are our problems, my personal problems. For them, we have to come up with realistic and satisfactory solutions, even if not "ideal" solutions. We are reviewing the property ownership records as well. //
Pashinyan said he had to organize this press conference on May 7 instead of May 8 - the day when he became the PM - because tomorrow he has to visit Russia for the EAEU economic meeting during which he will also meet Putin. He said a number of issues have accumulated on the AM-RU agenda that need to be discussed.
The permanent housing assistance package for Nagorno-Karabakh refugees is being drafted and will be ready soon. Pashinyan said the refugees will receive help to build or buy housing, or a mortgage subsidy if they have already purchased a house. For refugees who are unable or do not wish to take part in the aforementioned programs, they will receive assistance in the form of social housing, meaning they will live for free but won't own it.
The amount of housing subsidy will be in the ֏3M-֏5M range, per family member. So a family of 6 would receive $41,000-$77,000 depending on the geographic location of their choice.
While speaking about the history of the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process, Pashinyan repeated that after 2016, the resolution package on the table required: the abolition of the governing system in Nagorno-Karabakh, the return of Azeris to Nagorno-Karabakh, the joint control of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenians and Azeris, no independence, and the lingering possibility of war.
PASHINYAN: We had to surrender all of that, and even then there was no guarantee there wouldn't be a war because there would be no final resolution. This outcome was predetermined. Nevertheless, the Armenian people are overcoming the mentality of being a [Russian] fortpost today. This creates the groundwork for a lasting statehood for Armenia. Today we see the horizon after overcoming all these tragedies. Since taking office in 2018 I had the feeling that Armenia was in a deadlock. Today, for the first time, I feel that we have overcome that, thanks to the delimitation in Tavush. We are the ones creating the "guarantees" for us. //
When asked why he won't take part in Russia's May 9 celebrations, Pashinyan said he visited last year and that Armenian leaders don't have a record of attending every year.
Regarding the recent ban on Russian propagandist Solovyov from Armenian airwaves and possibly a wider ban on Russian channels, Pashinyan said foreign programs must respect Armenian laws:
PASHINYAN: Can you imagine the broadcasting of a channel in Russia that uses a similar language towards Russian law, the state, and its government? Do you think the channel would exist even if they used 5% of the same language? The AM-RU media agreement requires respect for Armenia and its interests. Since we have friendly relations with Russia, we can ask nicely once and twice, then demand once and twice, and if it's still ignored, they will all be shut down in Armenia. We are serious about defending Armenia as a sovereign state. I can GUARANTEE you, guar-an-tee, that these foreign channels won't be aired in Armenia if they continue to ignore these demands. It appears we have asked twice, demanded once, so there is one more "demand" left. //
QUESTION: Russia and Azerbaijan demand a Russian-controlled corridor from Armenia, citing the 9th paragraph of the Nov 9 statement.
PASHINYAN: (1) The other paragraphs of Nov. 9 were ignored. (2) The 9th paragraph is not about connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhijevan. That's the impression they are trying to create, but the 9th paragraph is in reality about the unblocking of ALL communication routes in the region. Azerbaijan has yet to unblock any of the routes for Armenia. Name one route that Azerbaijan has unblocked. We, on the other hand, proposed the installation of border checkpoints to establish connections, including between Azerbaijan and Nakhijevan. Azerbaijan is refusing to take advantage of this opportunity. Azerbaijan says if we don't give them a corridor they will build a route through Iran. Our response is that we are ready to provide a road similar to the one provided by Iran. There is not even a "hint" in the 9th paragraph that limits Armenia's sovereignty.
(3) There is an attempt to create the impression that under the 9th paragraph, a 3rd party [Russia] must guarantee the security through the territory of Armenia. Quite the contrary; it directly states that Armenia shall guarantee the security of connections.
(4) The 9th paragraph makes no mention of any part of Armenia becoming outside of the reach of the Armenian government and being "controlled" by Russia. It's written that Russia oversees the transport connection. What does that mean, you may ask? Pay attention to the Russian government decree adopted after the Nov. 9 statement, because it clarifies what the 9th paragraph says. The Russian decree instructs Russian agencies to "oversee the implementation of transportation guarantees provided by Armenia". In other words, the subject that provides the guarantees is Armenia, not Russia. This doesn't even mean that Russia must be present on the ground to oversee this, because it's possible to oversee the process by receiving regular reports from Armenia that Armenia is delivering the guarantees [Relevant: In 2022-2023 Armenia's NatSec Armen Grigoryan suggested that Russia could use "cameras" to oversee the process remotely. It appears Pashinyan today supports even less direct involvement by Russia, in the form of "regular reports", whatever that means.]
PASHINYAN (continues): There can be no comparison between this and the Lachin corridor. They are completely different. The Lachin corridor, under Nov. 9, was a territory with a specific width that had to remain under the direct control of Russian peacekeepers. Those who accuse us of violating paragraph 9 are making baseless claims. They must admit that this is an attempt by them to coerce an unacceptable concession from Armenia that is not described in paragraph 9. That is the truth.
There is a Lachin corridor in the Nov 9 statement. Is there a Lachin corridor on the ground today? It doesn't exist. Why?
There is a "line of contact" between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the Nov 9 state. Is there a LoC on the ground today? Where is it?
The Nov 9 says there is Nagorno-Karabakh. Where is Nagorno-Karabakh today?
The Nov 9 says there are peacekeepers that will ensure the security of the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Did they? They did not. Where is the ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh today? //
Regarding the delimitation of 3 problematic areas in Kirants where the border could pass through a couple of houses.
PASHINYAN: Kirants is my homeland. I grew up in these areas and my children spent their vacations there. We regularly visit Kirants and other villages with family without disclosing it. Do you know why I do not oppose delimiting the border even if it causes controversy and property issues for some residents? Because we were finally able to reach an agreement around the principle for the delimitation of the entire AM-AZ border, welcomed by the international community. We cannot throw away the hard work and the principles of delimitation.
There can be no external "security guarantees" for Armenia. Armenia itself must forge those "guarantees" with its own efforts. That is what we are doing today. These are the "security guarantees" that you asked for Kirants and Tavush. This is part of the peace agenda. //
When asked about police brutality, Pashinyan acknowledged some problems but said a legal force should be used when appropriate, citing the recent clearing of university campuses in the US. Pashinyan said the government has launched a process to clarify the rights and responsibilities of officers so they will avoid investigations and prosecutors while the public will be treated fairly.
Pashinyan accused "failed religious leaders" of attempting to pursue a political agenda.
PASHINYAN: They failed to connect people and God. There are sadly many ranking churchmen, not all, who failed. You can talk to them dozens of times and they will never make any mention of the Bible or verses from the Bible. They are focused on business dealings, cement and concrete transportation, customs clearance, moving money from one account to another, public transport ownership, comparing the latest model of Mercedes with the old model, etc. Who are these people?
I'm not really surprised that they are involved in politics because they have no place in the religious world; it's just not for them. I doubt they have read the Bible in full. Based on the language used by them, you can tell they haven't opened the New Testament for quite some time, and they don't possess the nuances of the gospel. I say this not as a Prime Minister but as a man who believes in God. I speak as a follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Our church leaders have failed in their mission. I'm probably the last person in Armenia who says this; everyone knows that's the case.
They are bored of religion, they want to be in politics. Under the old regime, the church members had their "quotas" [monopolistic privileges] to conduct business. Import and export of cars, Bentleys, Lexus, Mercedes... yev ayln. Today everyone is free to do business, which means economic competition for these church leaders. This sums up the whole story.
They say the "temple" [opposition] will defeat the "street" [Pashinyan's 2018 revolution]. How will the temple defeat the street? Who is on the streets? It's the citizens of Armenia. How do they plan to defeat the street? The people's will is unstoppable, and people want peace. Those who preach war are destined to fail. // [Should Pashinyan resign and lead the church? Leave your insightful opinion in the comment section below.]
When asked why he visited daddy Erdogan's inauguration ceremony but not papa Putin's, Pashinyan revealed that he didn't receive an invitation from Putin, but even if there was one, he said would likely miss it because of today's press conference.
When asked whether the church leader Garegin Beta should step down, Pashinyan said the Government should not interfere in those matters.
PASHINYAN: Nevertheless, we must acknowledge that Catholicos Garegin B is leading a political movement today. That is very obvious. Today we know the purpose of this movement from the spokesman of the church who said the goal of this movement is to bring back the former regime. This strategy was mentioned by the leader of Armenia Alliance [Robert Kocharyan] on how to use the church to replace the government. A churchman said he has the blessing of the Catholicos to proceed with the process. That means Catholicos is the real leader, with the primary beneficiary being Robert Kocharyan. This isn't even an assumption, this is based on their public statements.
We are aware that some members of the clergy oppose this process. You remember how there was a movement "New Armenia, new Catholicos" after the 2018 revolution. They attempted to accuse us of being behind it, but in reality, not only we did not sponsor it but we were against that process because we didn't believe the Government should meddle in those affairs. //
HOST: This just in. The administrative head of village Kirants was allowed to visit the border marking sites. During a follow-up interview with the press, he said their expectations have been met and exceeded, and that it's more positive than what they expected.
PASHINYAN: During my recent trip to Kirants, the scenario I presented to the residents was the worst-case scenario. I also informed the residents of Kirants about the positive aspects of the delimitation and the possible economic benefits. I won't rush to make more statements and politicize the work of the Border Commission. The head of the administrative district of Kirants is actually a member of a [recently formed] working group adjacent to the Border Commission [Context: Village mayors were invited to oversee the Commission's work to ensure transparency for residents].
source,

former ambassador-at-large Edmon Marutyan released a video praising the Armenian church for its "liberal values", criticizing the Pashinyan administration for a "Bolshevik" campaign against the church

Marukyan is upset that the ruling faction accuses the church leaders of being "Russian agents" and for dismissing them without engaging with them.
Marukyan says it's normal for the church to be in politics and for deeply religious figures to be members of the government. He brings the example of Donald Trump, who is selling Bibles for a buck; Erdogan, whose party is deeply religious; Israel, whose coalition has right-wing religious figures; the United Kingdom, which has Bishops, etc.
In related news. Former Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has joined the anti-delimitation march organized by the ARF/church.
source, source, source, source, source, [կանսեռվա]

mayor of Tavush village Kirants about the ongoing delimitation process

REPORTER: Eight border markers have been installed. Where are they, what's the latest news?
MAYOR (Kamo Shahinyan): I've seen the markers. There is a height called Khachi located right on the cross. They moved the border about 25 meters down from there, for which we are grateful to whoever was able to accomplish this. Some of the territory went under our control, and some under Azerbaijani control.
The "nose" part is what's left, the area immediately neighboring the village, the most difficult part. The 9.5 hectares that we were supposed to lose were moved down the river; not a centimeter of land belonging to us passes through there. On the back side, there are 3 personal properties and if you draw the line straight they will be inside Azerbaijan but they said they plan to curve the line. With this technique, we can maintain control of our lands.
REPORTER: Where is the most problematic area?
MAYOR: The bridge and the [area immediately next to the village where the border protrudes into the village]. Most of the work has been done near other markers. Moreover, some of the areas that were part of Azerbaijan under the 1985 map went to our side.
Near the Gholi Chal area, we were expecting them to draw the line to pass through our side of the river, but it passes on the Azeri side.
Most of the concern is with the "nose" and the personal properties of villagers in this area. As of right now, there is no Armenian-owned registered property that has fallen under the Azeri side as long as they curve that aforementioned area instead of drawing a straight line.
Do you see this large 9-hectare orchard? Not one centimeter of it goes under Azeri control.
REPORTER: Is that Ms. Karine's property?
MAYOR: Yes, people. Ms. Karine's lands remain under her control. I'm satisfied with how it's been handled so far.
REPORTER: [The groups were home today]. Is it possible they have frozen the activities on the nose section to distract you and buy some time? Because you are assuming a responsibility, you are presenting this in a positive light...
MAYOR: I'm telling you what has been done so far. I'm not the one to provide guarantees. They are going to deploy people [border guards] near the border markers to protect the area. For now, I think they will deploy NSS agents.
REPORTER (Azatutyun): So we haven't made concessions at this time?
MAYOR: We have not made concessions. There are only 3 land plots with uncertainty and it depends on how curved the line will be. That is the latest. It's going normal so far. //
In other news. Opposition outlets reported that Azerbaijani special forces were seen in village Kirants. It turned out they were Armenian agents. The ruling party accused the opposition of recklessly amplifying the anxieties of the residents.
source,source,

mayor of village Voskepar about the ongoing delimitation

REPORTER: What was lost during the delimitation near Voskepar? Did any territories of Voskepar go under Azerbaijani control?
MAYOR: No part of Voskepar has gone under Azeri control.
REPORTER: How did the border change after the installation of border posts?
MAYOR: Do you really think people knew where the border was BEFORE this process? The process is so far in line with our expectations and understanding. There are areas where we keep more than we thought we would. Azeris moved further back in some locations so instead of a 120-meter distance it turned out to be 170.
REPORTER: What about the army positions?
MAYOR: We have not left any of the positions.
REPORTER: In other words, there has been no damage as of now and you are not displeased with the demarcation works?
MAYOR: I'm not displeased with the work so far.
REPORTER: In that case, why was there a noise generated by the opposition and the church, why did people take to the streets?
MAYOR: Ask them, but I support the fight against unilateral concessions to protect our lands.
source,

Donald Trump defends Azerbaijan's good boy U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, accused of taking $600,000 in bribes to promote pro-Azerbaijan and anti-Armenian legislation

Trump claims without evidence that Cuellar is under attack for wanting to defend the southern U.S. border.
source,

Armenia will receive $100 million from the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development to fund the Government's economic reform plan

efficiency of the labor market and sustainable development

source,

Yerevan State University has a cleanroom certified under ISO 7: VIDEO

It's being used for nanotech and semiconductor research, practice for students, and projects funded by grants.
video,

Armenia will host the World Weightlifting Championship in 2027: VIDEO

It will be the first major Olympic sports to be held in Armenia.
video,

foreign trade stats: Q1 2024

Exports 2.7x ($4.4B)
Imports +76% ($4.7B)
source, source,

Buffalo to seek $3.5M state grant for Statler Hotel (buffalonews.com)
City officials plan to apply for a $3.5 million state grant for Douglas Jemal's redevelopment of the former Statler Hotel, helping the developer remove an impediment to his goal of putting in parking in the building's lower level.
ESD awards $3.5M to North Aud Block project (buffalonews.com)
A mixed-use development planned for the North Aud Block at Canalside in Buffalo and an expansion of the visitor center by the Graycliff Conservancy will receive a total of $3.5 million in state grants from Empire State Development Corp., as part of the latest round of regional economic development awards announced Friday.
MSquared, a New York City-based women-owned business led by former Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, will receive $2.5 million for a mixed-income housing project at Canalside that it is pursuing with Brooklyn-based Pennrose and the Westminster Economic Development Initiative. The trio was chosen by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. in 2023 to create hundreds of new residences and retail space at the former Memorial Auditorium site.
Plans call for four buildings with 367 apartments – about half of them considered affordable – plus ground-floor storefronts. Two of the buildings closest to the replica canals will be four to five stories in height, while the other two behind them toward the Niagara Thruway will be 10 to 14 stories.
Long-vacant building to get new life in Buffalo's Theatre District wgrz.com
Long Island developer plans reuse of Buffalo building (buffalonews.com)
Just months after buying the former Saturn Rings or Byers Building in downtown Buffalo’s Theatre District, a Long Island developer whose wife went to University at Buffalo plans to convert it into market-rate apartments and ground-floor retail.
Alexander Mejean’s Third Nature Capital, based in Rockville Centre, wants to renovate the six-story brick building at 505 Pearl St., creating 53 residential units and two storefronts. The goal is to get more people to live in the theater and entertainment districts, creating more density and energy downtown.
“It just doesn’t feel like there’s enough residential down there, and I think residential apartments can do very well down there,” said Mejean, founder and owner of the development and investment firm. “We want to get more people living down there, shopping at shops, eating at restaurants and strengthening the local economy, and the way to do that is by getting more people in the mix.”
Plans by CJS Architects call for 51 one-bedroom and one-bathroom apartments, ranging in size from 490 to 581 square feet, plus a 473-square-foot studio apartment and one two-bedroom unit of 725 square feet. The 48,500-square-foot building will also include a tenant lounge and gym on the rooftop, along with a large roof deck that will be fully furnished, including with outdoor grilling stations.
West Herr Auto Group buys Budget Inn in Clarence - Buffalo Business First (bizjournals.com)
West Herr Auto Group has acquired the Budget Inn motel in Clarence, with plans to knock it down to create a car storage lot.
West Herr, through its affiliate WHAG Properties VII LLC, purchased 8255 Main St., Clarence for $1.8 million. The seller was Shriji Swami LLC, of Williamsville.
The hotel is next to MINI of Buffalo and BMW of Buffalo, two West-Herr owned dealerships that share a property at 8215 Main St.
(NOTE: I feel like the northtowns are just lousy with dealerships. Sheridan in Snyder is just a sea of cars in some of the most desirable RESIDENTIAL real estate... what were they thinking)
Douglas Developments buys historic Genesee Gateway building in downtown Buffalo - Buffalo Business First (bizjournals.com)
Douglas Jemal has purchased the historic Genesee Gateway building, a 60,000-square-foot complex at the corner of Genesee and Oak streets in Buffalo.
Jemal's Seeburg Building LLC purchased the building and a parking lot across the road at 62 E. Chippewa St. from the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation for $2.55 million, according to records filed with the Erie County clerk's office.
The purchase adds another large property to Jemal's planned Electric District development, a proposed neighborhood of apartments and commercial space clustered around the former Simon Electric properties on Elllicott Street.
​

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** BOTH FRI 5/3 AND SAT 5/4 *\*
8 AM - 2 PM Old Fashioned Church Rummage Sale Hope in the Desert Episcopal Church, 8700 Alameda Blvd. NE Snag amazing deals on really good stuff - from furniture to kitchen items, household essentials, electronics, and much more!
Fri 7 - 9 PM Sat 2 - 4 PM New MexiChords In Concert! Sentimental Journey St. John's United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona St. NE A Capella Live Concert! Join us for as we reminisce through favorite songs. Special guest: Quartet of All Time! $15 Tickets at Door
** BOTH SAT 5/4 AND SUN 5/5 *\*
Sat 3 - 5 PM Sun 2 - 4 PM Mother's Day Kid's Gift Making Workshop Pinspiration, 6271 Riverside Plaza Ln. NW, Ste D1 Join us for a unique and fun way for your kiddos to honor and celebrate their mom, aunts, grandmas or any important mother figure in their lives. A hand-crafted gift from your child will really show mom how much they love them! Drop off the kiddos for an afternoon of crafting to make something very special! $35 per child (Special gift, Gift wrapping, Snack and drink). Workshop fee is non-refundable so if you're unable to attend, a studio credit will be given for another workshop, crafts or our splatter experience (register)
4 PM American Music - Then and Now The ABQ Civic Chorus is delighted and excited to welcome you to our spring concert. We are a group of over sixty vocal musicians with different backgrounds, professions, and musical training. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Tickets purchased online will be available at the door and are good for either day

• Fri - First Christian Church, 10101 Montgomery Blvd. NE
• Sat - Asbury United Methodist Church, 10000 Candelaria NE

** Fri 5/3 *\*
Fri 10:45 AM – 12 PM Coffee Concert 4: Early Beethoven South Broadway Cultural Center, 1025 Broadway Blvd. SE Beethoven Prometheus (Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus): Overture; Beethoven Concerto, Piano, No. 3, Op. 37, c minor; Beethoven Symphony No. 2, Op. 36, D Major. The last NMPhil Coffee Concert of 2023/24 is sure to leave you excited for next season! Premiered in 1803 in Vienna and conducted by the composer himself, Beethoven’s second foray into the world of big, public symphonies combines his unique artistry with his humor, stated through various musical jokes in the Scherzo and Finale. The program—led by conductor Na’Zir McFadden—also includes Anthony Ratinov performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 to lighten your early-spring morning (tickets)
Fri 2 – 9 PM Grand Opening NM Rave Cave, 115 7th St. NW Come see our new location and check out our vendors, food trucks and local dj’s playing in store. Complete with an ABQ Live Photo Booth. Big Boss Hotlinks will be on site with Burgers, Dogs , Fries and more! We are teaming up with Viva ABQ, 505 Junglists, Carma Presents, ABQ Live, Unyk Lyfe, ASTRL Entertainment, Otter World Music, Audio Elite NM and Mr.Afterhours to bring you a one of a kind experience! Vendors - Alchemy Beauty - Magic Cup Boba Tea - Rastafari_Mari - Own The Day - The Mexican Witch - High Chi Mandalas - Astrl Ent
Fri 3:30 - 7:30 PM Family Block Party! Coldwell Banker Legacy Paseo, 8200 Carmel Ave NE Car show, bouncy houses, mechanical bull! Welcome to a celebration for our cherished community and the wonderful clients who make our work so rewarding!
Fri 5 PM Blueberry Berliner Weisse Release Tractor Brewing - All locations You asked for a sour and now you got one! Hitting your taste buds like spring allergies, the Blueberry Berliner will be available on tap everywhere
Fri 5 – 8 PM Honky Tonk for Hope, Health and Healing Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall & Saloon, 9800 Montgomery Blvd., Ste 4 Come dance the night away with us! There will be food, fun, and dancing! This fundraising event benefits Casa Esperanza! For more info, Jacob Romero 505-246-2706 or [jromero@casanm.org](mailto:jromero@casanm.org) (tickets)
Fri 6 PM Country Social Dance CSP Dance Studios, 1624 Eubank Blvd. NE The best country music for dancing to practice your Country Two Step, Night Club, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Waltz, Rhythm Two Step, 4-count Swing, Line Dancing and more! $10 cash at the door. Welcome lesson 6:00-6:30pm. Call 505-883-9521 for more info
Fri 6 PM 'Burque Bee 2024 Canteen Brewhouse, 2381 Aztec Rd. NE Join us on the patio to show off your spelling chops. To give yourself an even better chance of winning, for $5 you can buy coupons like More Time (get 30 more seconds to confer), Stinger (sting your opponents!) and Help (get help from the audience). Team Registration $75. 3 people per team, limited to 12 teams (register)
Fri 6 PM Luke Bulla Concert Covenant Presbyterian Church, 9315 Candelaria Rd. NE Luke has been singing and playing music most of his life. Touring with and singing in his family band from age four, Luke has won National Fiddle Contest (in Weiser, Idaho) six times in his respective age categories. His seventh win came in the Grand Champion division at age sixteen, making him the youngest to have earned the title at the time. More recently Luke has performed and/or recorded with Brandi Carlile, Jim Lauderdale, Darrell Scott, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Kevin Costner & Modern West, Russ Barenberg Trio, Shawn Colvin, Tony Rice, Chris Thile, Peter Rowan, Rodney Crowell, and Earl Scruggs, to name a few. Doors 5:30 pm. Show 6 pm. Presented by Southwest Pickers
Fri 6 – 7:30 PM Spring Fling Dennis Chavez Elementary, 7500 Barstow St. NE Food trucks, face painters, a balloonist, a mobile petting zoo, School of Rock performances, lawn games, mini golf and a chance to dunk your principal and favorite teachers! (We could still use some extra hands to keep the event fun and seamless, if you could spare some time, sign up here)
Fri 6 – 8:30 PM Pizza Paint & Craft Night Canvas and Coffee, 6700 4th St NW, Los Ranchos Date night for Mom and Dad... Drop off the kids (6+) for a Pizza dinner, then crafting, and painting fun! Each month we will offer a theme and will have 2 projects available for your child to make and take home the same evening! The materials they will be working with will be canvas painting, crafting with wood, beads, ribbon, mod podge, glue, acrylic paint, watercolors, and more! *Children with special dietary needs will need to bring their own snack/meal (tickets)
Fri 7 PM Group Therapy Band Marble Brewery, 111 Marble Ave NW Come dance your jitters away while listening to soothing music to calm a nervous world
Fri 7 PM Roust the House + Rock 101 Music Academy Performance Night Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale Blvd. SE Roust the House and Rock 101 Music Academy return for another exciting season of performances featuring local teen bands and soloists, from punk rock to classical piano to singer-songwriters, hip hoppers, spoken word artists, and more, including The Hunnies, a Rock 101 alumni band, and other talented up-and-coming musicians. Tonight’s show features winners of Rock 101’s Band League Challenge and more. Founded in 2011 by Director Kevin Herig, Rock 101 Music Academy is a year-round program for musicians as young as 4 years old through their teen years featuring one on one and group lessons, band mentoring, and more (tickets)
Fri 7 – 9 PM Tacos & Rides Truck Night Cafe Bella Coffee, 2604 Violeta Cir SE, Rio Rancho Join us for a night where trucks reign supreme. Roll in with your ride—whether it's lifted, lowered, or custom-built. All trucks welcome! Showcase your pride and joy. Connect & Converse: Swap stories and ideas with fellow truck and auto enthusiasts. Savor: Bite into delicious street tacos and chill out with good eats. Safety First: Courtesy presence by Rio Rancho Police for a safe, fun evening. Drive in, hang out, and fuel your passion for trucks at NM's longest-running automotive meet. Let's keep the wheels turning and the tacos grilling!
Fri 7 – 10 PM Ulthar Sister, 407 Central Ave NW This Bay Area band is sowing the seeds of planetary entropy by way of horrifying blacked cosmic death metal (tickets)
Fri 7 – 10 PM Galactic Funk Star Wars Party w/ Kaleido Tractor Brewing - Westside, 5720 McMahon Blvd. NW Come celebrate Star Wars weekend with killer tunes from the always amazing DJ Kaleido!
Fri 8 – 11 PM First Fridays w/ DJ Flo Fader Tractor Brewing, 122 Tulane Dr. SE He's just too good to not have in Nob Hill at least once a month. Come jam out with one of NM's absolute BEST DJs and kick off your weekend with FLO FADER!
Fri 8:30 PM – 12 AM 1st Fridays SBKZ Alley Kats Tap Company, 219 Truman St. NE Joining the Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and Zouk dance communities has been a blast! Please join us as we welcome ABQ resident DJ Karla of Metta Dance Collective and welcome back world renowned Ry’el of Zenzouk for another amazing social! Theme: Sparkles -- Let’s sparkle and shine with gratitude for having Ry’el and Rachel with us the last 3 going on 4 months! There will be 2 ROOMS! Room 1: Salsa & Bachata. Room 2: Zouk & Kizomba. Music by DJ Karla - Room 1, DJ Yaz - Room 2. $10 Cover: Cash/Venmo/Cashapp accepted. Snacks and drinks provided
Fri 9 PM The Millennium Video Music Dance Party -“Barbie Prom” Sunshine Theater, 120 Central Ave NW Get ready for a night of electrifying nostalgia Millennium Video Music Dance Party presents the ultimate “Barbie Prom” extravaganza, unlike anything you've experienced before! Brace yourself for the most sensational, dazzling, and downright iconic 90s and 2000s Video Music Dance Party to ever grace our town! Picture this: a world that exudes the glamour, glitz, energy, of your very own Barbie dream world. Prepare to be dazzled into a shimmering oasis of pink, glitter, and all things fabulous. Whether you're channeling the chic sophistication of Barbie herself or embracing the edgy coolness of Ken, this is your chance to shine like never before! Dance the night away to the biggest hits from the 90s and 2000s, (100% Music videos) curated to perfection to keep you grooving all night. Think Beyonce, Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Pitbull, One Direction, Kesha, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Eminem, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Flo Rida, Britney Spears…. and beyond – Get ready to strike a pose at our dedicated Barbie Prom photo-booth, make memories that are guaranteed to last for years to come (tickets)
Fri 9 – 11:30 PM LoPhat Juno, 1501 1st St. NW Dance to Live Music by one of ABQ's top R&B-flavored bands! From the Caribbean to Baltimore, from Detroit to El Paso, from the Pacific Islands to ABQ… with this melting pot of soul, rhythms, experience, and passion, there isn’t a “skool” that isn’t represented! LoPhat believes there is something to be learned from every soul that crosses your path. This way of thinking has given them the ability to incorporate and masterfully execute most genres of music and makes them a class all their own. Surpassing all “Variety Bands” with more listening choices than your radio, this band is sure to have something even the most skeptical listeners will enjoy. Founded in 2023, this band has gained a committed following. In their first year they have already played for Sandia Casino, CABQ, NM State Fair, Gathering of Nations, Ohkay Casino, Route 66 Casino, and so many more! LoPhat is set to release their first album in 2024 showcasing their melding of different cultures to bring you “feel good” music in a way that seems so familiar yet so new! (tickets)
Fri 9 PM – 1:30 AM Back in the Day: A First Friday Experience Backstage at Revel, 4720 Alexander Blvd. NE DJs Gonzo Supreme and Clout will be spinning all your favorite 90s and 2000s Hip Hop & R&B hits and more! 21+ (tickets)
Fri 9 PM – 1:30 AM Callaita Fridays Salt Yard West, 3700 Ellison Dr. NW Get ready for an unforgettable night as DJs Julio & Soiree take the outdoor stage, promising an electrifying journey into Latin music. Let the pulsating rhythms and contagious energy sweep you away as you dance under the stars. This 21+ event guarantees an atmosphere where you can fully embrace the rhythm without inhibition. Whether you're a seasoned Reggaeton enthusiast or simply looking for a night of unparalleled fun and excitement, this event promises an experience like no other! (tickets)
Fri 10:30 PM – 12:15 AM OMEN - the debut haunting psychedelic feature by Belgian-Congolese musican/artist Baloji The Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave NE Check out the trailer. Dir. Baloji - 2024 - 90m - Democratic Republic of Congo, Netherlands, Belgium - In French, Swahli, Lingala, English with subtitles. After spending years in Belgium, Koffi (Marc Zinga), a young Congolese man, returns to his birthplace of Kinshasa to confront his family and homeland culture. Secrecy and sorcery erupt when a nosebleed is mistaken for a curse, and Koffi is shunned from his family. Using magical realism to paint a portrait of “undesirables” and “sorcerers,” OMEN delves into the intricacies of identity, culture, and belief systems through a deeply rich and visually captivating lens (tickets)
** Sat 5/4 ** -- Star Wars Day
Sat 8 AM May Volunteer Clean Up Historic Fairview Cemetery, 700 Yale Blvd. SE Mustard is running rampant! We'll focus on doing what we can to address those weeds. Please dress to protect yourself from the strong Southwest sun. Wear sunscreen, a hat, long pants and shirts, sturdy shoes. Bring tools and gloves to garden, we'll provide the trash bags, water and snacks
Sat 8 – 11 AM Rigs & Coffee Pinon Coffee House, 4545 Alameda Blvd. Get ready for a unique automotive experience! This gathering is all about celebrating the spirit of adventure and the love for off-road vehicles
Sat 8 AM – 12 PM OPENING DAY! 6718 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Los Ranchos WE'RE BACK! Come kick off the opening day of the regular season of the Los Ranchos Art Market! Plenty of parking and open space for all! Free entry! Pet friendly! Bring your family and friends to kick off the season and pick out that special mom a beautiful high quality hand made gift by our local artists!
Sat 8 AM – 12 PM Downtown Growers' Market Robinson Park, Every Saturday! This vibrant community event connects local farmers, growers, artisans, wellness makers, and hot food vendors with the local community from mid-Apr to early-Nov. Bring friends / family or come solo to enjoy fresh food made on sight, a variety of seasonal produce, unique arts and crafts, live music, and special programming all in the heart of downtown
Sat 8:30 AM Workout Fun in the Park! 9709 Layton Ave NE Join BFit505 for a fun community workout! Wear your walking/running shoes, a workout clothes. All ages, all fitness levels. Just $5 drop in to the park!
Sat 9 AM Cinco De Mayo Celebration Osuna Nursery, 501 Osuna Rd. NE Celebrate Cinco de Mayo early with a full day of celebration! You'll find: • chips & salsa • a special mix from DJ Everedy of Red Sapphire Entertainment • Osuna University 'Planting for Pollinators' with local author and landscape designer Judith Phillips from 11am-12pm. It's the perfect opportunity to brighten up your own celebrations with beautiful blooms and gorgeous serving-ware including artisan talavera
Sat 9 AM – 1 PM Herb Day 2024 Sonia Masocco Phytotherapy, 11930 Menaul Blvd NE, Ste 109 This is our Annual Herb Day Open House & Medicinal Plant Sale. Come visit your local herbal apothecary, mingle with like minded people, purchase your plants for your medicinal or aromatic garden or just come and have a cup of tea with us. This event is free, for all ages with parking lot access
Sat 9 AM – 4 PM La Cueva Band Booster Club Annual Spring Craft Fair La Cueva High School, Perfect time to pick up a unique Mother's Day gift from over 140 artists and vendors!
Sat 9 AM – 6 PM Heels & Wheels - Women's Ride Day! Indian Motorcycle, 4509 Alameda Blvd. NE Ladies, we invite you to come out and ride your bike! Ride on your own, with your significant other, with friends or find some riding partners at the event. You set your pace and ride your ride. We will be at Indian Motorcycle 9am - 11am. Grab some food and some coffee or tea at the trucks on site. Check out all the sales on bikes and gear before or after you stop by registration in the back. We will have a few stations and tables set up that we would love for you to check out. There will be some trivia at the end location for some giveaways. You will be provided a wrist band and a list of participating businesses with their addresses and hours of operation so you can plan your ride. make it a day, make it fun, stop and have lunch but visit as many of the businesses as you like. You will be collecting beads from each business you visit. These beads will only be given to a female who has a wrist band, but all are welcome to ride. Many of the businesses will have their own party going on to celebrate this day with you. Stop in and support these local businesses and collect your beads. Bring all those beads to Hops Brewery, 7222 4th St NW, Los Ranchos between 3pm-6pm. Trade them in for free raffle tickets that you can use to win many great prizes we have collected from our participating businesses. Don't worry, if you didn't collect beads or need more raffle tickets we will have them on sale and everyone is welcome to purchase as many as you like. Then grab a bite and a drink. Mingle, shop some of our vendors, enjoy the giveaways, and performance by live band, Crazy Bird! They are amazing so we hope you can dance in your biker boots (tickets)
Sat 10 AM Storybook Garden Spring Planting Day Corrales Community Library, 84 W La Entrada, Corrales We will be planting the children's Storybook Garden! Beans: Calima, Provider, Rattlesnake. Cucumbers: Dragon's Egg, Mexican Sour Gherkin. Tomatoes: A Grippoli d'Inverno, Black Cherry, Brad's Crazy Cherry, Chocolate Sprinkles, Punta Bando, Rosella, Sunrise Bumble Bee, Yellow Pear. Squash: Tromconcino
Sat 10 AM – 12 PM Fourth Annual Car Show 5111 Wilshire Ave NE All are welcome to participate in our annual car show! Corvette, Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes Benz, Rolls Royce, and more! There will be a gift basket raffle, free shirts for the first 10 cars, coffee, and snacks. PLEASE CALL SILVER STAR AUTO HAUS AT 505-881-4855 TO REGISTER YOUR CAR!
Sat 10 AM – 1 PM Eternal Bonds & Bubbles with Link x Lou Sawmill Market, 1909 Bellamah Ave NW Indulge in an intimate setting where every ticket promises an unforgettable experience, featuring a complimentary glass of house wine or mocktail (Rosé, White, Red), a curated charcuterie board available to order, and a special $40 credit towards the permanent jewelry of your choice from Link x Lou (tickets)
Sat 10 AM – 2 PM Craft Fair Second Hand Sam's Indoor Mall,1020 Veranda Drive SE, Rio Rancho Space rentals $20. For more info, call 505-544-2636
Sat 10 AM – 2 PM The 2nd & Coal Pop-up! Flyby Provisions, 201 Coal Ave SW We’re bringing the community together for a day of shopping, music, and delicious food! Get ready to explore an eclectic mix of handcrafted treasures from over 20 local vendors, showcasing their unique creations! From handmade jewelry to artisanal foods and everything in between, there’s something for everyone at our market
Sat 10 AM – 3 PM DLC Truck Parks Spring PopUp! 2520 Jefferson St. NE Come support our local vendors! Variety of fun foods and products!
Sat 10 AM – 4 PM Tracks, Tunes, & Taps: A Steam Locomotive 2926 Fundraiser Tractor Brewing - Wells Park, 1800 4th St. NW • Live Music by RJ Perez at noon! • One of the largest steam locomotives on the Planet! • See History Alive! See her run! Become a volunteer and work on our next project! Hear her whistle! All proceeds go toward the continued maintenance and future operations. NM Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society, in charge of the operation of the historic Santa Fe Railway steam locomotive 2926 have finished renovations on this beautiful train and they'll be bringing it to the tracks next to Tractor Wells Park! Come check out this amazing piece of history and get on board!
Sat 10 AM – 4 PM Art Show Fundraiser Unity Spiritual Center, 9800 Candelaria Rd. NE Come and see the vast array of art from our local artists. Find gifts, beautiful and functional objects, and art to adorn your spaces. This is our first art show at Unity and it promises to be a good one! Our Unity EarthCare Team is hosting this art fair. Funds raised are going toward xeriscaping our property and other earth friendly efforts to save water and support pollinators. Snacks, drinks, and live music on the lawn, weather permitting. Painters, Photographers, Sculptors, Potters, Mixed Media Artists, and more have been invited
Sat 10 AM – 4 PM ABQ International Festival San Pedro, between Kathryn and Anderson A day filled with fun and festivities, including live music, kids' play area, delicious food, and local vendors!
Sat 11 AM – 1 PM Fun and Games Fundraiser ABQ Speech Language and Hearing Center (ASLHC), 9500 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Ste 215 Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of games and activities, with delicious food provided by @ withlovewaffles. A huge thank you to Eagle Credit Union for their financial support!
Sat 11 AM - 4 PM May The Fourth Be With You Sale - Biggest Sale Yet! Don’s Paperback Book Exchange, 1013 San Mateo Blvd. SE Spring has sprung and that means it’s time to have an event, folks! Let’s do a sale - a really big sale! All books and DVDs 50% off - All comics 25% off - All kids get free books too! This sale will include green label comics, CGC comics, and dollar comics
Sat 11 AM – 5 PM Mother's Day Market ABQ Food Park,6951 San Antonio Dr. NE Get ahead of the game and celebrate Mother's Day in style! Before the big day arrives, join us for a delightful pre-celebration where you can grab something special for Mom, Grandma, or that extraordinary woman in your life. Dive into a world of local craftsmanship, delicious food, live music, and outdoor fun at our enchanting outdoor venue. *Browse through the diverse offerings of local artisans *Treat yourself to a mouthwatering delight from our food trucks *Enjoy live music performed by talented local musician Joseph Velasquez *Bring the family to enjoy the festivities with some outdoor games and activities
Sat 11 AM – 7 PM Turkish Festival Raindrop Foundation, 7901 Mountain Rd. NE Festival will feature exquisite samples of Turkish- Mediterranean Cuisine (Doner Gyro Kebab, Baklava, Turkish Coffee and more), cultural exhibits, folk dances, children's area, arts & crafts and more! You do not want to miss this family event that everyone will find something to enjoy! Admission is FREE and the event is open to the public
Sat 11 AM – 10 PM Star Wars Day Celebration Slice and Dice Pizzeria, 2225 Wyoming Blvd. NE From 1-2 pm, stormtroopers from NM's 501st Legion will be available for photos. Throughout the day, we will have teach-and-play for Star Wars miniatures games (Legion and Shatterpoint), as well as the hottest game in the galaxy: Star Wars: The Card Game. Come dressed in your favorite Star Wars fit or gear for a free churro!
Sat 12 PM Free Comic Book Day Age of Comics, 3700 Osuna Rd. NE, Ste 513 We are excited to announce Andy Kuhn and Mark Fenton will be signing in store!

I am looking to buy a Mercedes, and I came upon a c320 (w203) from 2004. It come with a five speed transmission, and I’m curious if a 7 speed will fit onto it. But I can’t seem to find information about it online, so does anyone know if this is possible or if it’s beter to leave the five speed in?

A bit of context first.
I live in Tokyo, and the company that I work for gives me a benefit that covers about 80% of a monthly car lease for a total period of 3 years (after that period, a new lease contract, with a new vehicle has to be made). Insurance, fuel and maintenance are all covered.
I’m looking now at two cars: a Mazda 3 hatchback and… a Mercedes Benz A-Class sedan (because I don’t like the hatchback version of it).
Normally, these two cars target different customers and are not compared directly. But the thing is that my company is affiliated to Benz and receives a 15% discount on the total price of their cars. After applying the discount, the A-Class lease would merely cost me about $100 more per month than the Mazda 3.
Mazda 3: I’m looking at the Proactive Touring Selection version sold here in Japan. Comes with a mild hybrid, 2.0L eSkyActiv-G engine, rated at 150 hp. I’ve heard it’s enough to drive comfortably and get some enjoyment out of it, but that’s about it. I love what they’ve done with the interior, the simplicity and the user-centered design of the switches, cluster and screens. Comes with the premium 12 speaker Bose sound system (which I added as an option) and cloth seats (I prefer them over leather). It also has all safety features included, a head up display and wireless Apple Car Play/Android Auto out of the box.
A-Class: I’m looking specifically at the a200d with the AMG Line Package added as an option. It has a 1.5L turbocharged engine (which many say is co-developed with Renault). Has this great MBUX system with two large screens, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto need to be purchased separately for about $250, which I’m not very happy about. This version also doesn’t come with the head up display as standard (and I’m not planning on paying more for it). I also don’t like that the new model has removed the touch panel in the center to control the infotainment system, and now it’s only by touch (the current model works great with the touch panel and I really appreciate that the Mazda 3 is keeping the knob) I know the A-Class has a bad reputation in the U.S. for being the entry level model of the brand, though in Japan it doesn’t seem to be the case, but I’m temporarily driving one myself now and it does feel more premium than regular car brands.
Now, if I compare both cars: 1. The Mazda 3 seems to have more features out of the box than the a200d. 2. I find the A-Class interior slightly more attractive (specially with the ambient light), but the Mazda 3 is very close. I’m actually surprised with how premium it feels. 3. Not sure how these two engines compare. I test drove the Mazda 3 but had no chance to push the engine in the traffic and narrow streets of Tokyo. Anyone here has any idea which engine should perform better, in theory? 4. Exterior wise, both are good looking in its own style, but I think I like the A-Class a bit more. 4. I won’t lie; that three pointed star logo on the front grill is very tempting. I’ve never owned a car of a “luxury” brand before (though I know many purist that think the A-Class dilutes the brand image) and it seems to be within my reach for the first time.
If I didn’t get that 15% discount on the A-Class, I would definitely get the Mazda 3 just because I have a limited budget. But looking at just a $100 difference per month, which one would you take?
I know I’m asking in a Mazda 3 forum, but I hope you can give me your honest and objective opinion.

It’s my first car, and aside from taking care of it, I also want to add more features, so far this is what I have in mind,and I need your advice since i don’t have a lot of experience with cars, car is grey btw:

• tint, the windows are 100% transparent right now.
  
• a touche screen, probably a DMP one but idk if it’s actually worth it’s price.
  

-ambient light on the dashboard and doors, feet area and the two circular vents in each corner, since I only have 2 circular vents.
This is where it gets tricky,
-changing into LED headlights, but I heard the switch from halogen is going to cause problems so I’m not sure yet, would love your insight.
-LED Mercedes emblem on the front grille, also not sure
-changing the grille itself into a different style to make it more modern maybe?
-change the central control into something modern? I like the color but it looks dated, I’m thinking something from a 2015-2016 c300 might be reasonable and would give me the edge I need, but I don’t even know if it’s possible.

In February 2019, I was 18 years old and I started getting texts from a text now number (a fake phone number made through an app) threatening me for nude photos. He said I met him at a party when I was 15 and gave me a name I had never heard of, and another name of who apparently gave him my phone number and I also had never heard that name before. One day I got a text that he left money in the grill outside of my house. We had one on the curb that was going to be picked up by the trash company, I went out and there was money in there. He texted me saying I looked really cute at work and that he was outside in the gold Mercedes. I told my managers this and from there on when I was leaving work someone would either walk me to my car or watch me go out, they had me park in the first spot right in front of the store. This went on until March of 2020. He had my step fathers phone number and threatened to send him pictures he had of me, I don't know where he got them. So that March I had enough, I called every number that he had texted from and left voicemails of me screaming and threatening to take my own life if he didn't stop. After that, it stopped. I was still living in constant fear and worry. Fast forward to this year, in March I had someone on Reddit here respond to a post I made in an addiction talking about me struggling, commenting about the people I've had sex with in my life. That post had nothing in it with that information. They also commented saying Ms and then my last name. Here on Reddit my full government name is not posted. I received messages from that account saying I was a whore. Shortly after that the account was deleted. Now a few days ago I had another comment on a different addiction post saying my first name and then back on them drugs. I blocked the account.
This is someone who knows me in real life, I was convinced it was my ex but he messaged me on Instagram apologizing for everything that went wrong in our relationship. I'm still unsure because he could be doing that to distract me from thinking it's him. The person I thought it was before back in 2019-2020 is dead now, so I know it's not him.
I'm really upset and don't know what to do. I feel extremely vulnerable and unsafe everywhere I go. I feel like someone is always watching me.
I apologize for the wall of text, I just need to share this with people who unfortunately relate and can understand how I feel and what I'm going through.
It's pretty impossible to track someone through text now numbers and reddit usernames. I never went to authorities I assume they wouldn't do a damn thing. There have been no texts since 2020 and I was unbothered until this year. If you read this whole post, thank you.

Hey! I posted my season 1 guide yesterday, which I made for my friend who just started watching (she's on episode 10 now, so I guess it worked!) and I just finished making the season 2 guide. If I left anything out, let me know! This took a while so I may have forgotten some things. Feel free to use this if you want to convince your friends too!

1. Audition - Important

Summary:

• After a crushing defeat at Regionals, ND is once again the underdogs of McKinley
• Mr Schue tries to recruit new members due to recent budget cuts
• Over the summer, the glee club had some changes. Lost a member, relationships, etc.
• Finn and Rachel can’t agree on a new recruit. Finn wants new student Sam and Rachel wants new student Sunshine, but jealousy quickly sets in
• Will and Sue team up to kick out new football Coach Beiste when Figgins reveals he’s using Sue’s Cheerios budget and Will’s ND budget for football this year
  • Songs to skip: None, all good
  • Best song(s): Empire State of Mind, Telephone

2. Britney/Brittany - Filler but ICONIC
Summary:

• New Directions have been asked to perform at a school assembly
• Kurt suggests Britney Spears but Mr Schue says no
• Emma introduces her new dentist boyfriend, Carl, who learns that most glee club members aren’t brushing their teeth properly
• As he puts them under anesthesia to work on their teeth, the have Britney Spears fantasies
  • Songs to skip: Sailing It’s like 10 seconds of Mr Schue singing but he’s annoying
  • Best song(s): Literally all of them

3. Grilled Cheesus - Funny and then tragic, all in 40 minutes!
Summary:

• Finn has a crisis when he believes he sees the face of Jesus in his grilled cheese
• The club gathers to support Kurt after his father Burt has a serious heart attack
• The group discusses faith
  • Songs to skip: Papa Can You Hear Me, Bridge Over Troubled Water
  • Best song(s): Losing My Religion, I Wanna Hold Your Hand

4. Duets - You are literally forbidden from skipping this episode
Summary:

• When Puck is sent to juvie, Sam Evans joins as a replacement
• Mr Schuester introduces duets as their assignment, offering a meal for two at Breadstix for the winning pair
• Kurt wants Sam as his partner, but Finn stops him, remembering Kurt’s crush on him from last year
• Finn and Rachel plan against themselves so Sam wins, hoping he’ll stay in the club
• Mike helps Tina sing
• Quinn and Sam begin talking after the most adorable performance ever
  • Songs to skip: Le Jazz Hot, Get Happy/Happy Days are Here Again
  • Best songs: Lucky, River Deep Mountain High

5. The Rocky Horror Glee Show - Watch
Summary:

• Will learns that Emma loves Rocky Horror, so he instructs to group to perform it for their annual school play
• Sue’s usual attempts to derail it don’t work
• Emma calls Carl to audition for the play, much to Will’s dismay, but he is impressed by Carl’s audition song so he agrees
• Being such a controversial musical (especially for school), Will struggles to bring it together
  • Songs to skip: Hot Patootie (not a fan personally but it’s not that bad)
  • Best Songs: Time Warp, Toucha Toucha Touch Me

6. Never Been Kissed - very very important
Summary:

• Sectionals are approaching and Mr Schuester learns that Dalton Academy Warblers and The Hipsters are their competition
• Will announces the second annual boys vs girls mashup challenge, but adds a twist for Kurt making it so the boys will perform songs traditionally for girls and vice versa
• Kurt is sent to Dalton to spy, where he meets Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) and develops a crush
• Back at McKinley, Kurt is struggling with bullying, mainly from Karofsky
• Finn and Sam find a strange, offensive way of controlling their urges but it ends badly when Coach Beiste finds out
  • Songs to skip: None, only three and they are all great
  • Best Songs: Start Me Up/Livin on a Prayer, Teenage Dream

7. The Substitute - Goop! Not incredibly important but should still watch
Summary:

• Mr Schuester is sick so Holly Holliday, substitute teacher, fills in for glee club
• The club likes her style of teaching
• Figgins may consider her staying permanently
• Terri Returns
  • Songs to skip: Make ‘em Laugh
  • Best songs: Forget You, Singing in the Rain/Umbrella

8. Furt - filler but cute, still recommend you watch
Summary:

• Carole and Burt are getting married. Kurt is thrilled but Finn is a little shocked
• Sue also decides to get married…but to herself
• Sue’s mother Doris, a Nazi hunter, comes to visit
• As principal, Sue begins to notice Kurt is being bullied, Karofsky threatens to kill Kurt
• Glee boys confront Karofsky about bullying
• Kurt transfers to Dalton, Burt and Carole use honeymoon money for his tuition
• New Directions performs at the wedding
  • Songs to skip: Ohio
  • Best songs: Marry You, Sway

9. Special Education - first competition of S2!
Summary:

• Sectionals has arrived
• Rachel is distraught when she finds out that Finn lost his virginity last year to Santana
• To make things worse, she isn’t being featured at Sectionals
• Rachel helps Kurt with his audition for the Warblers
• New member Lauren Zizes joins the club in replacement of Kurt
• A huge fight amongst New Directions makes them all unwilling to perform together
  • Songs to skip: Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
  • Best songs: Valerie, I’ve Had the Time of my Life

10. A Very Glee Christmas - Fluff episode but funny moments
Summary:

• Will tries to teach the kids that gifts are not the true meaning of Christmas, but soon learns that Brittany still believes in Santa Claus
• The club takes Brittany to the mall to see “Santa”, and she asks him to make Artie walk again, giving ND another problem to solve
• Sue creates a plan to ruin ND’s Christmas
• Rachel tries to regain her love with Finn
  • If you skip the episode:
    • ND and Santa, Coach Beiste dresses as Santa, Artie gets a ReWalk, Sue the Grinch
    • Best song: Baby it’s Cold Outside

11. The Sue Sylvester Shuffle - Should watch
Summary:

• Coach Beiste instructs the football team members to join glee club in preparation for their halftime show at the championship game, but it ends badly
• Mr Schuester and Coach Beiste hope they can end the football/glee rivalry
• Sue asks her glee club cheerios to decide between attending the halftime show or the cheerleading championships
• Old lovers reconnect
  • Songs to skip: She’s Not There
  • Best song: Need You Now, Bills Bills Bills

12. Silly Love Songs - Important
Summary:

• It is Valentine’s Day and some members attempt to win over their crushes, others are not so lucky
• Puck falls for Lauren but sings an offensive song to her, so she stands him up
• Finn sets up a kissing booth hoping he’ll get Quinn back, but Rachel comes instead
• Finn and Quinn begin an affair
• Santana, angry about being called out over her bad behavior, deduces this and develops an elaborate plan to reveal all the secrets
• Blaine reveals he is attracted to someone else and Kurt begins to lose sight of him
  • Songs to skip: none (some are uncomfortable on purpose)
  • Best song: Firework

13. Comeback - mostly filler
Summary:

• Sue attempts “sue-icide” because she is depressed about her championship loss so Will allows her to join the glee club, hoping it’ll help
• Secretly, Sue is plotting to destroy the club from the inside by turning Mercedes and Rachel against each other
• Quinn lies to Sam about kissing Finn
• Sam creates a Justin Bieber tribute band to win Quinn over
• Other members of the club join to impress their partners, but some relationships fall apart
  • Songs to skip: I Know What Boys Like
  • Best song: Baby

14. Blame it On The Alcohol - iconic
Summary:

• For Alcohol Awareness Week, Figgins asks ND to perform at an assembly
• Will tells the group to find a song to perform about the dangers of underage drinking
• Rachel tries to write original songs for Regionals and decides to find inspiration by throwing a party at her place, where everyone gets drunk and hungover the next day
• Will joins Beiste at a cowboy bar
• ND’s performance the next day goes horribly wrong
  • Songs to skip: One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
  • Best song: Blame it On The Alcohol, TikTok

15. Sexy - Not the most important
Summary:

• Holly Holliday returns and learns that the club doesn’t know much about sex ed
• Will and Holly kiss but Holly turns him down
• Burt, Blaine and Kurt have important discussions
• Santana reveals she has feelings for Brittany
• Puck asks Quinn where she got a hickey from, but Quinn lies and says it’s a burn mark from her curling iron
• However, Finn and Quinn have started seeing each other
  • If you skip this episode:
    • Holly and Will Kiss, Burt and Kurt talk, Quinn Celibacy Club Scene, Landslide
    • Best song: Animal, Landslide

16. Original Song - funny
Summary:

• The New Directions are out of time for Regionals preparation, and knowing their competition (including Sue), they finally agree to use Rachel’s idea of original songs
• They are ready for Regionals with their original songs
• Kurt and Blaine’s relationship goes up a level after the tragic death of beloved Warblers mascot
  • Songs to skip:
    • They sing a lot in this episode but a lot of the songs aren’t full, such as Only Child. In my opinion all the performances here are great/
    • Best song: Trouty Mouth, Loser Like Me

17. A Night of Neglect - Filler but still good
Summary:

• New Directions can’t afford the plane ride to New York for nationals, so they raise money by selling salt water taffy
• Artie, Mike, Tina and Brittany reveal they also need money as part of the Academic Decathlon and don’t like ND’s greediness
• Mr Schuester suggests a concert fundraiser “A Night of Neglect” to raise money for Academic Decathlon but isn’t sure if ND will have enough money for the plane
• Sue creates a “League of Doom” made up of Sandy Ryerson, Dustin Goolsby, and Terri Del Monico with the sole purpose of destroying the glee club
  • Songs to skip: None
  • Best song: I Follow Rivers (underrated Tina), Ain’t No Way
  • Couldn’t find good clips of any of the scenes sorry

18. Born this Way - MUST WATCH
Summary:

• As Nationals approaches, Rachel breaks her nose during rehearsal and she begins to consider a nose job
• This makes the rest of the groups’ insecurities to surface, so Mr Schuester tells the group to sing about loving yourself and your flaws, but Quinn doesn’t agree
• Lauren is determined to find out what she’s hiding
• Quinn agrees to help Rachel and lets her use her nose as a nose job model, resulting in possibly the best mashup of the show (in my opinion)
• Meanwhile, Santana creates a plan to get Brittany back and it also involves bringing Kurt back to McKinley, but it involves Karofsky
  • Songs to skip: As if We Never Said Goodbye, I’ve Gotta be Me
  • You are FORBIDDEN from skipping: Somewhere Only We Know, I Feel Pretty/Unpretty, and Born this Way

19. Rumours - very very good
Summary:

• Sue progresses her anti-glee club plans by restarting the school newspaper and using it to spread rumours about the group
• April Rhodes returns and suggests Will joins her on Broadway and also suggests he tells the glee club to use Fleetwood Mac’s album Rumours for this week
• Finn and Rachel are suspicious of Sam, Quinn and Kurt and begin spying on them
• Santana still doesn’t feel ready to come out
• A big secret about Sam is revealed
  • Songs to skip: Dreams
  • Best songs: Go Your Own Way (my favorite Rachel cover) and I Don’t Wanna Know (most passive aggressive performance known to man)

20. Prom Queen - good episode and important
Summary:

• It is the New Directions’ first junior prom and Figgins has asked the group to perform, despite Sue’s disapproval
• Sue is running the prom committee
• Explores the competitive campaign for prom king and queen involving Quinn and Finn, Puck and Lauren, and Santana and Karofsky
• Mercedes is upset because no one asked her to the prom, so she goes as a group with Rachel and Sam
• Kurt deals with more bullying and harassment, especially about his homemade prom outfit
• Jesse St James returns to apologize to Rachel
• Quinn and Rachel have a fight
  • Songs to skip:
    • Rolling in the Deep, Friday
    • Best song: Jar of Hearts, Dancing Queen

21. Funeral - Sad but mostly filler
Summary:

• Jesse and Will judge New Directions to determine who will get a solo at nationals
• Sue tells Terri to interfere with ND’s flight to New York
• Becky and her mother come to talk to Mr Schue because Sue has kicked her off the Cheerios, but Mr Schuester says she can’t join because it is very close to Nationals
• Mr Schue confronts Sue about kicking Becky off the Cheerios but it is revealed that Sue can’t have Becky around because she reminds her of her sister, who has recently passed away
• Sue struggles to deal with her sister Jean’s death so Finn, Kurt, Will and ND step in to help her
• Finn has an important talk with Quinn
  • Songs to skip:
    • Some People, Pure Imagination (both good but kinda boring)
    • Best song: Back to Black (click Santana audition link below)
    • If you skip the episode:

22. New York - very important, finale
Summary:

• Finally in New York, the group is ready to write their original songs for Nationals. However, New York distracts them
• Will struggles between Broadway and New Directions
• Kurt and Rachel explore the city while discussing their futures
• Quinn hits rock bottom
• Finn chases after Rachel, leaving Rachel torn between Finn and New York
  • Songs to skip:
    • Still Got Tonight, Bella Notte
    • Best song: I Love New York/New York, New York, Light Up The World

That's Season 2! Season 3 Guide coming probably tomorrow :)

I am a graphic designer and just got a new apartment. I am thinking about making some new wall art to populate the barren walls, these are all going to be vintage inspired posters from the 1920s to 50s. Alot of them are musical theatre inspired but not for a specific production but more along the lines of in the background of a play. i am just wondering what vibe these descriptions give off before i start drawing them up.
(For more reference I'm also building my furniture, TV stand bookshelves dresser side tables in the like, in A mid-century modern style with warm wood tones And black metal stuff that looks like you might have purchased from Restoration Hardware)
-Kit Kat Klub Cabaret hall featuring Sally Bowls, Is a mostly black poster with a red headed woman and a striking red dress and a man in front of her in a feminine looking suit in German in a 1930s style Inspired by the play cabaret
-Fandago Ballroom Cabaret featuring Charity Valentine, poster done in a 1930s style Featuring a sultry girl saying hey big spender, Inspired by the play sweet charity
-Billie Holiday Live at Emerson's Bar and Grill, 1950 style Jazz poster inspired by the play lady day at Emerson's bar-and-grill
-Moulin Rouge, a poster inspired by Toulouse-lautrec done in the style of his vintage posters of dancing girls.
-Visit San Juan, Poster featuring the fort in San Juan and a girl dancing salsa in a large dress and done in the style of the WPA Posters done while Roosevelt was President
-Visit Havana similar as above
-russian cosmonaut space race propaganda poster
-Martini And Rossi Poster inspired by 1930's martini and Rossi posters Maybe something also invoking James Bond
-Pernod Absinthe Something invoking the green fairy and the 1930s pernod posters And invoking Bohemia
-Perry Reese Map, One of those weird old maps that flat Earthers use, Shows possibly Antarctica long before it's supposed to have been known about
-London Map, big vintage looking map
-Audi/Cadillac/Mercedes/Lincoln motorcars Coaster done in the 1920s to 30s style thatLots of movement You usually see these ADS for taking trains across the country
-Triumph/BMW/BSA motorcycles Same as above