Buffalo Boss Babe: Christina Holdsworth
In honor of this weekends Buffalo Pride Festival today's Buffalo Boss Babe is Christina Holdsworth of Ambush. Ambush is an alternative to the lack of lesbian bars in the area, the group takes over a different straight bar on the third Friday of the month. This is meant to be a low-key, fun, casual way to hang out with your friends and meet other lesbians from the WNY area. The bring along awesome DJ's and pack local bars month after month!The Ambush Coordinators are: Tee Fregeaux, Shannon Carscallen, Christina Holdsworth, Felly Connelly & Dana Fauth. We chatted with Christina about Ambush and more!
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What made you start or brought you where you are today ? Tell us your Story. What makes you a Buffalo Boss Babe?
For the past couple years Ambush has been organized by 5 of us (Tee, Dana, Shannon, Felly and myself) and has almost 3k followers. But over 5 years ago it sure didn't start that big.
A friend and I started Ambush because there was a lack of casual places for gay women to meet others; whether for dating, friendship or professional purposes. I borrowed the idea from other cities that hosted "bar takeovers," where the gay community would "take over" a straight bar once a month. The first Ambush was intended to be a simple happy hour in September 2012. I told my friends to invite their friends and so on. My thinking was that by everyone inviting who they knew we could reach multiple social groups and people we would never meet otherwise. I expected maybe 50 people that first night. We ended up with over 100, with the bar quickly running out of all their beer and liquor. The happy hour extended to the late hours. The positive energy through the bar was amazing.
Our second Ambush was one month later and brought in over 200 people. Ever since then, we have held one event every single month, always bringing in anywhere from 100-300 people. By hosting a happy hour that turns into late night, we are able to provide a social outing for people from all different ages and backgrounds. The fact that we go to a different bar every month also enables us to reach different people and communities.
After only a couple months it was apparent I could not do it alone. Tee, Dana, Shannon and Felly made Ambush even bigger than it was and have made our annual Pride party a huge success. Every Pride weekend we host a huge dance party which attracts over 700 people from all different walks of life from WNY, Canada, Rochester and Pennsylvania.
One of the things that makes Ambush so special, and what makes all of us "Buffalo Boss Babes," is that we have created an inclusive and welcoming environment. From the very beginning, people came up to me and thanked me for creating a place where they finally felt accepted. Whether they were newly out, transgender, new to town or just in need of some new friends. All 5 of us love Buffalo and want everyone else to love it too, by creating a place where everyone can have a good time, feel relaxed and meet new people.
Photo by Destiny Rogowski
What does being a Buffalo Boss Babe mean to you?
Making Buffalo a better place for everyone
Who are your favorite people to follow ?
My friends and family
What are your favorite things to do in the area ? Buffalo and greater WNY
Checking out the new restaurants and bars that are constantly springing up
Tell us about your favorite collaboration or dream collaborations ?
For Ambush, it would be amazing to form relationships with similar groups in Toronto. We already started a Rochester group a few years ago and would love to expand further with the right people.
If you could have coffee with anyone in the world who would it be?
U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley
Photo by Destiny Rogowski
What are your hopes, dreams, goals. Big or small?
Read the top 100 novels. Travel. Always remain positive. Be a supportive and loving daughter, sister, aunt, partner, friend.
Photo by Destiny Rogowski
Tell us about your family ? ( 2 legged, 4 legged)
All 5 of us have immense support from our families, partners, children and fur-babies. Ambush can be very time consuming and we couldn't do it without our loved ones. Personally, I have 2 cats that I may or may not be obsessed with. I have 2 younger siblings and recently became an aunt for the first time which has been a blast.
Feel Good Five
Color: Green
Food: Mac & Cheese
Super Power: Fly
Animal:Wolf
Season of the year: Fall
Favorite thing about Buffalo: Everyone knows everyone!
You can follow along with all of things happening with Ambush over at https://www.ambushbuffalo.com/ and check our their amazing pride party happening TONIGHT from 7 PM - 2AM ( you need tickets) at Buffalo Iron Works. Ambush is an amzing inclusive group and we are thankful for the buffalo boss babes who started it all!
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Until next time babes!
Buffalo Boss Babes is a woman run blog series featuring women in and around the city of Buffalo N.Y.
If you know someone doing amazing things for our community, past and present, young and old..... send us a message at buffalobossbabes@gmail.com
Be kind to everyone you meet.
Here's to strong women! May we know them. May we be them
