Five Things to do in February 2017

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Lumagination – February 1-4, 7-11, and 14-21 – 6-9 p.m. except Fridays and Saturdays 6-10 p.m. – at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, located at 2655 South Park Ave. in Buffalo. The annual light show features specialty nights like Family Fun Night (February 1 and 8), Student Night (February 7 and 9), and Valentine’s Day surprises (February 14), plus additional days during winter break (February 19-21).

Buffalo Auto Show – Thursday through Sunday, February 9-12 at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center, 153 Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo. In addition to the top new cars for the year, kids can visit with some of the Buffalo Bandits (Thursday), the Superheroes Alliance (Saturday and Sunday), and Buffalo Sabres alumni Danny Gare, Don Luce and Craig Ramsay.

Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Tournament – Friday through Sunday, February 17-19 at Buffalo RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St. in Buffalo. The three-day tournament, celebrating its 10^th anniversary, will host 144 teams.

Polar Bites – Thursday, February 23 from 6-9 p.m. at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center. This 21-and-older event will feature food samplings from some of the area’s best restaurants, basket and silent auctions and visits with some Zoo “ambassadors.” Tickets are $30 presale and $40 at the door – includes admission, samplings, two drink tickets and free parking.

Madd Tiki Winter Luau – Saturday, February 25 from4 p.m.-midnight at Buffalo RiverWorks. The third annual winter beach festival features live music and performances, beach games and djs.

M&T First Friday: February 3, 2017

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On the first Friday of each month, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, located at 1285 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo, opens the doors to the 1962 Knox Building to the public free of charge from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., thanks to sponsorship from M&T Bank.

• Drop-in Art Activity – 10 a.m.-noon and 5-7 p.m. – free in the Education classrooms.
• Family Fun Tour – 11-11:45 a.m. – free in the 1962 Building.
• Mobile ArtCart – Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: Humor and Satire from the Collection – noon-1:30 p.m. – free in the Clifton Hall Link.
• Studio Art Classes for Adults – 1-3 and 7:30-9:30 p.m. – free for members, $10 for non-members.
• Public Tour – 1:30-2:30 p.m. – a free tour of the 1962 Knox Building.
• “What’s Your Vision?” Tour – 4-5 p.m. – free one-hour tour.
• Jazz and Happy Hour – 5:30-7:30 p.m. – live music in the AK Café featuring Doug Yeomans and Sue Kincaid.
• Gallery Talk – Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: Humor and Satire from the Collection –6:30-7 and 7:30-8 p.m. – free lecture with Curatorial Assistant Jasmine Magana in the Clifton Hall Link.
• Performance: Black Rock Zydeco – 7:30-8:30 p.m. – free in the Auditorium.
• The Art of Food and Drink: Tommyrotter Distillery – 8:30-9:30 p.m. in the AK Café – $5 for members, $10 for non-members.

Registration is required for many classes and events – call 716-270-8292 to register and find more information at www.albrightknox.org.

BfloGirlSports: February 2017 Buffalo Bandits schedule

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• Friday, February 3 – on the road against Toronto – 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, February 17 – at home against New England – 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, February 19 – on the road against New England – 1 p.m.
• Saturday, February 25 – at home against Toronto – 7:30 p.m.

BfloGirlSports: February 2017 Buffalo Sabres schedule

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• Tuesday, February 2 – v. New York Rangers – 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, February 4 – v. Ottawa – 7 p.m.
• Monday, February 6 – at New Jersey – 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 7 – v. San Jose – 7 p.m.
• Thursday, February 9 – v. Anaheim – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, February 11 – at Toronto – 7 p.m.
• Sunday, February 12 – v. Vancouver – 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 14 – at Ottawa – 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, February 16 – v. Colorado – 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, February 18 – v. St. Louis – 1 p.m.
• Sunday, February 19 – v. Chicago – 6 p.m.
• Saturday, February 25– at Colorado – 10 p.m.
• Sunday, February 26 – at Arizona – 8:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 28 – v. Nashville – 7 p.m.

Winter festivals abound in January 2017

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Stuart Miles

Have some winter fun at one of these upcoming winter festivals throughout the Buffalo area!

Town of Tonawanda Winterfest – Thursday through Monday, January 12-16 at various locations throughout the Town of Tonawanda. Thursday and Friday feature fun for the adults, and the entire family can get involved on the weekend with hockey games, the Buffalo Zoo Mobile, crafts, Kan Jam, family entertainment, food trucks and more – find a complete schedule here.

Chillabration at Canalside – Friday through Monday, January 13-16 at Canalside Buffalo. There will be a petting zoo, ice sculptures, amusement rides, crafts, a local-artist vendors market, live music and more. Hours are Friday 5-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday and Monday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. – find out more here.

Winterfest in Amherst – Saturday, January 21 from noon-2:30 p.m. at the Harlem Rd. Community Center, 4255 Harlem Rd. in Amherst. There will be horse-drawn wagon rides in the parking lot (12:15-2:15 p.m.), as well as indoor and outdoor activities like the Ninja Gym, face painting, nature activities, crafts and more (snow activities are weather-dependent). Stick around at 2:30 p.m. for a showing of “Finding Dory” in the auditorium.

Larkinville Ice Festival – Saturday, January 28 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St. in Buffalo. There will be festivities at Larkin Square, The Filling Station, Hydraulic Hearth, Flying Bison and Buffalo Distilling Company, including outdoor yoga (“Snowga”), the Keybank Hockey Rink, vendors, food trucks, and other activities (weather-permitting).

Winterfest at Chestnut Ridge Park – Sunday, January 29 (postponed) February 12 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Chestnut Ridge Park Casino, 6121Chestnut Ridge Rd. in Orchard Park. The event will go on with or without snow and feature arts and crafts, hayrides, snowshoe hikes and more.