Five Things to do in May 2017

Check out the Cherry Blossom Festival through May 7
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Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival – through May 7 at the Japanese Gardens at Delaware Park and other venues in the area. Celebrate the season’s beauty at the fourth annual festival featuring parties, orienteering, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and more – find a full schedule here.

Shea’s Wine, Food and Beer Festival – Thursday, May 11 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. in downtown Buffalo. Tickets for the 22^nd annual event at $30 presale, $35 the day of the event – find out more here.

Nickel City Con – Friday through Sunday, May 19-21 at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center, Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo. Guests include William Shatner (Saturday), Joe Montana (Sunday), Billy Dee Williams (Saturday and Sunday), Erin Gray (Saturday and Sunday) and many more. Tickets are $15 per day or $30 for a three-day pass; tickets for guest experiences and photo ops are additional purchases. Find out more at www.nickelcitycon.com.

Day Out with Thomas – Saturday and Sunday, May 20-21 and May 27-28 at the Medina Railroad Museum, 530 West Ave. in Medina. This family-friendly event, entitled “The Friendship Tour,” features Thomas the Tank Engine and Sir Topham Hatt, with the train leaving every 45 minutes beginning at 9:15 a.m. Tickets are $21 and are available at www.medinarailroad.com.

BuffaLove Fest – Friday, May 26 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Buffalo Zoo, 300 Parkside Ave. in Buffalo. The 21-and-over event will feature live music, local beer and wine, Buffalo-area food trucks, Buffalo-area artisans and vendors and more. Tickets are $25 in advance; admission includes two drink tickets. Find out more here.

BfloGirlSports: May 2017 Buffalo Bisons schedule

credit: Buffalo Bisons

• Tuesday through Thursday, May 2-4 – at home against the Rochester Red Wings (Tuesday and Wednesday – 6:05 p.m., Thursday – 1:05 p.m.)
• Friday through Sunday, May 5-7 – at home against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Friday – 7:05 p.m., Saturday and Sunday – 1:05 p.m.)
• Monday through Wednesday, May 8-10 – on the road against the Syracuse Chiefs (Monday – 6:35 p.m., Tuesday – 1:05 p.m., Wednesday – 10:35 a.m.)
• Thursday through Sunday, May 11-14 – on the road against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Thursday and Friday – 7:05 p.m., Saturday – 6:35 p.m., Sunday – 1:35 p.m.)
• Monday through Thursday, May 15-18 – at home against the Syracuse Chiefs (all games 6:05 p.m.)
• Friday through Sunday, May 19-21 – at home against the Pawtucket Red Sox (Friday – 7:05 p.m., Saturday and Sunday – 1:05 p.m.)
• Tuesday through Thursday, May 23-25 – on the road against the Gwinnett Braves (Tuesday and Wednesday – 7:05 p.m., Thursday – 12:05 p.m.)
• Friday through Monday, May 26-29 – on the road against the Charlotte Knights (Friday through Sunday – 7:05 p.m., Monday – 2:05 p.m.)
• Tuesday through Thursday, May 30-June 1 – at home against the Toledo Mud Hens (Tuesday – 6:05 p.m., Wednesday – 1:05 p.m., Thursday – 10:35 a.m.)

Find out more about the Bisons, and find the complete promotional schedule for 2017, at the Bisons’ website.

Lake Erie Wine Country hosts Wine & Cheese Weekend April 21-23

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Stuart Miles

Lake Erie Wine Country kicks off the 2017 season with their annual Wine & Cheese Weekend event, taking place Friday through Sunday, April 21-23. Ticket holders can visit any or all of the 22 participating wineries, where they will enjoy a special wine paired with food samples created with Yancey’s Fancy cheeses.

This year, each winery has chosen a country around which they developed their food and wine pairing. Countries including Austria, Mexico, Poland, Trinidad and India will be represented. There is a diverse and delicious array of food offerings for this year’s “international” cheese and wine event. Streusel Kuchen, Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole, Grape Chutney, and Bavarian Cheddar Ale Soup are just some of the food samples that can be savored along with the perfect complementary wine.

Tickets are now on sale for Wine & Cheese Weekend at only $38 per person; one ticket is good for all three days. They may be purchased online at www.lakeeriewinecountry.org before Tuesday, April 18 at 10 a.m. Tickets are usually sold-out before this deadline, so advanced purchase is necessary. 

A designated driver ticket is available for only $20 and includes everything but wine. Friday and/or Sunday only tickets are only $28 each. This entitles ticket holders to enjoy all of the benefits of the event on Friday and/or Sunday only, but not on Saturday. As in the past, ticket holders will receive a food and wine pairing sample at each winery, additional wine tastes, a wine glass, recipe booklet, $5 voucher for wine purchase, and this year, a gift of another $5 voucher.

Ticket holders plan their own itinerary, enjoying each winery on a self-guided tour on Friday from noon-6 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Wine & Cheese Weekend will kick-off a busy 2017 tourist season in the region. Throughout the summer, the 22 individual wineries will host their own special events that include free concerts in the vineyards, vineyard walks, festivals, winemaker’s dinners and other exciting event offerings. Special events for all wineries are listed at www.lakeeriewinecountry.org. There are also listings for lodging, dining, transportation and other area attractions.

M&T First Friday: April 7, 2017

credit: Wikimedia Commons/Dave Pape

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 for all ages in the Education classrooms.
• Family Fun Tour – 11-11:45 a.m. – free in the 1962 Building.
• ArtCart – Shantell Martin: Someday We Can – noon-1:30 p.m. – free in the Sculpture Court.
• Studio Art Class for Adults: Acrylic Painting – 1-3 and 7:30-9:30 p.m. – free for members, $10 for non-members.
• Public Tour – 1:30-2:30 p.m. – free one-hour tour.
• “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 Gruvology.
• Gallery Talk – Jacob Kassay: OTNY and Eric Mack: Vogue Fabrics –6-6:30 p.m. – free lecture with Curatorial Assistant Jasmine Magana in the 1905 Building.
• Live Short-Order Ekphrastic Poems by Just Buffalo Writing Center – 6:30-8:30 p.m. – free in the 1962 Building’s Lower Level Galleries.
• Gallery Talk – Tamar Guimaraes and Kasper Akhoj: Studies for a Minor History of Trembling Matter and Willa Nasatir – 7-7:30 p.m. – free lecture with Curatorial Assistant Jasmine Magana in the 1905 Building.
• Studio Art Class for Adults: Charcoal Drawing – 7:30-9:30 p.m. – free for members, $10 for non-members.
• Shantell Martin in Conversation with Curator of Public Art Aaron Ott – 7:30-8:30 p.m. – free in the Auditorium.
• The Art of Drink: Bootleg Bucha – 8:30-9:30 p.m.  in the AK Café - $10 general admission, $5 for members.

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