Food Truck Tuesdays kick off this week

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One of “Larkinville’s” most popular events, Food Truck Tuesdays, kicks off this week on April 19 from 5-8 p.m. Food Truck Tuesdays brings dozens of food trucks from Buffalo, Rochester and beyond to Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St. in Buffalo.

The musical entertainment this week is Ten Cent Howl. Upcoming acts include Randle & the Late Night Scandals (April 26), German-American Musicians (May 17) and LeeRon Zydeco & the Hot Tamales (June 21).

Among the trucks expected this year at Food Truck Tuesdays: Ted’s Hot Dog Truck, O.G. Wood Fire, Chef’s, (716) Club House, Lloyd Taco Truck, Abbotts Custard, Cheesy Chick, Macarollin and the Meatball Truck Co.

Find out more about Food Truck Tuesdays here.

Albright-Knox offers free admission to Erie County residents April 17-23, 2016

credit: Wikimedia Commons/Dave Pape

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, located at 1285 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo, will offer free admission to all Erie County residents from Sunday, April 17 through Saturday, April 23 (closed Monday, April 18) as a gesture of gratitude to both Erie County and its residents for providing annual funding to the Museum. 

Exhibitions on view during the week of free admission include Erin Shirreff, For the Love of Things: Still Life, and Torey Thornton: Sir Veil in the 1905 Building; Joan Jonas: Good Night Good Morning in the Gallery for New Media; and the 2016 AK Teens: Future Curators Exhibition, Viewpoint, which will be on view in the Clifton Hall Link beginning April 15. 

Erie County residents are also invited to receive a 15-percent discount on new memberships from April 17-23; this offer is available exclusively at the museum.

Find out more about the Gallery at www.albrightknox.org. 

Local Restaurant Week: April 11-17, 2016

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The spring edition of Local Restaurant Week takes place Monday through Sunday, April 11-17 with nearly 200 local restaurants already signed up to take part.

The week-long event features independent restaurants that contribute to the Western New York culture through the use of homegrown products whenever available. Prices start at $20.16 and could be for one or two people, or for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Among the restaurants participating in various areas around Western New York:

• Black & Blue Steak and Crab – 5493 Sheridan Dr. in Williamsville (lunch and dinner)
• Sean Patrick’s – 3480 Millersport Hwy. in Getzville (dinner)
• Scotch ‘N Sirloin – 3999 Maple Rd. in Amherst (lunch and dinner)
• The Roycroft Inn – 40 South Grove St. in East Aurora (dinner)
• Ilio DiPaolo’s – 3758 South Park Ave. in Blasdell (lunch and dinner)
• Mr. Bill’s Restaurant and Bar – 1500 Cleveland Dr. in Cheektowaga (lunch and dinner)
• Milos – 5877 Main St. in Williamsville (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• Rick’s on Main – 687 Main St. in East Aurora (dinner)
• Campobello’s Cucina Italiana – 9334 Transit Rd. in East Amherst (lunch and dinner)
• CRaVing – 1472 Hertel Ave. in Buffalo (dinner)

Find out more about this special week – including a complete list of restaurants and menus when available – at www.localrestaurantweek.com. 

Five Things to do in April 2016

You'll get plenty of ideas for the backyard
at Plantasia
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Plantasia Rocks! –Thursday through Sunday, March 31-April 3 at the Hamburg Fairgrounds Event Center and Artisan Hall. All four days will feature unique seminars, special events including the Children’s Garden from the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, live music and entertainment and a live radio broadcast featuring Domenic Cortese. Hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $9 for adults (coupon for $1 off here), $7 for seniors (60+ - no additional discount) and free for kids 12 and under. Find out more about Plantasia at www.plantasiany.com.

Maple Weekend – Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3 at maple producers across New York State. Among the participating area venues: the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village (3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd. in Amherst), Schumacher Farm (10217 Mill Rd. in Medina), Maple Glen Sugar House (2266 Gowanda Zoar Rd. in Gowanda), and the Genesee Country Village and Museum (1410 Flint Rd. in Mumford). Find more venues and more information here.

Biennial Quilt Show – Friday through Sunday, April 22-24 at Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village, 3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd. in Amherst. The Quilters Gild presents this show during even-numbered years in April, featuring quilts, wall hangings, wearables and more – categories are adjudicated and awards are presented. Hours are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday – cost is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and BNHV members and $2 for kids under 12.

Sips, Suds and Sweets – Thursday, April 28 from 6-9 p.m. at Fox Run at Orchard Park, One Fox Run in Orchard Park. This is a beer, wine and dessert tasting with more than two dozen vendors plus live music, silent auctions, basket raffles and more – event supports the Senior Wishes organization.

Knox Farm Spring Art Fest – Friday through Sunday, April 29-May 1 in the Main House at the Knox Farm, 437 Buffalo Rd. in East Aurora. The event will feature 70 artists from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Ithaca, set up throughout the mansion. Friday is Preview Night from 6-9 p.m. ($10 admission), while hours on Saturday and Sunday are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ($5 admission).

M&T First Friday: April 1, 2016

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. to 10 p.m., thanks to sponsorship from M&T Bank.

• Homeschooler Art Class – 10 a.m. to noon for ages 11-17 – registration required.
• Homeschooler Art Class – 10:30 a.m. to noon for ages 5-10 – registration required.
• Toddler Art Class – 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. for ages 3-4 – free for members, $10 for non-members – registration required.
• Studio Art Classes for Adults – 1 to 3 p.m. and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. – free for members, $10 for non-members – registration required.
• Public Tour – a free tour of the 1962 Knox Building at 1:30 p.m.
• What’s Your Vision tour – free one-hour tour at 4 p.m.
• Drop-in Art Activity for Families –5 to 7 p.m., free in the Education Classrooms.
• Jazz and Happy Hour – live music by Doug Yeomans and Sue Kincaid in the AK Café from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Gallery Talk – For the Love of Things: Still Life – 6 and 7 p.m. in the 1905 Building, North Galleries.
• Performance: Amor and Heritage: “Legends of Hispanic and World Heritage” – 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium – free for members, $5 for non-members.
• Special Event – The Art of Food and Drink: Sparkling Wine and the Art of Plating – 8:30 p.m. in the AK Café – event is full – call to be placed on wait list.

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

Shrewfest! and the 2016 Shakespeare in Delaware Park season

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The 2016 season of Shakespeare in Delaware Park kicks off June 23 with “The Winter’s Tale,” which runs through July 17. The second production of the season is “The Taming of the Shrew,” which runs July 28-August 21.

On Saturday, April 9 from 6-10 p.m., support Shakespeare in Delaware Park at Shrewfest!, the 2016 version of its annual Fabulous Feast. The fundraiser takes place at the Connecticut Street Armory, 184 Connecticut St. in Buffalo, and features a five-course Elizabethan-style meal with cheeses, breads, soup and salad, filet of sirloin, potatoes, dessert and more. Tickets are available through March 28 and cost $100 per person or $180 per couple for non-members and $80 per person and $150 per couple for Shakespeare members – find more information here.