BfloGirlReads: Buffalo Noir, a collection of short stories

credit: Akashic Books

There’s something pretty cool about opening a book and saying “Hey, I know that place!” That’s what happened when I opened the new anthology Buffalo Noir, published by Akashic Books and edited by Ed Park and Brigid Hughes.

The Richardson Complex, Delaware Park, Anchor Bar, Nottingham Terrace – all place we’ve heard about on the news, walked by or even visited, and all are in this book. The 12 short stories, by writers like Tom Fontana and Joyce Carol Oates, resonate from the darker side of Buffalo, but have a tone that will leave you smirking to yourself by the end of the tale.

In spite of its darkness, Buffalo Noir is a book one can easily get lost in. Picture this as a great beach read, where you’ll finish a couple of stories, look at the next one and say, “Oh, this is short, I can read this one too…” Before you know it, the book is done, the sun is going down, and you feel like you’ve accomplished something on that day at the beach – I mean, you finished reading a book after all!

Buffalo Noir is part of a collection of anthologies from Akashic Books, which began with Brooklyn Noir in 2004. There are now over 60 volumes available, telling tales from around the world. Both Park and Hughes are native Buffalonians, and all of the writers have Buffalo connections.

Buffalo Noir, officially released today, is currently available at Amazon in both print and Kindle versions, and will likely be available at book stores throughout Buffalo. On Friday night, November 6 at 7 p.m., the launch event for the book takes place at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, 341 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo.

Special thanks to Susannah at Akashic Books for the advanced copy of Buffalo Noir!

Five Things to do in November 2015

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Feelart

November already?! The holiday season is fully upon us now – you can tell by the number of light and tree festivals on the schedule for November! Here are a few things to check out around Buffalo-Niagara.

Fairgrounds Festival of Lights – nearly two miles of light displays take over the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg on weekends beginning November 27-29 and ending December 26-27 (also December 4-6 and December 11-13, plus extended hours December 18-23). New in 2015: The Great Lakes International Ice Carving Competition, taking place November 27-29, with pieces on display throughout the festival. Admission is $25 per carload, $50 per busload.

Light Up Lancaster Parade – a popular event to kick off the holidays, the annual fire truck parade begins at Lancaster High School at 6 p.m. and proceeds down Central Ave., ending at Braodway; stick around for the annual tree lighting ceremony.

Paint the Town at the Buffalo History Museum – get a head start on holiday shopping at this annual fundraiser on Thursday, November 5 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Ct. in Buffalo. The event features artists with strong Buffalo ties, as well as live and silent auctions; tickets are $50 for Museum members, $70 for non-members.

Shea’s Shopping Soiree – get more holiday shopping done on Thursday, November 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. in downtown Buffalo. The sixth annual event features a variety of local vendors for pre-Black Friday shopping.

Festival of Trees –this annual fundraiser benefitting the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital takes place November 21 through December 3 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Buffalo. Among the events that are part of the festival: the Black Tie Gala on November 21, the Designer Showcase Reception and Award on November 24 and the Haute Holiday Fashion Show on December 2; general admission to view the trees is free.

Celebrate fall 2015: One-stop Halloween guide!

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Vlado

Autumn Fun:

• BeckerFarms
• Pumpkinville
• The Great Pumpkin Farm
• Cambria Corn Maze
• Kelkenberg Farm
• U-Pick Harvests
• Holiday Hollow
• Wheatfield Pumpkin Farm
• Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village

Halloween Hauntings:

• Mason Winfield ghost walks and pub crawls
• House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs
• Frightworld
• District of the Dead
• Nightmare Hayrides on Sommerville St.

Fall with the Family:

• Medina Railroad Museum
• Arcade and Attica Railroad
• Halloween fun for all ages
• More Halloween fun for all ages
• Safe trick-or-treating around WNY
• More Halloween fun in the Buffalo-Niagara area

Discover Buffalo 2015: Way to Go Tours’ Best of Buffalo trip

A couple of weeks ago, my mom and I went on a bus trip tour of Buffalo with Way to Go Tours – out first time traveling with this company, and likely not our last. Among our stops: HARBORCENTER, Canalside, RiverWorks and Chef’s.

Inside HARBORCENTER - the Sabres!

The tour started at HARBORCENTER, which is a beautiful facility – made even better because Sabres training camp was in session while we were there! Thank you Terry and Kim Pegula for your ideas and money!

The big screen at (716)

We had time to take a quick walk over to Canalside, where we met Tim Horton and Shark Girl!

Sabres great Tim Horton - he of coffee fame!

Canalside resident Shark Girl

Next up was RiverWorks, otherwise known as the site of the Labatt Blue six-pack on the silos. Again, a beautiful facility, and home to a number of events including the Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Tournament and the Buffalo Roller Girls roller derby teams.

Inside RiverWorks - roller derby rack

That's a tall brew!

I'm ALWAYS taking pictures of flowers!

A view of the Canal from RiverWorks

Following RiverWorks we had lunch at Chef’s. I’m willing to admit my sins as a Buffalonian: this was my first time at Chef’s. Wow.What.I.Was.Missing! Spaghetti Parm forever! After a driving tour through areas like Solar City and the new medical corridor, we checked out one of the new hotels downtown, the Hilton Garden Inn, and made one final stop at Parkside Candy (sponge candy!!!).

The tour guide was great, and really knew his stuff when it came to Buffalo and what’s going on. I’ll be looking for this tour again next year, as well as checking out a few more!

**note – all travel was paid for by me, and all opinions are my own.**

 all photos: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Five Things to do in October 2015

Fall is in full swing, and Halloween is on a Saturday this year – plenty of reason to party! (This is Buffalo, after all!) If Halloween isn’t your thing, check out a new restaurant or sample some new brews at one of October’s events.

Local Restaurant Week – from October 19-26, some of the best locally-owned and operated restaurants in the Western New York area will be offering special menus for lunch and/or dinner – options range in price from $20.15, $30.15 and $40.15, and can be for one or two people. Check out the full listing of restaurants at www.localrestaurantweek.com.

Dining Out For Life – another annual event centered around some of the area’s best restaurants, Dining Out For Life, taking place Tuesday, October 6, is a fundraising event raising money for AIDS service organizations. Participating restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner to these organizations – find a complete listing here.

credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

RiverWorks Oktoberfest – RiverWorks is becoming one of the hottest multi-use entertainment venues in the Buffalo area – if you haven’t checked it out yet, they’re hosting an Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, October 3 from noon to 10 p.m. They’ll have music from the Auslanders and the Frankfurters, and a “Battle of the Breweries.” Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the festival- find out more here.

Buffalo on Tap Harvest Festival – happening Saturday, October 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Buffalo-Niagara Convention Center on Franklin St., the festival will feature more than 150 brews from some of the country’s best craft breweries. Standard tickets for the 21-and-over event are $40 in advance ($50 at the door) and includes a souvenir sampling glass, live entertainment and four hours of sampling – get more information here.

Rocky Horror Picture Show – do the “Time Warp” at this annual party at the RivieraTheatre, 67 Webster St. in North Tonawanda. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. with a 10 p.m. pre-show and a midnight showing of the cult classic. Tickets for the party are $17 pre-sale, $20 at the door – see the movie for just $5.

Smithsonian’s Museum Day Live!: September 26, 2015

The Buffalo History Museum is one of the
museums you can visit for free on
Saturday, September 26
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Smithsonian Magazine presents Museum Day Live! on Saturday, September 26 across the country. Museum Day Live! is an annual event where participating museums open their doors to anyone with a Museum Day Live! ticket free of charge. Each ticket – print yours here – is good for admission for two people.

The following WNY-area museums are participating in Museum Day Live!:

• Niagara History Center – 215 Niagara St. in Lockport (14094)
• Burchfield Penney Art Center – 1300 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo (14222)
• Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum – 180 Thompson St. in North Tonawanda (14120)
• Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site – 641 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo (14202)
• Albright-Knox Art Gallery – 1285 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo (14222)
• Nash House Museum – 36 Nash St. in Buffalo (14204)
• Buffalo History Museum – 1 Museum Ct. in Buffalo (14216)
• Colored Musicians Club Jazz Museum – 145 Broadway St. in Buffalo (14203)
• Steel Plant Museum – 100 Lee St. in Buffalo (14210)
• Forest Lawn Cemetery – 1411 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo (14209)
• Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village – 3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd. in Amherst (14228)
• Erie Canal Discovery Center – 24 Church St. in Lockport (14094)
• Buffalo Harbor Museum – 66 Erie St. in Buffalo (14202)
• Museum of disABILITY History – 3826 Main St, in Amherst (14226)

For more information on Museum Day Live! visit www.smithsonianmag.com. 

Celebrate fall 2015: U-pick harvests in WNY

credit: Wikimedia Commons/Scott
Bauer-USDA

Fall in Western New York is about more than craft fairs, fall festivals, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating. Many local farms offer “u-pick” opportunities for families, giving kids and adults the fun of picking crops in the garden without all the work of tending the garden itself. Here are just a few of the area’s pick-your-own-harvest spots – take a road trip this weekend!

Stonehill Orchard, 2356 Shirley Rd. in North Collins (14111), offers u-pick and already-picked apples and grapes; open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – call 716-337-2380 for more information.

Falcone Farms, 1707 King Rd. in Forestville (14062), offers u-pick apples (September 3 through November 1) and Concord grapes (September 20 through October 20), as well as some already-picked produce; open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – call 716-965-2503 for more information.

Meadows Farm, 10459 Prospect Rd. in Forestville (14062), offers u-pick and already-picked apples; open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. – call 716-965-2674 for more information.

Becker Farms, 3724 Quaker Rd. in Gasport (14067), offers a variety of fruits and vegetables available in store, plus a u-pick pumpkin patch; also offers homemade baked goods and fudge plus on-site winery and brewery. Visit www.beckerfarms.com or call 716-772-2211 for more information and hours.

Blackman Homestead Farm, 4472 Thrall Rd. in Lockport (14094), offers u-pick apples, pumpkins, grapes and pears (in season). Check out www.blackmanhomesteadfarm.com or call 716-434-7116 for more information.

Murphy Orchards, 2402 McClew Rd. in Burt (14028), offers u-pick apples, plums and more; visit www.murphyorchards.com or call 716-778-7926 for more information and hours.

Greg’s U-Pick, 9270 Lapp Rd. in Clarence Center (14032), offers u-pick berries (in season) and pumpkins. Call 716-741-4239 or visit gregsupick.com for more information.

A great source for finding pick-your-own areas in Western New York and throughout the United States is www.pickyourown.org; some of the information is not updated, but it will give you addresses, phone numbers, and websites when applicable. Also check out www.nyapplecountry.com. 

Celebrate fall 2015: Kelkenberg Farm

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/
digidreamgrafix

Kelkenberg Farm, at 9270 Wolcott Rd. in Clarence Center, will open for Fall Pumpkin Fun Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday, September 19 through Saturday, October 31, plus Columbus Day (Monday, October 12). Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day.

Admission is $11 and includes a hayride, pony rides for the kids, a farm tour, a straw maze and a pumpkin from the pick-your-own patch. Birthday party rentals are available at the farm as well: $11 per guest (children and adults) plus a $75 barn rental fee for three hours.

There will be baked goods, cornstalks, gourds, pumpkins, apples, cider and squash available for purchase, and refreshments are also available. Visit kelkenbergfarm.com for more information.

Celebrate fall 2015: Cambria Corn Maze

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Vlado

In the heart of Niagara County, the Cambria Corn Maze, located at 5274 Lockport Junction Rd., Rt. 270 in Lockport, features two corn mazes in a 12-acre field as well as pumpkins, refreshments, local products and produce for sale. The Cambria Corn Maze is open Saturday, September 19 through Saturday, October 31.

In addition to the corn mazes, there will be a corn cannon, specialties at the Wine Trail Italian Bistro, kettle corn, cupcakes and cookies. Become a fan of their Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events at the Corn Maze.

The Cambria Corn Maze is open Thursdays through Sundays. Hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; the last tickets are sold one hour prior to closing. Tickets are $10 for adults (15+), $5 for kids 5 to 14 and free for kids 4 and under – cash only please; on Halloween (October 31), wear a costume for half-off admission! Find out more about this maze at www.cambriacornmaze.com. 

Celebrate fall 2015: Darien Lake Harvest Fest

credit: Wikimedia Commons/
Whit Andrews

Darien Lake Amusement Park presents Harvest Fest on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20 and September 26-27. Located at 9993 Allegheny Rd. in Darien Center, Harvest Fest features fun for all ages from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Families will enjoy harvest-themed decorations and activities, crafts, the Haymazing Adventure maze and scavenger hunt, the Harvest Fest Express and more. On Saturday, September 19 and 26, the park will present the Ignite the Night Laser Show at the Laser Lawn at 8 p.m.

There are live performances scheduled throughout the park on both weekends, featuring music, dancers and martial arts, and food trucks and arts and craft vendors will be on hand as well.

The park is offering camping packages for Harvest Fest starting at $59 per night – for more information, visit www.darienlake.com or call 585-599-4641.

Celebrate fall 2015: The Great Pumpkin Farm

credit: Wikimedia Commons/jkb

The Great Pumpkin Farm, located at 11199 Main St. in Clarence, is full of fall fun for families, especially on festival weekends. The Farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to dusk from Saturday, September 12 through Saturday, October 31, but the weekend festivals are what really draw in the crowds.

The Farm will open Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13 for a free preview weekend, with activities available for a small fee. The Farm also hosts the Zombie Mud Run on Saturday, September 12 – the event is held separately from the festival; get more information at buffalozombiemudrun.com.

“Oinktoberfest,” taking place Friday through Sunday, September 18-20, is the annual BBQ cook-off at the Farm. Friday is preview night, with free admission from 5-9 p.m., but the Farm’s activities will not be open; admission on Saturday and Sunday is $7 each day. In addition to great food, there will be live music all three days.

On Saturday and Sunday, September 26-27, check out the World Pumpkin Pie Eating Championship, plus Pig Races throughout the weekend.

The famous World Pumpkin Weigh-Off weekend is Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4. The weekend will also feature the “Mutt-alica" Dog Show and the Just Horsing Around Show both days.

Columbus Day weekend (Saturday through Monday, October 10-12) features the Pumpkin Olympics, plus the annual Pumpkin Drop on Monday.

The High School Trebuchet Contest takes place Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18, where local high school building their own pumpkin catapult for the distance contest.

Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25, is the final weekend for 2015. A costume contest will be held both days, and all attractions will be running.

Tickets for all Great Pumpkin Farm festivals are available in advance at Wegmans; admission during non-festival days is free. For more information on the Great Pumpkin Farm, visit www.greatpumpkinfarm.com or call 716-759-8483 or 716-759-2260.

Five Things to do in September 2015

Luna, circa 2013
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

September is a time for harvest events, music, craft beer and theatre – plus the long-awaited opening of a new exhibit at the Buffalo Zoo. Just because school is back in session doesn’t mean you can’t fill up the weekends with fun!

Arctic Edge at the Zoo – we’re all hoping sweet little Luna will be making an appearance at the Buffalo Zoo when her new home, the Arctic Edge, is opened to the public on Saturday, September 12. It’s a 1.5-acre exhibit with two polar bear enclosures and underwater viewing areas for Luna and her mama, Anana. Also housed in the exhibit are American bald eagles, Eurasian lynx and arctic wolves.

Celebrate fall – autumn in the Buffalo-Niagara region is beautiful, and there are a number of places to celebrate the season beginning this month, including Becker Farms in Gasport, the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence and Pumpkinville in Great Valley (near Ellicottville).

Music Is Art with the Goo Goo Dolls – the Music Is Art Festival, Saturday, September 12, is in its 13^th year, and this year is extra-special, as it’s headlined by Robby Takac’s band, the Goo Goo Dolls. The festival, at Marcy Casino in Delaware Park, features more than 100 bands, DJs, performance artists, a kids’ zone and much more – and admission is free! Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Buffalo Beer Week – actually, more like 10 days, but when you’re celebrating beer, who’s really counting?! From Saturday, September 26 through Monday, October 5, beers from Buffalo and around the world will be celebrated with a number of events, including the Ballpark Brew Bash on September 26. Find out more about the festival here.

Curtain Up! – Buffalo’s theatre season opens up with this downtown celebration on Friday, September 18. The 34^th annual event has three “acts”: dinner and cocktails at a restaurant in the Theatre District or at Shea’s Performing Arts Center; a show at one of the area’s theatres; and a street party when the show is over. There are 15 theatres participating in the event, with “curtain up” at 8 p.m. at all of them – find a complete list and more information here.

Five Things to do in July 2015

I can’t believe we’re already halfway through the year – there’s still so much to do! If your schedule isn’t full already, here are a few things to fit in for July.

The Ponies at last year's Man Up
Car and Bike Show

“Man Up” for a good cause – On Saturday, July 18^th, the “Man Up” Car and Bike Show is being held at East Amherst Fire Hall, 9100 Transit Rd. in East Amherst. Last year, proceeds from the show went to Make-A-Wish of WNY and Carly’s Club – here’s my piece from last year, and the 2015 event Facebook page.

Mustang madness – I’m a ridiculous fan of Mustangs (my dad brainwashed me early on!) and love the Mustang show each year at the Eastern Hills Mall on Transit Rd. in Clarence. This year’s was scheduled to be held Sunday, June 28^th, but Mother Nature decided it would be good to RAIN…ALL WEEKEND…because we needed it (NOT!). Thankfully, it’s been pushed back to Sunday, July 12^th, so we should be able to get the Ponies ready for a test run for the previously mentioned show.

Sample the flavors of Buffalo – there are plenty of opportunities to sample some great food this month: Buffalo History Museum’s Food Truck Rodeo (July 1^st), the Taste of Lockport (July 5^th), the Taste of Buffalo (July 11^th and 12^th), the Italian Heritage Festival (July 16^th through 19^th), Hamburg’s Burger Fest (July 18^th), the Taste of Orchard Park (July 22^nd), Wines in the Wild (July 22^nd), the Niagara Wine and Culinary Festival (July 25^th and 26^th) and the Taste of Lancaster (July 31^st and August 1^st) – just to name a few!

Celebrate your independence – get ready for fireworks all over the Buffalo-Niagara area (as long as Mother Nature cooperates!). Head to Ellicottville for the Summer Music Festival or Rodeo, get on the MetroRail and go downtown to Canalside or Coca Cola Field, head to Varysburg for some great country music and spectacular fireworks at Jam in the Valley, or attend one of the many events in your home town.

The beautiful backdrop for the Glen
Park Art Festival

Visit an up-and-coming art festival – it’s only in its fifth year, but the Glen Park Art Festival in the Village of Williamsville is quickly becoming one of the go-to art festivals in a summer already packed with great events. This year’s event takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 25^th and 26^th.

all photos: paulathompsonfreelance.com 

March 2015 in review

After the excitement of the Garth Brooks show early in the month, and the lack of snow throughout the rest of it, March settled in to be quite a non-eventful month – and that’s a good thing! Believe me, Garth was enough excitement for the month :)

I did make it out to Plantasia, because I needed that little bit of springtime in my life…

And I watched the snow melt away to nothing…there was a time I didn’t think that was going to happen… (those raised beds with the fencing around them on the left? At one point, I only saw the upper 6” of the 3-foot fencing!)

And now, happily, it’s spring – I’d much rather have rain than snow!

all photos: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Buffalo Finds: Gridlock Lacquer – Smingus Dyngus

paulathompsonfreelance.com

The Buffa-love for Gridlock Lacquer continues today with another seasonal color – Smingus Dyngus! If everyone in Buffalo is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Polish on Dyngus Day, the day after Easter. For the uninitiated, the easiest thing to do is direct you to the official Dyngus Day Buffalo website, which is full of information on the “holiday” and how to celebrate it (besides drinking, which is pretty much a given for most Buffalo holidays!).

Smingus Dyngus is a red gel with red glitter – perfect for Dyngus Day celebrating. Like Butter Lamb, it’s not over-the-top, but it’s definitely showy – I love it on long nails!

Other posts on Gridlock Lacquer:

Buffalo Finds: Gridlock Lacquer – Loganberry

Buffalo Finds: Gridlock Lacquer – Butter Lamb

Buffalo Finds: Gridlock Lacquer – Butter Lamb

I’m not sure what its popularity is in other parts of the country – or the world, for that matter – but Easter isn’t Easter without a butter lamb in Buffalo. For the uninitiated, yes, it’s butter, and yes, it’s in the form of a lamb…simple things, people, simple things! This has only recently led to things like butter turkeys and butter Christmas trees, but the lamb is the original.

Gridlock Lacquer, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite nail polish brands, celebrates the season with a limited edition polish called, of course, “Butter Lamb.” It’s not a flamboyant, day-glo yellow – it’s definitely more of a buttery-golden-tone on the nail.

paulathompsonfreelance.com

My recent order also included a color called Smingus Dyngus, in celebration of another Buffalo tradition, Dyngus Day! Look for that in the coming days.

Other posts on Gridlock Lacquer:

Buffalo Finds: Gridlock Lacquer - Loganberry

Five Things to do in April 2015

credit: freedigitalphotos.net/fotographic1980

Sooooo…March has been a lot better than February, but I still see snow…on the ground and falling…here’s hoping April brings us some warmer weather and plenty of things to do! Check out these five things for some schedule inspiration!

Celebrate spring at the Botanical Gardens – there’s still time to get to the Gardens’ Spring Flower Show, which is on-going until April 12^th, at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, located at 2655 South Park Ave. in Buffalo. Check out beautiful flowers, have fun at the petting zoo, and meet the Easter Bunny next weekend before he hops away until next year!

Dyngus Day! – if you’re from Buffalo, it needs no explanation – if you’re not, then learn all about it here.

Batter up! – the Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A farm team of the Toronto Blue Jays, open up their season on Thursday, April 9^th against Thruway rivals the Rochester Red Wings. I’m hoping to get to a Bisons game sometime this year – I’m always heading to Toronto or Cleveland for games, why not hit one in my own city?!

Endulge – beer aficionados can check out Beerology on Saturday, April 18^th at the Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy. in Buffalo, from 7 to 10 p.m. Prefer wine? Catch the Buffalo Wine Festival on the same day at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center on Franklin St. in Buffalo. There are two sessions for this one – 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Like both? That’s an option too!

Sweet treats – nearby Franklinville hosts the 53^rd annual WNY Maple Festival Saturday and Sunday, April 25^th and 26^th. Grab an all-you-can-eat Pancake and Sausage breakfast both days, attend the Maple Festival Parade on Saturday (11 a.m.), check out the craft show (both days), bring out the classic car or bike for the show on Sunday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and lots more.

2015 Easter Brunch and Dinner Ideas in Buffalo-Niagara

freedigitalphotos.net: potowizard

Easter is on Sunday, April 5^th, and many families will head straight from church services to brunches and dinners. Here are a few of the restaurants serving traditional Easter brunches and dinners.

• Hyatt Regency Buffalo – located at 2 Fountain Plaza in downtown Buffalo, the Hyatt will offer brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Atrium Bar and Bistro featuring omelet , pancake and waffle, and carving stations, assorted breakfast and lunch items, gourmet salads and champagne at noon. Cost is $34.95 for adults, $20.95 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for children under 4. Call 716-855-4830 for reservations.
• Salvatore’s Italian Gardens – located at 6461 Transit Rd. in Depew, Salvatore’s will offer Easter brunch with the Easter Bunny. The brunch will feature omelet and carving stations, salads, numerous hot selections, a children’s buffet and assorted desserts and gourmet confections. Cost for brunch is $31 for adults and $19 for children ages 5 to 11, $11 for children ages 3 and 4, and free for children under 3; reservations can be made at 716-683-7990.
• La Galleria – located on Southwestern Ave. near Abbott in Orchard Park, La Galleria will offer its 39^th annual Easter buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring baked Easter ham, chicken breast Supreme, fresh vegetable medley, baked pasta and meatballs and more, plus a large assortment of desserts. Cost is $23.95 for adults, $10.95 for children 5 to 11, and free for children 4 and under. Call 716-648-4880 for reservations.
• Glen Iris Inn – located in Letchworth State Park in Castile, the Glen Iris Inn will offer Breakfast with the Easter Bunny featuring a breakfast buffet. Seatings are available from 8 to 10:30 a.m.; cost is $12.95 for adults and $6.95 for children – make reservations at 585-493-2622.
• Italian Village – located at 6354 Transit Rd. in Depew, the Italian Village offers an Easter buffet from noon to 8 p.m. featuring a carving station, hot items including roast chicken, macaroni and cheese and more, soup and salad and a dessert station. Cost is $21.95 for adults, $13.95 for children ages 6 to 13, and free for children 5 and under – make reservations at 716-634-1804.
• Pane’s Restaurant – located at 984 Payne Ave. in North Tonawanda, Pane’s serves an Easter buffet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring carved ham, turkey and roast beef, prepared omelets and waffles, breakfast items, desserts and pastries and much more. Cost for brunch is $22.95 for adults, $12.95 for children ages 6 to 11 and $8.95 for children ages 2 to 5. They will also offer a dinner buffet from 2 to 8 p.m. – cost is $26.95 for adults, $12.95 for children ages 6 to 11 and $8.95 for children ages 2 to 5. Reservations are recommended – 716-692-7076.
• Ramada and Embers Restaurant – located at 2402 N. Forest Rd. in Getzville, the Ramada will offer an Easter brunch with two seatings available – 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; cost is $21.95 for adults, $10.95 for children 4 to 12 and free for children under 4; call 716-636-7500 for reservations. Embers Restaurant at the Ramada will offer a special Easter dinner menu from 2 to 8 p.m. as well.
• Grapevine Restaurant – The Grapevine will offer brunch at both of its locations: 333 Dick Rd. in Depew (The Grapevine Banquets) from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 45 S. Ellicott Creek Rd. in Amherst (Ellicott Creek Banquet Facility) from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Amherst location will also offer a dinner buffet from 2 to 8 p.m. Cost at both locations is $25.99 for adults, $10.99 for children ages 6 to 11, $7.99 for children ages 2 to 5 and free for children under 2 – make reservations for either location at 716-691-7799.

2015 Buffalo Bucket List

Last year, I made myself a Buffalo Bucket List of places I wanted to explore in the area – I made it to five of the 10 places listed. Here’s my updated list for 2015 – five from last year and five new ones!

Carryovers:

• Erie Basin Marina Trial Garden – visited this on a Garden Festival bus trip a few years ago – hopefully this will still be on Garden Walk Buffalo’s drop-off route.
• Seneca Niagara Casino – I haven’t been to the casino in over three years – therefore I haven’t seen the updates!
• Buffalo Bisons game – I haven’t been to a Bisons game in years either – affordable fun!
• Buffalo Bites food tour – I saw a television piece on Ch. 2 about these tours a couple of years ago – I immediately said, “I need to go on one of these!”
• Buffalo Central Terminal – the Central Terminal is being renovated to its former glory – my uncle is one of the retired volunteer sheet metal workers who have already reconstructed some of the pieces.

New adventures:

• Canalside – this was actually one of last year’s items, and I did make it there – but that was before the HarborCenter, (716) and Tim Horton’s opened, and all the other changes! I need to go back!
• Lewiston Gardenfest – I always tend to hit the same Garden Walks – Amherst, Williamsville, Parkside, Capen – so this year I want to hit at least one new one, and Lewiston is such a beautiful area as it is, that’s my planned adventure (along with a few others I hope!).
• Darwin Martin House – I’ve looked at the outside while on the Parkside Garden Tour, but I haven’t been on the inside since I was in elementary school – before most of the work was done.
• Melting Point – a restaurant dedicated to grilled cheese sandwiches? Yes please!
• Buffalo Zoo – I haven’t been to the Zoo in a couple years, and I want to see the new giraffes and Luna and Kali’s new digs!

The Fever: Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood at First Niagara Center

I’ve been a Garth Brooks fan since the beginning – I remember being totally impressed the first time I heard “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old).” I’ve got all the CDs, the box sets and DVDs…I just hadn’t seen him live :(

Check that off the bucket list!

Mom and I went to see Garth and Trisha Yearwood last Thursday, March 5^th, at the First Niagara Center, the first of six shows over four nights – I don’t know how he does it, that’s just crazy scheduling! Did we get to see the best show? I don’t know…we did in my mind, just because I was there!

The first time I looked at the stage, I looked at Mom and said, “Something’s going to happen to that stage by the end of the night” – I was right. I will never listen to “The Fever” again without thinking of that performance!

He only did three songs from the new album – the opening “Man Against Machine,” “People Loving People” and “Mom” – but as he acknowledged in the beginning of the show, he was there to play the hits…and I forgot how many there were! I was most happy to hear my favorite, “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” – that song is just too short! – and to finally hear the “lost verses” of “The Thunder Rolls” and “Friends in Low Places” live.

Garth and Trisha, you loved Buffalo, and we loved you back…so come back soon!

all photos: paulathompsonfreelance.com