Celebrate the Buffalo Way: Dyngus Day 2016

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Buffalo is considered the “official” home of Dyngus Day in the U.S., and with good reason – not just because of the number of Polish-Americans in the area, but also the fact that week can take a one-day holiday and make it last a week (see St. Patrick’s Day!).

Dyngus Day celebrates the end of the Lenten season, and takes place on Monday after Easter Sunday – this year, it’s on Monday, March 28. I’ve seen it compared to Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) at the other end of the Lenten calendar – instead of beads, get out your pussy willow branches and squirt guns.

Among the activities for this year’s celebration:

• The 10^th annual Dyngus Day Parade through the historic Polonia District at 5 p.m., featuring more than 130 floats and participants.
• Throughout the day, a number of venues – church halls, restaurants and bars among them – will be hosting parties complete with food and beverages, music and dancing.
• The Broadway Market, located at 999 Broadway, will host a kielbasa-eating contest starting at noon.
• The Pussywillow Park Party Tent on Memorial Dr. opens at 3 p.m. and features Food Truck Alley, live music and homemade pierogi.

Find a complete schedule of events at www.dyngusday.com. 

2016 Easter brunch and dinner ideas in Buffalo-Niagara

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The Easter holiday is coming up on Sunday, March 27, 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.

• Salvatore’s Italian Gardens – located at 6461 Transit Rd. in Depew, Salvatore’s will offer Easter brunch on March 20 and March 27, with reservations starting at 10:30 a.m. Brunch will feature omelet and carving stations, salads, numerous hot selections, a children’s buffet and assorted sweets. Cost for brunch is $31 for adults and $19 for children ages 5 to 12, $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 40^th annual Easter buffet from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (last seating at 5:30 p.m.), featuring baked ham, chicken breast Supreme, fresh vegetable medley, baked pasta and meatballs and more, plus a large assortment of desserts. Cost is $25.95 for adults, $11.95 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 $13.95 for adults and $6.95 for children – make reservations at 585-493-2622. Dinner reservations are also being accepted at the same number – dinner is available from noon-8 p.m.
• 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, mashed potatoes, stuffed shells and more, soup and salad and a dessert station. Cost is $22.95 for adults, $13.95 for children ages 6 to 13, and free for children 5 and under – make reservations at 716-634-1804.
• 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 $22.95 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 2-8 p.m. as well.
• Gate House Grill – the Gate House Grill, located at 8220 Main St. in Williamsville, is offering a special Easter dinner menu from 2-7 p.m., featuring roast turkey, chicken marsala, slow-roasted prime rib and more; all dinners include potato and fresh vegetable. Call 716-565-0338 for reservations.
• Adam’s Mark – Adam’s Mark Hotel and Event Center, located at 120 Church St. in downtown Buffalo, is offering a champagne brunch buffet featuring an omlette station, French toast, carving stations, ricotta-stuffed ravioli, mussels and more, plus a dessert station and kids’ station. Cost is $29.95 for adults, $16.95 for kids 5-10 and free for kids 4 and under – call 716-845-5100 for reservations.
• The 31 Club – located at 31 N. Johnson Park in Buffalo, The 31 Club is offering a grand buffet from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. featuring eggs benedict, Belgian waffles, chicken piccata, carved leg of lamb and more, plus a deluxe dessert table. Cost is $31.95 for adults, $16.95 for kids 12 and under – call 716-332-3131 for reservations.
• Pane’s – located at 984 Payne Ave. in North Tonawanda, Pane’s is offering Easter dinner from 2-8 p.m. featuring carved roast beef, ham and turkey, a pasta station, salads, seafood stir fry, desserts and much more. They will also be serving a brunch buffet from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are recommended – call 716-692-7076.
• Statler City – Statler City, 107 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo, offers brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. featuring Belgium waffle station, boneless leg of lamb, orange marmalade ham, mimosas (21 and over after noon) and much more. Cost is $35.95 for adults, $16.95 for kids 3-11 and free for kids under 3. – call 716-853-3300 for reservations.
• Tavern at Windsor Park – the Tavern, located at 8444 Transit Rd. in Williamsville, is offering Easter brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. featuring traditional breakfast fare, breakfast pizza, rice pilaf, carved turkey and ham, pasta and chef salads, fresh fruits and vegetables and more. Cost is $21.95 for adults, $18.95 for seniors (60+), and $17.95 for kids 4-11 – call 716-689-6600 for reservations.

St. Patrick’s celebrations in Buffalo – March 2016

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Did you know that Buffalo was recently named the second-best large city in the U.S. to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in? (Darn, we got beat by Boston AGAIN!) Here are a few of the reasons why.

• St. Patrick’s Week at the Irishman – now through Sunday, March 20 at the Irishman Pub & Eatery, 5601 Main St. in the Village of Williamsville. On Wednesday, March 16, check out the Clann Na Cara Irish Dancers at 6:30 p.m. On St. Patrick’s Day, the Rince Na Tiarna Dancers perform at 1 p.m., with music from Step in Time from 1-5 p.m. and Stone Row from 6-10 p.m. On Friday, March 18, the Clann Na Cara Dancers return at 5:30 p.m., and Celtic Cross performs at 9 p.m. On Saturday, March 19, Rochez-LAchey School of Irish Dancers performs at 6 p.m., with music from Poor ‘Oulde Goat at 9 p.m. On Sunday, March 20, Joe Head performs from 4:30-7:30 p.m., with a set by the Rince Na Tiarna Dancers at 5 p.m. Other St. Patrick’s Week events are taking place at restaurants throughout the Village, including The Glen Park Tavern, Creekview, Eagle House, Sweet Jenny’s and Break’n Eggs Creperie.
• D’Arcy McGee’s – check out D’Arcy McGee’s at 257 Franklin St. in Buffalo on St. Patrick’s Day for Jeremy Hoyle at 6 p.m., then join them after the parade on Sunday, March 20 for live music on two stages and a party in their huge heated tent.
• Live at O’Larkin – on Friday, March 18, continue the celebration at Larkin Square in downtown Buffalo for its fourth annual St. Patrick’s event. Taking place from 4:3-8 p.m., the event features four performances – music from McCarthyizm and Poor ‘Oulde Goat, salutes from the Greater Buffalo Firefighters Pipe and Drums, and dance from the Clann Na Cara Irish Dancers. There will also be food trucks, seasonal offerings from Flying Bison and Buffalo Distilling and an Irish marketplace.
• Old Neighborhood St. Patrick’s Parade – Saturday, March 19 at noon, beginning at the Valley Community Center, located at 93 Leddy St. in Buffalo, and winding through South Park Ave., Smith St., Elk St., Hamburg St., South St. and Louisiana St. Following the parade, a traditional Irish “hooley” will take place at the Center, with music from The Leftovers. Find out more at thevalleycenter.com.
• Buffalo St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Sunday, March 20 on Delaware Ave. in Buffalo at 2 p.m. The annual mass will be celebrated by Bishop Richard J. Malone at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral at 10:30 a.m. before the line-up for the parade. Get more information at www.buffalostpatricksdayparade.com.

BfloGirlSports: Bisons hosting annual open house March 19

credit: Buffalo Bisons

The Buffalo Bisons will host their annual Family Day Open House on Saturday, March 19 from noon to 3 p.m. Admission is free and the day will be filled with fun activities, food and beverage offers and ticket offers. Fans should enter the ballpark through the Washington St. gate.

The Bisons will offer Sahlen’s Hot Dogs and Coca Cola products for $1 each, and all revenue will be donated to the Buffalo Bisons Charitable Foundation. Fans can also purchase an opening day ticket (Thursday, April 14) for a $5 donation to the Foundation.

The Coca Cola Field Box Office will open at 10 a.m. so fans can purchase tickets for the Bisons’ 71 home games this season. Highlighting the 2016 schedule are the Independence Eve Celebration on July 3, Star Wars Night on July 23 and Superhero Night on August 27.

Find out more about the Open House here.

M&T First Friday: March 4, 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.
• Performance by the Buffalo Chamber Players – 2:30 p.m. in the Sculpture Court.
• 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.
• “The New Yorker’s First Art Critic,” Author Talk by Sally Pemberton – 5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium – free for members, $5 for non-members.
• Jazz and Happy Hour – live music by Bates/White Project in the AK Café from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Gallery Talk – Erin Shirreff exhibition – 6 and 7 p.m. in the 1905 Building, South Galleries.
• Performance: Maria Doyle Kennedy – 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium – free for members, $5 for non-members.
• Special Event – The Art of Food and Drink: Whiskey Tasting – 8:30 p.m. in the AK Café – free for members, $10 for non-members.

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

Five Things to do in March 2016

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Mardi Gras Weekend in Ellicottville – Friday through Sunday, March 11-13 throughout the village of Ellicottville. Crown the King and Queen, visit Holiday Valley’s Winter Carnival, check out the Mardi Gras parade on Saturday and much more! Find out more information here.

Cavalcade of Cars – Friday through Sunday, March 4-6 at the Hamburg Fairgrounds Events Center. The 23^rd annual show will feature hot rods, classics, custom cars, race cars, motorcycles, vendors and more. The Batmobile and Christine will both be on site, and there will be live music Friday and Saturday. Hours are Friday 5-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; admission is $13 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids under 6.

St. Patrick’s Day parades – since everyone is Irish for St. Patrick’s Day, take your pick of one of these parades – or hit both! The 23^rd annual “Old Neighborhood” parade at noon on Saturday, March 19 at the Valley Community Center, 93 Leddy St. in Buffalo, or the Buffalo St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Delaware Ave. at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 20.

Maple Weekends – Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20 and again 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.

Buffalo Home Show – Friday through Sunday, March 4-6 and March 11-13 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, Franklin St. in downtown Buffalo. Get ideas for home improvements, landscaping, building and more, sample brews in the Craft Beer Corner, get tips from HGTV and DIY Network star Matt Blashaw (Yard Crashers), and much more. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; admission is $11 for adults ($8 if purchased online here), $3 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids under 6.