Alpha-Buffalo: E is for Ellicottville

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The small village of Ellicottville, New  York, located in nearby Cattaraugus County, had a population of just 376 as of the 2010 census, but hosts many more visitors throughout the year for special events, skiing and more. If you’re looking for a reason to go to Ellicottville, here are a few items of interest on the annual calendar.

There’s plenty of skiing to do, with Holiday Valley located south of the village and HoliMont Ski Club – North America’s largest private ski club – also nearby. These two destinations help make Ellicottville the top tourist destination in Cattaraugus County.

Golfer in the house? In the summer, Holiday Valley is also home to an 18-hole, par 72 golf course, and 10 minutes away is Elkdale Country Club, an 18-hole public course.

Feeling lucky? Check out Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel, only 15 minutes away.

Throughout the year, there are plenty of weekend festivals in Ellicottville, including Mardi Gras, the Summer Music Festival, Jazz and Blues Weekend, the Taste of Ellicottville, Rock ‘n Roll Weekend,  and the Fall Festival.

Thinking about a getaway to Ellicottville – for a day or for a weekend? Check out www.ellicottvilleny.com for a complete list of things to do, places to eat and places to stay.

Alpha-Buffalo: E is for East Aurora

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Established in 1874, East Aurora is home to an amazing old-time five-and-ten, a historic toy manufacturer and a 100-plus-year-old Arts-and-Crafts era inn. These are just a few of the things that make East Aurora a great place for a day trip from Buffalo.

Vidler’s 5 & 10 opened in 1930 and is now run by the third generation of the family. Located on the village’s historic Main St., Vidler’s now occupies four buildings and over 15,000 square feet of retail space.

Fisher-Price Toys has been located in East Aurora for many years and is also the site of the Fisher-Price Toystore, located on the company’s campus at 636 Girard Ave. Hours at the store are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Roycroft Inn, built in 1905, was built to accommodate the influx of people brought to East Aurora as part of the Arts-and-Crafts Movement. The Roycroft Campus was once the hub of the movement, with more than 500 artisans and craftsmen in the area. Today, the Inn features 28 luxury suites as well as a restaurant and a lounge.

Explore& More Children’s Museum, at 300 Gleed Ave., is the only Western New York museum designed especially for kids. Full of hands-on exhibits and learning activities, the museum also hosts birthday parties and school field trips.

Ever wonder what happened to the boards from the inaugural NHL Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park? Check them out at the East Aurora Classic Ice Rink, located at 41 Riley St. There is public skating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and it also hosts a number of events, including the “Hockey-A-Thon,” a 26.2-hour-long hockey game.

Want more information on East Aurora? Check out eastaurora.org.

Alpha-Buffalo: D is for Delaware Park

Rose Garden at Delaware Park
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Delaware Park, one of Frederick Law Olmstead’s first three parks in the Buffalo area, is a 350-acre park with numerous features and even more events throughout the year.

The restoration of the park in recent years has included a new playground, restoration of the Rose Garden, improvements to Marcy Casino and new trees. Other features include the Parkside Lodge, home of the Delaware Meadows Golf Course Pro Shop, the Japanese Garden, Hoyt Lake and Shakespeare Hill, home of the free outdoor Shakespeare festival, Shakespeare in Delaware Park.

Sports amenities at the park include an 18-hole golf course, softball and baseball diamonds, lawn bowling courts, tennis courts, football/soccer/rugby fields, basketball courts, picnic tables and playgrounds.

Delaware Park is bordered by a number of other Buffalo cultural jewels, including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo History Museum and the Buffalo Zoo.

Find out more about Delaware Park and Buffalo’s other Olmstead Parks and Parkways at www.bfloparks.org. 

130+ rides “Man Up” for a great cause

Q: What would make 130+ owners of classic cars, muscle cars, bikes and trucks sit at a car and bike show for over six hours in less-than-beautiful weather on a Saturday afternoon?

A: A worthy cause, a great family and special young lady that many of us never knew in person, but lives on in her spirit.

On Saturday, July 19^th, the fourth annual “Man Up” Car and Bike Show at East Amherst Fire Dept. on Transit Rd. in Amherst drew more than 130 rides and their owners, as well as numerous car show fans on a rainy but never dreary afternoon – the fact that we were helping honor the memory of Meghan Redenbach brightened the day.

Young Meghan lost her battle with cancer on Christmas Eve in 2010, after battling the disease for two years. During her battle, the phrase “Man Up” became linked to this Royalton-Heartland student, and continues to be her catch phrase even after her passing. The car and bike show, along with concessions, basket raffles and 50/50 drawings, raises money for the Meghan Redenbach Memorial Fund – which awards a scholarship each year to a graduating senior – as well as Make-A-Wish and Carly’s Club. The show is put together by Meghan’s parents, Mike and Nancy, her brother Nick and numerous family members and friends.

I might be partial, but this was one of the best cars shows I’ve been to – in addition to the worthwhile cause, there was a wide variety of vehicles represented and an amazing selection of baskets and gift certificates in the raffle tent. Dad and I also had the Mustangs entered, and Dad took home a plaque for “Richie.”

"Sally" (left) and "Richie" (right)

Stay tuned for the date of next year’s show – it’s definitely worth the visit.

all photos: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Alpha-Buffalo: C is for Canalside

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Canalside is downtown Buffalo’s new hot spot for everything. In 2013, Canalside hosted more than 750 events on its 21 acres of waterfront property. Among the events: concerts, fitness classes, festivals and more.

In 2014, new facilities and events will be taking place at Canalside, including the anticipated fall opening of HARBORcenter, another gift from the Pegulas and the Buffalo Sabres. Set to include two rinks, retail space, a cool restaurant called (716) – that’s our area code – and eventually a huge hotel, HARBORcenter will be the center of Hockey Heaven.

Canalside can be accessed by street, by boat, with more than 1,000 feet of berthing space, or by MetroRail, which will drop you off at the “entrance” to the area. There’s plenty of places to catch a bite to eat nearby, as well as Clinton’s Dish take-out restaurant and the Liberty Hound full-service restaurant right on Canalside grounds.

The 2014 schedule is still in the planning stages – keep an eye out for it at www.canalsidebuffalo.com. 

Alpha-Buffalo: C is for Corning Museum of Glass

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The Corning Museum of Glass, located at One Museum Way in Corning (exit 46 off I-86), is located approximately 2-1/2 hours from Buffalo – great for a day trip or a weekend adventure. The museum is a unique combination of history and hands-on experience, seeking to teach its visitors about a process that’s 3,500 years old – glassmaking – through its collections and research library, as well as demonstrations and make-your-own experiences.

The museum's Glass Collection Galleries showcase glass from Asia, Europe, the Near East, and America, dating back to the origins of glass and glassmaking some 3,500 years ago. Galleries include "Crystal City," showcases pieces made in Corning in the early 20th century; "Paperweights of the World;" "Modern Glass," with pieces dating from the 1880s to 1960; and individual galleries showcasing the areas mentioned.

The Ben W. Heineman Sr. Family Gallery of Contemporary Glass features large art works in glass (closed through April 12^th, 2014 for reinstallation), while the Innovation Center is an interactive exhibit that introduces visitors to inventors in glassmaking. The Frederick Carder Gallery displays pieces made by Carder from 1880 into the 1950s. The museum also hosts a number of temporary exhibits and many themed events throughout the year.

The Corning Museum of Glass is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 3^rd through May 23^rd and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May 24^th through September 2^nd (closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day). Adult admission (20 to 54) is $16, while admission for seniors (55+), military (with ID) and college students (with ID) is $13.60; kids and teens 19 and under are free. Find out more about the museum and upcoming exhibits and events at www.cmog.org.

Alpha-Buffalo: B is for Botanical Gardens

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, located at 2655 South Park Ave. in Buffalo, New York, is part of Buffalo’s Frederick Law Olmstead Park System, which also includes Delaware Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Front Park. South Park, home of the Botanical Gardens, was created between 1894 and 1900 on 156 acres of land.

Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens 2013
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

The original park included a conservatory for tropical plants, an arboretum, a pinetum, a bog garden and a shrub garden. The construction of the conservatory was based on the Crystal Palace and Kew Gardens Palm House, both in England. Today, many of the original buildings have been renovated and additions have been built to create 12 different sections featuring a wide variety of plants and displays, as well as four outdoor garden spaces.

The Palm Dome, the original 67-foot high conservatory, is filled with tall fruit trees and majestic palms. The Gardens also house Victorian Ivy, orchids, begonias, carnivorous plants and a selection of “dinosaur topiaries” – not old topiaries, but shrubs cut to the shapes of dinosaurs. Outside the Gardens, visitors will find the Children’s Garden and the Rose and Perennial Gardens, along with the beautiful front entrance garden during the months of March through October.

NIGHT LIGHTS at the Gardens 2013
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Throughout the season, the Botanical Gardens hosts a number of plant shows, including the Chrysanthemum Show, the Poinsettia Show, the popular NIGHT LIGHTS at the Gardens display, Coleus and Color and many others. Many of these shows (excluding NIGHT LIGHTS) are free to Garden Members; memberships start at $35 for seniors (55 years and older) and students (with ID), and $45 for individuals.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day and limited hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, $4 for children 3 to 12 and free for children under 3 and members; flower show admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, $5 for children 3 to 12 and free for children under 3.