2015 Holiday Happenings: Darwin Martin House and Fatima Shrine Festival of Lights

See the improvements to the Darwin Martin House
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Have out-of-town visitors coming in for the Thanksgiving holiday? Take them to see the improvements at the Darwin Martin House, or take them to Youngstown to see the Fatima Shrine Festival of Lights.

The Darwin Martin House will be open for tours Friday and Saturday, November 27-28. Located at 125 Jewett Pkwy. in Buffalo, visitors will see the improvements made to the estate during additional tours for the holiday weekend. The Martin House tour is offered both days at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – tour cost is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, $12 for students and free for members. The Martin House Plus tour is offered both days at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – tour cost is $35 for adults, $33 for seniors and $27 for students and members. Find out more at www.darwinmartinhouse.org.

The Fatima Shrine Festivalof Lights takes place November 21 through January 6 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, 1023 Swann Rd. in Youngstown. The lights will be on display nightly from 5 to 9 p.m., and the gift shop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check out the festival from the top of the Basilica and see 75 displays and 15 acres of Christmas lights, and view the Avenue of Saints. Fatima Shrine will host Thanksgiving Day mass at 11:30 a.m., as well as Christmas Eve masses at 4 p.m. and midnight and Christmas Day masses at 9 a.m. and noon. Find out more at www.fatimashrine.com. 

2015 Holiday Happenings: Fairgrounds Festival of Lights and Victorian Christmas

credit: Wikimedia Commons/Kris de Curtis

Two more events coming up – lights in Hamburg and Victorian elegance at one of Buffalo’s historic places.

The Fairgrounds Festival of Lights, featuring nearly two miles of light displays and lots of family activities, takes over the Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg (enter from South Park Ave.) on weekends beginning November 27-29 and running December 4-6, December 11-13, extended hours December 18-23 and December 26-27. New in 2015: The Great Lakes International Ice Carving Competition, taking place November 27-29, with pieces on display throughout the festival. Gates are open 5 to 9 p.m. (grounds remain open through 10 p.m.); admission is $25 per carload, $50 per busload.

The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, located at 641 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo, offers up its annual Victorian Christmas, with events taking place Thursday, December 3 through Saturday, December 12. The holiday display is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday (general admission $5 per person – December 4-12). The event will also feature fashion show luncheons, a traditional Irish Christmas dinner, wine and food pairings, musical performances and more.  Get more information on the events at www.trsite.org. 

BfloGirlBake: Holiday baking and cooking hotlines

Need help with your pumpkin pie?
credit: freedigitalphotos.net/Apolonia

It’s that time of year again – food being purchase, food being made, food being consumed…let’s face it, the holidays are all about food! Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving on your own for the first time or need a great recipe – or a tip – for the perfect apple or pumpkin pie, there is all kinds of help out there for you. Here are a few “holiday hotlines” that will give you the tips you need.

• King Arthur Flour’s Thanksgiving Guide has all you need to know about great holiday baking – survival tips, a “head start” list, ideas for making ahead and freezing, and of course tons of recipes – there are even some gluten-free options for the guests on your list.
• The Cirsco Pie and Baking Hotline – 1-877-367-7438 – is back for its 10^th year of on-call support to help people master their desserts. In a recent survey conducted by the company, pie bakers revealed that their biggest challenge is making a crust from scratch (52%), followed by knowing how long to bak it (20%) and perfecting the filling (18%).
• The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is open through December with Butterball experts available by phone (1-800-288-8372), online chat or email. The website also features several how-to articles and videos and recipes.

2015 Holiday Happenings: Festival of Trees and Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village

credit: Wikimedia/albertyanks

Two more holiday venues to add to your itinerary this season are the Hyatt Regency in downtown Buffalo and the Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village in Amherst – both host ongoing holiday events that are perfect for all ages.

The Festival of Trees is headquartered at the Hyatt Regency and runs from November 21 through December 3. General admission to see all of the beautifully decorated trees, wreaths, mantles and window displays, as well as shop the Boutique, is free. There are also a number of events, including the Black Tie Gala and the Designer Showcase and Reception that are ticketed. Find the full schedule of events at www.festivaloftreesbuffalo.com.

Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village, located at 3755 Tonawanda Creek Rd in Amherst, hosts its first ever Holiday Shopping Extravaganza from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 21. The event will feature unique items from local artists and works from the Village’s own guilds. The Countryside Christmas Tours, giving visitors a glimpse of 19^th century Christmases, will take place Saturday, December 5 from noon to 7 p.m. Tours are approximately 90 minutes and reservations are required; tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for members and $7 for children.

Another event on December 5 is the Taste of Christmas Past from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., with historically-recreated Victorian Christmas dishes and drinks, plus a tree-lighting ceremony. Tickets are $55 per person or $100 per couple, and Countryside Christmas Tours will be available to attendees for a discounted price of $5. On Sunday morning, December 6, Santa visits the Village for breakfast, with seatings at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage and other snacks and costs $8 per person for non-members, $5 for members (reservations are required).

Finally, the Village hosts a Holiday Tea on Sunday, December 13 from 1 to 3 p.m., catered by the English Tea Ladies and featuring traditional tea sandwiches, quiche, scones and meringues. Tickets are $30 per person, and reservations are required by November 25. Learn more about these events and make reservations at bnhv.org. 

2015 Holiday Happenings: Lockport Tour of Homes and Take Another Look at Buffalo

Catch a view of Buffalo from City Hall on November 28
credit: paulathompsonfreelance.com

Tour late 19^th and early 20^th century homes in a former Erie Canal boomtown and get a different look at the work going on downtown with two tours happening on November 28, just in time to show off the Buffalo-Niagara area to all the out-of-town guests you might be hosting.

The Lockport Tour of Homes on Saturday, November 28 from 2 to 6 p.m. begins at the Kenan Center, located at 433 Locust St. in Lockport. View some of the historic homes in the area as part of the Light Up Lockport activities, including the Palace Theatre, 196 and 250 Locust St. and 456 and 532 Pine St. The event ends at the Palace Theatre with a tour and hot chocolate and cookies from 4 to 6 p.m., Lockport’s holiday parade and a free showing of the movie Polar Express at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 – find out more about the event at explorebuffalo.org.

Take Another Look at Buffalo, also on November 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. at City Hall in downtown Buffalo, will give visitors a view of the new Buffalo. The event will feature light refreshments in the Lobby, City Hall tours, art, live music and Buffalo-themed gifts. The 13^th floor and Council Chambers will feature a “Then and Now” video presentation and Buffalo-themed crafts for kids. The 25^th and 28^th floor observation decks will both be open, with aerial tours from both decks and desserts.. Find more information here.

Area restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinners in 2015

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Getting the family together for a sit-down meal, even at the holidays, can be difficult, and preparing the meal itself can be time consuming. Having your Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant is becoming more and more popular in many places, including here in Buffalo. These are a few of the Buffalo area restaurants that are serving meals on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015.

** - I’ll be updating this entry as I find more places!**

31 Club, located at 31 North Johnson Park in Buffalo, is accepting reservations for its Thanksgiving Day three-course sit-down dinner from 1 to 8 p.m. Entrée choices are Roast Turkey, Prime Rib and Honey Glazed Ham. The costs $35.95 per person – call 716-332-3131 for reservations.

La Galleria, Southwestern Blvd. near Abbott Rd. in Orchard Park, will feature a Thanksgiving buffet from 1 to 6 p.m. with turkey, ham, Chicken Supreme, Italian sausage, stuffing, squash, potatoes, desserts and more. The cost is $24.95 for adults, $10.95 for children 5 to 10 and children under 5 are free. Call 716-648-4880 for more information.

Embers Grill, at the Ramada Hotel Amherst, 2402 North Forest Rd. in Getzville, will serve Thanksgiving dinner from 2 to 8 p.m.; cost is $22.95 for adults and $10.95 for children under 12. For reservations call 716-636-7500.

Acqua, located at 2192 Niagara St. in Buffalo, will offer a traditional Thanksgiving Day feast from 1 to 6 p.m. Cost is $27.95 for adults, $15.95 for children 5 to 12 and free for children 4 and under. Call 716-874-5400 for reservations.

Samuel’s Grand Manor, 8750 Main St. in Clarence, will be serving a Thanksgiving buffet for $23.95 for adults, $12.95 for children 5 to 10 and free for children 4 and under. The buffet will include more than one dozen hot dishes including turkey, carved roast beef, pork tenderloin and Seafood Newberg. Seatings are available from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; reservations are required – call 716-634-8425.

Gate House Grill, located at 8220 Main St. in Williamsville, will offer Thanksgiving dinner from 2 to 7 p.m. –cost is $18.95 per person. Dinner will include turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, choice of soup or salad and dessert; a scaled down version of their regular menu will also be available. Call 716-585-0338 for reservations.

The Grapevine Restaurant will host its Thanksgiving buffet at its Ellicott Creek Banquet Facility at 45 S. Ellicott Creek Rd. in Amherst (next to the Niagara Falls Blvd. restaurant). The buffet will feature turkey, ham, breaded pork chops, Swedish meatballs over egg noodles, soups and salads, sides, desserts and more. Cost is $23.99 for adults, $11.49 for children ages 6 to 11, $7.49 for children 2-5 and free for children under 2 – call 716-691-7799 for reservations.

Buffalo Chophouse, located at 282 Franklin St. in Buffalo, offers a Thanksgiving dinner featuring roast turkey, cranberry sauce, butternut squash, potatoes and more. Cost is $34.95 for adults, $14.95 for children 12 and under; the regular dinner menu will also be available. Make reservations at 716-842-6900.

The Italian Village, located at 6354 Transit Rd.in Depew, offers a Thanksgiving buffet with roast beef, baked ham, turkey, sausage with peppers and onions, stuffed shells, vegetable medley, soup and salads, a dessert station and more. For reservations, call 716-634-1804.

BfloGirlSports: Buffalo Bandits announce 2016 training camp

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One of the most underrated teams on the Buffalo sports scene is the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League. The team that single-handed dismisses the notion that Buffalo teams can’t win championships (they’ve got four), the Bandits play at the First Niagara Center and the arena rocks on game nights. My family had season tickets for eight or nine seasons (‘til work got in the way :( ), and it’s one thing I truly miss doing with the folks.

The Bandits will kick off their 2016 campaign with training camp in Buffalo, highlighted by the open practice and autograph session on Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the FNC. The autograph session will run from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by practice from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will also be bounce houses, a live DJ, face painters, balloon artists and other kid-friendly activities, plus the select-a-seat program for new season ticket holders.

The Bandits will also travel for two scrimmages: a free scrimmage at the Toronto Rock Athletic Center in Oakville, Ontario on Saturday, December 12 (1:30 p.m.) and a ticketed scrimmage at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania against the New England Black Wolves (7 p.m. – get tickets here).

The Bandits regular season schedule kicks off on Saturday, January 9 at the FNC at 7:30 p.m. against the Calgary Roughnecks – find a complete schedule at www.bandits.com.