Crack out the pussywillows and refill the squirt guns: the best party you’ll ever find on a Monday is back! Buffalo is Dyngus Day central – the #1 city for the historically Polish festivities held the day after Easter commemorating the end of Lent. Few cities in America have as large of a Polish population as Buffalo – and perhaps none Dyngus harder. While the city’s Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood – also known as Polonia – has the most partying per square block, the whole county gets in on the fun these days. Here are some of the top spots to Dyngus on April 22nd. For more information – including how to obtain a $10 “Pussywillow Pass” that admits you into many venues at a discounted rate, and information on the Dyngus Day shuttle running among some of the top event venues — head to DyngusDay.com. 1. Dyngus Day Parade, 5 p.m. This celebration of Polish pride – a sea of red and white parade floats and revelers – winds its way through the streets of Polonia. Perhaps the best spot to view the parade is from the front of The Broadway Market, at 999 Broadway, which also has a garage filled with free parking. No Dyngus Day is complete without a stop at this 130-year-old market; shop for Polish staples like pierogi and placek, then watch the kielbasa eating contest at noon. 2. Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle, Doors open at 3 p.m., 612 Fillmore Ave. 3. Central Terminal Dyngus Day: 3-11 p.m., 495 Paderewski Dr. Buffalo’s historic Art Deco train station becomes a giant party hall tomorrow, complete with music from Hank & Joey Guzevich, Box On and, of course, the headliner Those Idiots as well as Polish fare from Pott’s Deli. $15 advanced tickets and $20 at-the-door admission includes parking. 4. St. Stanislaus Parish Annual Dyngus Day Party, 4-10 p.m., 389 Peckham St. The steeples towering over the Broadway Fillmore neighborhood are a reminder of the important role the Catholic Church played in the area’s growth and culture. $10 admission to the party in the church’s social center includes a free Wardynski kielbasa (made right down the street). 5. Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark St. Another one of the stunning Catholic churches in Polonia features guided tours from 12:30 to 2:30, bowling all day in its basement bowling alley and a Polish Mass at 11:30 a.m., as well as pre-and post parade festivities. 6. The Polish Villa 2, 1085 Harlem Rd., 9:30 a.m. Those looking to Dyngus as soon as they wake up need look no further than this longtime Cheektowaga restaurant serving up Polish fare. The Polish Villa 2 opens at 2:00pm and has live music all day and into the night. 7. Val’s 29th Annual Dyngus Day, Salvatore’s, 6461 Transit Rd. This long-time Dyngus Day party rounds out three decades this year with continuous Polish music from 4 p.m. to midnight and a dance performance from the Polish Heritage Dancers. 8. Millennium Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave., Starting at 11 a.m. Billing itself as “Buffalo’s Original Dyngus Day Celebration,” this Cheektowaga hotel has become the home of the Chopin Singing Society’s annual Dyngus Day party. Entertainment begins at 11 a.m.; $10 admission, with an optional $15 lunch buffet beginning at noon. The post 8 Top Spots To Celebrate Dyngus Day appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/8-top-spots-celebrate-dyngus-day/
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“Everyone’s Polish on Dyngus Day!” Heading out for the massive post-Easter festivities on Monday or looking for an old world, welcoming atmosphere any time of the year? We’re taking you on a tour of neighborhood bars and joints in Buffalo’s historic Polonia District that are seemingly frozen in time. These are establishments that pride themselves on tradition, heritage, and celebrate Dyngus Day like no other – in grand Buffalo fashion! 1. R&L Lounge, 23 Mills Street 2. Arty’s, 508 Peckham Street 3. Daren’s Tavern, 514 Howard Street 4. Adam Mickiewicz Library & Dramatic Circle, 612 Fillmore Avenue 5. Dick’s Eastside Inn, 221 Lombard Street 6. G&T Inn, 68 Memorial Drive The post 6 East Side Taverns to Get Your Dyngus On appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/6-east-side-taverns-to-get-your-dyngus-on/ You probably know all about Buffalo’s most popular destinations for knocking back cocktails. There’s Chippewa – the original entertainment district – if you’re looking for a dance party, the Elmwood Village if you need something a little more low-key, and Allentown if you want to hang out with the hippest crowd in town. Look, there’s no wrong answer here. Pick any one of these hot spots and you’re going to have a good time. But if you’re looking to change-it up a little bit, there are plenty of other crawl worthy strips, streets and avenues to suds it up here in the Queen City. One of the best might be Amherst Street. This runway of fun (funway?) stretches from Elmwood Avenue all the way to Military Road. It’s peppered with bars and restaurants up and down both sides of the street. On a recent Sunday, I grabbed a couple friends and did the hard work of figuring out exactly how to tackle this boulevard of boisterousness. Here now is your roadmap to success: Hot Mama’s Canteen, 12 Military Rd. (at Amherst): Sportsmen’s Tavern, 326 Amherst St.: The Dapper Goose, 491 Amherst St.: Rohall’s Corner, 540 Amherst St.: Voelker’s, 686 Amherst St.: So, there you have it. Next time you’re in need of new scenery head to Amherst Street, where there’s a watering hole for everyone. The post 5 Stops for an Amherst Street Bar Crawl appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/5-stops-amherst-street-bar-crawl/ It’s morning again in North Buffalo, and Pastry By Camille has just opened for the day. The aroma of chocolate-filled croissants cooling on a baker’s cart fills the café. Employees offload loaves of hot sourdough just out of the oven. Chef and owner Camille Le Caer, who arrives at 6 a.m. daily, is behind the counter sprinkling cocoa powder onto a fresh batch of tiramisu. Le Caer, a 25-year-old native of Brittany, France, sets the tiramisu aside and pours a cup of coffee. He explains how his journey took him from the French coast to his patisserie along Buffalo’s bustling Hertel Avenue in the shadow of the North Park Theatre’s neon marquee. Le Caer credits his 86-year-old grandmother, who still sells fresh produce and eggs at her café/ grocery store in Brittany, with introducing him to great cooking as a child. By 17, Le Caer had struck out on his own and set out for Paris, knocking on the door of the nearly 300-year-old Stohrer Bakery – France’s oldest patisserie – one morning at 5 a.m. and refusing to leave until they offered him a job. The next several years proved to be immersion by fire for Le Caer, who trained in several different Parisian cafes and bakeries before moving to New York City to work as a pastry chef at Bagatelle Bistro in the Meat Packing District. He met his wife, a Lockport native, in their shared apartment building in Brooklyn, and the couple relocated to Western New York in 2016 when they were expecting their first child. It was time to start all over again, but that didn’t faze Le Caer, who had already reinvented himself in two of the world’s largest cities. He began by starting a pop-up stand that sold macarons at spots like the Horsefeathers Winter Market on the city’s West Side, then working as a pastry chef at the venerable Ristorante Lombardo, which still serves the crème brulee he contributed to the menu. By last year, Le Caer was ready to open his own café, and a former deli at Hertel and North Park Avenues with hardwood floors and tin ceilings proved to be the perfect spot. Le Caer has since expanded to a second location in the Market Arcade Building downtown and is preparing to open a warehouse this fall where he will wholesale to local restaurants. His Hertel patisserie has a rotation of 150 different crepes and baked goods. On this particular morning, several different macarons, an éclair topped with ganache syrup and whipped cream, and a mousse cake sponge candy filled Le Caer’s cooler. Some of Le Caer’s favorite items include raspberry tart, French onion soup and croquet madame (ham, egg and cheese sandwich). I tried a crepe filled with raspberry jam and topped with whipped cream and powdered sugar that was bursting with flavor. French music plays in the background, and a shelf filled with board games encourages customers to sit and stay awhile. The journey from Brittany to Buffalo could not have been scripted, but Le Caer, who fills his nearly 18-hour workdays with seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm, is proud to make his mark on a city not traditionally known for French pastries. “We’re changing the mentality and the palate of Buffalo,” Le Caer explains. “It’s good to be in this position, especially on the sweet side of things.” Pastry by Camille is located at 1416 Hertel Ave. in North Buffalo. It is open 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The post This Pastry Chef is Redefining Buffalo’s Sweet Scene appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/this-pastry-chef-is-redefining-buffalos-sweet-scene/ March Madness has arrived! With the UB Bulls in the Big Dance this year, this tried and true sports town is in a state of fandemonium. Couldn’t travel to see the games this year? No worries – we’ve got you covered. When you can’t get to the game, pony up to any of these establishments, where the sports are always on for you to watch your team snatch the W: (716) Food & Sport, 7 Scott St, Buffalo: Let’s start with the place where bigger is better! Located within HARBORCENTER, in close proximity to Key Bank Center, and built by Bills & Sabres owner, Terry Pegula, this place knows sports. Boasting nine TVs behind the bar, including a two-story, 38-foot projection screen, your worries of watching multiple games at once are a thing of the past. Buffalo Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, Buffalo: Located in the Cobblestone District right next to KeyBank Center, Iron Works is known for its daily concerts, but during gametime this place will be a haven for those looking get loud when their team scores big. Check this place out if you’re into lots of local beers on tap and a menu full of tasty tacos from Left Coast Taco. Bada Bing, 42 W. Chippewa St, Buffalo: Grab your closest friends and gather around Bada Bing’s Jumbotron – a ginormous TV filled box that resembles the video board hanging over the ice at KeyBank Center. With all of the sports packages, Sunday Ticket, Center Ice, UFC and boxing, there’s always a reason to pop in to this Chippewa bar. Big Ditch Brewery, 55 E. Huron St, Buffalo: The new downtown hangout, you’ll find plenty of jersey-clad patrons here when the game is on. Ranked one of New York State’s best breweries, the tasty beers are always flowing at Big Ditch. You’ll be hoping for overtime just so you can stay a little longer! Soho Burger Bar, 64 W. Chippewa St, Buffalo: This “burger bar” is a reliable go-to for happy hour, an excellent meal and, yep, gametime celebrations. Located on the Chippewa Strip, this corner bar and restaurant has been supplying downtown Buffalo with good times for years! Buffalo RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St, Buffalo: An absolutely massive space situated along the Buffalo River and in the heart of Buffalo’s historic grain elevator district, you’ll be enthralled during the game with plenty of entertainment, food and beers from their on-site brewery to keep you busy during intermissions. PS – adventure-seekers can even take a wild walk on their covered ropes course between games. Colter Bay, 561 Delware Ave, Buffalo: Re-opened by local beer connoisseur, Mike Shatzel, Colter Bay has all of the craft beer selection you’ve come to expect from a Shatzel joint AND a revamped food menu. The warm, lodgy atmosphere is perfect for a comfortable gametime experience. D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Pub, 257 Franklin St, Buffalo: Every day feels like St. Patrick’s Day in D’Arcy McGee’s! Step inside this traditional Irish Pub for a pint of Guinness, comfort foods like corned beef and shepard’s pie and Buffalo favorites including wings and beef on weck. Sports City Pizza Pub, 1407 Niagara St, Buffalo: Sports City Pizza Pub on Niagara Street is the classic sports bar; 24 beers on tap, thirteen flat screen TVs and, of course, pizza. With a large space able to accommodate huge parties, this is the go-to family friendly sports outing location. The post 9 FANtastic Places to Watch the Game appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/9-fantastic-places-to-watch-the-game/ The premise behind Forgotten Buffalo Tours is a simple one: The best way to understand the history of a city is through the context of its authentic neighborhood bars and taverns. And the best way to understand a city’s neighborhood bars and taverns? Go drinking in them, of course! There’s no better way to do that than on a bus with 40 other people and two tour guides with an encyclopedic knowledge of the best joints in town. It’s like a wine tour except the wine is replaced by Genesee beer, you’ll learn a little about Buffalo’s history and no one will end up drunk and crying by the end of it (most likely). The spots you’ll visit on Forgotten Buffalo’s tours aren’t just any old dive bars. No, these are off-the-radar places that have been ingrained in the fabric of their communities for years. They’re celebrations of the various ethnic groups that built and worked in Buffalo’s once booming shipping and manufacturing industry. They’re social clubs that preserve and protect the character of Buffalo’s old neighborhoods, from the east side’s Historic Polonia District to The Old First Ward. And, most importantly, they’re a lot of fun to drink at! Each stop on your tour features a quick history lesson on the neighborhood the bar is located in and how taverns in the neighborhood served the groups that lived there, including a tale or two about the bar itself. And there are some dynamite fun facts sprinkled throughout the tour. Like that former Mayor of Buffalo and my new hero, Francis X. Schwab, got busted for brewing beer during Prohibition. Or the indicators of a good Buffalo dive bar: a Genny neon sign, aloe plants in the front window (for factory workers who may have suffered a minor burn or two during their shift,) and a Men’s room in the front and a Ladies room in the back (from pre-prohibition when it was considered unseemly for the sexes to drink together). Now, if you really want the low-down on Buffalo’s historic bars and taverns saddle up to one of your tour guides: Certified city of Buffalo docent Marty Biniasz and your tour’s color commentator, Airborne Eddy. They’ll give you a little extra history about each stop on your tour and the neighborhood that surrounds it. Ask nicely and they might even share their own personal favorite spots that aren’t on the tour. On my recent tour with this dynamic duo, we swapped bar stories, favorite dive spots, and best wing joints while they schooled me on corners of the city whose history I never knew. They even took us to a bar that still had carpeting on the floor. I haven’t seen one of those in 15 years! My favorite spot was the Buffalo Bar and Grille. Owner John Hoffman bought the First Ward bar so he had a place to hang out with his friends. It’s only open from 3 – 9pm on Fridays and for special events. You’re guaranteed to leave your Forgotten Buffalo Tour with a few new friends, and a list of bars to meet them at. Book your spot on an upcoming tour by clicking here. Jay Josker is an unabashed Buffalover and patron of classy joints and sketchy spots all over the city. Follow him on Instagram and twitter @TheBigElevator. The post Discover Hidden Gems on Forgotten Buffalo Tours appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/discover-hidden-gems-on-forgotten-buffalo-tours/ Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House Complex is as stunning as the day it was completed. Leaving no detail overlooked, Wright’s attention to detail was unparalleled. Paired with Wright’s mantra that ‘everything has it’s place’, there are a seemingly infinite number of painstaking details hidden in plain sight and secret features that the everyday visitor doesn’t get to see. Allow us to pull back the curtain and reveal some of the secret facts and details of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House Complex: 1 – In 1986, the Martin House was named a National Historic Landmark. 2 – Over the last two decades that the Martin House has been open for tours, famous visitors have included Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts, Sigourney Weaver, Ali MacGraw, and Chloe Sevigny. 3 – Frank Lloyd Wright designed everything in the Martin House – referred to as a “tout ensemble” or a “Gesamtkunstwerk.” This total design includes the buildings, landscape, interior furnishings, light fixtures, art glass, and selections of artwork and artifacts for interior decoration. 4 – There is more than 8.5 miles of wood trim throughout the entire estate, consisting of more than 90 different profiles. The wood species include white oak, mahogany, and cypress, native to the US and cut rift or quarter sawn. 5 – Wright included an underground tunnel in the house’s design that is accessed through the basement of the main house, runs under the Pergola, and reenters the main level through the carriage house where the Museum Store is currently located. 6 – The interior brickwork of the Martin House is accented by reflective gold mortar between each brick, including the two brick sunburst fireplaces. 7 – The first house built on site, the Barton House, was a test project to see if Martin and Wright would have a good working relationship, despite the first house ending nearly three times over budget, they not only continued working together but became lifelong friends. 8 – The hundreds of art glass windows are adorned with intricate design work, such as in the Tree of Life design – which has as many as 750 individual colored glass pieces. 9 – The Martin’s had two horses, named after Civil War generals, Sherman and Sheridan. The horses’ stables are used for Museum Store displays. 10 – The Nike of Samothrace statue that watches over the conservatory stands tall at 12 feet and can be easily seen from the front door, some 180 feet away. 11 – Isabelle Martin taught kindergarten in the lower level of the Martin House, where education programs such as summer camp and scouts take place today. 12 – Mr. Martin used a table top thermometer (see it on tour in the library) to read and record the temperatures in each room of the Martin House to ensure he was not over-spending in heating costs. 13 – Frank Lloyd Wright, inspired in his work by Japanese design, decorated the house with 24 Japanese prints. “I remember when I first met the Japanese prints. That art had a great influence on my feeling and thinking… I began to see nature in a totally different way,” Wright stated. 14 – When the landscape is complete, visitors will be able to see the direct reflection of colors, shapes, and natural elements that were taken from the gardens and applied to the interior of the house, informing the design decisions throughout the complex. For more info on tours and details of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House Complex visit www.martinhouse.org. The post 14 Things You Might Not Have Known About the Martin House appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/14-things-you-might-not-have-known-about-the-martin-house/ The magnificent structure that is Shea’s Performing Arts Center (originally called Shea’s Buffalo) opened in 1926 on Buffalo’s bustling Main Street. It’s had its ups and downs, but now with loving dedication, the theater and event space has been restored as closely as possible to its original glory, and serves as a touchstone for downtown’s exciting revitalization. The building was commissioned by impresario Michael Shea and designed by the Rapp brothers from Chicago, who specialized in grand movie houses of the day, with interiors by the renowned Art Nouveau designer and artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. Lush European baroque style décor and architectural elements include domed ceilings, intricate chandeliers and wall sconces, and fantastical hand-painted, carved and molded proscenium and elements throughout the huge theater. After a few decades, it fell into disrepair and economic woes. To ensure that it could not be demolished, a non-profit group, Friends of Shea’s, rallied to get the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Such listings require that any work done must be in keeping with its original design standards, if not directly replicating them. By the mid-1990s, serious efforts were underway to restore its grandeur. “Restore” is the operative word; the theatre, which is now a favorite stop for touring Broadway shows and is an elegant setting for events and concerts, has neither been renovated nor remodeled. The goal is to restore the things that needed it (most everything) while updating only the things required for functionality, safety or to accommodate the change in usage from a movie house to a large-scale performance theater. Much of the work—except for where prohibited by insurance or necessitating a professional—has been done by volunteers. Shea’s meticulously recreated and reinstalled the grand drape; hand-brushed every inch of the thousands of square feet of intricate decorative painting; updated the electrical system and wiring; refinished, repainted and recovered original furniture and scoured the earth for just the right (woven not tufted) carpets to complement those luscious red walls. Historian/historic art expert Doris Collins has overseen the project; she’s been consulting with Shea’s for over 20 years, and has attended to every detail with meticulous attention. (She personally carried a piece of fabric to her native Austria to source a vendor to replicate it.) Another huge element of the original theater is its organ—the largest Wurlitzer theater organ “still in its original home,” said Collins. The organ restoration required a pro, and cost around $400,000. One of the faux marble techniques that Collins points out inside Shea’s is the ancient art of scagliola, which uses plaster and dyes to mimic marble—while there is plenty of actual marble, scagliola walls are visible in the lobby and staircases in the building. Collins adds that without the discovery of replicas of some of Tiffany’s original drawings and watercolors to reference in the restoration, they wouldn’t have been able to be as faithful. “We would have had no idea what the grand drape border looked like,” she added. “But going strictly from the Tiffany rendering, we had it woven and sewn.” There are still plenty of opportunities to catch the remaining shows like Rent, The Book of Mormon and Dear Evan Hansen as part of the 2018-2019 Broadway season. And plan ahead by taking a look at the recently announced 2019-2020 Broadway season! Check out more of the beautiful details of Shea’s in the photos below (click to enlarge): The post Buffalo Architectural Spotlight: Shea’s Performing Arts Center appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/buffalo-architectural-spotlight-sheas-performing-arts-center/ We’re expecting an absolutely gorgeous summer and there’s no better time to experience Buffalo using my personal favorite mode of transportation – bicycle! With the launch of the Independent Health-sponsored Reddy Bikeshare program in recent years, visitors and residents are finding a new method of traversing our fair city. On two wheels, you get to soak in each neighborhood you pass through at street level and at a slower pace than by bus, rail or car. With unique destinations around each Reddy bike rack, you’ll be thankful for the stop-and-go convenience of the cycles. If you’re wondering how to get started using Reddy Bikeshare, use this handy guide to get rollin’. First Things First In town just for the weekend? The Hourly program is for you. An initial $8.50 activation grants you access to the Reddy bikes for 30 days. While you’re out cruising the town, Reddy Bikeshare also charges 6 cents per active minute. So your first hour of breezy biking costs $12.10 with each subsequent hour costing $3.60. Note: If you’re rolling with your crew, look into the Group Pass. You’ll get access to up to four bikes for an initial activation of $20. Each bike then costs the same 6 per minute as the individual Hourly pass. If you’re planning on staying a while (and we know you’ll want to), maybe the Annual membership is up your alley. A $55 activation gives you unlimited access to bikes around the city for a full year with each active minute costing 1 cent.
With the SoBi app, you also get a lot of awesome perks such as reserving a bike even if you’re not at the Reddy rack yet. You’ll be able to track your route, distance and time to share via social, too. Unlock, Rock & Roll Just a heads up that helmets are not provided by Reddy Bikeshare. If you feel more comfortable riding with noggin protection, it’s recommended that you BYOH (bring your own helmet). Hold Up Back to the Rack So that’s it! Pretty simple, right? Get out there and see Buffalo’s beauty by bike. And if you’re looking for more information, visit Reddy Bikeshare at their website or Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Happy riding! The post Reddy Bikeshare: A How-To Guide appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/reddy-bikeshare-a-how-to-guide/ With the longer days and warmer temperatures of spring comes the itch to shake winter cabin fever and explore all the events and attractions that we missed so much. Here are some spring happenings to add to your itinerary, from baseball games to a wonder of the world, outdoor festivals and food trucks galore. It’s America’s greatest pastime: the Buffalo Bisons return to the old ball game for their 2019 home opener on April 4th, celebrating over three decades at the newly named Sahlen Field. Sunshine, Friday night fireworks, and an expanded ballpark food menu add to the experience. The whole family can enjoy a one-of-a-kind baseball game, with mascots (including a walking stalk of celery), entertainment, quirky competitions and cold beers – with the Conehead guarantee, of course. To the north, the Maid of the Mist crews are getting the boats prepped for the 2019 maiden voyage beneath mighty Niagara Falls. Feel the sheer power of the falls, experience breathtaking views, and get soaked (don’t worry, there are ponchos!). Once you dry off, spend your day exploring over 150 years of Olmsted-designed history at Niagara Falls State Park (and six other Olmsted parks within the City of Buffalo, more info here: www.bfloparks.org). As the park’s gardens begin to pop with color, the areas surrounding the falls become infinitely more beautiful. Speaking of in bloom, the beginning of May ushers in lots of stunning natural beauty. The Cherry Blossom Festival, held annually at the Japanese Gardens of Delaware Park, comes to life on May 4th as Mother Nature paints the trees with pale pinks and whites. With gorgeous backdrops of the History Museum and Mirror Lake, this once a year event is a feast for the senses. There’s even more vibrant and colorful flora to see and sniff as the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens are in a state of constant change. Their Spring Flower exhibit is on display until April 28th, followed by Arbor Day Tree Tours and the Fairy & Gnome Festival. If you’re looking for a little R&R along with great drinks and food, you can’t go wrong visiting Larkinville in the spring. April heralds the return of the much-loved Food Truck Tuesdays. Nearly two dozen local food trucks are stationed in the heart of Larkinville to celebrate warm weather, live music, and of course, food! Once you’ve had your fill, head across the street to Hydraulic Hearth or down Seneca Street to Flying Bison Brewery, Buffalo Distilling or Buffalo Brewing Company to enjoy tasty craft beer and cocktails, and wickedly cool outdoor patios. For the music lover, the quaint porches of the Elmwood Village become the stages for local musicians at Porch Fest. This biannual grassroots music festival allows visitors to walk (or Reddy Bike) from porch to porch sampling the music of dozens of artists. Down on the water, the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park is back on active duty through the summer with tours, events and more. Step aboard three decommissioned military vessels including a Cleveland-class cruiser, destroyer and submarine. Just a short meander down the Buffalo River will lead you to two festivals taking place amidst Buffalo’s large collection of grain silos. Celebrating the end of winter with music, food and merriment, Thawfest on April 5th is taking place at Buffalo’s waterfront playground at Buffalo RiverWorks while Boom Days is spreading the spring love all around the Old First Ward neighborhood on April 27th. And if while in town, you’re curious about all of the beautiful architecture, make sure you hop on an Explore Buffalo tour. As tours ramp up in April it’s best to book early. Walking, biking, boat and bus tours of the city’s massive grain silos, Gilded Age mansions, and masterworks by architectural greats such as Richardson and Wright highlight Buffalo’s rich history. The post 12 Ways to Spring into the Season appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara. from https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/12-spring-activities-to-get-excited-about/ |