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There’s Much To See And Do In Buffalo

Buffalo’s resurgence has been akin to that of the mythical phoenix rising from the ashes. The city that once stood as the western terminus of the Erie Canal, the second-largest metropolitan area in New York State fell on rough times as transportation routes shifted and less and less shipping traffic called Buffalo’s grain elevators into service. The foundry industry all but left and the economy collapsed. By the 1970s the city stood as a shell of what it was in the early 20th Century.

“We are fortunate that the area was too poor to just demolish the old buildings.” That’s how Visit Buffalo Niagara Marketing Manager Drew Brown describes the unwitting catalyst for growth and a rebirth of sorts. He is right.

From the exposed distressed brick walls of so many places to the preserved history along areas like Michigan Street and Delaware Avenue, Buffalo is on the move, and it doesn’t appear to be stopping any time soon.

As a visitor in the city so many of us in the Southern Tier take for granted, simply walking Elmwood on a Wednesday morning, looking at the architecture, the arts that surround it all, even the history peeking through all of the newer development stands as a testament to the commitment to rebuild the Rust Belt behemoth that Buffalo truly is.

Beyond the history, and through the vast number of cultural tours that await you on a visit to Buffalo, the culinary side is one that must be experienced to be believed. The options throughout Buffalo, many of them new, are destined to bring your palate to life. Oh, and one thing nearly every place in Buffalo has in common hearkens back to that blue collar feel; a well-stocked wall of bourbon, scotch, and other various distilled spirits are at your fingertips. Even the pull handles at the bar are set for your pleasure. The craft brewing industry in Buffalo has been growing for a few years and the flavors leave little to the imagination. Sponge candy, loganberry, blood orange, even brews reminiscent of the regional heritage.

Two of the newest lodging options are ready for your stay, and at very affordable rates. Both buildings have been long-standing features. One with a very interesting past. These luxurious hotels will give you just what you are looking for, and leave plenty in your wallet to play, dine, learn, or whatever you are looking for in Buffalo.

Call it the Queen City, the Nickel City, or even the City of Good Neighbors, more and more people are finding pride in calling Buffalo home. Everywhere you go, you’re greeted by a smile and a “Hello.”

History

Colored Musicians Club – 145 Broadway St.

Can you think of anything better than bellying up to the bar for a beer with a well-balanced band behind you? That’s what you can get in this piece of Buffalo’s history.

CMC museum admission is $10 and is open Thursday – Saturday, 11 a.m. To 4 p.m. Or by appointment.

(https://www.cmctheclub.com/)

Canalside/Buffalo River Cruise – 44 Prime St.

Canalside has been the jewel of the waterfront in the Buffalo Resurgence. Once where the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium stood, the park is now a public gathering space that offers over 1,000 activities a year, to include the Thursday night concerts throughout the summer. On the grounds are ruins of buildings that sat on the terminus of the Erie Canal. The outlet still holds its significance to the original rise of Buffalo in not just New York and American history but global history.

Theodore Roosevelt

Inaugural Site –

641 Delaware Ave.

Buffalo carries both the misfortune and luck to have been one of just a handful of sites to host the presidential inauguration outside of the national capital. In 1901, the Ansley Wilcox home, on Delaware Avenue, was to play a special part in American history. President McKinley had just been assassinated at the Pan-American Expo, in the Queen City. Then-Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was to be sworn in.

The tour is not just a retelling of history as it was. Your tour guide will take you through a very interactive multimedia journey through time to experience the events that took place in that house.

The hour-long tours cost: Adult $10; Seniors (62+) $7; Children (5-18) $5; Students w/ID $7

Darwin D. Martin House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright –

125 Jewett Parkway

Many historic sites offer a glimpse into one person, one event, or one time. This resurrected monument to architecture stands as a history lesson of a world-renown architect and genius, but also for who the house was built. Both men were top of their field and influences and. left a lasting impression on Buffalo and Western New York. A two-hour tour carries a ticket price of $37 for adults, $35 for seniors 65+, $33 for students, and $31 for members. The one-hour tour is $19 for adults, $16 for seniors 65+, and $14 for students. Members are free. Tours are structured and times must be reserved. Online purchases are recommended.

(http://www.darwinmartinhouse.org/)

Parkside Candies –

3208 Main St.

Time changes many things but Parkside Candies is still pretty close to the original shop they had in the University Heights district. The building not only houses a cool step back in time in decor, building, even the new sign out front, but the employees still wear the white dress shirt, red apron and red bow tie.

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Food

Toutant – 437 Ellicott St.

A theme that has run throughout the Buffalo resurgence is the reuse of the old and historic. Toutant is a restaurant that has done just that. On a street that was once nearly desolate, Toutant is a jewel that adds to the luster of growth. Only two years old, the place is three floors of casual Southern dining. The old brick walls and wood floors offer a feel of simplicity and the comfort of a loft with friends. The menu celebrates the comfort foods of the American South. Toutant is casual enough for a stop while out and about but still a stop that could be coupled with a night out at the theater.

(http://www.toutantbuffalo.com/)

Betty’s – 370 Virginia St.

It’s one of those really cool places to go and eat outdoors on those warm mornings in Buffalo. Betty’s has been a staple in its neighborhood since 2004. The omelets ($9.75) are worth the trip alone.

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Allen Burger Venture (a.b.v.) – 175 Allen St.

Sometimes all you want is a burger, but not just any old burger. Head to Allen Street. Allen Burger Venture is the place to go. All of their burgers are dry-aged, grass-fed, all Angus beef that has been certified hormone and antibiotic free.

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100 Acres: The Kitchens at Hotel Henry –

444 Forest Ave.

The signature restaurant of the Hotel Henry Urban Resort and Conference Center. The variety of rooms available for dining offer a different experience each time you visit.

(http://www.100acresbflo.com)

Ashker’s –

1002 Elmwood Ave.

Elmwood is known throughout the region for its art and hipster culture. A juice bar is a normal expectation. Ashker’s fits the bill. Not only is the place warm and welcoming when you walk in but the food and the ambiance is something you have to experience to believe.

http://www.ashkersbuffalo.com/

Lloyd Taco Factory -1503 Hertel Ave.

Undoubtedly the food trucks come to mind. That’s where it all started. Like every good restaurant, a physical location is always a nice thing. Self-described as what a taco shop would be if Willy Wonka opened it, the Taco Factory is as visually pleasing as the Big Lloyd burrito is flavorful. Bright-colored pipes can be seen throughout the facility, labeled to be carrying sauces.

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Beer

Resurgence –

1250 Niagara St.

Looking for a nice place to sit and enjoy a great local beer? This is it. Whether you decide to relax next to the fire in the beer garden or enjoy a nice Loganberry Wit while playing a game of bubble hockey, Resurgence Brewing Company is the place to go. You won’t find an overblown food menu. This place focuses on what brings people in. The beer.

New Lodging

The Curtiss Hotel –

210 Franklin St.

One of the newest additions to the Buffalo lodging landscape options, The Curtiss Hotel is an opulent facility in the heart of Buffalo for a modest budget. As you check in and see the Gilded Age styling all around, the amount of your stay feels like nothing. The rooms of the Curtiss are no let-down after the opulence that has been built into the building. No expense has been spared. Overall, the 68-room hotel is a luxury stop awaiting you. The facility houses a salon, a French-style restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating.

() Rooms start at $179/night

Hotel Henry Urban Conference Center and Resort – 444 Forest Ave.

Twenty-foot tall ceilings in the rooms, tall window, suite-styled rooms and a great combination of old architecture meeting a simplistic, modern styling all come together in the 88-room, $70 million renovation of one of the largest historic complexes in Buffalo. The Hotel Henry Urban Conference Center and Resort could be the anchor to the Cultural Corridor. Just off the Buffalo State campus and walking distance from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and Burchfield Penney Art Center. Rooms start at $160 a night.

(https://www.hotelhenry.com/)

Art

Burchfield-Penney –

1300 Elmwood Ave.

As you head down Elmwood from the Hotel Henry, another building, this one of more modern architecture, is sure to grab your attention. The sweeping curve of the wall facing the Albright Knox’s classical design seems to beacon to the difference of the art therein. The Burchfield-Penney Center for the Arts, residing on the campus of Buffalo State University, is the culmination of the celebration of a man known for his watercolors and wallpaper design, as well as the home to rotating displays of regional artists, or those with ties to the Buffalo and Western New York area. What you will see on display is not only a stunning example of talent in our region but also the ripples many of those artists have had in the community at large.

(www.burchfieldpenney.org.)

Albright Knox –

1285 Elmwood Ave.

Situated next to Delaware Park, another treasure to enjoy in the City of Buffalo, the Greek Revival building that is home to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery was supposed to be the Arts Pavilion for the Pan-American Expo in 1901. That was not meant to be. Construction was delayed and the building took two more years to complete. Historical aspects of the building are a draw in itself but the collection in the original buildings, as well as the expansions that have allowed for a considerable amount of growth, is truly world-class.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. To 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults; $8 for seniors and students; $6 for youth from 6 to 18; Free for members and children 5 and under.

(https://www.albrightknox.org)

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