Nightlife

Something that Buffalo is definitely known for is the nightlife.  Buffalonians like to brag that our bars are open until 4 a.m. instead of 2 a.m. and that we have the most bars packed into the shortest distance.  The two main areas for this is West Chippewa Street, and Allentown.  The two have very different atmospheres, further proving my point that Buffalo has something for everyone.  If bars aren't your thing, refer to the four previous entries and I'm sure there is something for you!

 West Chippewa Street is a more high-energy area, featuring a lot of dance clubs and oftentimes live music.  Many of the bars have outdoor patios which get very crowded in the summer months.  Even in the winter, snow, and rain, Chippewa gets just as busy as it does any other time of year.  Some nights of the week certain bars will also feature 18+ nights; an opportunity that many younger college students take to dress up and have a good time.

Allentown on the other hand has a more relaxed atmosphere where people go more so to hangout and talk with friends over a few drinks.  It is also a good place for people who enjoy the local music scene, as Buffalo bands are frequently invited to play at Allentown bars.

Both areas also offer many unique restaurants and coffee shops that are open pretty late to accommodate those who are out all night at the bars and also serve as an alternative for those who are not a fan of the bar scene.

Buffalo Art

Something that I personally really enjoy about Buffalo is the huge art culture that the city has.  There are a lot of creative and artistic citizens of the city and it is really represented all over from the architecture of the buildings, to the local music scene and the several art festivals throughout the year.  What I will be discussing in this post are the art museums located in Buffalo, several art related events, and places to go to experience this culture that is unique to Buffalo.

While there are actually 50 private and public art galleries located in Buffalo, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery is the most well-known to the locals and visitors.  Founded in 1862, this gallery is one of the oldest public art institutions in the country.  Even the not so artistically-inclined can have a great experience here, viewing their large contemporary and modern art collection. The admission prices are ridiculously low as well ($12 for adults, $8 for students and FREE when they hold public tours).

http://www.albrightknox.org/

Two of the most popular art festivals occur during the summer months: the Allentown Art Festival and the Elmwood Festival of the Arts.  The small neighborhood of Allentown located in Buffalo attracts tens of thousands of people over the course of the one weekend in June that the festival occurs.  The festival features the arts and crafts of over 400 juried exhibitors and prizes are given to those who submit their work to the festival’s judges.

http://www.allentownartfestival.com/

The Elmwood Festival of the Arts occurs over a weekend in August on the Elmwood strip in downtown Buffalo, where over 170 vendors attend this festival to sell original art and craft pieces.  There are also three stages where over 50 singers, dancers, and bands perform.  In addition, the festival offers kids workshops, food, environmental demonstrations, and 30 local and regional organizations. 

http://eafa.techriver.net/

Another large portion of the art culture in Buffalo is live performances.  Kleinhan’s Music Hall features many musical performances throughout the year, and is most well-known for being the “home” of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.  Shea’s Performing Arts Center (as shown in the image), on the other hand, features touring Broadway musicals and also holds special events.  Some of the most popular performances held here include Mary Poppins, Dreamgirls, Wicked, and West Side Story.

The things that I discussed in this blog are basically the tip of the Buffalo art culture iceberg.  It would take a novel and a half to talk about everything art-related in Buffalo which really shows just how large this aspect of the city is, and how important it is to its citizens.

Sights to See

Buffalo offers several unique and fun attractions for people of all ages, and the best part is that they can cost little to no money.  One of them, the Niagara Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.  While it is not technically located in Buffalo, NY, it is only 17 miles north-northwest of the city.  People from all over the world come to see the Niagara Falls; the most powerful waterfalls in North America.  Visitors can participate in the Maid of the Mist which is a boat ride through the falls, or can come after dark to simply enjoy the falls illuminated by floodlights as shown in the photo.
http://www.niagara-usa.com/

The Buffalo Zoo is the second largest attraction in Western New York, after the Niagara Falls.  The zoo offers its visitors the experience to view a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and more than 320 different species of plants.  It attracts around 400,000 visitors each year and offers several events throughout the summer.
http://www.buffalozoo.org/index.html

The Buffalo Museum of Science is a great attraction for kids as well as adults.  The museum offers interactive education about various science topics including dinosaurs, astronomy, plant life, gems and minerals, as well as zoology.  It also offers several events throughout each month including guided tours and wellness walks.
http://www.sciencebuff.org/

The final attraction of Buffalo, NY that I will be discussing is the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.  It is described by its website as "a national historic site, education center and tourist destination full of exotic horticulture treasures."  The conservatory is made up of three glass domes and nine greenhouses containing topical and exotic plants.  Visitors can attend tours of the gardens, or even plan an event in their lush special event house. 
http://www.buffalogardens.com/default.aspx