Krystal's Buffalo Summer To Do List - 2013

Summer comes and goes entirely too fast in Buffalo. There are hundreds of events to choose from to fill up my schedule, but there just never seems to be enough time to do everything I want. Come September, I find myself saying, "I wish I did that!" 

To help focus my summer plans, I've created my own "MUST DO" Buffalo Summer 2013 To-Do List. Some are obvious staples I do every summer, and some are random personal summer goals. I plan on updating this blog post throughout the summer as I check things off.

Feel free to join in, or, even better - create your own Buffalo To Do List and send it my way!!! I'll pick out some of my favorites and post them! 

Krystal's Buffalo Summer 2013 To Do List:

1.) Get to every Buffalo food truck at some point this summer!

2.) Throw a wine party featuring all "local" wines and food!

3.) Take at least 5 tours offered by Buffalo Tours

4.) Try all the fitness classes offered at Canalside this summer (Zumba starts June 4th)

5.) Take a hard hat tour of The Central Terminal! - Sunday, June 9th

6.) Tour at The Darwin Martin House

7.) Take a Lockport Locks cruise

8.) Enjoy a bottle of local wine outside around our patio/fire pit (we are putting one in soon!)

9.) Buy a new piece of artwork at the Allentown Art Festival - Sunday, June 9th

10.) Tour at Graycliff Estate in Derby, NY

11.) Take a tour at Forest Lawn Cemetary

12.) Cross the Ride For Roswell finish line after biking 30 miles

13.) Tour the Teddy Roosevelet Site

14.) Cheer on the Bisons at Coca Cola Field and get cotton candy with Jacob

15.) Take a Whirlpool Jet Boat tour

16.) Take a hot air balloon ride over Letchworth State Park (thanks Dad for the best Christmas gift ever!)

17.) Take Jacob on a nature hike around Tifft Nature Preserve

18.) Sample something I've never tried before at The Taste of Buffalo

19.) Water bikes at Canalside

20.) Strawberry picking - and hopefully the crop is better than last year

21.) Cherry picking (we didn't get to go last year because the crop was so poor)

22.) Visit the Niagara wineries - Saturday, June 1st

23.) Visit the Burchfield Penney Arts Center (preferably on a rainy summer day)

24.) Spend an afternoon at the Griffis Sculpture Park (West Valley, NY - close enough!)

25.) Lead a great tour for Buffalo Bites Food Tours

26.) Beach day

27.) Rock climbing at Silo City Rocks

28.) Visit the new location for Lake Effect Ice cream and sample something new - Thursday, June 6th

29.) Get to Artpark and Canalside for a few concerts

30.) Throw a party at Shakespeare in the Park - you are all invited (bring a dish to pass)

COMING SOON: Silo City Rocks

I went rock climbing once in my life. I was in high school, and my best friend Kristy and I took a few days to "vacation" around Buffalo.  We didn't have a lot of money to spend, so we picked out a handful of activities we'd never done and checked them out. Why we chose rock climbing, I'm not sure, but we fumbled our way up the wall, had a good laugh and went on to the next adventure. 

Fast forward almost fifteen years later: I'm standing inside a grain elevator in Buffalo looking up at the future home of Silo City Rocks. I'm off the wall excited about this project, quickly opening my wallet to support the project. It isn't about the rock climbing to me. With one failed shoulder surgery, and the other one in need of surgery, I'm never going to be a climbing fanatic. Sure, I'll give it a try, but, it's not about the climbing. It's about progress. It's about a change of attitude. It's about taking a dream in Buffalo and making it a reality. In a grain elevator. 

Walking around the grain elevator with one of the co-owners of Silo City Rocks, Jason Schwinger, I could feel the energy and passion he has for this project. 

So what exactly is the project? Schwinger and two other co-owners have teamed up to create a unique experience for climbers in Western New York. An abandoned grain elevator in Silo City will be converted into a rock climbing facility filled with climbing walls for children and adults. Climbers will have the chance to climb and repel off the outside of the grain elevator as well. In addition to space for climbing, Silo City Rocks will be home to a yoga studio, a history lounge and more! 

In March, the owners unveiled the project to the community and the response has been incredible. They launched an Indiegogo page asking the community to donate to the project and have raised over $15,000 to date. The donations will go to support the purchase of materials to get the project off the ground by Memorial Day weekend 2013.

"Since we unveiled the project, I've gotten dozens of e-mails a week asking how people can get involved with the project. In addition to making donations, we are in need of a lot of people to help clean out the space and work on the remodel." Jason told me. If you are interested in getting involved, you can contact Jason by e-mail at jason@silocityrocks.com.

The plans for the project are big. Jason knows the full dream won't be realized by the Memorial Day weekend opening, but they plan to continue to expand and add on. Climbing classes and workshops may be offered in the fall and more events and activities will continue to be added as they can. 

Though Silo City Rocks will take up a lot of space, it will still leave a large portion of the grain elevator empty. "We hope that Silo City Rocks starts sparking other ideas from Buffalonians to continue to fill this incredible space. The possibilities are endless." Jason said. In addition to the grain elevator they will be operating out of, there are a handful more in close proximity! 

In the past few years, reuse/rehabilitation/restoration projects in Buffalo have been fascinating. With the recently renovated Statler, Hotel Lafayette, a beautiful Canalside, plans to reuse the historic Richardson Complex, and more, Buffalo is setting itself up for an incredible future. Now, add the historic grain elevators to the mix and Buffalo continues to become an even more attractive destination.  

As Memorial Day gets closer, I find myself getting even more excited about Silo City Rocks. I'm looking forward to getting my chance to explore the walls, bum shoulders and all, and see another space in Buffalo reused. If you enjoying climbing, it is a must do this summer.

If rock climbing isn't your thing, maybe kayaking is? Jason also owns BFLO Harbor Kayak (which we reviewed HERE back in 2011. Check out the website for current pricing and hours). It's another great outdoor option for summers in Buffalo. 

Whether or not climbing is your thing, you have to appreciate what they are trying to do. I'm so proud of the people of Buffalo who are thinking outside the box to create all the wonderful projects that are in the works. 

Summer 2013 is going to be an incredible time to be in Buffalo. Stay tuned for more details as they come out...

Happy climbing!

Buffalo Festival Dates 2013

This week, I started laying out plans for summer 2013 in Buffalo. I've already purchased tickets to a few summer concerts, my brother is getting married in July, and my boyfriend surprised me with talks of taking a family cruise this summer! With so much going on, I needed a game plan to lay out the rest of my summer so I don't miss all the great festivals and events going on in the City! 

Summers in Buffalo fill up quickly. There are hundreds of events to choose from throughout the summer months, and while I can't do them all, there are a handful (or two) of summer staples I have to attend!

Here is a running list of some of the big Buffalo summer festivals. I'll put out a summer concert post towards the end of this month once they are all released! 

Here's to another wonderful summer in Buffalo!

2013 Summer Festivals In Buffalo, NY

Buffalo Niagara Film Festival: April 10th - April 14th

Buffalo Pride Festival: May 28th - June 3rd

Buffalo Greek Festival: May 31st - June 2nd

Polish Heritage Festival: June 7th & June 8th

Allentown Art Festival: June 8th & June 9th (11am - 6pm)

Juneteenth Festival: June 15th & June 16th

Discover Amherst Street Festival: June 15th

Buffalo Blues & Brews Festival: June 16th (12pm - 9pm)

Citybration: June 21st - June 23rd

National Garden Festival: June 21st - August 4th

Niagara Falls Music & Arts Festival - June 28th - June 30th

Taste of Diversity Festival: June 29th (11am - 7pm)

Old Home Days (Williamsville): July 9th - July 12th

Taste of Buffalo: July 13th (11am - 9pm) & July 14th (11am - 7pm)

Canal Festival: July 14th - July 21st

Buffalo Infringement Festival: July 26th - August 4th

Niagara County Fair: July 31st - August 4th

Italian Festival: August 1st - August 4th

Eden Corn Festival: August 1st - August 4th

Lucille Ball Comedy Festival: August 1st - August 4th

Chalk Fest Buffalo: August 3rd & August 4th

Taste of Williamsville: August 4th (12pm - 9pm)

Erie County Fair: August 7th - August 18th

Taste of Ellicotville: August 10th & 11th

Elmwood Ave Festival of the Arts: August 24th (10am - 6pm) & August 25th (10am - 5pm)

Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival: August 31st (12pm - 9pm) & September 1st (12pm - 7pm)

Beer & Bacon Fest: August 31st (12pm - 6pm)

Music Is Art Festival: September 21st (10am - 10pm)

Buffalo International Film Festival: September 20th & October 3rd - October 6th 


...more to come...

Krystal's Buffalo Summer Finds

With the change in weather this weekend, I guess I have to come to terms with the fact that summer in Buffalo is over. This past summer I explored Buffalo like never before. I had the opportunity to take a good look at the gorgeous architecture in the area, and learn about its history. Living in this area all my life, I've always known the basics, but taking the time to really get to know specific buildings and neighborhoods was an extremely fun way to spend the summer. 

Someone asked me the other day what my favorite outing of the summer was. If I really had to choose just ONE it would be number five on this list, but there were a handful of great NEW finds for me this summer. 

Here are my top five favorite things from the summer in Buffalo (in no particular order):

1.) Buffalo Bites Food Tour - With the tagline of "Eat. Explore. Experience Buffalo.", the food tour was the number one thing on my summer to-do list. I took one of the tours in July along with nine other people (four from out of town). We started the tour at The Globe Market and then went to an additional five stops over the course of two hours. Owner and tour guide, Laura Reed gave us a little history lesson on each of the food stops we made along the way. Many of the stops were places I'd already been to, but I learned something new everywhere we went. We sampled traditional Buffalo food (the chicken wing and sponge candy) and were offered other desserts, snacks and drinks along the way. The food  portions were generous and everything we tried was absolutely delicious. By the end of the tour, I was very full and satisfied! We broke up our sampling by walking around historic Elmwood learning about architecture and influential people during the time. The tour offered something for everyone. We were fortunate that it was a gorgeous summer day as we walked around and explored. The tour costs $42, and was definitely worth it. The season of tours has wrapped up, but Buffalo Bites will be back in 2013! If you have guests in from out of town, or are looking for a fun date, outing with the girls or gift, check out Buffalo Bites!

  

Sponge candy ice cream from Watson's and chicken wings from Cole's

2.) Free fitness classes at Canalside - This summer I had the opportunity to check out some of the free fitness classes offered by Canalside. Fitness enthusiasts had the chance to choose from Pilates, Yoga and Zumba classes held Monday - Wednesday evenings. I was only able to get down for a few, but the classes were an absolute blast. The ones I attended each had a great turnout and people were energetic and lively. The instructors were fun and provided a great workout, without it ever feeling like you were working out. The sun set towards the end of the classes and it was the perfect spot to be!  If you belong to a gym or take group fitness classes, this is the perfect alternative one summer night to being cooped up inside. 

Instructors from Catalyst Fitness lead a Zumba class

3.) Social Media Club Buffalo - As someone who works in social media, I wasn't even aware Buffalo had a social media club until I joined Twitter towards the end of last year! At the end of June, the club hosted "Social Media Day" inside The Statler Lobby Bar. It was a 'happy hour' type of event with food, drink and a chance to network with other local professionals. The event was a great time and I am looking forward to participating in more events with the club. They typically host monthly meetings and offer other activities throughout the year. If you work in social media in Buffalo, it's really a must join club. Buffalo is filled with professional development opportunities for whatever field you work in, you just need to do a little research!

4.) Open Air Buffalo Tours - In July, I took one of the Whirlwind Tours done by Tim Thielman from Open Air Buffalo Tours. The two hour tour was a fascinating look at different architectural hot spots in Buffalo, filled with so many great tidbits of information I didn't know about the area. The stories, the history and the plans for the future make it a must do if you are a Buffalover. If you aren't, odds are you will be after you take the tour. The tours typically run around $20, and they offer a handful of different ones throughout the summer months. 

     

City Hall and The Guaranty Building in Buffalo

5.) The H.H. Richardson Complex - I've always been fascinated with the Complex, but in August I had the opportunity to take an in-depth tour of the facilities and I've fallen completely in love with the property and its history since. The complex, put simply, is a masterpiece. It's a reminder that Buffalo was and can be again an extremely prosperous city where builders want to build. I had the opportunity to volunteer at Museums by Moonlight in September, and spent the evening talking about the building, and seeing people's faces light up when they walked in it for the first time. The Complex will be offering more tours next year, and this winter will begin training docents (myself included!). The Complex is currently being rehabilitated and restored. By 2015 it will become a boutique hotel and the Buffalo architecture center. The progress they have made so far is outstanding. Outside the building they are creating a new public park, which should be open in 2013. It is truly a testament to the strong group of preservationists in the area. 

Fall in Buffalo and the surrounding area is beautiful too, and as I finish up this post, I'm getting ready to go pumpkin picking and check out the leaves in the area. I can't say I'm quite ready for winter yet, but I'm looking forward to posting my Fall Finds later this year!

Stay tuned!

Shakespeare in the Park - Something for Everyone

I owe a lot to my high school English teachers. They sparked my passion for writing. They gave me creative projects and provided great advice that have shaped my career and drive to blog and work in communications. They led me through countless books that I still re-read from time to time and enjoy. They turned me into a bookworm as there’s rarely a time where I’m not in the middle of a book.

I can't say though, that my high school teachers got me excited about Shakespeare. They tried, but I didn't really "get" Shakespeare, or enjoy his works until I started attending performances at Shakespeare in Delaware Park.

I stumbled upon a performance years ago when I was enjoying a picnic at Hoyt Lake, and was so impressed by the whole "package" Shakespeare in the Park offers to patrons.

First you have the backdrop: Performances take place in Delaware Park right next to Hoyt Lake, behind the Delaware Park Rose Garden, surrounded by trees. Everyone brings blankets and/or camping chairs. Then you have a simple but important stage that helps guide you through the performance. As for the performance itself, the directing and acting is among some of the best I've seen on any level, and they find a way to take something hard to understand (to many, myself included) very enjoyable and easy to follow along with.

Alright, so theatre isn’t your thing? For many this is true, but Shakespeare in the Park is about more than theatre. It’s a night to bring friends/family together. Bring snacks or a whole meal if you want, and beverages (wine is my choice) to enjoy in one of the most beautiful areas around Buffalo. Above that, attending a performance is about supporting the arts in the Buffalo area. It’s FREE, and while they do walk around asking for donations at intermission, I can almost guarantee you will find yourself reaching into your pocket to throw something in!

It also makes for the perfect date night – get there at least an hour early and enjoy food and drinks while chatting, then enjoy the performance.

This past Sunday I saw the performance of Richard III and it was outstanding. The play is one of Shakespeare’s longest works. I thought the interpretation of this, at often times bizarre play, was outstanding. Kudos to legendary director Saul Elkin for his directing and staging of the performance. Richard III was one work I had never read, or even knew much about, so while I came in with nothing to judge it by, I thought so many scenes were staged and acted perfectly. Stand out roles for me were the lead, Richard III played by Tim Newell and Queen Margaret played by Lisa Vitrano.

The production of Richard III runs until July 15^th, so get out soon and catch it. They will be following it up with performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” beginning July 26^th and running through August 19^th.   I can't wait to get back there for this performance! 

Bravo to the cast and crew involved with Shakespeare in the Park this summer. You continue to impress me and leave me wishing there were more than two shows a summer! Thank you for giving me a new appreciation for Shakespeare. 

Buffalo Summer Concerts 2012

The summer concert season in Buffalo will kick off in less than a month. The past two weeks have been filled with concert announcements, and more local venues will add to the list soon. One of the best parts of summer in Buffalo is the abundance of FREE and low cost shows featuring well known acts. 

I decided to make a master list of summer shows at as many of the local venues that I could come up with. I will add to it as more get released. If you would like something added to this list, drop me an e-mail at ksondel@hotmail.com, and I'll make sure it gets up. 

If you only have time for one or two concerts this summer, I highly suggest getting down to one of the Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor concerts. They have a tremendous atmosphere with a gorgeous view of Buffalo. 

In no particular order, here is my list of summer concerts (click on the links to be directed to the full schedule):

Thursday In The Square - my top pick is Matthew Nathanson on August 23rd, but there is no way I'll be waiting that long to get down there. 

Buffalo Place Rocks The Harbor - I kind of had a thing for LL Cool J in high school. While I can't remember the last time I dusted off my CD and played selections from G.O.A.T., I think this concert will be a fun way to close out the summer (Sept 1). Local band moe. is a great bet too (June 30th)!

Artpark Tuesdays in the Park - While they added a fee for these shows this year, you really can't beat $5 presale, $10 at the door.

Wednesdays at Artpark - Last summer O.A.R. played while I was on my road trip down south with three of my best friends. I was really excited to see they will be back again this year for another FREE show on August 1st. Counting down the days!

Darien Lake - While these concerts may be out of your summer price range, they offer a great selection (heavy on country). I'll be there to see one of my favorites Dave Matthews on July 3rd!

Hard Rock Concert Series, Niagara Falls - I went to see Our Lady Peace last summer, and while it was a pretty crazy experience, it was free, and it made for a lot of stories to tell with my boyfriend. 

Labatt Canal Concert Series, Lockport - While I've never checked out a summer concert at this venue, I've heard good things, and if anything, it's a good excuse to go to Lake Effect Icecream! The summer schedule includes Tea Party, Eddie Money, Theory of a Dead Man, and more!


M & T Plaza Event Series - These concerts are great if you work downtown. Enjoy music on your lunch hour from 12-1pm. 

Get outside this summer and enjoy one of the many perks of living in Buffalo!!
Two shots from summer concerts I went to last year:

Hard Rock Niagara Falls featuring Our Lady Peace, July 2011 (right) and

Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor featuring Great Big Sea, August 2011

Last update 5/26/12

Summertime Hot Spots in Buffalo and WNY - Krystal's Picks!

With summer just around the corner, and some unseasonably warm Buffalo weather this year, I decided to get in the summer spirit and put together my top 10 summertime hot spots in Buffalo and Western New York. Take into consideration, there are plenty more not listed here, but these ten I have visited before, and absolutely love spending my summer days and nights at. As much as I love winter in Buffalo, summer in Buffalo is the absolute best. I've said it before, but this city knows how to put the warm weather to the best use!

So in no particular order...

1.) Shakespeare in the Park. Even if you don't understand Shakespeare, and even if you aren't a fan of the theatre, enjoying a night on the hill at Delaware Park is absolutely outstanding. Bring a bottle of wine, some cheese and crackers/other snacks and a blanket, and I can promise, you will enjoy yourself. It's great for families, it's great for friends and it's an awesome date night. With Hoyt Lake to the left of the stage, and the Delaware Park Rose Garden behind you, get there early and do some walking around too!

2.) Take a Miss Buffalo II cruise. If you are from this area and you have never gone on one of these cruises, you have really been missing out! You don't have an excuse this summer. They run frequently, and there are plenty of great days ahead to get one in. The cruises are reasonably priced and a fun way to enjoy a hot summer day. They offer “happy hour” cruises, DJ’ed cruises, and sightseeing cruises.

3.) Go see a concert sponsored by Buffalo Place at the Harbor. The "Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor" concert series for 2012 hasn't been announced yet, but does it really matter? I went to see a band I'd never seen live before, Great Big Sea, last summer and I still often talk about all the fun it was. They fixed up the Harbor, and it's a wonderful place to walk around and enjoy the waterfront and good music. The ticket prices are cheap, they have food and drink vendors on hand, and you can bring a chair, blanket, or stand up near the stage.

4.) Find a Farmer's Market in your neighborhood and GO! In the city, the Downtown Country Market is celebrating its 30^th year! It runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00am – 2:30pm on Main Street between Court and Church Streets. If you can’t get there during the workday, I frequent the North Tonawanda Farmer's Market in the summer on Saturday mornings. I load up on produce grown by local farmers, always run into people I know, and it's usually where I buy flowers for my garden! There are a handful of Farmer's Market's in the area, so do a search and find the one closest to you and hit it up!

5.) Meet some friends at Pearl Street Bar & Brewery, or Bambino Kitchen & Bar downtown and have some food and drinks on their awesome patios. My picks for top patios outside the City: The Eagle House and Frog Hair Grill in Williamsville. There are plenty of other options, but you can’t go wrong with these!

6.) Take one of the Buffalo Tours offered by Preservation Buffalo Niagara. They offer awesome walking tours of various parts of the City and suburbs for around $10 a person. Learn a little bit about the history of your favorite area in Western New York, get some exercise in and enjoy the fresh air. Sounds like a perfect afternoon to me! My suggestions: The Queen City Downtown Tour, The Whole Grain Tour and the Parkside Neighborhood Tour!

7.) Get to Coca Cola Field for a Buffalo Bisons game. It’s high on my list of things to do with families in Buffalo during the summer. Get a hot dog, some fries, and maybe even some cotton candy and enjoy Buffalo’s AAA Baseball team. Tickets are priced right for families. Even if you aren’t a fan of baseball, it’s a fun atmosphere to be around, and gives you the chance to catch up with family and friends between innings.

8.) Visit a local farm and pick fruit with your family. Last summer I really enjoyed strawberry and cherry picking. It gives you a greater appreciation for the farming industry, a very tough industry to work in, and makes for a fun afternoon in the sun! There are many farms that offer “U-Pick” areas for strawberries, blueberries, cherries, corn and more. Here is a link to a site that lists many: http://www.pickyourown.org/nywest.htm.

9.)  Go on a nature hike around Tifft Nature Preserve! Take a bottle of water, a pair of sneakers and your camera! Maps of the nature trails can be downloaded on their website, and you can spend hours walking around. There are some benches are areas to take a break, and they have a visitor center where you can learn more about the area and animals. 

10.) Go to the Allentown Art Festival! This year the festival is on Saturday June 9th and Sunday June 10th and features hundreds of local artists. All the summer festivals in Buffalo are incredible (Taste of Buffalo, Italian Festival, Elmwood Arts Festival, to name a few), but the Allentown Art Festival is my favorite because it officially kicks off summer for me. 


Maybe I should have made this list my top 20! I can still rattle off more, but there are some other options listed in previous blogs and more to come in future blogs. If you have other suggestions, feel free to comment below!

So here’s your task Buffalonians, and visitors this summer! Take a picture of you at all ten of these activities, and you will receive a prize from Lovin’ On Buffalo! One winner, with the most creative pictures, will receive a great gift basket of Buffalo products! All pictures can be e-mailed to Krystal at ksondel@hotmail.com. All photos must be submitted by September 1^st. Some of my favorites will be posted on the site and on Facebook/Twitter. 


Have fun exploring Buffalo this summer!