By Katie Newell and Kelly Lovering:
After having a 2010 that was not so memorable, we wanted to do things right, ringing in 2011. A week of planning and finalizing details, making a mask and reminiscing with friends, one very rowdy house party, and a school bus full of lively Buffalonians (and someone from Jersey), there was no way we could go wrong- at the Inaugural Masquerade Ball.
"This past year we saw a void in the market for a New Years Eve party that catered to people in their mid twenties to mid thirties that wanted an alternative to the regular bar scene so we decided to put together the Masquerade Ball at the Connecticut Street Armory," said Chris Ring of After Dark Entertainment.
That was the concept, which ignited a new Buffalo New Year's Eve tradition. Since the Statler Tower was no longer available to hold the annual Ice Ball, this was the perfect opportunity for Ring and his entertainment crew to throw an unforgettable bash and nothing was more memorable than the venue.
While it might not be in the heart of Buffalo's party district, the Connecticut Street Armory has much to offer a decadent event like the Masquerade Ball. A rich history of preparing our American troops for service and hosting some of Buffalo's finest parties throughout earlier decades. This was a perfect and deserving reintroduction for the Amory.
Tickets were almost impossible to come by considering the event sold out one week in advance at $60 per person and totaled 750 guests. After Dark Entertainment teamed up with Hospice of Buffalo and although they are still counting funds Ring estimates that they were able to raise almost $5k for the charity.
It being the inaugural, there are obviously a few details to be worked out for next year, but I have to commend Ring and his team for their efforts of giving Buffalo a solid party on New Years Eve. My only suggestion might be to have a champagne toast for guests, or even a small bar where there would be some available throughout the night.
After all, what is New Years Eve without a little bubbly at midnight?
"We couldn't have been happier with the way the night turned out," Ring added. "And we are excited to bring it back next year, bigger and better than this year, hopefully making it an annual staple in the Downtown Buffalo New Year's Eve scene.
To learn more about After Dark Entertainment visit their website or Facebook to check out more pictures from Buffalo's Masquerade Ball.
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After having a 2010 that was not so memorable, we wanted to do things right, ringing in 2011. A week of planning and finalizing details, making a mask and reminiscing with friends, one very rowdy house party, and a school bus full of lively Buffalonians (and someone from Jersey), there was no way we could go wrong- at the Inaugural Masquerade Ball.
"This past year we saw a void in the market for a New Years Eve party that catered to people in their mid twenties to mid thirties that wanted an alternative to the regular bar scene so we decided to put together the Masquerade Ball at the Connecticut Street Armory," said Chris Ring of After Dark Entertainment.
That was the concept, which ignited a new Buffalo New Year's Eve tradition. Since the Statler Tower was no longer available to hold the annual Ice Ball, this was the perfect opportunity for Ring and his entertainment crew to throw an unforgettable bash and nothing was more memorable than the venue.
While it might not be in the heart of Buffalo's party district, the Connecticut Street Armory has much to offer a decadent event like the Masquerade Ball. A rich history of preparing our American troops for service and hosting some of Buffalo's finest parties throughout earlier decades. This was a perfect and deserving reintroduction for the Amory. Tickets were almost impossible to come by considering the event sold out one week in advance at $60 per person and totaled 750 guests. After Dark Entertainment teamed up with Hospice of Buffalo and although they are still counting funds Ring estimates that they were able to raise almost $5k for the charity.
It being the inaugural, there are obviously a few details to be worked out for next year, but I have to commend Ring and his team for their efforts of giving Buffalo a solid party on New Years Eve. My only suggestion might be to have a champagne toast for guests, or even a small bar where there would be some available throughout the night.
After all, what is New Years Eve without a little bubbly at midnight?
"We couldn't have been happier with the way the night turned out," Ring added. "And we are excited to bring it back next year, bigger and better than this year, hopefully making it an annual staple in the Downtown Buffalo New Year's Eve scene.
To learn more about After Dark Entertainment visit their website or Facebook to check out more pictures from Buffalo's Masquerade Ball.
To be honest, I have found Buffalo's night-time entertainment to have been so unrelentingly disappointing in the past that I find it difficult to buy that this event was worth the price of admission.
It would be interesting to know which places you frequent. Also it takes the person to make their own good time no matter where you are at.
You have said before that you don't live in Buffalo and haven't been to Buffalo for years. How do you know about the night life?