City February 16, 2012 6:46 PM

Help a brother Buffalonian (at heart) out.

queenseyes 21

It's been a while since I ran a post asking readers to help a brother Buffalonian out (even if he's not originally from Buffalo). But I figured that by helping one person by answering a burning question (who asked for some help), others might also benefit from the end result. So here's the ask... David T. moved away from Buffalo 20 years ago and is coming back with his new wife in tow. Ever since he met her he's been talking about the time that he lived in Buffalo, and although he's been paying attention from a distance, he's looking for an insider's 'to do list' upon arriving to the city. From David:

I'm in need of some help. I am a former Buffalonian (at least by education - 10 years at UB) that was enticed to move away almost 20 years ago. I am making my first trip back to Buffalo this spring since being married. I need the short list of must do things to see and do. Mostly because I have built up the city to her for so long, I don't want to fail to meet those expectations. I have followed your posts to visitors from other cities who have written about Buffalo, but I want the local perspective. I have my own list of favorites, but things change. Thanks in advance, and keep shouting about what makes Buffalo a special place. I do.

Now I could rattle off all of my favorite pastimes, and I probably will, but I figured that I would enlist the help of BRO readers. What are the quintessential things to do in Buffalo these days? Remember that he has not been here in a long while. It would be great to hear about some of your obscure favorites, as well as the 'Absolute Can't Miss' destinations.

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Comments

21 Comments Leave a comment

February 16, 2012 6:38 PM

Kayaking through the Grain Elevators.
http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/07/paddling-through-history.html

[ Reply ]

Score: 5 ( 5 votes )

Lego1981

February 16, 2012 7:07 PM

Spring time is the perfect time to visit the Waterfront-Canal District. If it's late Spring, a ride on any of the waterfront boats is definitly worth it. (Miss Buffalo, Queen City WaterTaxi, Spirit of Buffalo). If your here during the weekday, you must go to the top of Buffalo City Hall (Free and open M-F 8am-5pm). Check out Elmwood Ave. (Elmwood Village) for one of kind shopping and dining. Allen St. (Allentown) for art galleries, antiques, and nightlife (live bands and lounges), of course a 'must' is have Chicken Wings at the Anchor Bar on Main @ Allen St. (where they originated from in 1964).
Delaware Park, Buffalo Zoo, Darwin Martin House, Albright-Knox & Burchfield Penny-Art Gallery, Historical Society and Hertel Ave. (Little Italy) in the north side of town is also a 'must'.

[ Reply ]

Score: 5 ( 7 votes )

dcoffee

February 17, 2012 9:30 PM

top of City Hall gets my vote too.

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replied to Lego1981

Score: 0 ( 0 votes )

shakeman

February 16, 2012 7:11 PM

Ride the bike path from Erie Basin Marina all the way to Niawanda Park and back. Stop for hot dogs, ice cream and views along the way.

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Score: 2 ( 4 votes )

fakemidnight

February 16, 2012 7:57 PM

Blue Monk on Elmwood, and I think the must have wings are at Duff's

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Score: 0 ( 4 votes )

hamp

February 16, 2012 9:09 PM

The Kleinhans neighborhood, Teddy Roosevelt Museum, Delaware Park, Betty's , and Roycroft.

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Score: 5 ( 7 votes )

grad94

February 16, 2012 9:11 PM

see the exhibit on buffalonian louise bethune, the nation's first professional woman architect, at the historical society. so you can impress her with notable women in buffalo.

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Score: 3 ( 5 votes )

YesSir

February 16, 2012 9:32 PM

old Pink, repeat ad nauseam. Maybe throw in some house parties before and after. View the sights and sounds of our fair city via You Tube. Only travel when it's dark outside, wear shades, act like you've been here before, shrug a lot. Hope this helps.

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Score: -10 ( 16 votes )

Mike77

February 16, 2012 10:08 PM

Can't have a trip to Buffalo without some Duffs, Mighty Taco, or Jim's Steakout. Somebody has to suggest these ;)

I love going to Left Bank when I return, followed by a few drinks out on Elmwood and Allen.

Depending when you return, Lafayette Hotel may be reopen with rooms.

If you're a sports fan, Pearl Street Brewery or the bars in the Cobblestone District, followed by a Sabres game could be a great night as well.

[ Reply ]

Score: 1 ( 3 votes )

Mike77

February 16, 2012 10:09 PM

Can't have a trip to Buffalo without some Duffs, Mighty Taco, or Jim's Steakout. Somebody has to suggest these ;)

I love going to Left Bank when I return, followed by a few drinks out on Elmwood and Allen.

Depending when you return, Lafayette Hotel may be reopen with rooms.

If you're a sports fan, Pearl Street Brewery or the bars in the Cobblestone District, followed by a Sabres game could be a great night as well.

[ Reply ]

Score: -1 ( 1 votes )

Dagner

February 16, 2012 11:20 PM

Great list, but you seem to misunderstand the locations of Central Park and Parkside. The Darwin Martin house is in Parkside, which is next to the Central Park neigbhorhood, with its Depew and Woodbridge avenues. A neighbor and I were just wishing today that the two were combined.

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Score: 4 ( 4 votes )

MidtownMike

February 17, 2012 1:37 AM

I concur. A great list. But I must pick a small nit with one of your factoids: The first Statler Hotel was built in Buffalo, however it was the late, lamented Hotel Buffalo at Swan and Washington Streets, and not the current Statler Towers on Niagara Square.

The Hotel Buffalo was built in 1907 and demolished in 1968. The existing Statler on Niagara Square was built in 1923.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statler_Hotels

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Score: 2 ( 2 votes )

grad94

February 17, 2012 7:22 AM

well, if you really want to pick microscopic nits, the first statler was built for the pan-american in 1901 and demolished shortly thereafter.

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replied to MidtownMike

Score: 1 ( 5 votes )

MidtownMike

February 17, 2012 12:01 PM

Perhaps I should have added "Permanent" to the description o the Hotel Buffalo. The hotel built for the Pan American Expo was a wooden structure, intended for the duration of the Exposition. I do not think that counts in the sequence.

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replied to grad94

Score: 0 ( 0 votes )

Travelrrr

February 17, 2012 9:36 AM

wow-sticklers for details :)

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replied to MidtownMike

Score: 1 ( 3 votes )

Fortunate4now

February 17, 2012 7:26 AM

+1 for observation deck of city hall. It's free, and can be a quick & easy stop.

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Score: 3 ( 3 votes )

Dagner

February 17, 2012 8:06 AM

Free docent-led tours of City Hall, including the observation deck, are given every workday at noon. And its not open on holidays and weekends, when most people travel. Go figure.

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replied to Fortunate4now

Score: 0 ( 0 votes )

Frankenberry

February 17, 2012 9:03 AM

The very first place I would take her is the Central Terminal. Then stop up the road to the Adam Mickiewicz library/bar (note they are usually only open on Friday and Saturday nights)see all their books in Polish and then stop at the bar to sample some outstanding imported Polish beers. Then take her to the Broadway Market then across the street to the R & L Lounge on Mill St. to say hi to Ronnie and Lottie and have some of her homemade peirogies.

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Score: 3 ( 9 votes )

February 17, 2012 2:05 PM

Good list but you need to visit South Buffalo now and then, Botanical Gardens, 2 Olmsted Parks and Parkway, only Waterfall in City limits, Irish Culture (Irish Center, Tara Gifts, assorted Pubs, Irish Festival and Finn McCool Race), Nine-eleven Tavern (best wings), Indian Burial Grounds, and Caz Coffee just to name a few.

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Score: 2 ( 2 votes )

BuffaloQPublic

February 17, 2012 8:56 PM

Pano's (Elmwood Ave.) for all-day breakfast at a minimal price (very good homefries, pancakes).

Destiny's (Main near Allen) for take-out. (Barbequed beef ribs with scrumptious sauce, steak sandwiches, potato skins, etc. - They don't use pork.)

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Score: 0 ( 0 votes )