Explore Buffalo will be kicking off its summer tour season with a kickoff party on Thursday, May 15 and a special two-for-one tour price promotion from May 16 to May 20. With a dynamic new assortment of engaging and entertaining tours, there is sure to be something for everyone.
Season Kickoff Party – On Thursday, May 15 from 7 to 9:30 PM, Explore Buffalo will host a season kickoff party at the Mid-Day Club at the Liberty Building. Not regularly open to the public, everyone is invited for a special opportunity to enjoy an evening on the 21st floor of one of Buffalo’s most recognizable landmarks. The sunset views over downtown and Lake Erie are nothing short of spectacular. Wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres, and music are all included in the ticket price – $20 presale or $25 after May 9. Reservations are online at www.explorebuffalo.org or by calling (716) 245-3032.
Two-for-one tour special – Beginning Friday, May 16, through Tuesday, May 20, all $10 and $15 Explore Buffalo walking tours are two for the price of one! Please note that this special must be used by two people at the same tour, and cannot be used by one person to take two tours. Advance reservations for all tours are available online at www.explorebuffalo.org or by calling (716) 245-3032. Reservations are encouraged but not required. Tours during the kickoff weekend are:
Buffalo Classics – a downtown walking tour focusing on Buffalo’s ‘homegrown architects’ including Green & Wicks, Esenwein & Johnson, and Louise Bethune. Friday, May 16 at 10 AM – meet in front of Spot Coffee at Delaware & Chippewa, $10
Allentown Mob Tour – formerly a ‘Naked Buffalo’ tour, this walking tour of Allentown dives into the legend and lore of Buffalo’s mob-related history. Friday, May 16 at 7 PM – meet in front of Café 59 at 62 Allen Street, $15
Masters of American Architecture – a downtown walking tour focusing on nationally prominent architects who came to Buffalo to design signature buildings, including Richard Upjohn, Louis Sullivan, and Daniel Burnham & Co. Saturday, May 17 at 10 AM – meet in front of The Archer restaurant at 268 Main, $10
Delaware Avenue Midway – a walking tour of Delaware Avenue from Tupper to Allen, including an interior visit to one of the Midway rowhouses: the Katharine Pratt Horton house that is now home to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Saturday, May 17 at 10 AM – meet at Hallwalls at 341 Delaware Avenue, $15
Delaware Avenue Mansions – a walking tour of the neighborhood of Buffalo’s grandest mansions on Delaware from North to Bryant, including an interior visit to the Clement Mansion thanks to the cooperation of the American Red Cross. Saturday, May 17 at 2 PM – meet in front of the Butler Mansion at the corner of Delaware and North, $15
Down by the River – a walking tour of Buffalo’s waterfront, including grain elevators (no interiors), the Cobblestone District, First Ward, and railroad history. Sunday, May 18 at 10 AM – meet in front of the Swannie House at 170 Ohio Street, $15
Silo City Vertical – an in-depth urban adventure tour to the top of the grain elevators at Silo City, and including lunch on the dock at the end of the tour. Sunday, May 18 at 10 AM – Please note reservations are required for this tour due to space limitations, and it is not included in the two-for-one special.
Hidden Gems of the Delaware District – a walking tour of the neighborhood around Delaware Avenue’s grand mansions, with a wide variety of architectural styles on Bryant, Linwood, Summer, and Oakland. Sunday, May 18 at 2 PM – meet in front of Coffee Culture at Elmwood & Bryant, $15
Silo City Grounded – a walking tour of Silo City including the ground-level interiors of several grain elevators and the Perot malthouse. Sunday, May 18 at 2 PM – meet at Silo City, 120 Childs Street, $15
Larkinville – a walking tour of the Larkin neighborhood, including interior visits to several former Larkin buildings, before Food Truck Tuesdays. Tuesday, May 20 at 4 PM – meet in front of the Larkin Filling Station in Larkin Square, $15
More information on all tours and the complete upcoming schedule is at www.explorebuffalo.org. Explore Buffalo is a non-profit organization with a mission of providing opportunities to discover Buffalo’s great architecture, history, and neighborhoods.