Visit Buffalo Niagara

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by Matt Steinberg

I love mob movies. The Godfather (Parts I & II), Goodfellas, Casino – I can’t get enough of the cinematic Cosa Nostra. And until recently, I thought the actual mafia was confined to New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and a few other places. But Western New York has seen it’s fair share of “our thing”, as illustrated by The Mob Tours. This is a series of bus tours that explores our organized crime heritage, from sites that were once tied to the Buffalo mob in the city’s Allentown neighborhood, to the East Side to explore the hangouts of Prohibition-era Polish gangsters, to the haunts of “Big Steve” himself, Niagara Falls’ own Stefano Maggadino (one of the founders of the American mafia). So the next time you and some friends are in Buffalo (where the local syndicate was known as “the Arm”), make them an offer they can’t refuse and discover our connection to the underworld.

Call 716-299-TOUR (8687) for more information.

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by Peter Burakowski

Fall is the definitely the wurst time of year in Buffalo.

So, grab some brat, krat and a beer and celebrate Oktoberfest!

On Sept. 18, head 20 minutes south of Buffalo to a village that has a perfect Oktoberfest name – Hamburg. From 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., check out the German car show, feast on food from two German restaurants and hear some great music.

Then make an appearance at the mammoth Central Terminal on Buffalo’s East Side on Sept. 25 for Picnic on the Plaza: Oktoberfest, where you’ll hear tunes from “Buffalo’s Most In-Demand German Band,” The Frankfurters! Tickets are $10, but guests in costume get in free!

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by Peter Burakowski

Main Street had some pretty diverse street food today.

After getting some help from the community to repair the engine, the Lloyd taco truck was cranking out chicken burritos near Mohawk St.

Tonight, I’ll be frying up the pierogi and an onion that I snagged at the Downtown Country Market, which takes place every Tuesday and Thursday through Oct. 28.

And at the corner of Chippewa Street, hot dogs come with a side of trivia.

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by Giovanni Centurione

Since my first field trip (not saying how long ago), Old Fort Niagara still has the power to amaze me.  Every time I set foot on the grounds, it takes me back in time and teaches me to appreciate the way it was.  From original preserved buildings to musket-firing demonstrations to re-enactors dressed in period garb, it’s one giant leap back in history that I never mind taking.

Old Fort Niagara was constructed during the time when France and Britain controlled the Niagara area. To this day the French Castle, built in 1726, is the oldest structure on the Great Lakes.  One of the most interesting things I remember from my first visit, was seeing just how small the beds were! That just goes to show you, basketball wasn’t America’s pastime in the 1700s!

Plan your visit today or anytime, they’re open year round!

www.oldfortniagara.org

By Peter Burakowski

Buffalo summers are great – with temps in the mid-70s, you just want to be outdoors.

And while I always cram plenty of activities into each summer (this year ranged from the Taste of Buffalo to the National Garden Festival to a trip on the Spirit of Buffalo), it isn’t my favorite season in Western New York.

Fall is.

As these late-August nights get cooler, I gear up for apple cider at Mayer Brothers, Bills games, Mason Winfield’s ghostwalks, some of the most brilliant foliage in the country, and a certain crisp electricity in the air that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Want some ideas for autumn events in Buffalo? Click here.

by Margaret Healy

If you’ve ever dreamed of “bobbing” for chicken wings in a huge vat of blue cheese, donning a giant wing-shaped hat or engaging in a super-spicy wing-eating competition (and lets be honest, who doesn’t dream of these things?), Buffalo has got an event for you. The National Buffalo Wing Festival, taking place this Labor Day weekend, is now in its ninth year and provides an incredible bounty of chicken wings and wing-related activities. It is bound to fulfill your every chicken wing fantasy.

While the contests, huge crowds, performances and even the occasional wedding are obvious draws to this event, the real reason to stop by is pretty obvious: the food. The wing fest literally has tons of wings to choose from — not only in traditional Buffalo sauce but also in a wide variety of other flavors. My advice is to try them all — but make sure you have drinks on hand to wash down the “suicidal” variety.

The festival kicks off this year on Saturday, September 4 at Coca Cola Field, running from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday hours are 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. No self-respecting food-lover should miss it!

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by Melissa Barrie

Put on your walking shoes and get ready to learn about Buffalo, from architecture to scandal! Buffalo Tours offers over 30 different tours year-round that will help you get to know the ins and outs of Buffalo and Western New York.

Buffalo Tours has a journey to fit every personality, from happy hour tours to their “Buffalo Tails” dog-friendly walking tours. Free City Hall tours are offered Monday through Friday at 12pm. There are also free tours of the Erie Canal Harbor that are offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 12pm and 5pm.

Most tours are $10, 90 minutes to 2 hours long, and don’t require reservations. The next big tour offered is the Delaware Neighborhood Tour of Homes on Saturday, August 21st. Don’t miss out!

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by Margaret Healy

In the early twentieth century, Buffalo was a hot spot for luxury cars. Royal families from abroad, Hollywood starlets and powerful business tycoons alike would flock to Buffalo for glamorous, Gatsby-esque cars all bearing the same brand — Pierce-Arrow. Throughout its years of operation (1901-1938), Buffalo’s Pierce-Arrow Company represented the fabulous, wealthy lifestyles of the most powerful players of the turn-of-the-century.

Today, you can revisit this period in time with a trip to the Buffalo Transportation/Pierce-Arrow Museum. Located in the heart of downtown Buffalo, the Pierce-Arrow Museum gives visitors a first hand look at some of the most elegant cars of days gone by. With a great collection of memorabilia and other donated items, visitors can really get lost in the opulence of this bygone era. The museum also has plans to open a Frank Lloyd Wright designed (but never built) filling station, which would stand as another testament to Buffalo’s rich and interesting history.

If you need a way to spend a rainy day, this is definitely a fantastic option for the whole family. The Pierce-Arrow museum offers something for everyone — history, business, elegance, wealth… and really cool cars.

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by Denise Drews

I always love to come home to a surprise.

Recently, my husband received a gift card for the Walden Galleria. We hadn’t been there in a while (Hey, when it’s summertime in Buffalo, we tend to try to do everything outdoors), but since this summer has been so blazing hot outside, we didn’t mind heading to the mall.

We hadn’t eaten yet, so we started our evening at Bar Louie. This casually cool neighborhood restaurant & bar features warm, upbeat surroundings with contemporary photography, mosaic tiling and wood-paneled walls.

My husband loved the many plasma televisions and – how perfect – the Yankees game just happened to be on. No matter which seat he took, he had a clear view of the game.

We opted to take advantage of the happy hour specials, including 1/2 priced appetizers, as well as beer and drink discounts. We ordered the Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla, Crispy Calamari and Boneless Wings. Everything was so tasty and fresh, especially the calamari, which was lightly flour-coated and served with a mild cocktail sauce. The serving size of all the items worked out perfectly for the both of us.

The service was excellent and the staff was super friendly. It was hard to leave. We did, however, have to continue on our way to spend the rest of the gift card, so off to the stores we went!

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