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Global Flavors Abound in Buffalo

Buffalo, like many US cities, was built by immigrants. Today the city retains its position as a safe haven for foreign-born Americans and those seeking refuge.

Many of the Queen City’s signature dishes and food traditions stem from the influence of Buffalo’s first-wave immigrants. In the 1840s, the Irish arrived seeking relief from famine. Soon came Germans and Polish Jews who were followed by a surge of Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe. Over the last few decades of the 19th century, the city was teeming with newly settled Poles and Italians seeking independence, freedom, and a better life.

During the last half of the 20th century, Buffalo experienced a significant dip in newly-immigrated residents, but 21st century Buffalo more closely reflects its past. In the last 15 years, Western New York has become home to 70,000 new residents, most of whom are foreign-born and hail from countries like Afghanistan, Burma, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to name a few.

This influx has deliciously and notably transformed the city’s food scene.

We’ve created an anything-but-exhaustive summary of a few of the global restaurants operating in Western New York today, many of which are owned by immigrants. The volume of eateries like this has grown exponentially, and the scene itself evolves constantly as owners transition from pop-ups and market stands to food trucks and full-service sit-down restaurants. It can be hard to keep a current list of the most exciting new options, so we’re providing a cross-section of offerings both classic and cutting edge.

Real deal Mexican fare

In 2014 or so, a little place in Kenmore called La Davina opened, serving much of greater Buffalo its first taste of a traditional taco. Like many cities located closer to the Canadian border than the Mexican one, the Mexican food available here was highly Americanized. Thanks to a few folks of Mexican descent bravely illustrating to the masses just how irresistible their native cuisine can be, there’s been an explosion of restaurants serving tacos and Mexican food in the Buffalo area, some of which pulse with the heart and soul of Mexico.

La Divina & La Divina Dos

2896 Delaware Ave., Kenmore, NY & 4125 Transit Rd., Williamsville, NY

Both La Divina locations turn out really great food. Tortas and tacos are favorites here, though the tortas are exceptional in that they feature a better roll than most of the tortas sold by the restaurant’s competitors. The counter service here is casual and swift. Limited seating is available for the no-frills consumption of your order, though many prefer to take their food to go. Both La Divina locations are affordable, fast, and reliably tasty locations for Mexican street food.

Manito Taco Shop

3958 Lockport-Olcott Rd., Lockport, NY

In Niagara County and a bit off the beaten path, Manito is a food truck with an elaborate outdoor setup intended to provide a reasonable level of comfort for diners in four-season weather. Manito’s menu asks guests to select a protein that is then folded into a taco, torta, burrito, quesadilla, or nachos. The lengua and tripe tacos are notably good, but really, so is everything else. It’s worth the drive.

Manito is close to (if not the) best Mexican food in the area and the hospitality provided as a complimentary side dish, so to speak, is unparalleled. If you’re dining with someone accustomed to tacos smothered in sour cream and processed cheese, the team at Manito will take it in stride and make sure your guest has what they need, despite how incongruous that particular request is with the authenticity of the food truck’s offerings.

Taqueria Los Mayas

3625 Genesee St., Cheektowaga, NY

Arguably the most popular of the authentic-leaning Mexican spots, Taqueria Los Mayas is a full-service restaurant with a dining room, bar, and an expansive menu of options that run the gamut from breakfast to dinner, including entrees, sides, desserts, and even kid-sized meals. Portion sizes are ample and served fresh: Los Mayas is a wonderful place for a relaxing Mexican meal for a group of friends or family.

More great spots for tacos and Mexican food

Taqueria Rancho La Delicias—Buffalo

Taqueria Rancho Dos—Buffalo

Cielito Lindo Taqueria—Williamsville

Middle Eastern cuisine beckons

Middle Eastern cuisine is something the area has in abundance, yet it remains unfamiliar to many locals. Falafel Bar, which first opened in a tiny cinderblock building on Elmwood Avenue, introduced many of the city’s denizens to fresh and flavorful Middle Eastern favorites such as tabbouleh and its namesake, falafel. Prior to that, these were offbeat offerings only occasionally spotted on the menus of the city’s Greek diners. Much like the taco explosion, Middle Eastern food has taken off here in terms of representation and options, but much of the region remains intimidated by its collective lack of familiarity with the cuisine. If you’re one of these folks, we’re here to tell you that you’re missing out.

House of Hummus

1150 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, NY

A small restaurant in North Buffalo, House of Hummus does a bustling takeout business. Its dining room isn’t fancy but it’s more than adequate for tucking into some of the best Middle Eastern food in town. Chicken shawarma and braised lamb are both popular choices and for good reason, they are packed with flavor and as tender as can be. Balance out either of these meaty centerpieces with one of the menu’s brilliantly simple salads, which are served in huge, heaping portions. Hummus and falafel here are also mind-blowing if you’ve only experienced their mass-produced distant cousins. Expect to have leftovers, particularly if you struggle with decisive ordering.

OR by Falafel Bar

3545 Sheridan Dr., Amherst, NY

At OR by Falafel Bar, we see the grown-up version of the business that first took root on Elmwood so many years ago. In its current location on Sheridan Drive, diners experience the food served to owner Oded Rauvenpoo throughout his childhood. The menu features dishes from Libya, Greece, Israel, and Iran. Here you can find delicacies unavailable elsewhere, including chicken baharat, brik, Israeli schnitzel, sabih from Iraq, and, on very special occasions, the elusive and highly Instagrammable Georgian khachapuri. With such an incredible array of choices, a nice dining room, and the ability to accommodate almost every dietary restriction, it’s no wonder Rauvenpoor and his family have been in business for so many years.

More great spots for Middle Eastern food

Ali Baba Kebab—Buffalo

Alsalam Brothers Middle Eastern Market—Kenmore

Yemen Cafe—Buffalo

A wealth of Latin American options

Like the terms Middle Eastern food or Asian food, the classification of Latin American food is oversimplified and serves to water down the significant differences and similarities that exist between the food experienced in these massive areas of the globe, areas that in some cases incorporate thousands of miles and dozens of countries. Shifting borders, colonization, war, and global warming are just a few of the things that can influence a region’s native cuisine. That said, Latin American food, in all its iterations, is a welcome participant in the Western New York food scene. Thanks to some outliers on the West Side, Buffalo’s had access to some pretty great examples for a long time, including Vargas on Hudson Street and Niagara Cafe, which is still serving its wonderful rotisserie chicken today. Latin food in Buffalo most often means Dominican and Puerta Rican, though there are exceptions.

Niagara Cafe

525 Niagara St., Buffalo, NY

One of the most stable businesses on Niagara Street, Niagara Cafe’s opening predates the neighborhood’s transition to the millennial stomping grounds it is today. It’s hard to keep a restaurant afloat for more than a decade, but Niagara Cafe has done just that by consistently serving really good food at fair prices. Takeout or stay in, but when you visit, be sure to order an extra chicken to take home for sandwiches tomorrow. Niagara Cafe is known for its rotisserie chicken as well as its excellent pastelitos and roasted pork. Tostones, yellow rice with pigeon peas, maduros, fried pork chops, bacalao— whatever floats your boat, everything here is straightforward, well made, and notably affordable.

Kiosko Latino

345 W. Ferry St., Buffalo, NY

Formerly of the West Side Bazaar, Kiosko Latino is one of those restaurants that diners just can’t stop talking about. That word of mouth translated to popularity and patronage in great enough supply to push them through their growing pains in the business incubator and into their own brick and mortar. Serving up both Puerto Rican and Mexican dishes may also be part of the reason for their fervent following. The menu offers a melange of options from alcapurrias, tostones, and pastelillos to flautas, chimichangas, and tostadas. Kiosko Latino might not be breaking new ground, but when it comes to incomparably delicious-yet-simple renditions of these classics, you really can’t go wrong.

More great spots for Latin American food

La Casa De Sabores—Buffalo

La Kueva—Buffalo

Mi Isla—Buffalo

Homestyle Chinese food and secret menus

In 2022, it’s likely news to no one that sweet and sour chicken, chow mein, and any number of other “Chinese” menu items devoured by generations of Americans are no more Asian than a sombrero. While there may always be a place for this kind of Chinese food in the hearts of Americans, once you’ve experienced the sort of dishes people in China cook for their families, it’s a lot harder to love a carton of General Tso’s. Lucky for Western New York, we are home to an increasing number of restaurants serving traditional Asian fare, and Chinese food happens to be one of the cuisines where there are a number of opportunities to eat unusual and unusually good dishes.

Peking Quick One

359 Somerville Ave., Tonawanda, NY

Located in an out-of-the-way spot in the Northtowns, Peking Quick One serves a menu of traditional Americanized Chinese food for those in its neighborhood who either haven’t caught on or hate change. Its secret menu, which hasn’t been a secret for many years now, is made up of homestyle dishes served in huge portions and packed with big, savory flavors you’ll find yourself craving with such frequency that you may consider buying a home nearby. Favorites include soft braised beef over melted onions, whole steamed branzino with a rich and delectable caramel-colored sauce, whole salt and pepper shrimp, dumplings stuffed with fragrant meats and vegetables, and an assortment of spicy selections that will blow the top of your head off in the best of ways. Its a no-frills counter-service setup with a large utilitarian dining room, which makes it the perfect place for a big and affordable family meal where everyone shares dishes and the food sits at the center of the table and the conversation.

Home Taste

3106 Delaware Ave., Kenmore, NY

Home Taste is a second location for the owners of Peking Quick One. Located in Kenmore, it is a smaller, more intimate restaurant focused on bao and dumplings. Home Taste serves what are, arguably, the best dough pockets in the area, though few locations make and sell these delicacies in Buffalo. Other popular items from the Peking Quick One menu can be found here, and while the service isn’t much more formal than it is at its sister restaurant, it is a little less “factory cafeteria” and a little more “average Chinese takeout” in vibe.

Don’t miss these popular spots for Chinese food

Golden Hill—Amherst

Miss Hot Cafe—Amherst

Buffalo Little Lamb

Burmese or bust

Many immigrants streaming into the city over the last 15 years are of Burmese descent, making Buffalo home to one of the largest populations of foreign-born Burmese people in the country. We’ve become so comfortable with the cuisine that, as a writer, I no longer have to describe the ingredients of its most popular dishes, a transition that took almost ten years. Many restaurants specializing in Burmese cuisine do what Peking Quick One does: they serve American-leaning iterations of Thai or even Chinese food to earn their bread and butter knowing the suburban population is less inclined to embrace the unfamiliar. But several years ago, one daring restaurateur who’d made his name selling sushi in a corporate setting changed all of that by launching Sun Cuisines.

Sun Cuisines

1989 Niagara St., Buffalo, NY & 5759 Main St., Williamsville, NY

Kevin and Stephanie Lin launched the city’s first Burmese restaurant inside a neighborhood grocery store in 2010. Since that time, Sun has expanded to two full-service restaurant locations and indoctrinated an ample number of locals to the beauty of Burmese cuisine. Popular dishes include tea leaf salad, hot and sour deep-fried gourd (called buthi jyaw), and the most flavorful chicken and coconut soup ever (called ono koksware but spelled a million different ways). All of the dishes at Sun are full of nutrients and flavor but feature little to no trans-fat — healthful food is a big part of the Lins’ overarching mission. The couple’s comfort with sushi led them to develop another unique aspect of their business: sushi rolls made with black “forbidden” rice, an extra nutritious and flavorful rice. Together the Lins have shifted Burmese food into one of the region’s preferred dining options, spawning at least a dozen other restaurants serving Burmese fare. Sun, like many of its counterparts, also serves Thai favorites.

Family Thai

863 Tonawanda St., Buffalo, NY

Located in Buffalo’s Riverside neighborhood, Family Thai serves solid Thai food as well as sushi rolls, but it excels at Burmese fare. The tea leaf salad and other favorites are normalized, if you will, with their location on the menu. They are simply mixed in with popular Thai dishes rather than falling under a unique heading. The curry-scented dishes, cooked low and slow, are the most provocative, eliciting hunger pangs the second the scent wafts in your direction. “Egg Curry” (dish #B19) might not seem like it will be your next favorite dish, but once the confluence of paprika, onion, garlic, and cilantro have their way with you, you’re done for.

More top-notch Burmese bites

Rakhapura Mutee & Sushi—Buffalo

Lime House—Williamsville

Chin Hills—Kenmore

The West Side Bazaar has it all

West Side Bazaar

25 Grant St., Buffalo, NY

Recently covered by Bon Appetit magazine and USA Today, it may have taken more than a decade for national publications to catch on, but Buffalonians have been obsessed—and rightly so—with the West Side Bazaar since its inception.

An incubator supported by WEDI, an economic development organization, it nurtures new restaurateurs and retailers from their inception until it’s their time to leave the nest, supporting them with a variety of resources. This focus has allowed the West Side Bazaar to provide a firm foundation for dozens of entrepreneurs over the years, many of whom go on to open brick and mortar restaurants.

What I haven’t said yet that may matter most to you as a diner, is that several of the stands inside WSB at any given time are best-in-class operations when it comes to the quality of the food. While the vendors within the bazaar change with some frequency, there is no shortage of enticing food.

Many—if not most—of the operators inside WSB would be included in the shortlists above, so save yourself the trouble of choosing one cuisine and head to WSB to savor sundry scintillating servings of food with origins that span the globe.

Other noteworthy WNY restaurants serving global cuisine

546 YakItori and Donburi House—Tonawanda

Japanese

Clay Handi—Kenmore

Pakistani

Hyderabad Biryani House

Indian

Koreana—Tonawanda

Korean

Kuni’s—Buffalo

Japanese

Kalypso

Jamaican

Middle Sisters Sandwiches—Buffalo

Vietnamese

Nellai Banana Leaf—Williamsville

Indian

Pinoy Boy—Buffalo

Filipino

Rin’s Thai Bistro—Amherst

Thai

Tiny Thai—Buffalo

Thai

Yalley’s—Kenmore

African

The post Global Flavors Abound in Buffalo appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

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Project Best Life | Camps for Kids to have a happy, healthy, and creative Summer!

Summer is finally upon us! While we look forward to the coming warmer months with excitement and anticipation, for many parents this time can also cause a slew of overwhelming feelings as they prepare for the busy summer ahead. Not to fear – Buffalo and the surrounding area is full of activities that will keep your children having fun, making friends and learning new things in the process. 

Check out this list of just a few of the summer activities available to your family this summer season! Be sure to register fast as these spots will fill up quickly. 

Family Nature Quest: World of the Pond at Reinstein Woods

Join as we grab nets and scoop in the pond to search for aquatic animals. Wear waterproof boots or old sneakers. Registration required; call 716-683-5959.

Saturday, June 25 at 10:30 AM

Fairy Houses at Amherst State Park

Join a naturalist from Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in creating a house to attract nature’s fairies. Once you learn how, you can make one anywhere. For children ages 5–10 and their caregivers. Note: This program takes place at Amherst State Park. Registration required; call Reinstein Woods at 716-683-5959.

Thursday, July 14 at 10:30 AM

Buffalo Zoo Summer Camp 

Week-long, full-day, summer camp is BACK at the Buffalo Zoo!  Join us for a wild camp experience like no other.  Campers will learn and discover through visits to animal habitats, up close animal encounters, crafts, art, nature play, hands-on activities, and more!

Program Details
What:  Week-Long, Full Day Summer Camp
Who:  Campers ages 6-8, and 9-12
Where:  At the Zoo
When:  July – August 2022
Time:  Weekly sessions, Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

For more information or to register visit https://buffalozoo.org/single-experience/summer-camp-2022-registration-is-now-open/

Summer at the Castellani Art Museum! Free Children’s Art Workshops  

The CAM will host two free Art Express workshops for children in grades Pre K–3 with Young Audiences Teaching Artist, Fotini Galanes. Participants will leave with a beautiful hand-drawn artwork and have a chance to explore the vibrant and colorful art exhibition of artist Dorothy Gillespie. Space is limited. Register on the CAM Program page.

Saturday, June 25 at 12:00PM – 12:45PM, 1:00PM – 1:45PM

Buffalo Audubon Society

Six weeks of outdoor summer fun for kids of all ages. Campers will get to know nature up close by exploring the fields, forests and wetlands of Beaver Meadow and the plants and animals who live there. 

Week 1:  July 11th—15th
Week 2:  July 18th—22nd
Week 3:  July 25th—July 29th
Week 4:  August 1st—5th
Week 5:  August 8th—12th
Week 6:  August 15th—19th

To find about which age group your child will fit into and the fees associated, visit https://www.buffaloaudubon.org/summer-camp-descriptions.html

Explore & More Summer camps

Explore & More is pleased to offer an exciting variety of summer camps where kids will have so much fun, they won’t even know they’re learning!

For more info or to register for any of the events listed below, visit https://exploreandmore.org/summer-camps/?utm_source=koaa&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=camps

Sports Camp

Fun is in the air at Sports Camp! Children will build friendships and engage in physical activity in a safe and healthy environment, both indoors at Explore & More and outdoors at nearby Canalside. With the aid of some outside program partners who will supply various sports-themed materials and activities, children will play, explore, learn, and develop their athletic skills. Children will be introduced to various sports, such as tennis, soccer, and basketball while emphasizing the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship. 

Ages: 5 – 10
Date: Monday, July 11th – Friday, July 15th
Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm

Art Explorers Pre-k Camp

Every day is a new adventure when you are an Art Explorer! Campers will become immersed in beloved books that correspond with the various Play Zones at Explore & More. We will explore these stories through hands-on art projects that will challenge our imagination and encourage creativity. Campers will need to provide a snack and a water bottle daily. 

Ages: For children ages 4 – 5 (entering Kindergarten in September 2022)
Date: Monday, July 11th – Friday, July 15th
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Art Voyagers Camp

Every day is a new adventure when you are an Art Voyager! Campers will become immersed in even more beloved books that correspond with the various Play Zones at Explore & More. We will explore these stories through hands-on art projects that will challenge our imagination and encourage creativity. Campers will need to provide a snack and a water bottle daily. 

Ages: 5 – 10
Date: Monday, July 11th – Friday, July 15th
Time: 9:00am – 11:30am

Space Camp

Houston, we have a new camp! Space camp will travel to the far ends of space to learn about how Western New York had a pivotal role in the Apollo Lunar Missions. Campers will learn about planets, stars, and the future of space travel. On top of that campers will launch their own spaceships, build Moon Rovers, and Mars Bases. That’s one small step for man, and one giant leap for Explore & More campers!

Ages: 5 – 10
Date: Monday, July 18th – Friday, July 22nd
Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm

Buffalove Camp

Explore & More’s Buffalove Camp is designed to enhance your child’s knowledge about our great Buffalo Niagara region with lessons detailing Buffalo’s past, present, and future. Campers participate in a variety of hands-on activities and open-ended opportunities for children to build understanding and knowledge about Buffalo’s architectural history, while making some structures of their own. We will celebrate our hometown teams and whip up some food experiments. Taste and see how good it is to be a Western New Yorker! 

Ages: 5 – 10
Date: Monday, August 1st – Friday, August 5th
Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm

Weird Science for Kids

This Summer Camp will spark children’s imagination and encourage exploration! Learn how much fun science can be as you explore the weird world of science as we conduct daily experiments to unravel the mysteries of electricity, chemistry, light, and sound. Try not to get stuck as you make your own quicksand. Learn about floating rocks, cornstarch, fake snot, sink the unsinkable and all kinds of weird science. Science experiments such as creating invisible ink, rainbow jars, fizzy ice and checking out the science of a slushy will ensure your kids have a blast. Next up: make a homemade bottle rocket, glowing magic milk, color changing chalk, magic balloons, and fizzy sherbet. Get outside to enjoy homemade giant bubbles, Mentos & Diet Coke explosions and apple eruptions. Your child will learn while having so much fun!

Ages: 5 – 10
Date: Monday, August 22nd – Friday, August 26th
Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm

Together to Kindergarten

We know summer is just starting, but it is never too early to start preparing for school! In September, many children will be “leaving the nest” and going off on their own for the first time. No, we are not talking about going to college. We’re talking about little ones going to Kindergarten! For many kids, this will be the first time they spend away from their parents for an extended period. At Together to Kindergarten, young campers are set up for success by providing fun and educational activities based on the following Kindergarten Readiness Skill-Builders: fine motor skills (cutting, writing, using manipulatives for small motor tasks), large motor skills (large group games, balancing, climbing), social/emotional skills (socializing, making new friends, taking turns, sharing, good manners), language skills (speaking in a whole group setting, asking for assistance), reading skills (rhyming, recognizing patterns in stories, print awareness), and math skills (counting, patterning, measuring). Campers will get used to “school” routines and separating from parents while playing and learning in the various Play Zones at Explore & More. Campers will need to provide a snack and a water bottle daily. 

Ages: 4 – 5 (entering Kindergarten in September 2022)
Date: Monday, August 22nd – Friday, August 26th
Two Sessions: 9:00 am – 11:30 am, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Summer at SEM (Buffalo Seminary) 

Fun, Community, and Learning for girls entering grades 4 – 9 Highlights include Fashion Lab with Arlene Kay, cooking classes with Chef Krista Van Wagner, Sailing with the Buffalo Yacht Club, Rowing at the BSRA, and horseback riding with the Buffalo Equestrian Center!

To see which camp is best for you child visit https://www.buffaloseminary.org/sas/summeratsem

Horseback Riding Summer Camp

Does your child love horses? Looking to learn to ride? Summer camp at Hunters Ridge is a great way to start! In our summer camp program, riders take one riding lesson per day with our knowledgeable instructors on our seasoned and safe lesson horses. They also do one unmounted lesson per day to learn about horses. Topics for unmounted lessons include; Parts of the horse, Cleaning tack, Parts of the saddle and bridle, safety and general horse caretaking to name a few. Riders also do crafts and participate in a horse show and pizza party on Fridays! Each week has a theme and the lessons, crafts and activities revolve around that theme. Each week is Tuesday-Friday 10:00-2:00. Give Lindsay a call to schedule at 716-622-7303

For additional information visit http://www.huntersridgeinc.com

Sail Buffalo Junior Sail Camp 2022

Welcome to Sail Buffalo’s Nautical Day Camp, where safety, fun and learning are our top priorities! Buffalo’s only nationally accredited sailing education (ASA) organization, boat share program, and youth sailing education location. Here you can expect your child to come Monday – Friday between 9am – 4pm and have a full day of summertime outdoor activity and nautical education!

We Teach Kids to Sail – RIGGING, HOISTING, TRIMMING, STEERING, TACKING, JIBING AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

We Teach Life Lessons – Campers will LEARN SELF-CONFIDENCE, TEAMWORK, CAMARADERIE!

We Sail on Lake Erie – WE SAIL IN FRONT OF BUFFALO’S INNER HARBOR AND WE SEE CANADIAN WATERFRONTS.

Ages- 7-17

For more info on class dates and fees associated visit www.Sail-Buffalo.org

All Things Photography

This class is jam packed with all sorts of fun photo activities, including darkroom, digital, and experimental photography. Cameras are available for use or students are welcome to use their own. For ages 8-12

Workshop Location- CEPA Gallery Learning Center
Limited Availability- This workshop is limited to 8 participants.
Dates & Times- July 11-15, 9:00am-12:00pm 

For information regarding more youth summer camps  at CEPA Gallery visit https://www.cepagallery.org/product-category/youth-summer-art-programs/

SPCA Kindness Camp

The SPCA is the perfect summer destination for campers looking for hands-on animal encounters, exciting interactive activities, and a daily look into the world of animal welfare and care! They’ll be excited to:

*Become animal advocates
*Interact with animals
*Participate in activities led by animal experts

Sessions are offered for children ages 6 through 14 currently enrolled in grades 1 through 9.

For more information visit https://yourspca.org 

Discovery Camp – Buffalo Museum of Science

Our summer Discovery Camps return for 2022 with quality counselors, a variety of educational themes, and most of all – fun!

As an Erie County Department of Health permitted camp provider, we are working diligently to closely align our summer camp plans with NYS and Department of Health Day Camp Guidelines to create a safe environment for the campers in our care.

Additional Details
All camps run 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Campers must be potty trained; no pull-ups.
Registration, immunization form, and payment required at least two (2) weeks prior to each session
Campers are asked to bring a bagged lunch (daily snack provided)
LATE PICK-UP: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.; $9 per 30 minutes per day (must be arranged at time of booking)

For additional information or to see sessions that are not yet sold out visit https://www.sciencebuff.org/programs/discovery-camps/

Stories In the Woods at Reinstein Woods 

Enjoy hearing a nature story, followed by a guided walk in the woods. For children ages 3–7. Registration required; call 716-683-5959.

Saturday, August 6 at 10:00 AM

Creek Critters at Amherst State Park

Discover what amazing animals are lurking underwater in Ellicott Creek. For children ages 7–12 and their caregivers. Note: This program takes place at Amherst State Park. Registration required; call Reinstein Woods at 716-683-5959.

Tuesday, August 23 at 10:30 AM

This series is sponsored by Project Best Life. Buffalo Rising and Project Best Life have teamed up to produce a series on wellness inspiration and advice to direct readers to the people, places, and experiences in Buffalo and beyond that will help them fulfill their health, nutrition, and wellness goals. For more information on how you can live your best life, subscribe to the Project Best Life newsletter.

Project Best Life

In tough times, our efforts to maintain fitness, healthy nutrition, and personal wellness can fall by the wayside as we direct all our energy into navigating our individual storm. Yet, in the face of what’s happening in the world around us, it is essential to make space for self-care and experiences that fortify our physical and mental wellbeing.

Check out Project Best Life’s personal assessment tool. Get personalized health insights and a cancer screening checklist by completing this health assessment. This questionnaire will only take you around 10-15 minutes to complete.

Listen to the Happy & Health Podcast

Trying to manage a proper work-life balance, saving for your future while paying all your bills, all while keeping strong relationships with friends and family… We know that life can get pretty stressful, and it’s easy to forget what’s best for your health both physically and mentally. Project Best Life is here to help with our podcast: Happy and Healthy. We provide tips from experts and share stories that will inspire you to live your best life, whatever that means to you. Listen now on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google

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Construction Watch: 257 Elmwood

Sinatra & Company Real Estate is converting a vacant three-story office building into residences.  When complete, the “Walcot Apartments” at 257 Elmwood will include 12 apartments and a ground floor, 500 sq.ft. commercial space.

The 12,730 sq.ft building located between Summer and North Street was constructed in 1920. One of the dozen apartments will be restricted as affordable.  The property includes parking at the rear of the site. Project costs total $3.345 million.

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Putnam Street Community Garden Protected

Grassroots Gardens of Western New York Permanently Conserves Beloved West Side Garden

Neighborhood green spaces are highly prized in Buffalo, or any city for that matter. While we are lucky to have an abundance of parks, we are equally as lucky to have smaller community pocket gardens dotted along various streets throughout the city.

One of the biggest advocates, and protectors, of neighborhood gardens is Grassroots Gardens of WNY. Not only does the organization help to establish these gardens, it also acts as their steward.

Recently, a garden located at 83 Putnam Street was in jeopardy of being eradicated at the hands of development interests. The 13 year old community space found itself at risk back in 2018, when a developer attempted to purchase the lot. Up until that time, the garden was only protected by a month-to-month lease, which did not bode well for the property, in the community’s eyes.

Fortunately, Grassroots Gardens, along with the City of Buffalo, rallied the troops and set out to advocate on the garden’s behalf. The garden-saving effort turned out to be a success, via its official sale to the Grassroots Gardens WNY Land Trust.

The safeguarding of the garden is thanks to Niagara District Councilmember David Rivera, who championed the cause. Additional thanks should be given to the neighborhood gardeners who faithfully tend to the beloved green space. It’s small victories such as this that go so far.

The sale of this particular property is of utmost importance, as it is the first sale of a previously city-owned vacant lot to the Grassroots Gardens Land Trust. While Grassroots Gardens will hold title to the land, the community will maintain site control.

Therefore, on Saturday, June 11 at 11am, supporters, advocates, protectors, and gardeners will gather together for a grassroots celebration, to mark the significant conservation effort.

Lead gardener, Kate Willoughby, commenting on what the protection of the garden means to her, shared: “It’s a sign that everyday people like us, neighbors, can come together for the common good and solve a problem—we turned an ugly, trash ridden vacant lot into a green and growing space we are proud of; a community garden that improves the quality of life in our neighborhood for us all.”

“One of the most important things a city can have is green space, something of which I have always been a huge supporter,” said Councilmember Rivera. “I’m so glad that the garden at 83 Putnam is now a part of Grassroots Gardens of WNY’s land trust so we can rest assured that this beautiful green space will continue to remain beautiful green space for years to come!”

Grassroots Gardens began their land trust in 2017, and in 2021 were nationally recognized for their conservation efforts when they were awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance.

“We look forward to working with our partners in the City of Buffalo and the City of Niagara Falls to permanently protect and conserve more of our region’s community gardens,” Executive Director of Grassroots Gardens WNY, Jeanette Koncikowski, who noted that there are over 100 community gardens in the organization’s network within the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls. “It is our desire to have at least one community garden in each Council district in Buffalo enter the land trust as well as to conserve at least one garden in our smaller Niagara Falls network.”

Grassroots Gardens WNY Board Chair, Minesh Patel, added, “Once a community garden is owned by our land trust, it is forever protected as a source of free, fresh food for the neighborhood, as urban habitat, and as community green space. Like Putnam, there are community gardens across both cities that could be lost to commercial development. Our land trust is here to make sure neighborhood green space is considered an important part of the region’s growth.”

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Traffic Calming Plan Proposed for Gate Circle

Gates Circle has been plagued by problems for as long as anyone can recall. It seems as if every time it has been restored, some car comes crashing into it. Not only is Gates Circle a magnet for poor drivers, it’s also not very conducive to visitors, who must play Frogger before entering.

Years ago, when life was slower (cars were also slower), the historic circle was frequented by city residents, who would relax by one of the fountains. It was built as a serene and calming setting in a rapidly growing city, where people could escape the hectic pressures of urban life.

Now, as a way to traffic-calm Gates Circle, an idea is being circulated that would witness the conversion of the vast intersection into a road-diet roundabout that would better accommodate bike-ped and automobiles.

The proposal, if implemented, would:

Result in a reduction in the average speed of motor vehicles traversing the Circle from 35 to 23 miles per hourInclude safer and more convenient pedestrian sidewalk crossings of at least six feet in widthHave two-way colorized bike paths 10 to12 feet in widthBe greener and quieter than the existing Circle but with the historic Olmsted center fully preserved

The conversion of the circle to a safer roundabout would also mesh with the City’s current improvements to Delaware Avenue, from North Street to Forest Avenue. Once complete, Delaware will be one-lane in each direction with a center turn lane. The originators of the conceptual plan for the design of the roundabout – Dan Burden and Michael Wallwork (both prominent and experienced professionals) – feel that the time is now to act on the synergistic upgrades. The pair were instrumental in seeing the construction of the four roundabouts in the Village of Hamburg in 2007.  

Burden, America’s most recognized authority on making places more walkable and bikeable, is highly regarded in national circles, and has worked with over 3,500 communities to enact more human scale designs to accident plagued roadways. TIME Magazine named him one of the six most important civic innovators in the world. Burden is joined by Wallwork, a transportation engineer who specializes in improving traffic circle conditions. To date, he has designed or evaluated over 900 roundabouts in the US, Australia, and Canada. Together, the pair has come up with a plan that will not only pay tribute to the history and architectural legacy of Gates Circle, if implemented the design will serve to protect the landmark, while safeguarding visitors to the site at the same time.

Currently, the plan is being met with open arms by resident councils of both the Park Lane Condominium and the Canterbury at Gates Circle communities, and development companies T.M. Montante and Uniland. GObike Buffalo is also an advocate for the traffic calming effort, as is Partners for a Livable Western New York. Buffalo City Council members Darius Pridgen and Joel Feroleto are also in favor of the proposal, and are supporting the measure.

This bike-ped forward design has been in discussions for some time now. Due to the timing of the work being performed on Delaware Avenue, traffic calming advocates feel that the golden opportunity is now upon us.

In order to bring this concept to reality, proponents of the plan are now seeking funding from federal and New York State road safety improvement programs.  

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Buffalo Bisons will join Major League Baseball in observing Play Ball Weekend

This weekend is a special time in our fair city. It is a time to celebrate two of the things that make our country an extraordinary place:  baseball and the youth of our nation. This weekend the Buffalo Bisons will join Major League Baseball in observing Play Ball Weekend.  

In Major and Minor League ballparks around the country Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 10 – 12, 2022, the game will salute the youth that are the future players and current fans of the national pastime. It is a celebration of youth participation in baseball and softball that focuses on engaging the young fans that are starry-eyed when they come face-to-face with the larger-than-life heroes of our current game. 

Here in Buffalo, the event will occur over these three days at multiple venues highlighting both the present and the past of our game. The Buffalo Bisons will be partnering with a stalwart champion of our city’s children for the past 38 years, the Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Program (WHJESP). This program has provided no-cost year-round social skill development, sports skill development, and academic support in science and math to the youth of Buffalo and Lackawanna.

When talking to founder and namesake Dr. Willie Hutch Jones, “Hutch” to his friends, his warm demeanor and personality exude even over the phone. In chatting with him about his program there were many things that stood out. One of the great things about the program is that it not only provides for children of this community but from all over the country. “Kids that travel with their parents have a place for positive programming. We have people who come here from as far away as Alabama, Texas, and North Carolina.”

Hutch and I also talked about the recent tragic events on the East Side of Buffalo and what this weekend might do to bring healing to the community. With a strong voice, Hutch related to me that it will “Reindoctrinate kids in the sport of baseball. . .our community needs positive environments for our children and take your mind back to playing ball and being a kid again.” Later in our conversation he reinforced that point with the following statement, “You are a child, they want to play. It doesn’t matter what race or color they are, they are teammates, another player in the game. Mentally when they grow up they won’t have that hate since they played with boys and girls of all races as a child.” 

Former General Manager of the Buffalo Bisons Mike Billoni echoed those thoughts:

“Baseball and sports teams are comprised of players from all ethnic backgrounds, all colors and all religions and they all play together, and they all have each other’s backs. Those programs are needed now more so than ever because these kids need hope and fun.”

Registration and the event will be held at Johnnie B. Wiley Pavilions tower entrance at Jefferson and Dodge.

The events of Play Ball Weekend will be divided among three locations here in Buffalo. On Friday, June 10th from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., WHJESP will offer a FREE “chalk talk,” about baseball, softball, and life skills, led by WHJESP baseball and softball team leaders, followed by a baseball “short” film. Registration and the event will be held at Johnnie B. Wiley Pavilions tower entrance at Jefferson and Dodge, in the second-floor activity room. Children, ages 5 – 12 are welcome. Food, beverages, and popcorn will be included.

For those who do not know, the Johnny B. Wiley Sport Pavilion is both the former home of and encompasses some of the remaining architecture of the former War Memorial Stadium, affectionately named “The Rockpile.” When I asked “Hutch” about holding an event in the shadows of such a great local piece of sports history he reminisced like so many of us do. “I remember walking up the hill from Jefferson and Delevan to watch the Bills play. I walked with my dad to watch those players, O. J. Simpson, Joe Namath, and Cookie Gilchrist… it takes me back to when I was a kid.” Billoni also commented on his fond memories of the Rockpile. “War Memorial Stadium was the first stadium where I watched professional sports… the Bills and Bisons in the 1960s and then to be back as the GM of the Bisons when Robert Redford and The Natural was filmed here.”

Saturday’s events will take place at McCarthy Park.

Saturday’s events will take place at McCarthy Park, 304 E Amherst St., Buffalo, NY 14215. Named for the venerable Hall of Fame Yankee, Cubs, and Red Sox skipper, Joe McCarthy, a longtime Buffalo resident whose final resting place is in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Tonawanda, the veteran baseball man would be smiling at the day’s planned events. From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., WHJESP will offer a FREE one-day youth clinic (prior registration required) for children ages 5 – 12. It will include instruction on hitting, fielding, catching, and running. At the conclusion of the clinic, lunch will be provided. Registrants can begin check-in at 9:30 a.m. Following lunch, participants are invited to take part in the Pitch, Hit, and Run Home Run Derby Competition. 

On Sunday, June 12th the events will move to Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, home of the Bisons.

On Sunday, June 12th the events will move to Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, home of the Bisons. The Bisons will host the Worcester Red Sox at 1:05 p.m. After the game ALL KIDS will be allowed on the field to run the bases and take part in a homerun challenge, taking a swing at hitting a baseball off a tee and out of the ballpark! For tickets visit bisons.com.

It is events like this weekend brings to us that make us think about the wonderful sport of baseball and what it means to so many. Across all races and ages it is handed down from father to son, mother to daughter. It tears down the barriers that we have built up around ourselves when we join as one to root for our favorite team. Find time this weekend at one of the events listed above to rejoice in the sound of children’s laughter, to pick up a ball and glove yourself, and to find your inner child. 

For more information about the Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Programs activities, including this weekends events visit whjsc.org.

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Five Cent Cine: The Outfit

A Good Fit

As the latest entry in the field of mystery/thrillers, “The Outfit” defies most of that genre’s characteristics: there’s no sleuth to solve the mystery (no Colombo, no Sherlock Holmes); there’s a murder, but no doubt about who did it (no wondering if was Colonel Mustard in the Library with a candlestick); the characters talk, rather than shoot themselves out of jam after jam; and the action—such as it is—is contained (in three rooms in a bespoke “tailor” shop, in one of which is a dead body in a trunk, echoing Hitchcock’s “The Rope” [1948]).

Mark Rylance is perfect as Leonard, or “English,” as his mob clients call him.

The plot seems straightforward. Chicago 1956. A reserved, shy, meticulous cutter (“Don’t call me a tailor; they just hem trousers.”) makes suits for the mob. On one bitterly cold night, two of his clients rush into the shop to avoid the police, involving the English-born artisan in their dangerous world. Award-winning film and stage actor Mark Rylance is perfect as Leonard, or “English,” as his mob clients call him. Those two junior hitmen, Richie (Dylan O’Brien), the hot-headed son of the crime boss, and Francis (Johnny Flynn), Richie’s aggressive partner, proceed to exploit Leonard’s reserve and apparent weakness.

Leonard (Mark Rylance) and Mable (Zoey Deutch) have a touching though limited, surrogate father-daughter relationship.

“English” and his chippy secretary Mable (Zoey Deutch) are presented as good, capable people who want only to live their lives: in the case of English, to make suits and keep his mouth shut; for Mable, to get out of Chicago and go, as she says, anywhere, anywhere being Paris. Mable, a surrogate daughter for Leonard (their limited relationship is touching), and Leonard, admirable in his fondness for his craft, are pawns, unwittingly caught up in the underworld. As such, they have our sympathy; we want to see them survive and even win at whatever game is being played.

As Richie and Francis argue over a tape made by the FBI through a bug planted somewhere, the question the mystery needs to have answered becomes clear: not who killed the dead guy, but who is the rat? As in all good mysteries, there are multiple candidates. Could it be English? Or Mable? Or Francis? Or Richie? When Leonard starts telling conflicting stories, pitting Francis and Richie against each other, his reliability as a narrator is put in question; but what other narrator can be trusted?

The metaphor of the cutter frames the plot, beginning with the title of the film: “The Outfit” is both the overarching mob family (descended from Al Capone, it’s said) and the suit that Leonard, in a voiceover that opens the film, painstakingly describes how to make. For Leonard, whose “tools” are his shears (“the only thing I brought with me”), making a suit is all about planning and precision. It’s about patterns and forms (“the only friends we have”), expectations and results that can be controlled and predicted. That seems to be the life Leonard proudly and contentedly inhabits.

Suspense builds when the crime boss (Simon Russell Beale) shows up. English and the boss present and discuss their “tools”—English his shears, the boss his gun—reinforcing the impression that Leonard is a quiet man with a trade, the boss a violent man with an organization of thugs. It’s not quite that simple. 

Leonard’s motivations are neither clear nor strong, and that may be a weakness in Moore’s otherwise engaging drama.

Leonard’s motivations are neither clear nor strong, and that may be a weakness in Moore’s otherwise engaging drama. The English cutter has more than one backstory—his history emerges late in the film, and it may suggest some guilt. But motivation may not be important, because it’s the process of the craft that entrances Leonard, and us, while enhancing his aura of innocence.

Blood is spilled, here by Richie (Dylan O’Brien), but the strength of the film is in talking, not action.

In the end, as Leonard is still waxing eloquent on how to make the suit, he explains that perfection can never be obtained, that something always goes wrong. Here, too, the script offers a metaphor. How does a careful planner like Leonard react when life in all its messiness gets in the way? The lesson may be simply that, even with all that care and planning, one cannot escape who one is. One can start over, but the past will have its way.  

First-time director Moore’s adherence to this metaphor (even when it seems overly clever, as in the film’s title) is part of the pleasure of his writing. At 35, he won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for 2014’s “The Imitation Game,” based on the book about British mathematician Alan Turing. The dark palette of cinematographer Dick Pope captures the claustrophobic interiority of the setting and gives the film its period look.

This unusual murder mystery has a few gunshots (nobody shoots first; they talk first, and keep talking), knifings, blood on the floor, and sewing—of human flesh. Still, it’s the mental antics that dominate. The result, mostly in the hands—or words—of a superb Rylance, is a riveting and suspenseful, tension-filled film.

Date: 2022

Stars: 3 (out of 4)

Director: Graham Moore

Starring: Mark Rylance, Zoey Deutch, Dylan O’Brien, Johnny Flynn, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Simon Russell Beale

Runtime: 105 minutes

Country: United Kingdom and United States

Languages: English and French (the latter not subtitled)

Other Awards: None to date

Availability: Streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Peacock, and multiple other sites; see JustWatch here.

Lead image: Two junior hitmen Francis (Johnny Flynn), left, and Richie (Dylan O’Brien), right, involve the cutter, Leonard (Mark Rylance), center, in their deadly game.

See all Five Cent Cine reviews by 2 Film Critics

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Done Deal: West Village Properties Sold

The company behind a number of West Village property rehabs purchased four additional properties yesterday.  Rand & Jones Enterprises purchased historic buildings at 42 and 44 Trinity Place and a vacant lot at 161 W. Tupper yesterday for $550,000.  It also purchased the Sammy’s Auto Repair building at 149 W. Tupper for $325,000. Sal Buscarino was the seller of all of them.

Rand & Jones, a full-service general construction firm and building materials supplier, is headquartered at 18 Tracy Street. Founded by Joan Yang in 1985, the company has purchased a number of properties immediately surrounding its offices on Tracy Street and on Johnson Park.  The firm has renovated them as rentals.

The new purchases are adjacent to 147 West Tupper Street, a mixed-use building Rand & Jones purchased in 2018 for $510,000 (above).  The two-story structure has six, one-bedroom apartments on the second floor along with 3,840 sq.ft. of ground floor commercial space and is begging for upgrades. 

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The Nickel City Nitro Experience

I first learned about Nickel City Nitro (NCN) when founders Jon Davis and Christopher Davis – two wandering baristas – rolled up to West Side Tilth Farm for a Saturday market. I was immediately impressed by the presentation of the product, which is toted around by bike. It’s called the Nitro Bike.

It wasn’t until a year later that I finally got to try their nitro-infused coffee products. I must say that being a hot, black coffee drinker, I was not expecting to like the nitro coffee as much as I did. But I ended up being an immediate convert. Not that I won’t still drink my regular coffee, it’s just that there’s something very exhilarating, refreshing, and gratifying about the NCN drink, which is poured via a tap system that is mounted onto the bike contraption.

Personally, I find that the draft latte is to my liking, made with oat milk. Man, there’s just something about it that gets me back on track if I’m feeling a little off kilter.

Nickel City Nitro steeps the coffee for 20 hours, and infuses the cold brew with nitrogen for a smooth, velvety finish.

@ The Stagecoach Market | (L-R) Jon and Christopher

Now that NCN is making appearances at The Stagecoach Market on Sundays, I figured that it would be a good time to catch up with the owners, per how they came to be in the driver’s seat of this unique operation.

“I was at Starbucks, just shy of a decade in retail operations,” Jon told me. “I found myself reevaluating my job, and wanted to know if I could do something that centered around more of my values. With a family in the near future, it was time to make a change. I saw the bike idea on the internet, and knew that there wasn’t one around here. It seemed like a good way to get away from working for a big company. The bike was meant to be a bridge, until I could figure out what I was going to do. I had trained Christopher as a store manager at Starbucks, and told him about the concept one day. He liked the idea and since there was a turnover of Starbucks management in the area, he decided to partner up with me. This was also around the time of the pandemic. It was a wild time – there were protests as well.”

The Nitro Bike is solar and human powered.

Kiosk @ Aloft Hotel at 500 Pearl

Now, with one year under their belts, Jon and Christopher have made some significant strides. With their electric (solar powered) bike, with a rustic-looking shipping box in front, and a tap system built in (made locally), the rolling café owners are not only attending festivals and markets, they have also embarked upon a “Coffee at the Office” program that sees them wholesale contracting with the likes of Undergrounds Coffee, Great Lakes Roastery, and Big Norwegian Kombucha. They recently signed a contract with Aloft Hotel at 500 Pearl. And newly minted is a deal with Fresh Catch, for an oat milk sesame latte! That means that in the off-season they still have retail outlets to attend to.

From being disenchanted with the Starbucks culture to having a big hit on his hands, Jon told me that it turned out to be the perfect time to get NCN on the road.

The coffee is a signature blend of Guatemalan and Kenyan beans expertly roasted Undergrounds Coffee.

Christopher at the helm

“We like the storytelling aspect of it,” said Jon. “It’s a commentary on café culture – coffee is so ritualistic. People come together around coffee. And coming together is so important these days. The bike allows us to go to the customer. We also have a newsletter that allows us to tell our stories, and connect with the customers. It’s all about making those connections with people.”

It might be about the connections, but it’s also about the products, of course. Currently, there are three base products that Jon and Christopher are pedaling – the Nitro Cold Brew (on tap and in cans), the Oat Milk Draft Latte (on tap, with cans coming soon), and Blueberry Peach Nitro Tea (on tap, with cans coming soon).

Nickel City Nitro’s tagline is “To fuel adventure and human connection.”

“We care about the longterm positive sum of community building with our customers and the businesses that we work with,” said Jon.

That pretty much sums it up – a small startup with lofty goals that benefit the community. That’s a business model that we can all get behind. And it’s as easy as drinking some delicious café brews, served up on one of Buffalo’s most intriguing mobile café carts.

Nickel City Nitro | Instagram (for their schedule)

Catch them this Sunday, from 9am to 1pm at The Stagecoach Market, corner of Ashland and Bryant (at Trattoria Aroma). See market’s Instagram page for details.

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2022 All-night Summer Solstice Party

Last yer was the inaugural All-night Summer Solstice Party – an event that was so successful, the organizers have decided to do it all over again. Held on one of the shortest nights of the year, the “all night party” packs a lot in throughout the course of the evening.

Attendees to the Summer Solstice gathering will encounter a range of activities, including a sunset meditation and stretch, bike rides, fire, performances, a dance party and more at to-be-announced locations. People can choose to go the distance until the following morning, or they may tag along for an interval or two.

An all-night Summer Solstice celebration kicks off on the evening of June 18 and goes until the morning of June 19, one of the shortest nights of the year. Activities include a sunset meditation and stretch, bike rides, fire, performances, a dance party and more at to-be-announced locations. Participants are encouraged to come for portions of the event or for the entire night. Here’s the breakdown of the event:

After gathering for mindfulness and movement at sunset, participants toast to the occasion and ride bikes to a secret location to have a fire and enjoy a fire-spinning performance. There will be a solstice ritual, setting intentions and bringing good vibes for the night, the summer and beyond. Then there’s another bike ride to an underground lounge, where DJ U-lock and guests will be spinning tunes until the wee hours of the morning. If there is still energy and interest, the few people remaining will bike to a nearby location to enjoy a peaceful sunrise.

“I was truly blown away last year by how magical of an event we created,” says Henry Raess, a lead organizer. “People brought good vibes and open minds, and we had a legitimate, powerful ritual for the summer solstice. Spiritual but not religious. Intentions were set, friendships were forged, and I have no doubt the energy from that night carried through many lives throughout the summer.”

“Last year’s Solstice event was particularly special after the pandemic and isolation,” said Sam Baggs, aka DJ U-lock, who is looking forward to creating another cocktail to toast to said future, and letting loose behind the decks to add to the energy. “It was really empowering to bring people together with a shared goal to set intentions for our collective and individual futures.”

V, a transplant from New York City, said, “The Solstice party was the first Buffalo party I went to and one of my all-time favorite parties. I made so many friends there that I still have today. Such a great introduction to Buffalo. I’m excited to help this year because I want the behind-the-scenes experience of helping organize a very intentional party. I want to help cultivate the Solstice vibe.”

Organizers are still looking for volunteers if you’d like to help with this epic event. Reach out via Facebook or the website, listed below.

For anyone in need of a bike, consider using Reddy Bikeshare, which has locations near the areas where the solstice event is taking place. For anyone wanting to skip the bike ride and go to the dance party, the location will be announced on Facebook the night of the event.

More information is available on the website, pre-sale tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite for $15. Tickets will be available at the door for $20.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TICKETS

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