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Buffalo came into being in 1803 and before a decade had past was burnt to the ground by British troops. It was during the War of 1812 that this town suffered its fate and except for one house which was left standing, according to historians, there was nothing left of the city of Buffalo. The town was rebuilt and it was required that homeowners had to have leather buckets to help douse any would-be fires.
In 1868 Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux designed the original park system. The system of parks, circles and connecting parkways was a first of its kind and became the standard for the rest of the nation for urban park planning.
During the 1870’s Samuel Clemens was an editor of a small newspaper the “Buffalo Express” before he became a literary giant known as Mark Twain. Buffalo was also the birthplace of two US Presidents namely Millard Fillmore 1850-53 and Grover Cleveland 1885-89 and 1893-97. Known to locals as “Presidents Avenue”, Buffalo’s famous Delaware Avenue was where Millard Fillmore lived until he died, so did William McKinley. President Roosevelt took his presidential oath at Wilcox House which is situated on Delaware Avenue.
Buffalo was rapidly increasing in size by the early 1900’s and became the world’s largest distributor of grain and livestock. It also had a major rail centre and considered as the gateway to the Midwest. In 1928 the City Hall was built by Frank Lloyd Wright and Frederick Law Olmstead and is the tallest City Hall in the nation, and also has the distinct reputation as a masterpiece in Art Deco.
Buffalo is situated on the shores of Lake Erie and is known as the “Queen City”. It is the second largest city in New York State and is a half-hour’s drive from the Niagara Falls.
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Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum – East Aurora. This is a definite, must see, as it is truly a hidden gem. The museum will provide the visitor with a surprise of some sort in just about every corner of the house. With a very dedicated and extremely knowledgeable team of volunteers who are only too willingly to help visitors at the museum, makes this a great place to visit.
Albright-Knox Art Gallery – This art gallery has one of the finest collections of modern art. Here you will find art by masters such as Picasso, Matisse, Derain, Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir and Warhol. This is a definite for the art enthusiast.
Buffalo Museum of Science – This museum is for all ages as it has hands-on exhibits and interactive activities. There are displays of dinosaurs, endangered species and insects that are larger than life. It also carries one of only three sand paintings in the world a Tibetan Sand Mandala.
St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral – 128 Pearl St., Buffalo. In 1851 this Historic Landmark was blessed and in 1870 the towering spires were added. Unfortunately, in 1888 the church was almost destroyed in its entirety by fire and it was decided that with major reconstruction St Paul’s could be saved and after 2 ears of intense worked it reopened in 1890. The church is built of Medina sandstone and is marked with strong Gothic embellishments.
Niagara Mohawk Building – 535 Washington St., Buffalo. This skyscraper with a height of 294 feet was built in 1912. Its renowned glazed terracotta tower is amongst the city’s most beautiful sights and is definitely displays a majestic figure when lit at night.
Darwin D. Martin House - 118 Summit Ave, if you appreciate Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, this Prairie style house is a must-see. Constructed between 1903 and 1906, the 10,000 sq ft home is a horizontal hymn to architecture, and the interior is just as beautifully designed.
Graycliff – Located at 6472 Old Lake Shore Rd, set on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie, Graycliff is another Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece, and is so designed as to blend with the surrounding landscape. Once you have seen all the beauty of the house itself, take a stroll through the lovely gardens and neighbouring woods.
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Buffalo is probably one of the best cities for great restaurants with a broad range of fine to casual dining. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the authentic, ethnical and culturally diversity on offer at affordable prices.
Topz – This restaurant has an upscale interior design with a stylish and distinctive ambiance and has been in existence since 1998. Topz is unique in that it is for the burger lover who is also health conscious. Topz offers high quality foods with lower fat and exceptional flavour. The menu makes sure there is a favourite for everyone.
Billy Ogden’s Lovejoy Grill – 1834 William St., Buffalo. This restaurant with its classic diner decor and old memorabilia is a wonderful dining experience. Their menu consists of cuisine such as steak and seafood with a twist, or pork chops crusted in pistachio nuts. Reservations are recommended as this is a popular eating spot.
Le Metro Cite – 520 Elmwood Ave., At West Utica, Buffalo. This popular hip restaurant has a patio for dining as well as an attractive indoor dining room. They have a full service bar where you can sit while waiting for a table. The menu is full of creative choices and customers can buy homemade bread here
Ya Ya Bayou Brewhouse - 617 Main St, this is the place for great Cajun style food, and a couple of beers. With a menu that features po’boys, catfish, or hush puppies. You are in for a taste treat. The atmosphere is good, and Ya Ya has become the local hangout.
Root Five - 4914 Lakeshore Rd, there are live blues bands playing at this waterside venue, where you can watch the sun set over Lake Erie. Fare that ranges from typical bar grub to sole stuffed with shrimp and crab, served with lemon buerre blanc.
Charlie the Butcher's Kitchen - 295 Main St, located in the food court of the magnificent and elegant Ellicott building, Charlie takes great pride in serving original and innovative food, delicious and fair priced. When touring Buffalo and visiting the Ellicott, do try one of his excellent sandwiches.
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Anchor Bar – 1047 Main St., Buffalo. There is occasionally live jazz music at night and rumour has it that the city’s speciality, Buffalo wings with blue cheese and celery dressing, was invented here.
Calumet Arts Cafe – 56 W Chippewa St., Buffalo. This is a good late night bar and restaurant. The music on offer here is jazz, blues and world music.
Colter Bay – 561-565 Delaware Ave., Allentown. This is a lively sports bar and has a really good choice of dark beers and scotch.
Nietzsche’s – 248 Allen St., Buffalo. This club is an institution in the neighbourhood. Their employees are friendly and they host a wide variety of live acts through the week. In the back you will find a room for dancing.
Spot Coffee – 227 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. This club is favoured by the locals and they serve basic food and good drinks. They host live music performances regularly and on weekends is open 24 hrs.
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Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens – The Botanical Gardens located in South Park was built in the late 1890’s to house exotic plants from around the world. The Conservatory is one of Buffalo Parks’ most significant buildings.
Tifft Farm Nature Preserve – This nature reserve is situated on 264 acre of land and is part of the Buffalo Museum of Science. In the reserve is a 75 acre cattail marsh. There are also nature trails 5 miles long, with a variety of habitats.
Delaware Park – Parkside & Elmwood Aves., Buffalo. This Park consists of water, woods and meadows which Frederick Law Olmstead considered the three most important features to any urban park. Picnic and relax in the tranquil surroundings or for those more energetic it is ideal for walking and jogging or play tennis and golf.
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Buffalo has a variety of retailers located throughout the city centre. Here you will find special, historic, multicultural needs to suit any shopper. In Buffalo shoppers are encouraged to enjoy, buy and explore and there is sure to be something to pique your interest.
Eminent Design – 191 Allen St, Elmwood, Buffalo. This store has a large variety of goods on offer. You will be able to find anything from clocks and jewellery to one-of-a-kind articles. The owner and staff believe that shopping should be fun and they will assist you in finding a special gift or souvenir.
Neo – 55 Allen St., Buffalo. This store carries home furnishings such as scented rocks, all natural bath products, creams and fragrances. You will be able to find pictures, paintings, wooden art and ‘nature’ trinkets.
Presence – 1086 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. This shop situated in Allentown has handcrafted jewellery and blown glass ornaments which are really beautiful. You will also find, clocks, candle and candlesticks and pottery. It is an exciting place to find that special gift or just to wander around and browse.
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The Buffalo Zoological Gardens – The Gardens are situated in 23.5 acres of Delaware Park and is the third oldest zoo in the nation. The zoo has a diverse collection of wild and exotic animals such as the lowland gorilla, hyenas, polar bears and rhino. Also, there are over 320 different varieties of plants. The zoo is open all year round and provides excellent education and entertainment for everyone. If you visit the Wild Place you might be able to wash an elephant or see how one can paint.
Aquarium of Niagara – 701 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls. This aquarium has sea life from the coral reefs as well as freshwater fish. It is a fascinating place to visit as you will also see the endangered Peruvian penguin or manatees. They also have piranha, sharks and a whole lot more. There are also daily feedings which a great fun to see and to top it all, watch the Niagara Falls from the observation deck.
Beaver Meadow Audubon Centre – 1610 Welch Rd., North Java. This wildlife sanctuary is situated on 324 acres of land and is home to the Beaver. Meander forests, fields and wetlands and a wealth of nature to enjoy. There are wildlife programmes available, plus 8 miles of trails if you feel energetic enough to walk the distance.
Lockport Cave Underground Boat Ride – this is an amazing experience. Although perfectly safe, the ride on a man-made hydraulic raceway that has been hewn out solid rock, will give kids the thrill of their lives. Adults will certainly enjoy the experience as well, so take the family along for this unique attraction.
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