A Trip Down Memory Lane - West Rose & A Day In Ellicottville

Today I’m entering into my fourth week of staying home during this pandemic, like most people we are all yearning for the time when things can go back to the way they were, being able to freely leave our homes and go about our lives however we enjoy doing so.

For me, I am looking forward to the days I’ll be able to go on random day adventures and explore new places, new businesses in the region that have opened, be able to travel again, the list goes on and on.

As I’m sitting here I thought I’d share my thoughts on West Rose - a fairly new restaurant that opened in Ellicottville this past December. West Rose is the sister restaurant to the Grange Community Kitchen in the Village of Hamburg. Owners Brad and Caryn Rowell opened this wonderful place as a second “gathering place for all” in the heart of ski country.

On a Sunday afternoon in February my friend Kelsey and I took a day trip to Ellicottville to pay a visit to West Rose (it was on both our bucket lists of places to visit) and just have a change of scenery from the City of Buffalo. From the minute you walk in, you are taken away by the beautiful decor. The tall ceilings, exposed white washed brick with gold accent pieces and soft colors make the ambiance of the restaurant feel cozy, comfortable and at peace all while feeling a part of a community where guests gather to catch up or spend a day enjoying each others company. The food is seasonally inspired, shareable, comfort and delicious all in one and the staff are attentive, welcoming and friendly.

After brunch we decided to walk around the village of Ellicottville. We went from store to store and stopped at some local businesses checking on winter sales they had going on. We visited a local bakery and winery and picked up some treats for a friends dinner later that night. While our trip was only a few hours out of the day, it was nice getting some fresh air and visiting some places that were new to us and some that we don’t get to visit that often.

It’s the memories and experiences like this that I miss currently. While I’m grateful to have the memories to think of during this difficult time its hard to think what life will be like after this is all over or I should say once this is under control, I don’t think this will be over for a while. While we are all doing our part to help one another, it’s scary to think of what the economy, local business and life will be like in just a few months. I realize that is a bold and broad statement I’m making, but it’s my opinion and what I’m thinking about more frequently now a days.

It’s little adventures like these that help me get through these long and sad days that I find myself facing more often, its the memories I have that help give me hope that there are brighter days a head, until then I will continue to go down memory lane.

Continue to stay safe & be well,

-B

"Risk Expands You"

Experience Life

In Order To Learn The Lesson

And so it goes another year has come and gone and for many, this time of year is a time to reflect on all that has happened over the last year. It is also a time where we look ahead to what we hope to accomplish for ourselves in the upcoming year.

As I take some time to look back on this past year a lot of thoughts and emotions run through my mind.  I continue to be very thankful for the opportunities and adventures that have come my way. There have been a lot of significant changes that have taken place in 2019, leaving toxic and negative environments and hoping that the decisions I’ve been making are leading me to where I should be. I’m a big believer in things will work out the way they are supposed to even if you don’t see it in the present moment. What I take a way are more lessons on this thing called life.

As I enter 2020, I’m ready to take on more risks, because it expands you, “To make a positive change in your life, you often must take a risk. You must tolerate some level of uncertainty.” I also want to learn to let go of the worrying, and things I don’t have control over and just make every day count.

“Remain conscious of the value of every single day. Ask yourself every morning, “What can I do to make today count? – Live Bold and Bloom”

I’m looking forward to 2020 and what it will bring. Stay true to yourself, find your tribe, and accept that you can't please everyone. Be present in the here and now and savor the moment. Rather than dwelling in the past or fretting about the future, focus on exactly what you are doing with full attention

To my family, friends and the strangers who continue support and encourage me, thank you for giving me a purpose.

Happy New Year!

Xo

-B

Some of the quotes in this post are from live bold and bloom, you can find the full article here.. I shared this article last year around this time as well. It’s a good read on those life lessons we may sometimes forget about.

7. 1. 6.

When I began this blog of mine over six years ago I never imagined the amount of love and passion I would have for the city that I am so lucky to call home. Having always loved this region I didn’t think it would be possible to find deeper meaning, deeper roots and deeper passions that I have come to find, but it has happened and there is so, so much to be grateful for in our region.

Since it is “716 day” I thought I would share my list of favorite (favorite!!) restaurants, venues, activities, events, and people I like to follow. I know I missed A LOT on this list (it’s so hard to think of it all), but take a look. Let me know what are some of your favorite things in the 716 - places you like to go, events you like to attend and people you like to follow.

Western New York may be a small region compared to big cities, but it has a ton of talent, pride and passion to share with visitors and those that are lucky to call it home.

Favorites broken down by category:

Brewery: Resurgence – Have you checked out their new location at 55 Chicago? If not, definitely put it on your list of things to do

Restaurants:

• Southtowns: Alchemy Wine Bar/The Grange

• Downtown Restaurants: Marble + Rye, Hearth + Press (especially before a show at Sheas), Hydraulic Hearth (love their outdoor patio in the summertime), Cantina Loco is my favorite spot for guac, and chips and they are my favorite spot for margaritas. Love Wasabi on Elmwood for Sushi

• Northtowns: Share on Main Street, TCB on Transit Road and Greens on Transit

Cocktails – Duende at Silo City is a pretty cool, chill place, Angelica Tea Room, Just Vino on Main Street, Blackbird Cider on Chandler Street, The Terrace at Delaware Park is a beautiful spot as well, those views of Hoyt Lake are BEAUTIFUL.

Dog Park: Hands down my Harlie girl loves the Knox Farm – whether its running around at the dog park or walking the trails it’s a happy place for her

Workout Spot: #REVLIFE is the best life. Any class at Revolution Buffalo is sure to be a fun time. It is my happy place. A place where I take in all the positive vibes that I can. I also love Love in Motion yoga. Kate and Kath bring those feel good vibes with every flow

Outdoor spots: Hands down The Outer Harbor is my favorite waterfront spot and a spot that I never get sick of. Whether it’s a run, walk, the views or visiting Tifft Nature Preserve it has a special place in my heart. Delaware Park and Artpark are also places I love to visit outdoors

Fun things to do: A fishing excursion with Brookdog Fishing is a blast and I highly recommend for anyone (at any fishing level). The Buffalo Pedal Tours are so much fun, Hatchets & Hops is also a fun place to check out as well as the Silo City tours with Explore Buffalo

Coffee Shops: Remedy House, Tipico, Public and Overwinter

Favorite places: The Buffalo Zoo (that’s a given; I mean if you know me you know how much I love animals (more than some people)). The Aquarium is another favorite spot. The Science Museum, kayaking, The Buffalo Central Terminal and the Broadway Market

Shops I love to visit: Anna Grace on Elmwood, Mod Nos on Hertel, Winkler & Samuels Wine Purveyors at 500 Seneca, Pegs Hardware

My spots for wings: Nine Eleven Tavern in South Buffalo is a hole in the wall, but the wings are one of the best in town (in my opinion), I am also a fan of Carbone’s on South Park and Duffs

Favorite social media accounts to follow/motivate me, locally here in Buffalo: Buffalo Boss Babes, Christy at Wild Blossom Hollow, Lloyds, The Buffalo Zoo, Adventures are Waiting (Jess Kelly), BKind City, We Must Dash, Indie Twenty (Rachel), Love in Motion Yoga, Balanced Bright Life (Jessica Reagan), West End Interiors, Yoga Steve (Steve Procknal), and Lauren from Rev @liittlelauren

Favorite summer time events: Jack Craft Fair and new this year – Door Open Buffalo/Explore Buffalo, I always try and visit Shakespeare at Delaware Park too, it’s a classic summertime activity in Buffalo. Wines in the Wild at the Zoo is also one I always go to. For me being an event planner I feel like I attend a lot of events not just plan a lot so when a new event is created or its an event I have never been to – that excites me more than a recurring event, unless it has “wowed” me.

My bucket list of things to do before summer is over: Visit the new Explore & More, A hot air balloon ride (this has been on my bucket list for years), learn/try to paddle board – all those years at the Harbor and I never had a chance to do it then, visit Shirt Factory in Medina, and take a class with Ren at Rise Fitness.

-B

WNY BAC - 8th Annual Bookfest, July 13, 2019

WNY Book Arts Center (WNY BAC) is located at 468 Washington Street in Buffalo, NY and is one of the coolest places in downtown. Their mission – “To help promote a greater understanding of printing and book-related arts through education, creation, and exhibition for a broad and diverse community.”

It is a great place to visit if you’re looking for something fun to do/learn/support. I had a chance through a Buffalo Bloggers meet up to learn about the organization/business, meet some of the staff and have a hands-on experience in the process of letter pressing. It’s not only a place to go to learn to letterpress, but offers bookbinding, paper making and custom printing opportunities as well as workshops, school programs, professional development, and a shop where you can purchase a variety of postcards, artwork, notebooks and more.

 If you like books, are interested in learning more or want to check out WNY BAC and see what they are all about, they are hosting their 8th Annual Buffalo Bookfest on Saturday, July 13th from 12-5pm. More details can be found here.   

-B

photos - Just a Blonde in Buffalo

Summertime at Artpark//Free Family Saturday's

A place I enjoy visiting, but don’t go to often is Artpark. Not only does the venue provide beautiful views of the water, fun concerts to attend, but it also has some great creative, interactive events that focus on the cultural arts. Back a few weeks ago, my sister and I took my niece and nephew to the Fairy Festival, an event I haven’t attended before. It was a beautiful day in June and offered a lot of fun activities, from making fairy houses to magic potions and flower crowns, perfect for young kids. You could have tea in a fairy house, dress up as your favorite fairy and let your creativity flow. For only $10/ticket the amount of free activities that were included with the ticket were worth it for us.

Since then I’ve been better at staying up to date with events taking place at Artpark so I can plan accordingly with a packed summer schedule (which you are probably familiar with). While known for their popular summer concerts, they also are offering free family events on the following upcoming Saturday’s thanks in part to their sponsor Hyatts.

JULY 6       ART OF TRANSFORMATION

JULY 13     ART OF FANTASY

JULY 20    ART IN WATER

JULY 27    ART OF THE GAME

Each week offers a different theme with a variety of “make and take” workshops as described on their website. It also includes free parking and play spaces making it convenient for families on a budget. For more information on this head to Artpark’s website here.

Blog-versary Celebration

On the last Friday of 2017 I celebrated with some of the most important people in my life at the Barrel Factory. 5 years ago I began this journey into the "blogging world." Not knowing what I was doing {and sometimes I still don't know}, but enjoying every minute of it. I've learned so much and have been lucky to have the opportunity to experience a lot of new things and meet some amazing people I otherwise wouldn't have.

While I have some ideas for where I would like the next 5 years of Just a Blonde in Buffalo to go, I know things don't always go as planned and am just going to enjoy it day by day. Here's to more adventures, more experiences and meeting some more amazing people. 

To everyone that showed up on Friday at the celebration and to those who were there in spirit thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Cheers to 2018! 

I hope you like the new site! 

-B

xo

Here are more photos from the blog-versary party. 

5 years blogging

A lifetime of support

Steve Balesteri performing 

BNBA Brewers Festival

This coming Saturday is the 4th Annual BNBA Brewer's Festival at the Outer Harbor {Wilkeson Pointe}.  Tickets are still available and its sure to be a fun time by the water. For more details click here.

Angelica Tea Room

I've been following the Angelica Tea Room on Instagram for the past couple of months and I finally made a stop in to check it out a few weeks ago and then again on Friday for happy hour.

It is one of my favorite spots to go to in Buffalo. I love the decor, the atmosphere, the staff and the drinks - everything there just puts me in a good mood. I highly suggest paying a visit when you can.

-B 

{Just a Blonde in Buffalo photos}