Emerson School of Hospitality

A couple weeks ago I had the chance to attend a school tour and presentation at Emerson School of Hospitality {the school is located on Chippewa St. in Buffalo}. I've walked past the building multiple times, but never really gave much thought to it, but after this tour, this school is pretty amazing!

With a multiple level building this school is an academic, fitness and culinary center. Emerson sure does impress. Not only do students go through all of their general studies, they have a chance to take classes in the culinary arts. Learning how to cook, bake and prep all kinds of foods.

Emerson offers a café style area called Emerson commons and that is open on school days from 7:30-10am {breakfast} and 11:15-1:30pm {lunch}, making it a great spot for people who work downtown. Emerson also offers banquets and catering and makes wedding cakes, along with a variety of other fine desserts.

For someone {like me} who just thought the school, was like any old ordinary school, its not. Its pretty awesome and its pretty cool that kids have that type of opportunity in this area.

For more info on Emerson click here.

-B

{One of the multiple kitchens that you can see as you walk by on Chippewa St.}

{Emerson Commons, open to the public on school days}

{Car view}

M&T Bank First Friday's at Albright Knox

The first Friday of every month M&T Bank and the Albright Knox offer First Fridays. Free admission on the first floor to the public. From 10am-10pm you can walk around and experience some of the amazing art the gallery has on display. If you want to walk around upper levels there is an additional fee.

At the beginning of the month I took the day off and spent it with my niece. For an almost four year old this was a great event to take her too. While she thought the Lucas Samaras, Reflections, aka the "Mirror Room" was the best, her attention span started to run out after about 30 minutes. With it being a beautiful day we walked on the outside grounds and took some nice photos.

Prior to this visit, it has been about 5 years since I was last inside the Art Gallery for a leisurely experience, so it was nice to walk around and experience it with a kid who has a vivid imagination.

I highly encourage anyone to take part in such a great event that takes place the First Friday of every month. The next one coming up is on Friday, November 7, 2014.

-B

{Snapping photos inside the Mirror Room}

{If you look at this for more than a couple seconds you get dizzy, or at least I did}

{One of my favorites on display}

{Anyone want to play some tic tac toe}

Angola, NY

 {Check out their line up for Labor Day weekend here. }

To keep with the beach continuation, my second favorite beach in Western New York is Mickey Rats. Just down the road from Bennett Beach in Angola, Mickey Rats has been around since the 1980's and is a great place to go for some sun, swimming and sand during the day and live music and drinks by the water at night.

-B

A Food Truck Rodeo with a little Buffalo History

Taking place the first Wednesday of the month, a handful of Buffalo food trucks lined up outside the Buffalo History Museum's parking lot for the annual Food Truck Rodeo. Its a great opportunity to come out and have dinner with your family, friends or significant others and enjoy the History Museum for free. The next one taking place is on Wednesday, September 3 from 5-8pm. Bring the kids for free face painting, grab a blanket or folding chairs and have a picnic. For more details click here.

-B

Lovely Lewiston

Every time I go to Lewiston, I'm simply amazed at the beauty there, from Artpark to Old Fort Niagara it is simply amazing, especially in the summer months. My friend Lauren and I decided to spend a Saturday afternoon just walking around and taking in that "small" town feel. We first stopped at Artpark where we were able to be "big kids" and make some clay pottery for free. We then walked around and saw some of the sculpture artwork that was in the park.

After Artpark we hit up the ever so popular Silo to grab some lunch and ice cream, from there we walked down by the water and saw the Whirlpool Jet Boat tours that take place by Water St. Landing. We didn't have enough time to take a jet boat tour, but it is on my list of things to do. We drove through the Main St. and just looked at shops and restaurants that filled the street. It was a relaxing afternoon just exploring the "hidden treasures" that are only minutes away. Have you ever been to Lewiston? What are some of your favorites places to go when you're there?

 -B

#ArtparkWed

I don't make my way to Lewiston that often, but this past week my friend Lauren and I caught the Sara Bareilles concert for their Coors Light Wednesday concert series. You can't go wrong, for general admission, tickets were $11 and you we got to see a pretty talented artist. Artpark is such a pretty place, for those who love nature, music and being outdoors I suggest taking the pretty drive up to Niagara county and spending a day exploring and seeing what its all about.

-B

{ Sheltering ourselves from the rain }

{ Coors Light Wednesdays #cheers }

{ The pretty rainbow on our way home }

City of Night 2014 Recap

Silo City is one of the neatest places in Buffalo nowadays, at least in my eyes. Last year I did a kayaking and walking tour of the grain elevators and learned a lot about the past history in Buffalo. A couple weekends back my friends and I went to City of Night. A night filled with art, history and music. The event is put on by the Emerging Leaders in the Arts Buffalo {ELAB}.

A variety of artists, musicians and local performers came out to show us their talent all while utilizing a unique space - the grain elevators. Some of my favorite moments were seeing Communify Buffalo's booth, the fire and hula hooping performance, the Chinese lanterns that lit up the sky, the graffiti art inside the silo and the row of food trucks that were on hand for people to experience.

If you have the chance to go to Silo City or to attend City of Night next year, definitely do so. You won't be disappointed.

To learn more about ELAB click here.

-B

#WorldCup2014 Canalside Buffalo

Sunday Canalside Buffalo held a viewing for the USA vs. Portugal game. The weather was beautiful, the scenery was great and the game was, well so-so. Its great to see a "little" life come back to downtown and what's even more better is to see all the activities starting to take shape down at canalside.

There were a lot of people who turned out to view the World Cup Soccer game on the big screens, the Cheesy Chick food truck and beverage tents were on hand as well. While I think the viewing screens could have been a little bigger it was nice they were allowing people to bring in their own food and drink, some brought the family down and had picnic's set up. Those people were smart because they didn't have to wait in long lines.

There was even what I am calling a "Buffalove" tent set-up for people to purchase Buffalo shirts and pictures. For putting the event together in just a couple days, the turnout was great and people not only showed their American pride in Red, White and Blue, but they showed their Buffalo pride too.

-B

East Side Tradition

 

A tradition my family and I have had for many years is going to the Broadway Market and picking up all of our essential Easter needs { eggs, polish sausage, pierogi, butter lamb, platzek, pussy willows, etc. }. As I've gotten older I have appreciated the family time more. There's something about visiting the neighborhood you grew up in and thinking about all the memories you had when you were younger that makes this time of year more special to me. While most people only visit the market during this time of year, it is open ALL year round. If you've never been there before there's still time to make a visit, be prepared to wait in lines and be patient.

-B

 

{ The essential Easter needs, pastries and beads }

{ A staple in the Broadway Market }

{ A great place to go for all of your Polish souvenir/Dyngus Day needs }

{ Potts Deli - first time eating there and it was great! } 

{ BBQ Hamburger and Potato Pierogi at Potts }

Get A Clue - Buffalo Museum of Science

Friday Night the Buffalo Museum of Science was revamped into the well known board game- Clue! A handful of rooms on the second level of the building had volunteers holding clues to solve the mystery. Teams ran (some did) from room to room trying to figure out the murder mystery to win tickets to Beerology or Star Lights (both are Buffalo Science Museum events). The event was a lot of fun and had 200 people in attendance. It was an event out of the box, not a same old thing you would attend and you got to walk around the science museum, check things out and have a couple drinks to kill the time.

My only suggestion is letting teams chose times when they register, we arrived at 6pm thinking we would get to start the game right away and we had to wait until the 7:45 spot. Overall though it was a fun night out and our team; Buffalo's Solving Justice League Kids were close to winning!

-B

{ Buffalo's Solving Justice League Kids - #Teamname }

A taste of the WEBB

Over the weekend I attended my sister's work party at the Webb, which is an additional venue to Pearl Street Grill & Brewery. I have been to the Webb venue before {it was a venue choice of mine for an event I was possibly going to do}, so when I found out I was attending an event there I was excited to see how the general flow would be, along with trying there food/drink and customer service. Overall, I love the venue, it is rustic with a little bit of elegance. It was spacious and I feel in a convenient location. If you're looking for a more intimate and private setting this is the venue to use {if interested in Pearl Street}. The food - from hors' oeuvres to the buffet was really good. It was a step up from what you would get if you went to dinner at Pearl Street.

The only thing I wasn't to happy about was the bar service. There were two bartenders which was an adequate amount, but the first time up to the bar the bartender was a little standoffish, making me feel like I was inconveniencing them. As the night went on it went down to one bartender, leaving the bar a little busy. I did like the use of an old piece of furniture they used to re-vamp and display the draft beers on tap, it was a nice touch and fit in with the décor.

All in all it was a nice night and I was happy to attend an event that was "in place" there.

Its a great addition to the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery family.

-B

{ Buffalo links }

 

Buffalo Links to take a look at this week:

1. An event for the ladies - hosted by Kaleida Health, enjoy a Night of Indulgence

2. All of us have had or probably know someone who has been to Hospice, Friday they celebrate their Harvest Festival - if you enjoy wine you'll enjoy this event

3. Halloween is approaching quickly and with that come Halloween parties like the Knights of St. John's on Saturday - Halloween Dance

4. Being in Ellicottville this past weekend made me really get into the "Fall" season. They have great places to shop and eat. One of my favorite stores was Kazoo II

5. I was so happy when I saw this article online and found out Gabby from After 5 Events had a hand in the couples special day! Congrats pretty lady!

6. Swirls in East Aurora is amazing!!! Congrats to Mike on creating a great café for anyone to enjoy!

7. Just another pair of shoes I'm obsessed with by Bella Belle Shoes, who by the way make their shoes locally here in Buffalo. You can purchase these online or get them at Ooo La La Boutique

8. The Buffalo News had a good article on the Fort Erie Race Track Tuesday. Since being around for 116 years the track had its last race of the season Tuesday and hope it will be around for years to come.

The Grand Ballroom

:: Photo Collage of the wedding I had a part in this weekend ::

Every time I do an event, I try and make it as perfect as I can while I still know that nothing ever goes as planned, no matter how organized and particular you are as a person. This past weekend I had the privilege to coordinate another wedding at the Statler, it brought back memories of my very first wedding I ever did, a few years back and it was held in the same exact room - The Grand Ballroom. It made me think of how I've come so far in such a short amount of time.

While being a planner, I can prepare as much as I'd like and know all the in's and out's of everything, but there is always a little bit of nerves that hit me every time I have an event, especially on wedding days. These are my clients most important days of their lives and the last thing I want is for them to worry about anything on their special day, that's why I am so happy to say that working with the staff at the Statler is hands down one of the best staff I have dealt with in the industry. Jamie, Angelo, Kevin and everyone else that had a part in the reception over the weekend, were amazing, professional, classy and personable. They all made my job so much more easier.

If you are a recently engaged couple and looking for a venue, I highly recommend the Statler. The Statler can also hosts a variety of other events throughout the year- from social events to personal functions. Check them out.

-B

:: Little buggy for the flower girl ::

:: The Ceremony ::

:: Part of the candy table ::

:: Can you guess what the bride's colors were ::

:: The biggest card box I have ever seen at a wedding ::

:: Part of the powder room, exclusively for the bridesmaids and Bride ::

:: Complimentary champagne and water ::

:: Lovely chaise to sit ::

:: Preparing for the bridal party intro's on stage - they came out to the Harlem Shake ::

:: Festive Straws ::

Around Town Favorites

With the holiday weekend quickly approaching I thought it would be good if I posted some of my favorite restaurants I enjoy going to, that have nice outdoor patios. I also thought with Memorial Day weekend comes the "unofficial" kickoff to summer, so I also listed dessert shops that have some of the best ice cream and dessert in the area. Enjoy!

-B

Restaurants with a Nice Patio

CRAVing Buffalo

Pearl Street

Liberty Hound

Templeton Landing

Dock at the Bay

Swirls

Sweet Jenny's

Cupcake Orchard

Major Cool Off

Dolci

Firefly  (Elmwood location)

A Day Full of Animals

One of my favorite places to go in town is the Buffalo Zoo - its nothing like the Toronto or San Diego Zoo, but I still love it. Everytime I go I'm just as excited as the little kids who may be seeing the animals for the first time. A most recent addition to the zoo is the  Polar Cub named Luna. She is so adorable! The Buffalo Zoo puts on a wide array of events throughout the year. Everyone that I've attended has been fun and unique. The most recent event coming up is the first annual Buffalove Fest on May 31. Click here for more details about the event. If attending an event isn't your thing make a day of it with the family.

-B

Refresh!

Last week my Mom and I went to the Refresh event that was held at the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens. The event was put on by Buffalo Spree and all the proceeds from the event benefited the Botanical Gardens. It was full of flowers, unique fashions (kudos to Erin Habes for the fashion displays - they were awesome), plants, beauty and healthy living. It was a nice evening out to spend some time with my Mom. If you ever have a chance to visit the Botanical Gardens, you can make a day of it; take in the beautiful plants, flowers and scenery and enjoy a nice picnic in the park afterwards.

Check out more photos that I took at the event below

-B

"Larkinville"

While I've driven down Seneca and Exchange St. multiple times before, I never actually had the chance to see the Larkin Building prior to last week when I was at the venue to attend a meeting for there upcoming Wednesday Concert Series. To my surprise there is a lot and I mean a lot they offer at Larkin Square.  Not only are there free concerts, they also offer food from a variety of places - The Filling Station (open year-round), The Grill (open seasonal), Square 1 Sandwiches, and Larkin Ice Cream Cart (offering Lake Effect Ice Cream). Tennis courts and Stalls with a variety of vendors fill the outside area making it a hot spot to be on a nice day. Inside tenants of all sorts rent space. For more information on the history of the Larkin Building or for leasing opportunities click here

Make sure to check Larkinville out this spring and summer- its a great place to go with your family or friends. Its also a great place to go for a date night or if you have guests from out of town visiting this would be a great place to take them.

-B

Larkin Square on Twitter

Larkin Square on Facebook

The Mansion On Delaware

Located on the corner of Delaware Ave. in Buffalo, is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel that offers a variety of amenities, complimentary breakfast and cocktails in the evening, shoe-shining, a Billiards Salon, internet access and space for that "special" event.

Whether your in town for leisure, or looking to host a business function, the Mansion on Delaware has got you covered. The pictures posted above are from a Bridal Show that took place last week that my friend Kate (who recently got engaged) and I attended. The rooms are amazing and the service that is provided is exceptional. If you ever have a chance to attend an event at this fine establishment you won't be disappointed.

-B