#BuffaloLinks

Here are some fun things going on this weekend!

All weekend long:

• Erie County Fair 
• Taste of Ellicottville

Saturday:

• Lantern Parade at Hoyt Lake
• Scottish Festival
• ARTsPARKed

• Buffalo Central Terminal Tour

Be a Tourist in Your Own City

Part of my " Buffalove Sunday Funday" consisted of taking a spin class with Revolution Buffalo down at Canalside before heading over to Buffalo Riverworks to watch the boaters and kayakers on the water. It made for the perfect way to start your day. I haven't had the chance to take any of the exercise classes down at Canalside before Sunday. With a beautiful view of the water and boats it in some way makes you forget you're even working out and the time goes by fast. I really recommend you taking a class down there sometime.

{Rev Ride at Canalside}

At Riverworks they had the Jack Craft Fair taking place from 11-5pm. There were a lot of artist and craft vendors along with live music making it a great day to meet new local businesses and explore a new venue in your city. Sometimes a mini day trip in your own city can be fun and beneficial.

-B

{Part of the Sunday Funday was at Resurgence Brewery with a beer flight}

{Jack Craft Fair}

{Buffalo Riverworks}

Pedaling thru Buffalo

Yesterday some of my family and I did a "mini" Buffalo tour and today I wanted to highlight part of it. The Buffalo Pedal Tour - you may see people cruising thru the streets of downtown Buffalo singing and screaming and ringing the bells. We started off at Big Ditch Brewing {note to self a lot of breweries and distilleries are closed on Sundays}, but that didn't stop us from having a great time. We pedaled are way to Pearl Street, Liberty Hound, 716 and Pan American Grill {another note I wouldn't go back to 716 because the bar service was slow and unfriendly and I have been there multiple times}. We stayed at each place for about 25-30 minutes {you can stay as long or as little as you want at each place you visit within the two hour tour period} and some places like Pearl Street offer a special pedal tour perk of buy one get one half off prices for certain beers.

{Group shot}

We pedaled the streets eating brownies and snacks that we could bring with us and sang the Bills Shout song at the top of our lungs. We waved and got honked at by cars passing by and had a lot of laughs with our tour guide Caitlyn. Overall, it was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to out of town guests as well as locals. Its a great way to see your city and visit places you may not have been to yet.

-B

{The start of the tour}

{Cruising thru the streets}

{End of tour shot}

#BuffaloLinks

Hello August! Here are some of my favorite links for this week!

This Saturday check out Wright by the River at the Fontana Boat House.

Starting tomorrow you can head to Stokoe Farms and walk thru the Rex Ryan corn maze.

The Eden Corn Festival kicks off this Thursday. Click here for more information.

A new foodie blog that I love is by a great gal pal Danielle. Check it out HiScooterPie.com

#BuffaloLinks

A new business I am obsessed with is Buffalo Pallet Art. Creating custom paintings on pallet art work.

The ballpark is Turning the Park Pink on Saturday. Come out to the game and help a good cause.

The Botanical Gardens are offering craft beers, garden tours, live music and more at tonight's Botanics & Brews event from 6-9pm.

Come out to Delaware Park by Hoyt Lake on Sunday for Veg Fest! Its an all day festival and free to attend.

#BuffaloLinks

This Thursday the Erie County Fair is toasting to the Fair Beer at Flying Bison Brewery. The fun begins at 4:30pm.

One of my FAVORITE events of the summer is tomorrow at the Buffalo Zoo {Wines in the Wild}. Sip on wine, sample food, play some games and see some animals making it one great event!

The North Buffalo Farmers Market is going {Pink} on Thursday to help kick off the Buffalo Bisons Turn the Park Pink event on Saturday, Aug. 1. Come by and shop local!

I'm looking forward to a fun girls weekend white water rafting and sipping on some wine. See my post rafting post next week! {Whitewater Challengers}

Wherefore art thou Romeo?

Wherefore art thou Romeo? A couple weeks ago my sister and I went to Shakespeare in Delaware Park to see Romeo and Juliet and what a crowd that came out- it was so packed! It was also a beautiful night to catch a free play and enjoy some wine and Shakespeare.

Starting on Thursday this week {July 23} Shakespeare in Delaware Park comes back for their second half of the season with an all male cast for the play the 12th Night. If you haven't been to a play before definitely check one out. It makes for a fun and affordable night out in the summer. For more information or to see how you can help the organization click here.

-B

At the top of the hill with a shot of the crowd

You can purchase Shakespeare swag at the stand. Money from the sales goes to help Shakespeare in Delaware Park

Getting ready for the play

8 Lunch Spots to Check Out Downtown

Today I'm talking about places to go on lunch if you work downtown. Its always nice to get out of the office and walk around if you can, so I've compiled a list of places to check out for your next lunch meeting or just to get out of the office for a little bit.

Code Blu Juice Bar - now at Canalside and offering salads as well as juice - tables are set-up over the bridge to sit and enjoy people watching to grab and go if you're in a time crunch.

Liberty Hound - a great place to take in the views while enjoying some great plates

Clinton's Dish - the stand has come along way offering wraps, sandwiches and salads and ice cream. Its a great spot to go.

Roux - Soup Bar & Café inside the Buffalo News Building (5th Floor) - offers soup and sandwiches and is a great place to go for a quick meal.

Pearl Street is always a good spot to go - especially if its nice out - the patio is a great spot for a work meeting or a lunch date with friends.

Vasilis on Main St. is always a great place to go as well - offering a wide array of food options.

The Archer is a great place to hold a lunch meeting for work.

Fables Café inside the Buffalo Erie County Library offers soup, sandwiches and salads. Enjoy a bite to eat and grab a book to read.

#BuffaloLinks

A night to celebrate the arts and enjoy the Old First Ward. City of Night is this Saturday. For more details check them out here.

Walking for Downtown is hosting a Walking Tour of Buffalo Riverworks this Wednesday at 5:15pm. You can check out Riverworks and all the new things taking place down by the water

Babeville is hosting Game Night Buffalo on Thursday. For more info go here.

Taking place on Friday at the Buffalo History Museum - music, activities, food and drink will all be part of the party. For more information click here.

For those looking to for some entertainment in the sky check out the Thunder of Niagara Airshow this weekend.

Sun and Sand! A Guide to WNY Beaches

Its officially summer and one thing people like to do is head to the beach. When I was younger my family would rent a cottage for a week up in Canada. While we don't have the crystal blue water and white sand like other places may have, Western New York still has a handful of beaches that are enjoyable to go to. Here is my list of some to check out.

Beaver Island State Park {great for the little kids}

Mickey Rats

Sunset Bay Beach Club

Woodlawn Beach

Olcott Beach

Bennett Beach

If you have an enhanced license or passport a couple of my favorites right over the border are:

Crystal Beach

Sherkston

:: Some beach necessities, magazines {or book}, towel{s}, beach chairs, A volleyball ::

Other essentials for the day at the beach:

Coolers (if allowed)

A big beach bag to put all your belongings in

Snacks like fruit, sandwiches

Drinks like water, beer {optional}, iced tea

Sunglasses, Sun Tan Lotion, hats, big umbrellas, hand sanitizer or baby wipes and blankets

Toys for kids to play with (shovels, buckets, etc.)

What is your favorite beach to go to?

-B

A Recreational Place on Point!

While there are a lot of great things happening down at Buffalo's Inner Harbor, there are also a lot of great things happening at Buffalo's Outer Harbor, from the bike and running paths to the Lighthouses and Coast Guard Base, one place I checked out this past weekend was Wilkeson Pointe. Located on Times Beach Nature Preserve, this recreational spot not only has beautiful views of the water, windmills and wind sculptures, but also has slides and plenty of room to bring the family and spend a day playing games and having a picnic. It's probably one of my favorite spots to go {now}. While people are familiar with Wilkeson Pointe- its still secluded enough to make it feel like a "hidden gem." Making it a great place to go if you ever want to take a break from reality.

-B

#BuffaloLinks

This week I thought I would feature some Dog parks that are in Western New York - I personally have never been to one - my dogs are to hyper and crazy to follow the rules, but have you been to any of these places - do you have a favorite? -B

{The Paw Park -in Amherst, NY}

{Lewiston Dog Park - click here for more info}

{The Barkyard in Buffalo NY - click here for more details on this off leash park}

{3.5 acres of off leash fun at the Niagara Falls Dog Park}

Women Who Move Buffalo {Once and For All - Molly Hoeltke}

{Molly Hoeltke}

Have you ever met a person that you could be around for a few minutes and already feel motivated to follow your dreams because they are so passionate about theirs? That’s what happened to me when I met Molly Hoeltke from Once and For All (formerly Once Vintage).

I was lucky enough to sit down with Molly last week. Growing up she never thought of working in the Fashion Industry, but as she went through school she studied Business focusing on the Arts. As she grew in her career she learned the ins and outs of the fashion industry through the experiences she had with marketing and film industry. She started styling in films {specifically commercials} six years ago and during her time in Manhattan she met a vintage shop owner and that is when she started to fall in love with the vintage apparel.

She moved back home and through all of the unique experiences she had – she was able to put together her own business and help it grow. In 2011 Once Vintage was created – a clothing line full of repurposing and vintage. After 2 years in – in 2013 she made the transition to wholesale and started Once and For All - a limited wholesale line that can be found online and in boutiques across the United States – specifically 10 boutiques throughout the East Coast.

Molly self-taught herself in pattern making, sewing, manufacturing and selling and everything in between - she basically learned everything she needs to know to make her business work and has given herself a fashion degree while learning on her feet.

Her focus right now is on a line with soft fabrics, twills, blues, blacks and whites – like a west coast, bohemian feel. She is evolving her line into a more mature, yet retro feel with an Indie/Australia vibe with cuts being more versatile and wearable for all sizes. She finds inspiration from some of her favorite designers – Chloe, The Row, Isabel Marant, Mara Hoffman and Cali Brands.

When I asked her what she loves best about Buffalo and why she hasn’t moved out of the area she said because Buffalo is a great place to start a business. It’s an easy lifestyle {except the winter}. There is a supportive community {most of the time}, she has a supportive family and it’s inexpensive to live. She loves going out to her country house in Varysburg on the weekends and often times finds inspiration there.

You can find Molly’s line locally in Modern Nostalgia on Hertel Ave. and Anna Grace on Elmwood Ave.

Once and For All is a very definitive and inclusive name. From a woman who has deep faith, it has personal meaning to her and represents her brand and all different women. I can say from meeting Molly she represents a strong woman, who is passionate and driven all while creating an amazing clothing line and has an amazing future ahead of her. And to have this talent in Buffalo is pretty extraordinary.

Thanks Molly for letting me share your story! -B

{Her Studio}

#BuffaloLinks :: Yoga Edition

Bikram Yoga in Williamsville- classes are offered for all different levels.

One of the best yoga retreats in Buffalo - HEAL BFLO - click here for more information.

Healing Waters in East Aurora - a nice peaceful place for yoga and meditation - a place to go to get a way from the "hustle and bustle" of the city.

Power Yoga Buffalo - not only do the they two locations {one on Main St. in Snyder, the other in the Elmwood Village}. They also put on a number of classes at Canalside and Bidwell during the summer months.

#BuffaloLinks

Larkin Links - a new activity to do down at Larkinville just opened earlier this week! can't wait to check it out!

Driving thru the Village of Angola, I never realized what a cute town it was and would love to check it out sometime this summer.

This Saturday at Canalside - bring your Dad out and celebrate Father's Day a little early at the Buffalo Brewers Festival!

An event at the science museum that I hope I can attend - the Solstice Soiree!

Fathers Day Things to Do

Father's Day is just around the corner and if you're like me, I prefer to spend the day with my Dad doing something he enjoys rather than buying him some gift that he will just put to the side. So, I thought I would compile a list of some things you could do and places you could go with your Dad.

Golf Courses:

• Diamond Hawk (Cheektowaga)
• Greenwood (Clarence)
• Harris Hill (Bowmansville) - I just found out this is not open because they are building condos where the driving range used to be - so disappointing.
• Delaware Park (Buffalo)

Brunch Spots:

• Cecelia's
• Providence Social
• Trattoria Aroma
• Elm Street Bakery

Other Activities:

• Canalside - kayaking, water bikes, boat tours
• Niagara Falls - Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds
• Brewery Tours - with Craft Breweries being so popular - go on one of your own brewery tours - Flying Bison, Resurgence, Big Ditch, Rusty Nickel are just a few to check out!

-B

Allentown Art Festival 2015

I hit the road and headed to Delaware Ave. and Allen St. this past weekend to go to one of my favorite festivals of the summer - the Allentown Art Festival. I am not an art junkie and I probably won't ever purchase an expensive piece of art work at least not anytime soon, but I do like to look at the photographers and artists work. This year I found myself liking more of the vendors participating in the "Allen West Festival" that takes place off of the main festival street by Nietzche's. Here are a list of some of my favorite vendors this year:

• Bruce Odell
• Mia Sohn
• PS Enjoy Yourself
• Jman Photo
• Axetreme Creations
• Geometrical Cards
• Everything Buffalo
• The Public
• Ella Rae Bowtique
• Vintage Chameleon
• Daggett Designs - awesome Buffalove work he had displayed

Who were some of your favorites? Did you walk away with a piece of art you love?

-B

Allen Burger Venture

Polish Eggs

Allen West Festival

The first piece of artwork I saw when I approached the festival

These cards are part of a perfect gift for a friends upcoming birthday. Thanks JuNxtaposition!

#BuffaloLinks

A new farmer's market I want to check out in South Buffalo. The South Buffalo Market.

Yoga at the Buffalo River Fest Park Mondays during the summer at 5:30pm.

This Saturday the Buffalo City Swim Racers are hosting a Water Safety Festival at City Honors High School. Check out a great organization and get some safety tips just in time for the summer.

If you like walking around Buffalo looking at beautiful gardens here is the link to all the places you can go. Garden Walk Buffalo Niagara

#BuffaloLinks

Today kicks off the North Buffalo Farmers Market. A place I'm looking forward to checking out this summer.

Also, tonight at 6pm Makers Buffalo is hosting their Grand Opening of their new space and Once and For All is celebrating their new line at Modern Nostalgia!

Saturday at Ralph Wilson Stadium is Namastadium - a yoga event with proceeds benefitting the new Children's Hospital. To learn more about the event click here.

I'm super excited for Bases Merloted this year! Wine, great weather, fun games and so much more. To find out more details go here.

Yoga at the Gardens

{Pre-class}

One of the biggest things I need to learn is how to relax, so I've made it a mission to try and take yoga to help me find a way to just "chill out" from time to time. Last week I went to Yoga at the Gardens - at the Botanical Gardens. The class is led by Leanne from Crescent Moon Yoga . It was pretty full and a pretty unique atmosphere, that I personally think helped me find my "zen."

I have only taken one other yoga class before and it was hot yoga a couple years back, so I didn't know what to expect, but to my surprise I wasn't as lost as I thought I would be. I did however feel like I didn't get that intense workout in that I'm used to getting when I take other exercise classes. I think that is the toughest part for me to learn from this - that even though I may feel like I'm not doing anything I really am.

The class was $15 (or if you want to take the full 10 weeks its $100) OR if you have BCBS health insurance the class is free. Its from 5:30-6:45pm on Wednesday evenings. To learn more check out the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens site.

-B

{I sat next to this lemon and lime tree inside the gardens}

{New artwork displayed on the Gardens}