#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

Friday Favorites!

{I paid a visit to the Downtown Library this past week, a place I want to visit more this summer}

Here are some of my favorite finds from this past week around town. Have a great weekend!

-B

{Buffalo has some of the most beautiful Churches - here is one of the entrances at St. Joseph's Cathedral}

{One of my favorite things to do is just walk around downtown on my lunch break, its nice to see a lot of people out and about downtown}

{While making pretzels necklaces for an event I came across this custom one ..just for me ;) }

#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}

Japanese Cuisine in the Suburbs

{The Caterpillar roll}

 A couple weeks ago my friend Lauren introduced me to a new sushi restaurant in the suburbs - Kumo Cuisine. It's located in the Target plaza on Transit Road in Depew. While you would think it's a small place from the outside, you walk in to this very spacious and relaxing restaurant. Cute Asian accents compliment the tables and walls and the variety of sushi they offer is incredible. For an affordable price you can choose some of your favorites or even try new rolls. Definitely another place on my list of places to go back to and its close to home.

{Sushi rolls and appetizers}

Hello June!

It's June 1st! I can't believe summer is officially going to be upon us in just a few short weeks. With this month comes my list of "to-dos'."

- Bases Merloted Wine Event this Saturday - I'm looking forward to this event and all the new vendors participating this year!

- Celebrating some of my closest friends birthdays

- Exploring this wonderful City - with a few open weekends I want to just go on a day adventure exploring different places and meeting new people around town

- Attending the Buffalo Science Museum's Summer Solstice event on June 20th

What are some of the things on your "to-do" list for this month? Any fun events, adventures or travels you plan to take?

-B

Friday Favorites!

Its the last weekend in May and there is a lot going on around town this weekend. Whatever it is that you have planned, I hope its great. Here are some of my favorite photos from my "adventures" around town this past week. -B

{City Hall from the Convention Center}

{Canalside Festival last weekend}

{My view from the Skyway}

{Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens}

People Who Move Buffalo {Rusty Nickel Brewing Co.}

{The guys - Scott, Dave, Jay}

Last week I stopped by the new Rusty Nickel Brewing Co. in West Seneca and had a chance to try a few of their hand craft beers and meet with the guys behind the Brewery. It’s nestled behind Ebenezer’s Ale House on Seneca St. and is a pretty awesome place to go. Just from the brief time I spent with these guys, I could immediately sense their hard work, drive and passion behind this business and its pretty awesome to see. Make sure to follow them on social media!

Below is my interview with Dave, Jay and Scott. Thanks guys for letting me share your story.

-B

How did everything get started? How did the brewery get started?

It all started in 2009 when Jay started a 100 member beer club; in 2012 he met Scott who had a beer blog {to educate people on craft beer – woodenbarrel.com}. From the beginning the goal was to establish a brewery. In 2013 they met Dave and started to put together a business plan. They would meet at Ebenezer Ale House because it was centrally located and through that they met the owners, Sean and Nate. From there the rest is history.

Do you distribute your product yet?

Distributing is phase 2 of their plan and a goal they hope to reach soon. It’s about building their brand right now.

Have you always been interested in being a brewer? What is a typical day like in your life?

Dave has been a brewer for 25+ years and just won the Craft Beer Tourism Award. For all three guys whether it was college or sports – they got bored with the regular beer and expanded to imports and so on.

The three most important parts of the beer process are 1. Pour 2. Drink 3. Learn

What do you love best about Buffalo? Do you have a favorite place, attraction, etc.?

Scott: I love to venture out and see the progress that is happening in the area. To be a part of that experience is special. There is something authentic about this area and the passion that comes from here is nice to see.

Jay: This area is seeing a unique “revival” – its taking what we once had and bringing it back to life and that’s pretty cool to see. To be able to be a part of bringing something special to the “burbs” and to provide a care in this area is important to us. We’re living in the experience and have had opportunities to leave, but we’re making a difference here.

Dave: Canalside and seeing the excitement happening is a unique experience.

What is your favorite beer you make? How often do you make new beer?

The guys like to have fun with the beers they make and have constant turnover. So what you may have one time when you visit may not be on tap the next time you visit. They offer up to 12 on tap - IPAs, a Cream Ale, Maple Porter and a Pale Ale are just a few on tap right now. They try different styles and with that each one has a distinct taste and flavor, making them have something different than other breweries.

Will you be at any upcoming events?

The first event they were at was Beerology in April and a few weeks ago they were at the Sheas Event. You can find the guys at the Ballpark Brewbash in September at Coca-Cola Field and at the Canalside Beer Festival in June.

May 30^th is your Grand Opening, any surprises or specials you’d like to share with the public?

It’s an all-day event with a VIP option - offering 1 hour early entry and a custom mug. Live music from 4 local bands, brewery tours, a ribbon cutting, Consumers Craft Cruiser and games will all be a part of the festivities. Keeping it local and bringing tourism to West Seneca is what the guys are looking forward to doing.

{One of the flights my Mom and I ordered}

{Let the tasting begin}

{Some movie trivia with are beer}

{Cheers}

Buffalo Marathon

{Buffalo Marathon prep}

Sunday morning 7,500+ people took to the streets of Buffalo to run either 26.2 or 13.1 miles. The course took you through all parts of town and the community came out to show their support. People lined the streets to cheer for loved ones and complete strangers. This was my second half marathon and my first time doing the Buffalo Marathon and doing it by myself. It was an experience and words honestly can't describe how I feel. The support and encouragement from complete strangers and the beautiful scenery I ran through makes me love this city even more. To everyone involved in the race, thank you for creating an event that I will always remember.

-B

{Lined up and ready for the start}

{Post race}

{My number one fan - My Dad}

{Mission accomplished!}

Memorial Day

Thank you to all those who sacrificed their lives so others could live in the land of the free. Today and everyday, thank you for your bravery and heroism.

Friday Favorites!

Its the Holiday weekend and I'm gearing up for the Buffalo Marathon on Sunday, but tonight I'm excited to meet the guys at Rusty Nickel Brewing Co. {stay tuned for my post on them next week}. Have a great Memorial Day weekend! -B

{Fireworks from last week's Friday Night Bash - post game}

{Canalside is one of my favorite go to spots to walk around and catch up with friends on my lunch break}

{The smell of fresh flowers- one of my favorite things}

{Another sushi spot in the suburbs that I enjoyed - Kumo}

Red Nose Day

While this post isn't tied specifically to Buffalo, it does help raise awareness to the many organizations in the area that work with children and young people who live in poverty in this area. Working in the non profit field for a number of years, specifically with children' organizations, makes today even more special to me. Its Red Nose Day in the USA, a day to raise money for children and young people who live in poverty, but to make it fun - to smile and laugh. It's amazing what can happen when you have people in power or people in the entertainment industry support and get behind a great cause. To learn more or to donate to the Red Nose Day campaign click here.  To find a list of local organizations who help those in poverty in WNY, check out the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County's website.

#BuffaloLinks

I, like thousands of other people are gearing up for the Buffalo Marathon this coming weekend. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time.

If you work downtown, good news! the Downtown Country Market opened last week and will be back every Tuesday and Thursday thru October.

Its the season for artisan markets - The Saturday Artisan Market at Canalside kicks off this Saturday. Check out the handful of vendors that will be participating this year.

Feeling a little stressed and just need to unwind - check out Destination Massage Open House this Thursday from 4-8pm.

A Saturday at the Steel Plant Museum

{The staff are so friendly and informative and answer any questions you may have}

The Steel Plant Museum hosted Steelfest this past Saturday and there were a handful of local vendors on hand making for great conversations with new people {Linwood Candle Co., Lloyds Taco Truck, Rusterior Designs, Peg's Hardware, the list goes on}. The event was free to the public and you could walk around the museum and learn about Buffalo's Steel History. For something I don't know much about, it was pretty cool!

This is a neat place to take school groups or if you're looking for an activity to do with your kids this summer, this museum should be on your list of places to go. The museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Follow them on Facebook and Twitter

-B

Here are a few pictures that I took from Saturday's event.

{I loved seeing the knick knacks in the glass display cases}

{Old fashioned juke box}

Friday Favorites!

One of the biggest struggles I find myself dealing with over the last couple of weeks is finding the time to go out and explore and just do random tours or attend an "unplanned" event. It's trying to find that balance between my work and social life, while not getting to crazy and wearing myself to thin. I think, {like a majority of people feel} there is not enough time in the day or we think we can push off something to another day. Sometimes I think that's acceptable, but right now I just think something is missing and I've been trying to find that spark.

Regardless of how I have been feeling lately, here are a few pictures I took from this past week that have made me smile. Have a wonderful weekend!

-B

{A walk to Canalside - new artwork up}

{Spring is here}

{Spending Mother's Day with my Mom at Resurgence Brewery}

{This awesome kids park in Chicago - this is amazing! It would be cool to see this in Buffalo}

#BuffaloLinks

A new organization that I have grown to love is hosting a Happy Hour tonight at Osteria. Grab a drink and some food and learn more about the Buffalo City Swim Racers.

Shea's is  hosting a Wine, Food and Beer Festival tonight. Check it out and sample some delicious food and drinks from around the area.

A craft beer festival is taking place out in Batavia if you're in the area, Beertavia. Saturday May 16 from 3-6pm

For those who are "health nuts" {I mean that in a good way} have you checked out Nature's Apothecary on Connecticut St. yet?

From May 18th - May 21 check out Showcase Bro Down - this looks like it will be fun!

Women Who Move Buffalo {Cheryl & Maggie - Buffalo Barkery}

Attention all pet lovers! Up on the blog today are two women who are putting a healthy spin on dog treats and pet supplies. Learn more about Cheryl and Maggie from Buffalo Barkery below. Thank you ladies for sharing your story with me!

-B

How did it all get started? How did Buffalo Barkery come about?

Well it’s no secret that all of us here at Buffalo Barkery love dogs. We simply wanted to do something special for our dogs. It started with baking them special treats on holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. We found that our dogs liked these treats so much they would pick our homemade treats over any store bought treat. This made us want to bake them more and more. We started experimenting with recipes and sharing with friends. All of the reviews from our friends came back positively. We knew we wanted to start a dog treat company when we were able to. Combine our love of dogs with our love of all things Buffalo and Buffalo Barkery was born.

If people want to learn more, or purchase your products, where can they go to get information?

Our website is buffalobarkery.com. We are also active on Instagram {Buffalo Barkery}, Facebook Buffalo Barkery and Twitter @Buffalobarkery. We can also be contacted through our email address buffalobarkery@yahoo.com or by phone at {716} 260-0942.

Our treats are currently available in Elmwood Pets, Buffalo Adore and Atlas Vet in Washington D.C.

Do you make customizable flavors or treats for dogs with special diets? 

We currently offer 4 flavors, which are all gluten and wheat free. We also just launched our specialty treats page on our website where we offer many different shapes of biscuits. Currently, we do not offer treats for dogs on special diets but we consult with a veterinarian for all of our treats and would be willing to create a treat for a pup in need!

Do you offer any specials, promotions? Or would you like to share any fun events you have coming up?

We are so excited to be a part of Bases Merloted on June 6 from 5-8 at Coca Cola Field. We will be there with many local vendors, wineries and distilleries. This event benefits Hillside Family of Agencies.

June 10- Wine & Wags Social from 5:30-8:00. A wine and food tasting event for people and their dogs located on the Erie County SPCA grounds. Delicious food and drinks from area wineries, breweries and local restaurants.

June 21- Dog Days of Kenmore at Mang Park in Kenmore from 12-4. Local vendors, live music, demonstrations, dog blessings, contests, and a dog parade.

July 11- Hounds & Heroes at the SPCA of Niagara County from 10-5. Celebrate and honor our nations heroes from veterans to police to first responders. Parade led by Dog Tags Niagara Veterans and Adam Benigni, vendors, food, costume contests and more.

September 26 Paws in the Park- SPCA Erie County-Beaver Island State Park. 9-3 People can complete a two-mile walk with or without their dog. Pet-related vendors, exhibitors, dog contests, and agility course for dogs

How did you land in Buffalo? Are you originally from here, what made you stay?

Maggie: I have been visiting Buffalo every chance I got for the past 16 years! The feeling of community, the delicious food, and of course my family kept me coming back! I have been working on relocating here for a long time and finally was able to. I am so excited to be a part of such a warm and supportive community.

Cheryl: I was born and raised in the Buffalo area and chose to stay here after marriage and raised our two children here {and our dogs}. I have always loved the changing of the seasons, as well as all that this area has to offer. It has always been home for me and I couldn’t image leaving. Now, having a business within the community and the support we have received has only proven to me what a great area we are part of!

What do you love best about this area?

Nothing beats the city of Buffalo! It truly is the City of Good Neighbors. Not to mention the food is delicious, there is so much to do here, and we really do love the sports teams. Go Bills, Sabres, Bisons and Bandits!

A Trip to Chi-Town

Sometimes you just need a change of scenery and need to get out of town for a couple days. This past weekend I hit up Chicago to visit my best friend. And while "Chi-Town" isn't Buffalo, it was a fun trip and it was nice to hit up the local spots and stop by some of the tourist spots too. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend. -B

 {One of my top 3 favorite buildings in Chicago - The Chicago Tribune Building}

{The beginning of Route 66}

{A local shot - "Jepsen Malort" - if you're ever in town order it and let me know what you think...}

{The Bean}

{Buffalo from above}

Friday Favorites!

Its been so nice the last few days and this weekend looks great too. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and to all the Mother's out there, Happy Mother's Day! Here are a few things that made me smile this week. -B

{ The Public on Main St.}

{First grill of the season!}

{Yummy salad and juice from Newbury St and Squeeze Juicery}

{I'll take a margarita on the rocks! Don Tequila style}

{Just soaking in some sun}

Women Who Move Buffalo {Amy, Linwood Candle Co.}

This week I am featuring Amy from Linwood Candle Co. on my Women Who Move Buffalo series. I have become obsessed and love the candles she hand pours right here in Buffalo. Learn more about Amy and Linwood Candle Co. below.

-B

How did it all get started? How did Linwood Candles come about?

Browsing around the shops on Elmwood Avenue I noticed beautiful and interesting items that were handmade, hand-poured, hand crafted, but in Brooklyn. I absolutely loved the items as well as the packaging and I would frequently purchase them. When it occurred to me that we should have more items that boast "hand-made in Buffalo, NY."

The name Linwood candle Co. came about from the walks down Linwood Avenue and simply admiring the architecture of the homes and the streetscape. One house in particular always stood out, so we sketched it and brought it to a friend and local designer Brett Mikoll (who also has a local company that creates beautiful hand crafted pennants called Oxford Pennant) and he took our sketch and created our logo from it.

Our company was also founded on Linwood Avenue and in a way we wanted to pay homage to one of our favorite streets in Buffalo.

Are the candles affordable for everyone?

All of the raw materials that create a Linwood Candle are chosen with care. From the kind of soy wax, the cotton braided wicks, the jars and the fragrance oils - everything has been researched and thought through. All of the fragrances I use are free of harmful phthalates, the wicks are lead free and the soy wax burns clean. All of my raw materials are sourced from American made companies- even the jar and the lid.

While it's difficult to compete with large companies, I'm confident that the saying holds true, " what you get is what you pay for." An inexpensive item is inexpensive for a reason. The quality, raw materials, or labor to produce that item might not be the best. Our candles are made in small batches of 5 at a time, which ensures the highest quality and the utmost care. We consider the air temperature in the room, the correct blend of ingredients and the technique in which we stir the wax. Some might view candle making as tedious, but I embrace the process. It forces you to slow down, focus and think about the way in which you are creating the product. It can't be rushed.

{Photo above taken from Linwood Candle Instagram}

If people want to learn more, or purchase your product, where can they go to information?

With our company still some-what new, we have a few company goals. One of which is to produce a website with great product photos. Once we have a website, people will be able to find more information regarding our process, list of items, etc., but for now we relay on Instagram as well as Etsy.

Do you make customizable scents for people if they ask?

Absolutely! That's one of my favorite aspects of candle making. If someone gives me a few scent notes that they like, I can concoct a one of a kind fragrance tailored specifically to them.

{Photo above taken from Linwood's Instagram account}

Has anyone ever done private parties with a bunch of their girlfriends - like a candle making class?

I've had several people ask me about this and I would love to host a private party or candle making class. We haven't done so yet, but we would love to in the future. We've thought about how it would work, since the candle typically takes about 45 minutes to completely cure.

Do you offer any specials, promotions? Or would you like to share any fun events you have coming up?

Recently I've been receiving orders from my Etsy shop from people who live in Buffalo . Its been really cool because they will order online and since they offer to pick it up, I'll include a "free shipping" coupon. I love this because I get to meet and chat with my customers face to face. With my candles primarily being wholesale I miss the customer contact and seeing who purchases my product. The whole aspect of re-establishing the connection between producer and consumer is a passion of mine as well.

We are very excited that we were invited to participate in Steelfest on Saturday, May 16th from 10-5pm at the Heritage Discovery Center on 100 Lee Street in Buffalo. As well as Bases Merloted on June 6th from 5-8pm at Coca-Cola Field.

How did you land in Buffalo? Are you originally from here, what made you stay?

I was born and raised in Buffalo. I feel as though something exicting is happening in Buffalo right now. There are so many entrepreneurs, small businesses and companies choosing to live and work in Buffalo. I can't help, but contribute my own small business endeavor to the beautiful architecture, the rich history of the area and the creative minds that I've met along the way. Especially those who have inspired me  {Ro and Anna Grace}.

Thank you Amy for letting me share your story!

{Photo above taken from Linwood Candle Co. Instagram}