I cannot say enough about this tour! If you're looking for a unique gift for a fellow Buffalonian who enjoys Buffalo history and Buffalo's favorite past time (and no I'm not referring to football or even hockey) drinking, then this is the tour of all tours.
I took the Polish Christmas tour last week and have been telling anyone who is willing to listen about this tour. I took my boyfriend as a surprise Christmas gift. The tour began at the Sportsmans Tavern on Amherst St. From there a school bus picked us (40) up from the tavern, and thus the night began. BONUS: no need to hide your drinks on the bus, they are allowed... in a red solo cup of course, proceed to party!
Our first stop was St. Stan's Athletic Club, which is basically a bar with a pool table- only the best athletes allowed. Here we feasted on a traditional polish Wigilia dinner and drank classic polish beer. If you're not Polish and are not familiar with Polish drinks/liquors, I HIGHLY recommend you try Krupnik- it's a polish honey liquor. Whether you're feeling cold on a winters night, feeling a flu coming on, or are looking to kick back, a few shots of Krupnik is all it takes.
From the athletic club, we proceeded on a short 2 minute walk to St. Stans church- a magnificently beautiful structure in the heart of a very dilapidated neighborhood. Religious or not, the church is a must see for everyone.
The R&L lounge was next on the list- an old mom & pop joint which probably hasn't changed since the 70's. The owners, Ronnie and Loddie, are welcoming and have opened a beer or thousands over the years. Allegedly Loddie makes the best pierogis in town! If that doesn't leave you wanting to come back, I don't know what will.
Next stop bowling... at Corpus Cristi Church (and athletic club). Yes, that's right, a bowling alley. You'll find Corpus Cristi Athletic Club is a trifecta: bar, bowling alley and pickles served as free bar food to munch on! Talk about a strike.
And last, but certainly not least we headed over to Arty's- another gem tucked away on a side street, overlooking the famous Central Terminal. Arty's is the perfect combination of modern bar meets old polonia.
Hands down, one of the best nights I've had in a long time. What a great way to showcase the city, bring awareness to the east side, and meet new friends. Highly recommend this to anyone from 21 yrs old to 101 years old.
Tips: bring cash, the bars don't take credit or checks (unless you're at Corpus Cristi, then your bar tab may be paid by check). read more