This is the coolest event I've ever been to. Ever. I can't even describe the magnitude and feat of…read morethis. From 4pm to 4am, an otherwise usually-empty part of Buffalo is transformed into a huge art festival and free party of epic proportions. Grain elevators are decked out with huge art installations. I felt like I was in a video game of sorts walking around, with random adventures and surprises taking part on almost every corner. Going to this event made me feel like a gleeful tourist in my own city. From fire breathing to burlesque dancing to decked out psychedelic dance parties breaking out in random rooms of the silos and a huge main stage with projections, dancing and an awesome DJ. There's no use in having me write about every aspect of this event as there is just so much going on and it's bound to be different every year. All I can say is that if you missed it this year, be sure that you're there next year so you can be a part of something magical.

If I had to describe this event in one word it would be "WOW!"…read more Even though I had heard such positive things prior to attending, City of Night far exceeded my expectations. This past summer was my first time experiencing the magnitude of City of Night. Although in it's third year this was the first of which I could attend. City of Night is an art event that has so many unique features it is hard for me to even describe! Held at Silo City (92 Childs Street), the event cultivates a multi-disciplinary, sustainable, groundbreaking experience for all who attend. We parked in a lot near the First Niagara Center and waited for a shuttle bus to shuttle us over to 92 Childs Street. I guess I'm not the most patient person in the world because we actually ended up ditching the shuttle bus and walking. It was, however, much appreciated on the way back! The line to get into Silo City was long but moved quickly. I was pleased to see the bicycle check and donation based admission. Awesome. The event coordinators asked for attendees to share programs which is sustainable and appreciated. However, this was one of my first times at Silo City and it was difficult to determine which silos/buildings had installations, how to get into the buildings, etc. I really didn't want to miss anything. As the night went on, the people kept coming and the crowd was getting larger and larger. I hear the best part of City of Night is in fact the night time festivities, although I felt a little overwhelmed and left around 9pm. Don't get me wrong, I am happy so many Buffaloians came out to experience the art, music, and entertainment. The light installations were fascinating. I was puzzled at how these installations even came to be - from the creation process to the actual implementation. I hope to be in town and available year after year for this innovative, unique, creative, sustainable event. I plan to make it an all day event in the future. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of planning an event like this takes to pull off. Bravo to all those involved. Thank you for treating the people of Buffalo to City of Night!

There is a lot to take in so take advantage of the helpful staff & their extra knowledge!…read morethere was a function space & a party going on during our visit, looked like a fun place to celebrate. there was a gas station INSIDE of the museum, designed by none other than

What a delightful and interesting museum! It's open concept and self guided which means you can…read morejust take your time checking everything out. It was impeccably clean and each item was thoughtfully curated. I loved it!

They sold the paintings I had on consignment and then ghosted me without paying. I'm surprised…read morethey're in business

Beautiful space! I bought a Robert Blair watercolor and a small antique oil painting of downtown…read moreBuffalo. Lots of clutter around but I love to look.

LIKED: This historic…read morebuilding boasts ample parking, a wealth of historic artifacts, and convenient access due to its proximity to a major highway. WOULD HAVE LIKED: - The exhibits could be more appealing to adults instead of students. Many of the exhibits seem to be designed for elementary and middle school students rather than adults. - A more reasonable price. The current $23 fee appears excessive considering the value provided during a visit.

I loved all the interactive games where you can learn while having fun. Building race cars,…read morefeeling a tornado force wind, engineering building paper rockets that soared through the room...so many fun projects. The exhibit rooms are spacious with interesting facts explaining what you're seeing from woven baskets to a giant polar bear. We explored space and the time of the dinosaurs. I was there with a 6 month old and I have to say they have it set up nice for parents to care for young ones from places for diaper changes to breast feeding. Impressive. There's a large room for quiet time and a snack bar for all your children's needs. Easy free parking is a plus, no hassle getting in or out. We did go up to the rooftop deck but it was closed, so was the planetarium but it didn't matter there was plenty to see and do. The Buffalo Museum of Science is FUN!

Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration National Historic Site is located in Allentown. This is another…read morehistoric building on the National Registry. The small yet interesting building had lots of information on Roosevelt. A small talk/tour was in session when I entered. The docent relayed information to the visitors. The gift shop had many Roosevelt related gifts. No charge to enter. Street parking available.

I try to fill my trips out of town with some history and educational stuff of places I have never…read morebeen to or even heard of. When I finally decided to where I would be going I started to look around and see what was catch my interest. This fit the bill. What drew me in was that it had to do with one of our Presidents, fairly cheap on the pocketbook ($12), and easy parking (free and onsite). You can enter the lot from the front or from behind, I suggest from behind as it is easier to access the lot and you won't have to deal with the drive up ATM from the bank. You enter from the back of the building as well, whether you walk up from the street or park in the lot. Try to check the site before showing up and see if the tour times are listed. There is not entry into the space unless you are on a tour. I know, kind of weird, and a bit annoying, but that is how they do it here and that is how you gain access, only on a tour. Pay attention to the tour. Depending on the volunteer (yes, they are volunteers) you have, it can go fast. They are full of information and will tell you more about the house than you can pick up from the informational displays throughout. Pictures area allowed and I suggest taking plenty of them. Sometimes when you go back to them you might catch something you missed when you were initially there. A little about the house, as the name of this establishment tells you, it was used for the inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt. One of only a handful of places outside of the Capitol that would host an event like this. An ordinary house that housed a family and occasional guests over the years ended up being a historic place that fell into shambles and became restored. After President McKinley was shot and ultimately was assassinated President Roosevelt took the oath of office in the library of the house. For a short time, this also served as the White House I suppose. Roosevelt meeting with his inherited Cabinet in the dining room. After the inauguration the house passed through the family and was sold. It became a restaurant up until the 70s and then sat unused and started to crumble. There was movement to tear this place down, but a group made sure to save it and now it is ran by the National Parks Services. They were able to restore the place to what it looked like at the time, only a few things in the house are original to the house. One of the bookcases in the library and one of the chandeliers in the house are told to you. Upstairs is a different set up. One room upstairs houses an exhibit on the history of the house. It goes through the timeline of it being a family home, to the restaurant, and the now historic landmark. Another room has a mock up of what Theodore Roosevelt's Presidential Office would have looked like. You can "play" in here. You can sit at the desk and pretend to be President for a day. If you are looking for something to do in the Buffalo area to kill time or just to enjoy your day, stop by here. You will not regret it and you will learn something new.

I recently attended an outstanding fundraiser at Assembly House 150, and it took my breath away…read more The space is hauntingly beautiful with its tall arched ceilings, that in places have given out and show the structures "bones" beneath the ornate decoration. They are running some truly inspiring programs there, and ALSO are renting out the facility as event space! I spoke to a women who got married there and she said it was incredible. If you are looking for an interesting program to get involved with, OR an unforgettable space for your next event, look no further!

We boldly went to see what Explore & More was like on a Saturday morning. Now I am sure it was…read morebusier because of the weekend but it wasn't too busy that we felt smushed with all the people. This place is AWESOME for our little guy. He loved this entire place and had so much fun. The building is 4 floors but Explore & More really starts on the 2nd floor. The first floor has a lobby and a cafe though which is nice too. The main floor of Explore & More is great. There is a Delta Sonic kid car wash, and so many cool historical Buffalo things like the Erie Canal and interactive boat for them to try out. The next floor has so many interactive things for kids to try and run around on. Everything has great theming for Buffalo and really shows off the hometown pride for the adults who are there with their kids. I'd recommend this place to anyone with kids because they have so much fun. There is something to do for all ages here. Definitely felt like a Buffalo gem.

Explore & More Children's Museum can be wonderful. It really can, but there are some things making…read moreit logistically difficult. First - parking!! I really find it a big pain to park near explore and more and get into the museum. In the past year, they have updated their entrance and exit policy, you get a ticket on receipt paper which you have to then use to exit the museum. And the machine is not very quick at scanning them and your kids have to exit BEFORE you because you need to stay there and scan all the tickets. It's very irrational to me and needs work. 3rd they needed to consider the patrons when building this place. It's really designed for 1 parent and 1 child and not for families at all. Strollers are seemingly frowned upon as there is one small coat closet area to put them and if you bring it around with you they might move it around to where they think it's more appropriate even though there is nothing about where they should be placed. How would they suggest I bring 3 kids of different ages, who have different energy levels? It's hard! There is ALOT of imaginary play materials. Doctors set ups, sports, the farm/kitchen, but it's all so crowded. I was so sad to see they moved the car you could get into and play in, into the car/play room because it completely crowds the room out. While I do have quite the bit of criticism- I was a member for 2 full years, k brought my kids often and lived with all the little inconveniences of the space. My kids like to play here, but not enough for me to be a member anymore.

Wow. A comprehensive, well maintained preservation of the spectacle of our nation's naval history…read more Engaging and interactive with many displays of heroism from throughout the years. Recommended for all to visit.

Marla the narrator on the Miss Buffalo II is the absolute best. She is very thorough and truly…read morededicated to her job. If you ever go on the Miss Buffalo and have her as your narrator please be sure to show her your support. Today was cool with a little bit of sun. Very chill and relaxing. I love the flowers near the Hatch. Very pretty with loads of colors. We were fortunate enough to see a lot of monarch butterflies.

I downloaded yelp to make this review so you know it's good! Jason was awesome and he should get…read morepaid more!!! The exhibit was extremely interesting and rotates every few months. It is a small collection but a great space to soak in some history. The current collection is all about inventions and I can't wait to come back and see the next one. (Also if this posted twice my apologies)

This is such a beautiful building with very interesting manuscripts to view. It is also rentable…read morefor weddings. They have a display of wedding itineraries, and the best one is from the point of view of the couples' dog, Archie. The friendly museum attendant took me on a tour of the building and answered all my questions. The building isn't in the best of shape and the smell of mildew is prominent. I enjoyed viewing all the cases of historical documents.

For a solid year, I wanted to go to a first Friday at the AKG. I didn't want to be there one to…read moreattempt Buffalo driving (we circled around to parallel park at 430) and needed someone to echo my musings. Well, I finally made it! We went through check in, where you had to fork over a suggested donation (instead of the usual 22 dollars). They take card, though we gave cash, which seemed like an easier way to exercise the discount. They offered an extra paid section to opt into for an extra 8 dollar charge that we turned down, taking our tiny tags. They're dinky and reusable and gotta attach somewhere to your person. She had also given me a wristband for the strap of Duckles, which had to be checked by a second girl who warned me that I could not wear my knapsack on my back. Could make it a tummy sack or an elbow purse to avoid bumping things, which is how I ended up cradling a stuffed duck around the museum. We hadn't nabbed a map and thought we could wing it. There are qr codes scattered about for info beyond the placards and finding where you have landed. We lucked out and scored a paper map abandoned on one of the numerous benches (there's also chairs and pull out chairs hanging for your resting pleasure) that we attempted to read. My directionally challenged self asked one of the security to send us off to the bridge, given two choices of route. We dodged the scenic way for a temporary outdoor escape, passing more art. Popping back inside we absorbed even more subsets of time and genre, respecting drawn boundaries and only touching things that said we could. There were things that touched us, our souls, that we could take photos of. There were also bizarre things and a bit of nudity. It's all art, including the special presentations and live music and everyday artists sketching in the hall. There was an interactive exhibit in the main that we skipped in the name of rumbling tummies, though we didn't try the cafe. Also avoided the gift shop, cutting out as the crowd began to swell around 6. The place was impeccably clean despite the abundance of windows and smudge worthy doors. It was worth coming out, though I'm unsure how often the exhibits rotate. Come see an authentic famous few and many more that'll have you saying the Albright is pretty *alright*.

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is our local pride, and requires no advertising or persuasion to visit…read more Believe me, it's a fantastic destination. It's a beautiful space with a nice collection of fine arts. There is a new, three-story extension, a whole new building actually. So, be sure to have plenty of time to explore everything. Their website is very informative and easy to navigate. Check out the current special events and exhibitions. Currently, among others, on display is the "One with Eternity" by Yayoi Kusama, which includes her two Infinity Mirror Rooms and "Pumpkin", a giant orange pumpkin in an orange room covered with black dots. Tickets for this exhibition must be purchased separately and are valid for specific time slots. If there is a big crowd that day, wait a little and don't come from the beginning of your time slot (or figure this out by yourself). We had to leave and come back after a ridiculous experience. Waiting twenty minutes in line to see the actual installation for forty five seconds!? It was very confusing, and I believe there must be a different way to actually enjoy Kusama's work. We came back to see the second room with no wait, but still, with the forty five seconds rule. Ugh... Yes, let's loop if this is the only way which works. Don't forget, the general museum admission is free on the first Friday of the month, and I like that price.