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!

I was checking out the Hamburg Farmers Market and looked up. And saw half this huge mural. Had…read moreto check it out of course. It was probably painted before the pizza place next door put up a high, not super-interesting or attractive, fence. Why do people do that? Anyway, this is very cool. It's also by Tingley, who seems to have done tons of the murals around town.

Another creative and interesting piece of work under the Albright Knox banner. This public art went…read moreup in 2022, and will have a dedication ceremony in 2023. Done by local artist Monet Kifner, I'm unsure of the name, but I'll update when I find it out. Its on the side of a business that caters to women's lingerie fitting and needs. The mural demonstrates both femininity and strength, consistent with the goods for sale in the interior of the building.

This looks new. And the friend who pointed it out me said it was. But I am not sure…read more Regardless, it looks like a honeycomb in parts, hence the name I suppose. A few bees flying around too. Its on the side of the building where Half & Half is, near Bidwell and Elmwood. The artist is Chris Piontkowski. The colors are bright and vibrant.

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.

This mural has greeted people driving South on Elmwood for years. It runs the length of a building…read morethat has a fair trade store inside, which has also been here for years I think. I am not sure what story it's depicting, but it does seem as if there is one. I wasn't able to find the artist.

There are many historic buildings located in Buffalo. June is a good month to visit. While it…read morecould be raining, it also could be slightly windy and sunny. We hit a good day to walk. Some humidity yet pleasant. The area is lined with trees and greenery. Many of the historic homes in the city are now attorney offices. Street parking.

Buffalo is easy to rip on, but it has a great mix of architectural styles, delicious food, cool…read moreethnic neighborhoods, nice people, public markets, and the pride of place and culture you find in towns that were once great, then declined, then found their way back.

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.

Cool statue of Tim Horton. He is a popular hockey player that is beloved by Americans and Canadians…read moreboth. Glad to see he got a nice statue dedicated to him for his career. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres. "Horton was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.[4] He died following a single-vehicle crash in 1974 caused by driving while intoxicated at the age of 44. A successful businessman, Horton was the co-founder of the Tim Hortons coffee restaurant."

One of the interesting things about growing up in a hockey town is that you know Tim Hortons is…read morenamed after a real person and that he played hockey before he sold coffee. In fact, his family built the business into what it is today after his untimely death at a fairly young age. But the Sabres and city both honor him.

Painted a few years ago (2015), this mural greets you as you climb the stairs to Masten park. It's…read morecalled Ray of Light and the name is very fitting. The artist is Augustina Droze. She has combined paint and glasswork for a multidimensional mural that has stood the test of time so far.