Great old theater lovingly renovated back to its original beauty after years of neglect. Whether…read moreit's a movie, play or concert, this is a great venue.

I've been trying to get into seeing more theater lately, and my visit has only confirmed my thirst…read more It had been about a decade since I visited to see Peter Pan, which I had recalled mostly fondly, so I texted a friend and bought tickets for the show. We arrived about half an hour early after stopping at Lake Effect for scoops. Who needs dinner and a show when tummy ice cream is involved? The theater also sells snacks as food and drinks from the outside are banned. We were greeted outside by a dapper gentleman who held the door for us to get into the lobby. Unlike other theaters, there was elbow room to have them check out printed tickets and make conversation about the show. Others had digital tickets that seemed to work as well. We popped into the loo, which thankfully had multiple stalls, hardly any wait and was fully stocked with soap and towels. There were people selling souvenir toys and raffle tickets that we bypassed to find our seats. The playbill girl gave us a rough estimate of where we would be located. Thankfully everything is clearly labeled as to not get lost. For a mere 40 each, after fees, we were five rows back, centered. The view was clear, the sound was clear and the leg room- my gosh. For the first time in a long time a theater had room for me to stretch my legs a bit instead of cramming in more seats. The view is historically gorgeous in architecture and paint. Though we were there to experience the show, not just a building. The show started on time, held a brief intermission and concluded in about two hours. During that time, we got wowed by talented singers, very acrobatic dancers and mostly talented actors. (There was one that we would have probably chosen a different person to portray the roll, but I'm not going to crush a child's dreams when they did adequately. And others filled their rolls amazingly so I'm chalking it up to personal preference.) The costumes are well constructed without being extravagant. Tiny shorts cover any areas that would make this child friendly show receive an R rating. At the end, after all the standing ovations, we were able to exit with ease and get back to the car, parked at no cost in a nearby lot. Beat that Buffalo parking. Extra shout-out to whoever put the dual drummers in the loge to let us see the masterminds at work. They were the heartbeat of the show for me!

I highly recommend stopping in if you've never been. You'll be surprised to learn all the…read moreconnections Cheektowaga has! They're open the first Sunday of every month from 2-4. I stopped in today and the museum has been slightly re-arranged since the last time I was here. The layout is better and more organized now. The video is new, I highly recommend watching at least part of the 20 minute DVD as it gives a lot of insight of what's in the museum and ties to Cheektowaga. Enter through side entrance and sign the guest book when you get in. Also in that room is information about the Forks hotel and Eddie Fechter, the famous bar magician there. Beside that case is an old jail cell door, and also in that small room are photos and artifacts from Cheektowaga's FIVE drive-ins! The adjacent room is split into 3 themes- 1960s Doctor's office, 1940s Kitchen, and some household antiques in glass cases from the late 1800s to mid 1900s. In the room with the TV, checkout the story on Cleveland Hill's Pledge of Allegiance Day and how they got schools in all 50 states to participate! There's also some Native American artifacts in here. In the room over, there's information about some of the national landmarks in Cheektowaga. Including a letter from Queen Elizabeth, some war memorabilia and connections to Cheektowaga as well. The last room focuses on some of the founding families of Cheektowaga, including the George Urban family and the Reinsteins. There are also laminated maps of the town from the late 1800s until mid 20th century. There are some larger antiques in the basement, but this space is pretty much just storage. The basement is not handicap accessible. I highly recommend checking out this unique and interesting museum dedicated to the Town of Cheektowaga.

One Phoenix is more than enough for me. It's over a hundred degrees, and when I was there the first…read moretime, my sneakers melted into the sidewalk as I strolled along on a summer's afternoon. But regardless of this, there is now a New Phoenix. It's a pretty, interesting little theatre house on a tiny little backstreet in Allentown. It is the kind of place you'd be unlikely to ever find unless you knew what you were looking for. On the inside it is cozy and sweet. I'd like to play here sometime. It can fit up to about 100 people. On Thursdays they don't even charge you, it's donations only, to see whatever is playing at the time. All of this, and specifically the lime green exterior which really gets my juices flowing, adds up to a 5 star rating. Much better than the New Peanuts Theatre. That place is nuts.

The New Phoenix Theatre is a beautifully renovated Theatre located at Johnson Park in Downtown…read moreBuffalo. Its tagline is "Buffalo's Premier Alternative Theatre" and although you will find contemporary, perhaps 'alternative' plays being performed here (ie Sarah Ruhl's, The Vibrator Play); you can also expect classics such as Shakespeare and Robert E Lee's "Inherit the Wind." The interior is of the space is not flashy, nor is it meant to be - rather it's a very practical place for productions. The space is extremely intimate and you'll be sure to see a lot of artists from your local scene here. Seating is often from all four sides, which makes for an enthralling experience where you feel as if you're a part of the action, not unlike the Irish Classical Theatre. Thursday is what-you-can-pay nights so if you're a student who is low on cash, come on Thursday and contribute whatever you can afford. This is a community Theatre of sorts with a very bootstrap feel to it. The reception area is upstairs, in an attic of sorts where they sell water and drinks during intermission. Standing up there, I've often felt as if I was standing in someone's house; part of Buffalo's small Theatre community. The creative director of the Theatre is a really great guy, very friendly and passionate about the arts. He cares about putting up great shows and giving local actors a place to express their craft; it shows! I love coming here and can't wait to see their next play.

Who doesn't love a carousel? This was a great addition to Canalside. And for only $1 a ride, it's…read morealso a great bargain. The music brings back childhood memories of going to amusement parks with my parents. Plus, it's solar powered! That kind of amazes me since after all, we are in Buffalo. Fun for all ages. 2023-52

Carousel rides were $3 per child. The staff was so amazing and you can tell they take pride in…read moretheir work and of this historical venue. The animals are beautifully made. They have an organ that plays music as you ride.. so lovely! The ride lasts for a good amount of time. Highly recommend if you are in the area!

This is a festival I try to attend every year. I love the different art that is there and the…read morefestival vibes. Most years there are the same vendors there, but it is comforting. There is always something new to discover. Also, it is in Lewiston, which is one of the cutest villages in the area. During the festival, most of the stores are open, and it is nice to also shop there. I absolutely love the chalk drawing competition every year that the students create. This year's theme was Woodstock, peace and love. The students have so much talent.

If your looking for true local art, look no further and one booth after the next will feed your art…read morehunger to no end! Every year this festival seems to get bigger & better. Please keep it coming & thank you to this stunning historical village for your warm welcoming atmosphere! Also check out their side street shops! There's this amazing health/ herbalism shop tucked away on 9th street thats a gem & unlike any other in WNY, Crazy Train Apothecary! The owner was so friendly & answered our endless questions. We'll be back to visit Lewiston to attend their classes! Keep on keeping on, what a versatile community!

We came for the first time last night to see a friend do stand up as part of Dirty Love, a…read moreburlesque, comedy, drag show hosted by Subversive Theatre. It was a great time, and only $5 a person. We could get a beer or glass of boxed wine for a $3 donation, making for a fun, inexpensive date night relative to other venues. The plays are $20-$25, which is the typical price for theatre in WNY. It's a more intimate setting. Fewer seats and closer to the stage. They specialize in more edgy, thought-provoking shows that you aren't likely to see at the more conventional playhouses. There's other events like Dirty Love during the year, as well.

The production of "The Nance" by Douglas Carter Beane at Buffalo's The Subversive Theatre…read moreCollective is a smart, fancy dandy of a show that is a heart-warming, heart-throbbing view in to the slow death of burlesque in the late 1930s. Subversive's hard-working ensemble ignite flaming energy in to Beane's saucy word play and if their dancers don't thrill you, a full monty will help you to uncover your lost love for theater and its naughty side. Well-delivered lines are never lost in translation with this ensemble. Whether its a coy glance, a prancing dancer, or clumsy, trippy ragtime background music, Subversive brings a burlesque show back to Buffalo with a bang. * This show should NOT be missed. Showing: March 8 - 24, 2018 Address: 255 Great Arrow Road, Buffalo, NY Cost: $20-25 NOTE: There is full nudity in this show. NOTE: Bring a blanket. There is a cold breeze that can drift in to the theater and the heat is turned off in the building after the first hour of the show.

The West Herr Riviera Theatre used to have a real, hometown nostalgic feel to it. It used to be a…read moreplace of magic. Now, it's just a cash cow. I got this email basically warning me that all gift card transactions will incur a $3 fee. Is this fair? Absolutely not. How gross. Aside from this, I can't really say my experiences there recently have been great; the bar overcharges for drinks and the bartenders automatically set the card reader to a 20% tip on your beverages. I'm not kidding. They rush you to pay for your drinks if you're using credit so as to distract you from the automatic tip setting. If you don't catch it and change it, you're screwed. I don't mind tipping, I just don't like a place using scummy practices like this and essentially forcing you into tipping. Also...notice the lack of diversity in their show lineups: Mostly tribute bands. That's fine but like...there used to be variety, there used to be so much more. Anyway, I'm leaving this review as a life-long NT resident who misses the old Riv. It was truly magic.

It's been years since I was last in this theater. It is a great old theater, with some recent…read morerenovations. The capacity is just over 1000. I did not feel crowded in my seat, but in order to get to a seat in the middle of a row, the other patrons must exit the row. There is no "wiggle room" to get by the already seated patrons. Very good acoustics.

Small intimate playhouse. Live theater experience was comfortable and affordable. The seating is…read moretiered. And no bad seats. Actors play their roles well. It's professional level, not amateur (in my opinion). Free and plenty of parking. No long drive to the city of Buffalo for an expensive outing. Great if you live in the Northtowns. Plus it's the 100th annniversary of the Niagara Regional Theatre Guild - the organization that puts on the performances at this playhouse. I bought season tickets this year.

The production was alright. I could barely see because of the seating layout. The staff wasn't very…read morewelcoming, in fact I felt very unwanted. Two stars because I laughed twice.