Ibiza's where Mike took a pill And the rents around here…read moremake me ill But if they make you wince Just marry a Prince If the Harrys won't, Williamsville! Since the last time I reviewed this (18 months ago), this has basically been where I have spent the vast majority of my time. My gym is here, and I'm literally there from 3-5 hours every day of the week (can you tell). My tanning salon is close by (once a week, hi boys). I frequent several grocery stores in this area. I eat at Woo Chon Korea House at least once a week for their Yuk Gae Jang lunch special ($10) which is now by far the best Korean dish in the region since Seoul Garden closed down. I also hit up the amazing homestyle Chinese stuff at China King (Maple & N Forest) on a weekly basis. I ate a zillion times at Pita Gourmet, too, before I started grilling my own Chicken after finding out they don't give their tips to their employees (and I know other places around here that don't, either). Also I played soccer here once a week for years before I realized it was only causing me pain from exacerbated injuries, and making workouts harder. Barbie wants my body to be like the Atlas Mountains, and when my hamstrings and ankles and knees and groins are throbbing with pain, it's hard to work on that for her - and I'll do anything for her. She's been to W-Ville too... she waited at Starbucks while I was seeing my original WNY romantic partner (that I moved here for) at her work. The DiBella's here is pretty good. The Paneras are both iffy. There are some pretty nasty attitudes around here. Sweet Jenny's has great ice cream at both locations. There's a stunning waterfall here (and I don't mean Barbie). Anyway William just died so I need to go and see what he left me at the official reading of William's Will. My original review: If this were named Ricky Williamsville, everyone would be high on cannabis (rather than painkillers and anti-depressants). Thankfully it's not, it's merely Williamsville, which is more affiliated with the Patriots than Williams' Dolphins or indeed the Bills. You'll find out why later. I really love little Williamsville, it's adorable. It's like a smaller, friendlier, more manageable version of Amherst. Technically it IS Amherst, but whatever. Yes, it's a bit expensive and yes it's a bit fancy, but if you want to live in a suburban, fancy, friendly, safe, decent-smelling area, and not be too far from the city, W-Ville is where it's at. Plus Rob Gronkowski is from here. Don't tell me that you don't secretly get off on the fact that he is from here every time he scores yet another touchdown to destroy the dreams of Buffalonians just a little bit more. OK maybe not, but anyway. If I wanted to live closer to Buffalo (I live in the countryside now), this is where I'd probably live. It has everything a little cute American town should have... a lovely main street... lots of nice food options... good shopping options... friendly people... sometimes... plenty of greenery... and lots of people on painkillers and anti-depressants. There's plenty of nice noms here too, like Spices Of India (best Indian lunch buffet and amazing Garlic Naan), and Sweet Jenny's amazing Ice Cream, and of course Rachel's Lebanese is excellent too. Some excellent Buffalo-style pizza (Mattina's), and some nice back-road routes to avoid traffic (because Main Street through W-Ville is a nightmare). Nearby Marco's (Maple location only) has the best sandwich in WNY (the Sinatra... trust me, try it. One of the best in the country), and China King & Wok n Roll both have some excellent authentic Chinese dishes as well as the usual americanized stuff. The former is cheaper. The latter has bubble tea on weekends. Anderson's has its best location right in Wville, try the Beef On Weck, the Chicken Tender sandwich, and the custard. There's a Ted's on Transit (get the Polish) and La Divina has a location there now too (amazing tacos). Pita Gourmet, also, is nearby, as is The Pita Place for more Lebanese stuff. So lots of delicious options for you. And if the Bills won't satisfy you, maybe the Williamswill.

I spent a little bit a time in the village of Williamsville last week. I was there for a specific…read morepurpose, but my car was parked and I took a moment to just walk Main street. All the little shops are trying to be open, they all have hours clearly posted on the doors; they all have masks signs posted and are doing their best. Williamsville has created a few public parking places which is a really smart idea because it gets people into the area and it makes it easy for them to stay. The streets and the lights are all nicely managed and maintained, making for easy driving and walking experience both. Update 105 2021

Updated review of the food hall. M&T has taken over managing it and it's great now. Salad bar is…read moreback, hot bar is back (both charged by weight). Soup is back. Burgers and sandwiches are still available as well, I haven't tried those since M&T took over.

Hands down the best management team I have ever encountered! Cassidy, Samantha and Jessica provide…read morea level of service that is unlike anything I have ever experienced in any residential community. They are the perfect blend of professional, kind, and compassionate. They consistently anticipate our needs and go way above and beyond to be helpful and accommodating! It is rare to find a team that shows a genuine interest in the welfare and satisfaction of their residents, but they do it effortlessly every day. The building is gorgeous, incredibly well-maintained and always so clean. Exceptional service all around!

Road trip side step…read more On my way to my final destination I made a stop in the Buffalo area to see some things before I could check into my hotel. I have been in search of some Presidential sites recently and came across this while browsing for things to do before I left for my vacation. If you happen to stop by the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site they kind of point you in this direction. If not done on purpose, it's in a passing manner. There you will understand my Teddy had his swearing in ceremony because of what happened near this site. In this beautiful, planned out community you will stumble upon a median in the road that holds mostly trees and a variety of plants. Every so often it is dotted with rocks. This rock was purposefully put here. This community once held the Pan-American Expo, an expansive exposition of the countries from the Americas. With the expo there were many makeshift buildings built that could easily be torn down once the expo reached completion. The building that this stones represents, in a manner, was the Temple of Music. Just outside the temple, President McKinley would be shot by a man and ultimately pass away due to the gunshot. This stone is meant to be a monument or maybe a placard to remind you of what once happened in this area. It is well maintained and as other reviews have stated, usually flanked by small American flags. Some housekeeping here. Be mindful of the area, this is a neighborhood and you are visiting. Do not block a driveway. It is a road, be aware of your surroundings and traffic. Do not trample the area. Lastly, make it quick, there isn't much else to see here.

It may seem morbid, but it is history. The Pan American Exposition was build to be leveled…read moreafterwards, so nothing (save one building, I believe) remains. So, this rock is the only thing to remind the USA of McKinley's assassination and the only president to be inaugurated outside of DC. If you're looking for the full tour, add a stop to Delaware and W. Ferry, which is where McKinley died (there's just a sign there). And then go to the Roosevelt Museum/National Park. It's work the small price of admission and is a small, yet well done museum (perhaps a bit too patriotic, but that's to be expected I suppose).

Well, my review is a little different than most. What could have been disastrous, turned into a…read morewonderful, experience full of humor and knowledge. My niece had booked a bus tour for her family and myself to celebrate my recent retirement. The night before, we received notice that the bus had broken down and it looked like our adventure was going to be canceled. We were surprised when the owner/operator Joel, offered to salvage the experience and still meet us at the Richardson complex to give us a walking tour of both the newly renovated area as well as the spooky abandoned space. It was pretty cool as it was just the 5 of us and him. Joel is a wealth of knowledge with a humorous twist as he led us through the gorgeous reimagined hotel areas. He actually sat us down and explained how the former psyche center operated and took us through some gorgeous areas full of architectural treasures, mosaic tiled floors and some really interesting stories. Then it was on to the abandoned areas. It's incredible that the complex could get this dilapidated. It will take generations for this place to be fully restored. Joel's personal stories and desire to tell them really made the experience. He definitely turned what could have been a disappointment into a memorable experience. I easily forgot about the bus portion of the tour and will remember the fun facts and the personal touch that Joel provided for us. Even the most seasoned Buffalonian will find these tours interesting and fun. I can't wait to go again when the bus is fixed, but then again, if it's not, Joel can turn the experience around! Thank you for the extra attention! It made all the difference.

Took the historical tour and it was much better than expected. The guide was great and kept things…read moreon a humorous level. It was fun while learning things about the city I've never known. Booking was easy online and they have different types of tours. The level of value you get on this tour is unmatched. I'd like to do the chicken wing or tavern tour the next time I'm in town.

It's pretty cool that this is the original Erie Canal and not one of the many fake knockoff Erie…read morecanals. Who wants an illegitimate canal anyway. Speaking of canals. Honestly this lovely little spot is more about the historical significance than anything to actually do or see. The reason I give it such a high rating is not just for the significance, but also because I love this part of town and I love what they have done with it. Whoever is responsible for urban planning and rejuvination have really made it a joyous place to spend time in the center of Buffalo. It can get a little Erie around here in the middle of the night though.

On a recent tour of various dog walking paths in Buffalo I came across this site. I was actually…read morelooking for it after visiting a series of the locks along the way between Albany and Buffalo a few weeks ago. The Eric canal made a waterway from NYC to the great lakes. About 360 miles, it went from Albany to Buffalo. In Albany ships took the Hudson river to NYC. It opened in 1825 and changed commerce on the East coast. Ships were a far less costly form of transportation then, the other option being pack animals as there were no trains yet. In addition to bringing food (from the midwest) East, and machinery West, the canal brought people West. It helped contributed to the rise of Buffalo became the booming city it was and held the worlds fair in 1901. From the minute it opened it was packed with ships, all of which paid for the privilege, which made the canal profitable very quickly. The Erie canal is a National Heritage Site and still open today for mostly recreational vehicles. 5 stars for being so full of history. 2632

I've seen a lot of monuments/memorials in my day but this is easily in my top 5…read more Not as good as the Washington Monument but probably better than the Gateway Arch or Mount Rushmore.

Dedicated to the memory of William McKinley, this Egyptian Obelisk was built when the 25th…read morePresident of the United States was fatally shot while attending the PanAm Exposition. It's a landmark, so if you're lost look for this spot because many of the buffalo's major roads converge on it. It's in front of the City Hall. This thing is huge! 96 feet tall.

Not to be confused with Timpani Circle (where you buy drums), Shimmery Circle (which gets very…read moresparkly in the rain), or Symmetry Circle (which looks identical to every other circle, but in reverse). One of the many beautiful circles of Buffalo, and one of my favourite spots in the whole city. There are several of these and they really give Buffalo a charm and beauty that is unrivaled in most other American cities. They're very original (in the US), and even though you will find some of these circles in New York City, the massive nature of New York City means those ones are more spaced out, whereas in North Buffalo you seem to come across a circle every minute or two in some parts of town. So if you like historic, green, gorgeous circles, check out Buffalo. Here you will really find some very special circles within half a mile or a mile of each other in many cases, and it's really amazing. I'm definitely a big fan, and Symphony Circle is one of my favourites of course, and is many other people's fave too. I'm just kind of shocked that so few people have reviewed it on Yelp.

Symphony Circle. Named after the symphony that plays nearby of course…read more It was originally called "The Circle", when FL Olmstead and C Vaux thought of it. That was long before Kleinhans was built. All the parks and circles in Buffalo were designed to link together. Olmstead saw this as a way for Buffalo to have green space and take advantage of the water all around. A little known fact is that it was built over a cemetery, most residents were moved to Forest Lawn, but a few paupers remain there today. It was renamed Symphony Circle when Kleinhans was built. Today its a busy circle with Kleinhans and the First Presbyterian Church (a very active church) on it, as well as the traffic coming to or from the Peace Bridge. Its beautifully maintained with different seasonal plantings. There are some areas with a few benches to sit and enjoy in nice weather. 2013

The Midnight Garden This is a huge mural that appeared over…read morea few days in 2025. It's an AKG project by artist Ola Volo. The idea is an immersive garden experience as you walk or drive along Hertel past the Monocle building. This is the largest mural so far in the AKG public art project. It's not limited to one wall, or even one building, it spans three buildings.