Reason No. 20: Learning a new foreign language.
Posted on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
by bunjamin
Sitting on the grass, drinking and eating with friends whilst watching some of Buffalo’s best actors perform on stage sounds like an enjoyable way to spend a summer evening, doesn’t it? For those of you who go to Shakespeare in Delaware Park but don’t quite understand what’s taking place on stage, you’re not alone. It’s safe to say that more than a handful of us–people that may seem to have a keen understanding of Shakespeare–are sitting there with a glass of wine in one hand and a baguette in the other, thinking, “What the hell are they saying?” If Elizabethan English isn’t your native language, fear not. You can always call your high school English teacher for help. Or between acts, take a leisurely stroll behind the stage and sneak a peek at the actors in full Shakespearian garb smoking a midsummer night’s cigarette, grabbing a drink or making a quick phone call. Those are things we can all understand.
Image: file image
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Reason No. 19: Catching a beer and cranking up the tunes.
Posted on Monday, May 24th, 2010
by block club
For an event to be successful there’s a certain formula that, when followed, will draw crowds like magic. In the summertime, these ingredients are essential: A large outdoor venue, a good helping of live music, and a price tag that’s totally free. Throw them all together and you’ve got an irresistible good time (the other ingredient is booze, but that’s more of a cherry on top). Come June, Buffalo makes this recipe its mainstay, and it’s nearly impossible not to find a free concert somewhere in the area on any given evening. You can spend Mondays with the blues at Hennepin Park in LewistonСbring your lawn chair just in case, but odds are you won’t be able to resist the dance floor. Bidwell Park in the Elmwood Village has Tuesdays covered with an eclectic bunch of music from around the world. Wednesdays you’ll want to be at Artpark in Lewiston where the only thing competing for your attention with the acts on stage (jam bands, swing, even Celtic) is the breathtaking view of the Niagara River gorge. And after spending Thursdays at the Square blowing off steam with the head-banging, beer-loving bunch downtown, a peaceful afternoon of jazz on Sundays at the back steps of Albright-Knox is the perfect end to the week.
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Reason No. 18: Playing with dinosaurs and going to space.
Posted on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
by block club
Summer camp isn’t just about roasting marshmallows, singing silly songs and gluing Popsicle sticks together anymore. Those things are all well and good, but there are a slew of day camps in the Buffalo area that are so unique and engaging, your kids won’t even realize that they’ve been duped into learning something after the school year is over. The Buffalo Museum of Science has hands-on discovery camps for ages five through 12 on dinosaurs, space and the body. “I Didn’t Mean to Break It!” is one camp for youngsters that looks at how Slinkies and bicycles are made by taking them apart and putting them back together. The African-American Cultural Center runs the Jumpin’ Jambalaya summer program, where students learn African history, drumming, storytelling, even video production and fashion design. For the kids too cool for educational camps, Xtreme Wheels indoor skate park on Hertel Avenue has a summer camp where kids of all skill levels can strap on a helmet and learn skateboard moves worth plenty of bragging rights when school starts up again.
Image: Wired.com
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Reason No. 17: Finally going off the deep end.
Posted on Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
by block club
Sometimes the best way to spend a day is to lie around and do absolutely nothing in a pool. A little sunscreen, a hat to keep your head cool, and one of those floaty-chairs with a cup holder is all you really need. Can you remember the first time you mustered up enough courage to finally take the plunge into the deep end? And then there was the diving board. At first, it was something terrifying, but then, turned into something you can’t picture a pool without. There also is nothing quite like that moment when you dive head first into a pool for the first time each summer. Your body is fully engulfed in a refreshing pool of water, and all sound is muted except for the bubbles of air floating to the top. Equally as satisfying is retreating to your favorite pond or stream that only you know about; your own private oasis where you can cool off in water that always seems to be the perfect temperature.
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Reason No. 16: Catching a show on the hill.
Posted on Friday, May 21st, 2010
by block club
This is one of those “only in WNY” summertime events you don’t want to miss. A night at Hill Cumorah (July 9, 10, 13-17), located just east of Rochester in Palmyra, offers a chance to learn about the Mormon religion on the very hill that is a holy site in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. A pageant, performed on a gigantic multi-level stage built into the hill, with a cast of–get ready for it–650 people, retells the story of the church’s formation. The pageant takes place every July and attracts thousands from all over the countryРРlooking at license plates in the grassy parking lot is a trip in itself. All are welcome to attend, but you’ll be best to travel with a group of open-minded individuals who don’t mind a little light show with their church service. (The setting is also ideal for a picnic dinner, but remember to leave the wine and coffee at home, as it is not customary to consume alcohol or caffeine in the Mormon religion.)
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Reason No. 15: Tucking the sun into bed for the night.
Posted on Thursday, May 20th, 2010
by block club
Sometimes it’s nice to see the sun leave for the day, especially after it burns you when you forget your sunscreen. Its exit every night is grand, plus we all know that it will be back in the morning. Here in Buffalo, we are fortunate to be one of a handful of cities that gets to watch the sunset over a lake. If you have the chance to go out on the lake in a boat, that is by far the best way to enjoy a sunset here. Lasalle Park also offers great views and plenty of space to set up a couple of chairs and watch the sun disappear.
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Reason No. 14: Watching the peaceful sky explode.
Posted on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
by block club
There isn’t much more you’ll need to enjoy a fireworks display than a large blanket to lie down on as you gaze up to the stars. There is no such thing as a perfect seat. You can be right underneath them, or watching from afar. Getting together with a group of family and friends to watch a colorful display of explosions in the night sky is a perfect way to end a day of barbequing and celebrating our nation’s independence. There are also beautiful fireworks displays at the end of each Bisons Friday night home game.
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Reason No. 13: Making jazz hands.
Posted on Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
by block club
Jazz is the too-often ignored older child of the Buffalo arts community. Well before most of us were born (thereby pre-dating the invention of television-lined bars and clubs), live jazz was the backbone of many a social life in this town. Luckily for those of us who are in need of a refresher course, the hot, hot heat of summer lends itself very nicely to the temperamental nature of this reckless music. Check in with the fine folks at the Colored Musicians Club for their annual Queen City Jazz Fest (July 31), an afternoon of music that samples the club’s small but strong roster of local vocal and instrumental jazz talent. A picturesque ride to the Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival (Aug. 27 & 28) sets the scene for a smoother jazz sound. This street festival in this easy breezy village is highly relaxing, with small and manageable music tents scattered up and down Center Street, which is itself peppered with small cafЋs, pastry shops and bars. You couldn’t find a more serene place to enjoy a little chaotic music.
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Reason No. 12: Drawing pictures on the sidewalk.
Posted on Monday, May 17th, 2010
by block club
W
hen you’re a kid, chalk art is like the goody-two-shoes version of graffiti. You can sprawl out on the sidewalk in broad daylight and deface a slab of concrete with no remorse. The marks wash clean come the next rainy day. You don’t even have to be an artist; you can simply scribble your name or draw a few boxes to hopscotch in and out of. But don’t expect to see any games of tic-tac-toe at the Lewiston Chalk Walk competition this year, where teams from area high schools will be etching out masterpieces at 5th and Center Streets. In July, Tonawanda’s Canal Fest holds the Chalk-It-Up contest for grades 6-12, which returned to last year’s schedule after a sad, chalkless six-year hiatus. Feeling a little age discrimination at being left out of the competition? Step out your front door; all of WNY can be your canvas.
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Reason No. 11: Walking the plank.
Posted on Sunday, May 16th, 2010
by block club
You don’t have to go to the Caribbean to live a pirate’s life. Just venture down I-90 to the Palmyra Pirate Weekend (Aug. 6-8), where festivalgoers can ride the Erie Canal (be on the lookout for planks), catch the Bed Race Regatta on Main Street and play in the Kazoo Band parade. The Niagara Pirates Festival is another venue for the swashbuckler in you, in beautiful Olcott, NY, where a pirate ship awaits you. Nervous yet? Prepare yourself with a viewing of “The Goonies” or “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Image: File photo
