Buffalo is world-famous for its architecture; only Chicago boasts a larger collection of buildings by America's foremost architects: Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, and Henry Hobson Richardson. The system of parks and parkways designed for Buffalo by landscape architect F.L. Olmsted (Central Park) is substantially intact. Walk Buffalo, a glossy booklet detailing a self-guided tour of downtown Buffalo’s architecture, is available free of charge at the Visitors Center. Hostel staff are pleased to provide information about the city’s architectural treasures and how to find them.

 

Albright-Knox Gallery:

 The Albright-Knox Gallery houses one of the world’s foremost collections of modern and contemporary art. The museum is well worth the trip, but note that it is closed on Mondays. The Gallery offers free admission on Fridays 3-10pm.

Birchfield Penney Art Center

 Located accross the street from the Albright-Knox Gallery the Birchfield Penney is Buffalo's newestmuseum. Having recently moved from its previous location into its gorgeous, new, custom built modern space in 2009, the Birchfield Penney specializes in contemporary regional art.

 

 Lively Arts Scene

Buffalo has received national recognition for its lively arts scene. Live theater and music thrive in Buffalo. For more information about what’s happening in Buffalo, visit he ArtVoice calendar of events.

The city’s busy nightlife happens on Chippewa Street, Allen Street, and Elmwood Avenue, all within an easy walk of the hostel.  Live music can be found every night of the week. In the summer Buffalo is home to the Thursday in The Square concert series, which brings national acts free to buffalonians, and is an easy 5 min walk from the hostel. 

Last year brought, just to name a few, diverse acts from Zappa, the Avett Brothers, The Disco Buscuits, Robert Randolph, and George Clinton! These concerts are great fun, and not to be missed.

The new concert series Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor" offers $10 shows throughout the summer with acts like Black Crowes, Gov't Mule, String Cheese, and Yonder Mountain String Band . Smaller, but also free, concerts are offered on Tuesday's in Bidwell park. Six nights a week in Delaware Park is one of the nation's most successful Shakespeare festivals, bring in over 40,000 patrons annually. 2010 will be the company's 35th season and for their anniversary they will be presenting "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Macbeth".  

Thanks to the generous donations of art loving Buffalonians, Shakespeare in the park is also free, but donations are greatly appreciated. For after the concerts, there is always a lively nigtlife. Bars in Buffalo close at 4am!! Yes, 4am!! And we mean it! Buffaloians are known to be quite friendly, and with good prices like these, everyone can afford to stay out late!

  

Neighborhood Cinema:

Our neighborhood cinema offers good value for films. All shows before 6pm are $6, and all shows are $6 for those who present a student ID. 

 

 Rotary Rink

 For our friends who are brave enough to come in the winter. Downtown offers a free outdoor ice skating rink. Skate rental is $3. The rink is less than 2 blocks from the hostel, and dont worry they offer hot chocolate for the perfect after skate drink. 

 

 

The Anchor Bar

Buffalo chicken wings were invented at the Anchor Bar, a destination of travelers from around the world. Good food, good atmosphere, good prices. Located 0.6mi (1km) from the hostel.

 

 Sports

Buffalo is known as a sports town. The city is home to the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres, the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills, and minor league baseball’s Buffalo Bisons. Both hockey and baseball can be reached by the free metro in a few minutes time. Tickets are relatively inexpensive, and all sporting events are can be reached by public transport.

 

 Waterfront

Buffalo is on Lake Erie, and the waterfront is a favorite destination in summer and fall. The recently renovated Erie Canal harbor park offers spectacular views and Kayaks can be rented from there on the weekends and used to explore the Buffalo River. The park setting around the marina offers a recreational path plus lots of space for lounging in the sun or shade. Two-hour cruises of Lake Erie and the Niagara and Buffalo Rivers depart from the marina. Booze cruise and cattamaran trips depart nightly (in season).

 

Day trips

An extensive regional public transport system offers the possibility of day trips from Buffalo—a great way to see attractions in nearby cities well as some of the countryside of Western New York. Niagara Falls, Toronto, Ontario (Greyhound) Rochester, NY (Greyhound) East Aurora, NY (city bus) Lockport, NY (city bus) Darien Lake, NY (city bus)

 

 

 "For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." -- Robert Louis Stevenson