Buffalo on Foot VII - Downtown II

Now that we had passed by Shea's theater and the Founding Fathers pub, it is time to continue our journey through Buffalo Downtown!

Starting at Lafayette Square, here we have the opportunity to see the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Public Library, the Lafayette Hotel, Brisbane and Liberty buildings. Amazing architecture!
Going further on Main st, we will pass by M&T plaza, a statue of Casimir Pulaski (gift from Poland) and the Ellicott Square Building, which is beautiful. Taking left on Swan St., you will be able to see the Coca-Cola Field, home of the Buffalo Bisons (baseball). Nearby there's also the Old Post Office.

Going back to Main St and proceeding until Seneca St, you can see the First Niagara Center (home of Buffalo Sabers - hockey), which we saw in our Waterfront tour. On Seneca St., you can also find the Pearl St Pub. Further, on Franklin St., you will see one of the most cutest churches I have ever seen: St. Joseph's Cathedral. Very close to it there is also St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, with its interesting architecture.

And the tour isn't over yet! Further on, we can visit the Guaranty Building, the Old County Hall and get to Niagara Square. Here our tour ends, where you are able to visit Buffalo City Hall, check McKinley Monument, the City Court Building, Staler Towers and the U.S. Courthouse. Wow! There is so much to see!!

To check out the tour, click here

Inside St. Joseph's Cathedral

The Founding Fathers

On Edward St., downtown Buffalo, you will find this great place to have a good time. It is a thematic pub, decorated with many different flags on the ceiling and with old American presidents pictures. There you can find many types of beer and delicious food, including free nachos and popcorn. Board and trivia games are available for the entertainment of the customers. You can also be challenged in an informal game of American history trivia. Definitely this is a great spot to share some beers among friends!

Shea's Theater

One of the great cultural places in Buffalo, Shea's Theater is very easy to get to, even by public transportation. To get there, just go by subway and stop at Theater Station (easy to remember!)
The theater often brings some Broadway's shows. Recently, I watched The Lion King there, and, on Thanksgiving break, they have ballet presentations of the Nutcracker. Later on, in December, they will receive The Addams Family show.
I also have a very good tip for students: the rush hour. One hour before the show starts, Shea's sell the remaining tickets (no matter the section they are) for a very cheap price, only for students. To have an idea, when I watched The Lion King, I bought my ticket on the rush hour. I paid $25.00 for the best section, which was costing around $100 normally. Great deal!
Anyway, it is very good to visit the theater, but you don't necessary have to go to a performance. The theater also offers guided tours inside!
After you visit this amazing place, you can have some nice dinner at Bijou restaurant, just in front of the theater. Their pasta is great!
To check the upcoming shows on Shea's theater, please click here

Buffalo on Foot IV: Downtown Buffalo I

In this chapter of ours Buffalo on Foot tours, we will approach one of the two tours in Downtown. Actually we could do them both in one day only, since the first tour takes only 35 minutes and the second 50 minutes. But there is so much to describe that I prefer using two posts!
How can you make this tour?
First start in front of the Market Arcade Building, on Main Street, close to Chippewa St. Then we go on Main Street to meet the theater district, where the main theaters of Buffalo are located, including Shea's Performing Arts Center (check out our next post). Then, entering Edward St., you will find many historical buildings, including Ansonia Building, Courier Express Building and St. Louis Church. Going further, you will meet this sympathetic pub called The Founding Fathers, which I also shall dedicate a post to.
Entering Delaware Av. and then turning left, then you continue the tour visiting more amazing buildings and churches.  Then, after some blocks, you can stop for a break at Spot Coffee on the corner with Chippewa St. Continue a little further on Delaware Avenue and then turn on Huron St. Check out the nice hotels around as well as the Electric Tower. Finally, go until Main St. to proceed to the next Downtown tour!
To check the tour maps, please click here!

Buffalo Zoo

When I was going to Buffalo Zoo, our next stop in the Parkside tour, I had very low expectations. I thought it would be a small and childish place, with not many different animals. I expected it to be good for children and to do something different, but nothing else. After the visit, I was totally amazed.
First, the Zoo is very big compared to what you think it is from Delaware park. There are many attractions and animals, that you have to check the map from time to time. You have wild African and American mammals, farm animals, reptiles, birds, fish and even giant cockroaches (the most disgusting part of the tour). We had such an amazing experience there. We watched a bear sitting enjoying the sunshine; a gorilla literally posing for a picture with her little baby gorilla; lions roaring; and even we saw the endangered Golden Lion Marmoset, which is a Brazilian animal that I just could see here in Buffalo.
Oh, and of course, we also saw the famous buffalo! :)
This visit has worth every penny spent, so I recommend to all, adults and children, to go and check out the zoo! For more information, please click here.

Sweet_ness 7 Café

One of the most delicious findings in Buffalo!
At the corner on Russell St. with Parkside avenue, this cozy cafeteria will be passed unnoticed if it wasn't on my Buffalo on Foot brochure. With a lovely atmosphere you can have a great coffee or hot chocolate (just amazing!) and one of their delicious crepes, with different flavors and combinations. Just in the center of the café, we also can find their signature City of No Illusions table, with the drawn of a buffalo and experience a delicious moment.
I recommend this place to everyone!

Me, having a great hot chocolate at Sweet_ness 7 Café!

Buffalo on foot III: Parkside

My favorite tour so far!
Delaware Park, Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo's architecture... Just amazing!
We start at Summit Av. with Jewett Parkway, to check out one of the most interesting house complex of the city, the Darwin D. Martin House Complex. Just at the other corners it is possible to also see the Church of the Good Shepherd and Wicks House, dated from 1890. Walking around Summit Av., until Russel St., it is possible to find out some other interesting buildings, in the heart of the Great American Neighborhood.
Finally, after this pleasant walk, you will get to Parkside Av. Just on the left corner, you will find a great coffee house named Sweet_ness 7 Café, which I will talk about in the following posts - it deserves!
Just in front of the coffee house, you will get to the entrance of Buffalo Zoo - again, this also deserves a dedicated post, coming soon!
Ending the tour, you can check the Walter V. Davidson House with a great architectural style, and then come back walking through Delaware Park, which is amazing during this time of the year!

To check out the tour and maps, click here!

Darwin D. Martin House Complex