In July, I will spend a couple of weeks in a cozy little cottage that’s a stone’s throw from Lake Erie. It’s not far from Point Breeze, where my family rented a similar cottage while I was growing up, and oh, it brings back memories!
While I’m staying there, I like to invite friends and relatives to visit and enjoy the beach, they in turn invite me to visit them in Buffalo, and I never fail to take a drive through the old West Side. This year I have several big reunions to attend on the weekends, so it will be a happy, but very busy time.
During the week though, when everyone goes back to work, things get quieter and I try to carve out time to explore the Western New York area and all it has to offer. I have my favorites of course—the Buffalo Garden Walk, the Italian Festival, and the Explore Buffalo tours that are always on offer.
But I’m on the lookout for new things and places to write about, and for old things that somehow I’ve missed before. My readers have always been so helpful when it comes to suggestions, so this month I am asking, what are the undiscovered gems in Buffalo and the surrounding area that I need to visit this year?
You’ll see from the photos that I love Buffalo’s parks and gardens, lively waterfront, unusual museums, historical places, and local festivals, among other things. While writing a recent blog about fossil hunting, I learned for the first time about the Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Preserve in Blasdell, so that will be a priority. One of my blog readers suggested the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda so I’ll check that out too.
Also for the first time, I’ll have a fish fry at the Swannie House restaurant (the oldest in Buffalo) and tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s historic Darwin Martin House. But that still leaves time for plenty of other excursions!
Does Scajaquada Creek have its secrets, aside from the beautiful lily pond shown in the featured photo? Well, I only recently learned that British writer Shadrack Byfield was wounded there during the War of 1812, and ended up having his arm amputated. I’m sure there is more to learn (especially from the Buffalo History Museum which sits on its banks).
I should mention that when my book, Virgin Snow, is published, (with any luck this summer, fingers crossed), I will be back again, probably more than once, to meet with book clubs and readers who like discussing what they read. Hopefully, those trips should afford me additional opportunities to visit places I’m not able to see in July.
Do you have a favorite, little known place in Buffalo, one that others might like to know about? Send me your ideas and suggestions in the comments below. I love to hear them, and you just might see your recommendation mentioned in a future blog!
Moxie Gardiner is a writer, gardener, and traveler who grew up on the West Side of Buffalo, NY. In a previous life she was a journalist, magazine editor, speech writer, and policy wonk. Back in the day she made three solo parachute jumps, flew in an F-15 fighter jet, and crawled through mud pits at the Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama. She now meditates and practices yoga. She is almost ready to publish her first novel, set in Buffalo.
As you know, I am recently returned to WNY myself. I’ve been coccooned in Chautauqua most of these months, but I had some thoughts upon reading your May blog post:
1. South Buffalo. Have you explored Cazenovia Park? Or the Buffalo Botanical Gardens? (I know I haven’t, in 50 years; I’d be happy to accompany you.)
2. The Buffalo Zoo. While you mention Delaware Park – Buffalo’s Central Park – I didn’t see any reference to the Zoo. (I may only have been there once, max twice; would likewise love to accompany you.)
3. Forest Lawn Cemetery. Don’t want to get weird on this, but as Mounties we had a northeast portal to Buffalo’s arguably “most famous cemetery”. No, it didn’t include Catholic Consecrated Ground, as far as I can figure. Still, I’d be happy to accompany you, should you decide to explore.
Mary Ellen–how kind of you to offer me several tours. To respond to your specific suggestions:
1. I have recently been to Cazenovia Park (see blog on Olmsted Parks) and the Botanical Gardens (I blogged once on that too, but I go whenever I can). That said, I would love to explore more of South Buffalo, especially any place with a history to it. I’ll bet you know of some hidden gems that you don’t want to publicize here!
2. The Zoo. I have been there many times as a child but only once as an adult. I’m ready to go again.
3. Forest Lawn Cemetery. Now that is a place I’d like to explore again. Take me on a tour, please!
Lol, I can’t offer tours to any of these places (I haven’t visited in 50 years). But I would cherish the opportunity to rediscover them with Moxie Gardiner.
Hey Moxie. From your latest Weekly, a reminder to me that we have at least two things in common. Pt. Breeze and the West Side. When I grew up on the WS I always looked forward to visit my Aunt Donna’s (Mom’s sister) cottage on Lakeside and Wilson Rds near Cradle Beach Camp. I’ve been in some cottages over the years and occasionally be hit with a certain smell that brings me back there. Memories of my father playing horseshoes all day, BBQing lunch and dinner, my parents playing cards all night, me sleeping on the screened-in front porch where it was cooler and to avoid the hot cottage. Our cottage neighbors were the Caffery’s. Mrs. Caffery was a dear and a sweetheart and raised her boys right as can be seen by their adult life as lawyer/marathon swimmer and accommodated county sheriff. I remember them letting me drive their go-kart down the dirt road, now since paved. I think these memories could be why I moved from the WS to Angola years later. Roaming places like Eddie Stroh’s, Pt. Breeze Hotel, Lakeside Market, Connors, and of course Mickey Rat’s and all the other ‘fine drinking establishments’ of Grandview Bay. Eight years of working at these ‘establishments’ added so many more memories of this area. And as for memories, I drove down Grant St the other day. As I reminisced, I was heartbroken to say the least. Grant St was like Main St as kids. Now, it’s more like skid row. Sad.
Yes, indeed we have many things in common, Don. Our cottage was walking distance from Point Breeze. Oh how I well remember the smell of those cottages–a really good smell. I think that is when I fell in love with the smell of warm wood! We did many of the things you describe–cooking every meal outside, and sleeping outside whenever we could because the cottage was so darn hot (no air conditioning in those days). And yes, I must admit, I too visited many of those “fine drinking establishments” back in the day. Thanks for the memories, Don.
Join Explore Buffalo.. They have amazing tours all over. We’ve learned so many things about our Beautiful City.
Great idea! I have taken some of their tours but haven’t joined. I hear they get better and better….
I have a story you might be interested in at some point about Buffalos Liberty Ladies. I played a big role in discovering and refurbishing these ladies. It was the early to mid 80s I was part of a huge event to turn on the lights of the liberty ladies, I even have the invite to this event. I was actually the person who remotely turned on the lights. If you are interested in more information please let me know. I am so proud of these ladies and while I no longer live in Buffalo I come home often and when I am flying over Buffalo and see the ladies I shed a tear.
Cheryl, that sounds like a fascinating story. Have there been articles written about “the Ladies” in the past? Where were the Ladies found? Thanks for this idea. I might have to begin some research on my own.
There is some stories about their history however at some point they were no longer lit up and the statues remained untouched for many years. I stood on top of the building roof when it was determined that the ladies needed to come back to life. The building owners were Hammerson, at that time I was an account executive with Levy, King and White and I feel so honored to have stood next to them on the roof and the plans began to refurbish and plan a huge celebration to light them back up. It was a huge celebration in downtown town buffalo and I was part of it. Let me know if you would like more details. The President of the United States Ronald Reagan was even invited to attend.
I love that first photo! But I’m partial.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff, in Derby, is always a nice place to visit. Great setting. Very nice gardens.
Kayaking around Cayuga Island just off the LaSalle Expressway in Niagara falls around the “beach community” of cottages big and small, and side trips in creeks is fun. Good bird watching. Ignore that it’s alongside Love Canal.
Griffis Sculpture Park, in East Otto, if you haven’t already.
LOL. Jim, I was going to share this blog on your profile for you to read, but you obviously beat me to it! I love that photo as well, and I’m not partial! I’ve been to Graycliff a number of times (love it) and may go back again this year. Kayaking around Cayuga Island sounds interesting, and no, I’ve never been to the Griffis Sculpture Park. I’ll definitely have to check that out. Hope to see you at the 2023 Garden Walk!