Annversary getaway to Niagara-on-the-Lake

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary this past weekend with an overnight getaway to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. After crossing the Peace Bridge, we parked out car in one of the parking area along the Niagara Parkway overlooking the city of Buffalo. We enjoyed the view of the city and walked over to Mather Arch.

Buffalo cityscape from Fort Erie

Mather Arch, Fort Erie

 

We enjoyed a fish and chip lunch at Green Acres restaurant on Garrison Road, in Fort Erie, then headed to the Niagara College Teaching Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake for a tour and wine tasting. We stayed at the White Oaks Resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a very nice place that has Liv a 5 star restaurant where we had dinner.

Niagara College Teaching Winery

Special dessert at Liv

White Oaks Resort

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Gazebo in Niagara on the Lake

 

 
The next day, Saturday, we went into the old town part of Niagara-on-the-Lake; they were having a peach festival along Queen Street. We enjoyed peach shortcake and then headed to the Festival Theater to see Guys and Dolls, which was a very good production.

On the way home we stopped for dinner at Swiss Chalet....yum!

Check out the August issue of Forever Young Magazine

For the August issue of Forever Young Magazine I have written a profile article about Wing King, Drew Cerza. Read all about how he manages to stay fit, yet still eat chicken wings! Only 24 more days until the Buffalo Wing Festival www.buffalowing.com

A visit to the Buffalo Zoo

 

We visited the Buffalo Zoo today to see the baby polar bears. They were really cute! We have not been to the zoo for a few years, so it was nice to see all the improvements that have been made.

For dinner, we checked out the Pizza Festival at the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village (formerly Amherst Museum). There were a number of good pizzas to choose from and they had live entertainment all day. We also had the opportunity to check out some new exhibits at the museum.

Earlier in the week, when my husband and youngest son were at camp, my daughter and I had dinner at Jasmine Thai Restaurant on Niagara Falls Blvd. near Brighton. The food was very good and we will definitely have to go back. We especially enjoyed the mango ice cream for dessert.

A Visit to Destiny USA in Syracuse

 

My daughter and I took a day trip today to Destiny USA in Syracuse to get her some new clothes for college. Formerly called the Carousel Center, this  4 level mall is much more than a mall! We were amazed on how big it was; the first hour or so that we were there we just wandered around and just looked at things, before we finally got down to shopping. Inside the top floor there is a raceway, a rope climbing attraction, and several other attractions. There is a variety of stores my daughter loves to shop at like Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe, as well as a huge Macy's and Bon Ton. All in all we had a successful shopping trip, but it was a tiring day, given that it takes 21/2 to 3 hours to get to Syracuse from home. For more information, see their website www.destinyusa.com

PBS special about the Shaw Festival next Friday July 19th

Below is information I received from Megan Wagner, Director of Corporate Communications at WNED-TV about a special PBS broadcast about the Shaw Festival that will air next Friday. It sounds like an interesting show. I try to get up to Niagara-on-the-Lake to see a play each summer, so I am looking forward to seeing this program.

This month, PBS has a special broadcast, The Shaw Festival: Behind the Curtain airing Friday, July 19 at 9 p.m. This documentary provides insight into the production at a world-renowned repertory theatre festival that attracts people world-wide.

The Shaw Festival, starting back in 1962, is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada and produces 10-12 plays on four different stages, some productions dating back to George Bernard Shaw’s era (1856-1950) as well as some contemporary plays. In addition, the work behind the scenes is explored as well, including designers, set builders, props, costume and wig-makers, etc. The result is a revealing and intimate portrait of the Shaw Festival, the theatres, the creative process and the passionate teams that bring the art to life.

Mother daughter trip to Westfield and Erie

My daughter and I headed out on a little adventure today. First we went to the Grape Discovery Center on route 20 just south of Westfield, which just opened today. It's a very nice  facility that has lots of grape themed items for sale, as well as locally produced foods, and even a wine tasting bar. They also have exhibits on grape growing in the region. It is open daily 10am-6pm, for more info, see www.grapediscoverycenter.com

We then continued south to Erie, PA for the Great Lakes Beach Glass Festival, held in Erie's Bayfront Convention Center, which is a beautiful facility. Most of the exhibitors featured jewelry and other items made with beach glass, as well as artwork. I found a beautiful blue sea glass necklace and some matching earrings, while my daughter found a couple bracelets and a necklace. The pieces we picked out were relatively inexpensive (less than $40), however, some vendors had items that were hundreds of dollars. The festival continues tomorrow Sunday May 26th from 10am-5pm. For more info see www.relishinc.com

After shopping at the festival, we took a walk along the waterfront and enjoyed a birds-eye view of Erie and nearby Presque Isle State Park from the Bicentennial Tower (admission $3). Next, we headed to Millcreek Mall for some more shopping.

Happy May 1st. The nice weather is here! For ideas of things to do in western New York this spring and summer take a look at my book, Western New York Explorers Guide, available in book stores and online. For more information see www.westernnewyorkexplorersguide.com