May has come and gone and it blows my mind! We skipped over spring pretty quickly in Western New York. The increasing temperatures and beautiful sunshine means there are a plethora of options for things to do in Buffalo.
Brunch on a patio!
I am a sucker for a fruity alcoholic beverage midday and some delectable carbs with a view. I am also a firm believer that God created brunch as a celebration of the conclusion of a tough work week.. and the gorgeous weather means the patios are open! To be honest, I’m willing to brunch just about anywhere, but here are some of my favorites:
Cecilia’s Ristorante (Elmwood Village)
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Gourmet Mac n’ Cheese + Bottomless Mimosas = <3. There are few places in Western New York where I have found bottomless mimosas that aren’t watered down. This is one of them. Combine that with Cannoli French Toast or their scrumptious Mac n’ Cheese and that is my happy place.
The Steer (Main St.)
I’m biased because my friends work here and provide impeccable service š but if you need another reason to visit: FRENCH TOAST CHICKEN WINGS. I feel like these are the real reason that people should come to Buffalo -sorry Duffs and Anchor Bar-. French toast batter dipped and drizzled with maple syrup and powdered sugar yaaaaas.
Mangia Cafe (Center St. Lewiston)
I don’t go to brunch for healthy reasons whatsoever (see above suggestions), but lets say I did. Mangia is a great alternative to cheesy, deep fried wonderfulness and alcohol. They have lots of omelets, fruity salads and my favorite chicken salad sandwich ever. It’s a lunch/brunch cafe only open until 3 so on the weekends it’s bound to attract the “after church crowd”, but it’s worth the wait. Next door is Orange Cat Coffee Co. where the amazing actor Joseph Gordan Levitt was spotted last weekend so that’s also another reason to stop by and dine outside near the front gardens.
The heart throb from 500 Days of Summer decided to visit Lewiston! (photo courtesy of Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page)
A day at the beach!
Believe it or not, I visited my friend Tess in Florida at the beginning of May and did not make it to the beach while I was there. This made me even more determined to get to a beach relatively close by once I returned home.
Sunset Bay (Irving)
My friends recommended this spot and it did not disappoint. The best part was that I felt like I was temporarily far far away from Buffalo and sometimes that’s exactly what you need. There is a beach club and bar/restaurant right on the shore. My friend Natalie and I packed a picnic lunch. Also, I suspect that they do not charge admission or parking midweek because I went on a Tuesday and it was free! Talk about a cheap getaway.
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I haven’t made it to Sodus Point (bordering Canada north of Rochester) or any of the Canadian beaches north of Niagara on the Lake yet, but I am determined to check them out after my great Sunset Bay experience.
Go shopping!
If you’ve been following my blog for a while you probably know that I am all about a great deal. Whether it is providing other people with one by selling my gently used clothes on the Poshmark app or shopping with 3 coupon codes and a student discount, I am the queen of bargains.
The World’s Largest Yard Sale (Hamburg)
Admission was $3, but from that point on YOU determined how much you spent at the yard sale. They had everything and tons of vendors which attracted nearly 7,000 people each day. This is an annual event at the fairgrounds and already happened May 6-7, but now you know what to expect for next year! I have a friend who took this opportunity to refurnish her apartment on a budget. It’s the perfect place to find eclectic and DIY decor for pennies on the dollar.
Garage Sales
I had the day off on a Sunday in mid-May and decided to drive around Lewiston and Youngstown hunting for some garage sales. The weather was beautiful and the people were pleasant. I’m pretty excited the town wide garage sale weekends coming up. Memorial Day Weekend was Wilson’s garage sale days, June 3-5 is Newfane’s garage sale days and June 10-12 is the 10 mile garage sale weekend featuring sales in Youngstown, Lewiston and Ransomville.
Local Boutiques (Main St. East Aurora, Elmwood Buffalo, Hertel Ave Buffalo, Allen Buffalo, Center St. Lewiston, Main St. Williamsville)
On my way back from Sunset Bay I stopped at Firefly Cupcakes in East Aurora on Tuesday. My mom sent me and my friends a dozen gigantic cupcakes from Firefly for my 18th birthday and they still are as glorious as I remember.
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While in East Aurora I stopped in a records store, a vintage store and Ooo La La boutique -the first Western New York Fashion Truck’s brick and mortar store. I love drawing inspiration for my own wardrobe styling from local retail stores. In May I explored many boutiques on Hertel Ave in Buffalo, including this great little gem I found called Modern Nostalgia, which now also has a location at Canalside. Because of how close I live to Lewiston, I frequently visit stores on Center St. This just became even easier with the start of the “Discover Niagara” shuttle running from Niagara Falls to Youngstown, stopping at 15 locations throughout theĀ FREE ride. I plan on taking totalĀ advantage of this!
Since June is now upon us, that means there will be loads of festivals coming up. I’m so excited because of this little taste of summer that I already had in May.
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