Treat Dad to Some Father’s Day Fun This Weekend

Posted by & filed under Things to Do Around Town Hall Terrace.

Father and DaughterLooking for some last-minute Father’s Day ideas for this weekend? There are a number of fun, family-friendly events going on in our area that are perfect for spending a day with dad. Check out a few of our favorite Father’s Day ideas below!

Get Him Something Sweet

This weekend, Fowler’s Chocolates is offering a wide variety of Father’s Day gift packages that include everything from chocolate-covered popcorn to their famous sponge candy. Just stop by any of their locations in Western New York to find your dad’s favorite delectables made right here in Western New York.

Watch the Ball Game

The Buffalo Bisons are taking on their old rivals the Rochester Red Wings in a three-game series at Coca Cola Field. In honor of the regional rivalry, the two teams will play as the “Buffalo Wings” and the “Rochester Plates” while wearing special commemorative uniforms that feature images of the two cities’ signature dishes.

Enjoy Cars, Coasters and Cold-Ones at Darien Lake

On Saturday and Sunday, Darien Lake will host a car show and beer festival featuring a diverse lineup of classic cars and beers from breweries throughout the region. The event will also include a BBQ lunch deal at the Beaver Brother’s Lakeside Café.

Visit the Lewiston GardenFest

If your dad has been looking for some landscaping inspiration this spring, swing by the 13th annual Lewiston GardenFest on Saturday and Sunday! Located in the heart of Lewiston on the historic Center Street, this event will feature vendors, speakers, gardening demonstrations and more.

Wishing you and yours a happy Father’s Day from all of us here at Town Hall Terrace!

Taste of Buffalo Announces Vendor Lineup for 2018

Posted by & filed under Summer Activities.

Food FestivalDid you know that Buffalo is home to the largest two-day food festival in the United States? More than 400,000 people attended the annual Taste of Buffalo Last year, where they had an opportunity to sample food and beverages from some of the best restaurants, food trucks and wineries in the region. The event occupies several blocks of Delaware Avenue between City Hall and Chippewa Street, and it will kick off this year at 11 a.m. sharp on July 7.

Now, with a little more than a month before the event begins, the Taste of Buffalo’s event coordinators have released this year’s lineup of the 53 restaurants and six local wineries that will be in attendance. Crowd favorites include Western New York staples like Paula’s Donuts, Lloyd Taco Truck, Chiavetta’s BBQ and Anderson’s Frozen Custard. Wineries will include the Spring Lake Winery from Lockport and Three Brothers Wineries and Estates from Geneva.

In addition to the many culinary options at the Taste of Buffalo, there will also be plenty of local musicians providing entertainment on stage in the beer tent. Meanwhile, younger patrons can enjoy child-friendly food and entertainment options at the event’s Kid Zone as well. Cooking enthusiasts can even take lessons from professional chefs at the Culinary Stage in the New Era Cap parking lot.

If you’ve never had an opportunity to enjoy the Taste of Buffalo in the past, be sure to check it out this year. Just a 20-minute drive from Town Hall Terrace, this is one of our favorite summer events in the area.

Fantasy Island to Debut New Children’s Area This Summer

Posted by & filed under Grand Island, Summer Activities.

Kids on CarouselThere’s nothing that says “summer on Grand Island” quite like a family outing at Fantasy Island. This historic amusement park has been a seasonal staple of the community for more than 50 years, and this year Fantasy Island will unveil a new addition to its lineup of attractions—a kid-centric area called the Fairy Tale Forest.

Coming early this summer, the Fairy Tale Forest will offer a diverse selection of rides, shows and other entertainment options featuring instantly recognizable fairy tale characters like Rapunzel and Cinderella. Kids can enjoy interactive storytelling sessions with Oakley the talking tree, take a ride on a classic carousel at All the King’s Horses and more. Fantasy Island describes the charming fairy tale-themed village as “a place where imagination comes to life.”

In addition to opening the Fairy Tale Forest, Fantasy Island has made a number of other improvements and upgrades to the park this year as well. Two of the park’s original water slides have been renovated, for example, and the Golden Nugget has reopened as a saloon that serves locally-brewed craft beers from throughout the region. The park’s menu has also been updated to include new treats like funnel cake fries, hand-dipped ice cream and fried dough.

Fantasy Island is open on weekends from now until June 17, at which point it will open seven days a week for the rest of the summer. Don’t miss out on this fun and family-friendly destination conveniently located right down the street from Town Hall Terrace!

Treat Mom to One of These Great Mother’s Day Events!

Posted by & filed under Things to Do Around Town Hall Terrace.

Mother's DayStill looking for something to do with the most important woman in your life this Mother’s Day? You’ll have no shortage of options here in Western New York! This weekend, businesses throughout the region will be hosting fun, family-friendly events in honor of Mother’s Day. Check out a few of our favorites below!

Mother’s Day Market at Hotel Henry

From 10am to 3pm on Sunday, guests can enjoy browsing a pop-up market on the second floor of the historic Hotel Henry in buffalo. Vendors will include local florists, jewelers, candle makers and more. You can also enjoy a chair massage or a manicure from Rejuvinex Spa when you’re done shopping!

Motown Brunch at Thin Man

If your mom is a music lover, be sure to check out the Motown Brunch at Thin Man Brewery! Located in the heart of Buffalo’s Elmwood Village, Thin Man will offer a diverse selection of locally-made beers, authentic gastropub cuisine and classic Motown soul courtesy of a live DJ.

Cupcake Decorating at Perks Café

Moms and their kids can take part in a cupcake decorating party at Perks Café on Main Street in Buffalo. Each guest can decorate up to 6 gourmet cupcakes using buttercream frosting, fondant and edible décor.  You can also enter to win a baking-themed basket and your very own cupcake decorating party courtesy of Anything Arts.

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we’d like to wish you a very happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Town Hall Terrace!

Visit the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival This Weekend

Posted by & filed under Things to Do Around Town Hall Terrace.

Cherry BlossomsApril showers are finally giving way to May flowers here in Western New York! This weekend, you can enjoy a lively display of spring color at the annual Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival in Delaware Park! Located in the park’s Japanese Garden, this event showcases the city’s cherry blossom trees in a peaceful, serene setting. If you’ve never visited the Japanese Garden in Delaware Park before, you can find it right next to the Buffalo History Museum. The weather during the event is expected to be mild and sunny—perfect for a relaxing day in the park.

While you’re there, you can also enjoy many of the other attractions in and around Delaware Park!

Just across the street from the Japanese Garden, you can take a stroll around Hoyt Lake and take in the world-class collection of modern art at the Albright-Knox Gallery. Meanwhile, on the other side of the park, you can play a round of golf on a historic 18-hole course or visit the animals at the Buffalo Zoo. Widely regarded as the jewel of Buffalo’s Olmsted Parks system, you can easily spend an entire day exploring and relaxing in Delaware Park.

To learn more about the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival, you can visit the event’s official website here. This is just the first of many great events that will be taking place in Delaware Park this spring. Before too long, Shakespeare in the Park will return with a production of King Lear as well.

For a sneak preview of this weekend’s cherry blossom festival, check out the video below!

This Spring, Enjoy the Great Outdoors at Town Hall Terrace

Posted by & filed under Amenities.

Tennis PlayerAfter spending a long winter cooped up inside, it’s safe to say we’re all ready to get outside and breathe some fresh air. Fortunately, there are a number of great outdoor amenities to enjoy right here at Town Hall Terrace.

Tennis Courts

Backhand technique getting a little rusty? You can practice with friends on one of our beautiful outdoor tennis courts! If tennis isn’t your game, you can also play a round of basketball at the courts right next door.

Heated Swimming Pool

After you’ve worked up a good sweat on the tennis courts, you can take a refreshing dip in our pool! Weather permitting, we keep the pool open all day long for the residents of our apartments, townhouses and patio homes.

Picnic Pavilion

If all this activity is making you hungry, you can fire up the barbecue at our picnic pavilion and enjoy a home-cooked meal with friends. The picnic pavilion is also a great place to meet new people and mingle with the other residents at Town Hall Terrace. There’s also plenty of green space around the pavilion to keep kids entertained on sunny afternoons.

Dog Park

Finally, we can’t forget about our four-legged friends. The dog park offers an opportunity for our pets to socialize with other animals and run off some steam. We have plenty of dog lovers in our community, so your pup will always have a companion to play with.

Interested in learning more about everything there is to do at Town Hall Terrace? Give us a call today, and be sure to ask about our spring specials!

Enjoy a Unique Shopping Experience at Kelly’s Country Store

Posted by & filed under Things to Do Around Town Hall Terrace.

Vintage Candy JarsLocated off of Grand Island Boulevard just south of Buckhorn Island State Park, Kelly’s Country Store has been a staple of our community for more than 50 years. The store was founded in 1962, when Walter and Grace Kelly decided they needed a permanent space to sell the penny candy they had been bringing to local festivals and events. The couple purchased the original 20’ X 20’ store in exchange for their home and $1.

Today, the third generation of the Kelly family continues to offer homemade candies, gifts, holiday items and home décor from their charming country store in the heart of Grand Island. All of the store’s chocolate and fudge treats are made on-site in three kettles. In fact, the store produces about 40,000 pounds of chocolate a year! You can also choose from 75 varieties of classic candy including licorice, root beer barrels and peach stones. And of course, it wouldn’t be a candy store in Western New York without sponge candy.

When you visit Kelly’s Country Store, you can also take a tour of a beautifully renovated one-room schoolhouse located on the same property. Formerly known as “Old School No. 5,” this little red school house offers guests the opportunity experience a day in the life of a 19th century student on Grand Island.

To learn more about everything Kelly’s Country Store has to offer, you can visit their website here. If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity, be sure to swing by and explore the store for yourself!

Trout Season Is off to a Great Start in Western New York

Posted by & filed under Things to Do Around Town Hall Terrace.

Trout FishingThe temperatures might still be a little chilly here on Grand Island, but that isn’t stopping the local anglers from making the most of the first days of trout season. The season started on Sunday, April 2, and fishing enthusiasts from throughout the region are already hauling in some pretty impressive catches.

If you’d like to get out and participate in this year’s trout season, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently stocked Hyde Park Lake and Gill Creek in Niagara Falls with about 2,500 brown trout. The DEC also plans to stock the lower Niagara River, Lake Ontario and Oppenheim Park Pond with more than 80,000 brown and rainbow trout later this spring.

Located just 15 minutes from Town Hall Terrace, Niagara Falls is a particularly popular fishing destination for anglers in our area. If you want to stay on Grand Island, you can also do some fishing in Beaver Island State Park. Be sure to get your fishing license first, though! You can easily apply for your license online on the DEC website. Trout season runs until October 15, so you still have plenty of time to get outside and enjoy the many great sport fishing spots in Western New York.

Interested in learning more about everything there is to see and do around Town Hall Terrace? Stay tuned for more updates from our blog, or give us a call today to speak with a representative! We look forward to hearing from you.

Buffalo’s Broadway Market Is Ready for Easter

Posted by & filed under Things to Do Around Town Hall Terrace.

Polish Easter DishesSpring has officially begun and Easter’s on its way. That means it’s time to visit the iconic Broadway Market in Buffalo! If you’ve never been to the market before, you’re in for a treat.

First opened in 1888, the Broadway Market is based on traditional markets in 19th-century Poland.

A lot has changed over the course of the past 130 years, but the Broadway Market has remained largely the same.  The market is open all year, but it’s a particularly popular destination in the weeks leading up to Easter.

This time of year, you can find all kinds of traditional European Easter goods at the Broadway Market, from the famous butter lambs to polish sausage, pastries and more. The market will also host a number of entertainers throughout the season, including accordion players and Polish dancers.

The Broadway Market has always remained true to its roots, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t grown in recent years.  Soon, the market will install a new commercial kitchen valued at half a million dollars in an effort to attract new tenants and vendors. The Market’s managers hope that the new kitchen will help make the historic property a year-round destination for the residents of Western New York.

“We are going to outlast any forms of commerce that you ever did see and I’m very heartened by it, and the city believes in this place and it will continue and it will get better,” said Fillmore District Common Council Member David Franczyk during this year’s Easter season kick-off event.

The Broadway Market will be open every day until Easter. Be sure to take a trip down to Buffalo to see everything this one-of-a-kind destination has to offer!

Niagara Falls Aquarium Opens Its New Penguin Habitat

Posted by & filed under Things to Do Around Town Hall Terrace.

Humboldt PenguinHave you had a chance to visit the Aquarium of Niagara recently? If not, now might be a great time to check it out! This week, the aquarium is opening its new Humboldt penguin habitat which is more than five times the size of its former exhibit. This $3.5 million upgrade is the largest project ever completed at the aquarium, according to WIVB.

The new exhibit features a 15,000 gallon pool and a rocky landscape that closely mimics the penguins’ natural habitat. It also has an interactive microphone system that allows guests to engage in live question-and-answer sessions with the aquarists working in the exhibit.

The habitat currently houses a colony of seven Humboldt penguins, but the aquarium plans to use the additional space to begin breeding more penguins by the end of the year. Ultimately, they hope to have a colony of about 20 penguins.

The Humboldt penguin habitat isn’t the only exciting new addition coming to the aquarium in 2018.

In May, work is slated to begin on a $440,000 jellyfish exhibit as well. Once complete, it will be the first permanent jellyfish exhibit in the aquarium’s 53-year history. The exhibit will reportedly house up to 70 jellyfish in illuminated cylindrical tanks, offering guests the opportunity to get an up-close look at the ethereal invertebrates.

“We’re trying really hard to embrace change, to embrace innovative opportunities to bring in new animals to the collection,” said the aquarium’s Executive Director Gary Siddall in an interview with WBFO. “It’s very consistent with the forward-moving direction that we’ve been able to celebrate over the course of the last few years.”

Next time you’re in Niagara Falls, be sure to stop in and see everything the aquarium has to offer!