one good bar.

photo credit N. Ciesielski

Last night I took the train down to the harbor for the Buffalo Canalside free Thursday concert. This event may just be one of the best that Buffalo has to offer. For starters, it's free! People from all over the city attend as well as many of its food trucks. Once there, I met up with a couple of friends, Chris and Nicole and we enjoyed the epic sunset on the river. We ate some yummy food and then I ran into another friend who I shared some ice cream with. Have I mentioned there was food at this event? After the show we decided to try to contact my boyfriend Kevin. The interesting part of that was that Kevin has a broken cell phone. So, we went to his job to leave a message for him. We all felt so old fashioned and proud for using word of mouth as a method of communication. 

Eventually he got out of work and we all headed to Goodbar on Elmwood, (which may or may not have been the location of my awesome karaoke performance the night before.) It was such a good night to be out in the world, enjoying friends and good vibes.

Happy Birthday Julia!

photo credit S.M.

Today we welcomed my niece, beautiful baby Julia, into the world. I will be going to visit her soon in North Carolina and I can hardly wait until then. She was delivered bright and early this morning at 5.6 lbs. I am so happy and proud for my sister and brother-in-law. I know they will be great and loving parents.
Later, after all the amazing news, my coworkers and I took a trip to the beach. Although I am an Island girl, I do see something special in Lake Erie. The water was so refreshing and the sun was out and it just felt like the whole world was smiling.
Today has been such a blessed day.

thanks Olmsted.

Yesterday we had great weather. Kevin and I decided to start our day in lovely Williamsville for breakfast. After waiting for over a half an hour for a table at this crepe restaurant we decided to give up and go with bagels instead. After that I dropped him off at work and made my way towards Delaware Park. My first stop was the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. I thought it would be a great activity for my Sunday afternoon but when I got there I changed my plans. It turns out there was a free jazz concert on the lawn. I wound up meeting these two older ladies and I joined them to listen to the music. After the show, I made my way to the path along the parks lake. Like New York City's Central Park, the park was designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted. The place makes me feel like I am wandering a European estate in the 1800's. I could just sit under the massive weeping willows all day. I ate my lunch under the trees, played my ukulele for a bit and then tried to play frisbee for a minute until I remembered how bad I am at frisbee. Overall, it was the perfect lazy Sunday.

A summer's day in Buffalo.

Saturday mornings is a day for farmers markets. The Elmwod-Bidwell market is great as there are always vendors selling meats and dairy. It's also a great place to just relax and people watch. I start my morning at Aroma Cafe and make my way towards the crowds. Through the park there are people playing music, walking dogs and playing lawn games. It is a great place to really feel the spirit of the city.
Still, sometimes I go to the University Community farmers market instead. Located in the University Heights, within the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, it shows another side to the city. Though a struggling community, there are hundreds, if not thousands of citizens working to revitalize the area. This farmers market brings farm fresh and healthy foods to people who normally do not have access to such options. The Buffalo Promise Neighborhood is the organizing force behind many of the positive initiatives seen within the community. This area shows the epitome of Buffalo's story: going from a dismal rust belt city toward a renaissance of productive culture and community.
A summer Saturday in Buffalo often offers street festivals. Last week I attended the Taste of Buffalo, credited as the largest 2 day food festival in the United States. It was pretty massive. I was there for hours walking around and still didn't see every street of vendors at the event. A couple of weeks before that was the Allentown Art Festival. This event was a lot of fun because even if you're not usually an art junkie there are still so many things to see, do and taste. I bought this small glass terrarium from an artist who blows the glass himself. Inside are two succulents and a small cactus. It definitely helps to brighten up my apartment and adds a little character too.
This weekend is a personal favorite as it reminds me a bit of my home on Long Island: The Galbani Italian Festival. This festival features music stages, carnival games and rides and of course... FOOD! Last night I went and enjoyed a loaded plate of fried mushrooms and cauliflower complete with warm marinara sauce. It was so so delicious. I also made sure to grab an Italian ice on my way out. Lucky for me, the festival will go until Sunday so I have another two chances to stop by and taste some cannoli's, zeppole's and of course pizza. I am looking  forward to gaining a pound or two over the next 48 hours.

2 weeks and counting.

I leave Buffalo in approximately two weeks. It's strange to think that I have spent the majority of my adult life in this city and now I am getting ready to leave it all behind. The city has treated me well. Here, I graduated with my degree from the University at Buffalo in May 2013. Since then I have been working with 8th graders as a student advocate, tutor and teachers assistant. I have made countless connections to many good people. I have eaten lots of chicken wings and have visited Niagara Falls more times then I can count. It was the first place I came after I moved out of my parents house and went independently out into the world. I guess I never knew it until recently but I believe I am a Buffalo girl now. A little piece of my heart will always resign here.

At the end of those two weeks I will be getting on a plane and flying to my sister in North Carolina. She lives there on the Marine base with her husband and they are expecting their first child a little more than a month from now. I am so happy for them and also I am so excited to be an aunt! I'll be there with my sis before the baby comes. I hope to help her set up the baby room and do her general bidding while she is massively rotund. I really look forward to hanging out with her and her hubby for a bit. After that, I head to the site of my new job. I found out last week that I have been hired for a seasonal employment position as an environmental educator for a camp in Alabama. I am just so excited to be heading on this amazing adventure. I know this will be a big transition in my life but it is one that I have been waiting for, for some time now. Buffalo is a very homely city but to be honest I am ready to leave the nest. I pray that in the coming months I find happiness along this new path that life is leading me on.