No Longer a Buffalo Blogger...



Downtown PHX in the sunset



It’s been over four months. I had all but abandoned this thing. But I’m not without excuse: this past summer my life changed dramatically.

I left Buffalo with all its grey skies, cold weather, and chicken wings behind. It was a leap of faith: I packed my little Subaru Impreza to bursting and drove it across the country. My new home is Phoenix, Arizona. I came out here for an opportunity to advance my career with Phoenix’s hometown airline US Airways (formerly America West Airlines).

That’s right; after nearly three years of selling shoes and putting up with obnoxious customers, I left my job at Kohl’s. My mom and dad met while working for Allegheny Airlines (eventually became USAir and now US Airways). My uncle was a pilot for the same. So I guess a little jet fuel was always in my veins, and that’s why I’m carrying on the family tradition at US Airways.

It’s been a phenomenal opportunity to apply my background in communications in an industry that has always fascinated me. I work at InFlight Services. In any given day it’s kind of like working at a newspaper: I write articles, do graphic design, distribute crew memos, take photos, and answer Dear Abbys (it’s actually called “Ask InFlight” and is an email forum where flight attendants write in to ask questions, or more commonly, gripe about what went wrong on their last flight).

And as for Phoenix? It’s a great place to live. There’s no such thing as a rain date here. A rare day of cloud cover is actually a welcome change of scenery. If you’re an outdoors enthusiast (as I am), Arizona has no shortage of beautiful mountains, parks, and scenery that varies from desert valleys to mountain highland. Compared to Buffalo, the cost of living is a lot lower. Case in point: even with a 2% food tax (something NY doesn’t charge on groceries), groceries are still a lot cheaper here. Gasoline is much cheaper (comparatively speaking; there’s no such thing as cheap gas anymore).

So basically it costs less to live in a far nicer place. Makes sense to me. This was a move that was a matter of when, not if. I’m just glad that US Airways provided me the initial opportunity to begin my westward expansion. In the meantime, if I’m going to keep this little hole in cyberspace up, what should I rename it? Buffalo Bloggins isn’t going to work anymore…

Shedding Some Light on the Season...

I know we’re getting late in the season for this post, but I’d still like to share my thoughts on a couple Christmas lighting spectaculars causing brownouts all around Western New York.  I had been trying to decide:  Olmstead Lights Winter Nights in Delaware Park or Hamburg Festival of Lights at the Fairgrounds?  I ended up visiting both. 

Since the internet was little help in finding pre-visit reviews and tips—and neither venue has a very useful website—I figured I’d make a small but valiant attempt to correct this problem.  Both shows run into January, so even though Christmas is three days away, there’s still plenty of time to go light peeping.

Olmstead Lights Winter Nights



When the LEDs fade to blue, a frosty mood is cast over Delaware Park


Designed by a Buffalo State College professor of theater, this light show is the first to grace Delaware Park in eight years, reports the Buffalo News.  To visit, park at the Buffalo Zoo entrance to Delaware Park.  This simple tip is important; I got discombobulated here (not being a regular on Buffalo’s north side) and ended up at the Albright Knox Art Gallery.  Those more familiar with the city, go ahead and laugh at me. 

This show is pedestrians only, and entry is at the admission booth directly across the street from zoo parking.  While $20 per carload is the advertised rate, it’s also $5 per head—whatever's cheapest.  Make sure to bundle up warmly, as most of this is outdoors.  Approximately 15 acres of parkland are lit up by high-mounted, constantly changing LED lamps.  Their different hues, reflected off the snow, make for an intriguing and dynamic winter scene.  Trees and fences flank the walking path and are decked out in colorful lights while Christmas music sets the mood over an outdoor sound system. 

When you’ve had enough cold, head in to Parkside Lodge and warm up by the fireplace or take in live Christmas caroling.  The Lunchbox Café is also open serving refreshments and light meals.  A menu is available here. 

Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable way to get in the Christmas spirit, but with one caveat.  I’m a suburban boy, and driving nearly 30 miles from East Aurora for this is definitely not worth the time.  If you’re in the area, however, the $5 is well spent, and hey, it goes toward a good cause—supporting Buffalo’s city parks. 

Olmstead Lights runs Wednesday through Sunday each week until January 16, 2011.  It’s closed Christmas and New Years—both eve and the holidays.  More details at Olmstead Park’s website.

Hamburg Festival of Lights

Reflections—The Hamburg Festival of Lights

The defining exhibit here is the nearly two-mile long drive through an animated and illuminated winter wonderland.  The website claims there are over 200 light exhibits ranging from a tunnel of lights to two-dimensional figurines.  To set the mood, Christmas music and trivia are broadcast via your car’s stereo (a sign tells you what FM frequency to tune in to).  The drive lasts for about 10 – 15 minutes depending on how often you stop, but it’s definitely worth seeing.  I especially liked Bills and Sabres logos all made up in Christmas lights.  I wish there had been more hometown displays in this vein. 

While the light show is the crown jewel, once it’s passed there’s still plenty more to do.  A North Pole village showcases miniature storefronts, each with a different window scene and an actual pole of ice in the center of the village.  Brick walkways, nostalgic street lights, and decorations everywhere let you know it’s definitely Christmas. 

There’s also a reindeer barn complete with several reindeer and interesting facts about them.  Winterific is an indoor light show set to Christmas music.  I’ll admit, it sounded hokey on the website, but was actually well done.  It doesn’t last long, but is a good place warm up for a few minutes. 

Since this is an event geared toward families with kids, there’s also a midway with carnival rides (indoors), a Christmas magic show, and visits with Santa.  As you might imagine, I stayed far away from all these. 

The Hamburg Light Show is much better marked and easier to find than Olmstead Lights.  Enter at the Fairgrounds main gate on South Park Avenue where signs direct you to the admission checkpoint.  Don’t pay $18 per carload; coupons for $3 off are everywhere including local Pizza Hut and Wendy’s restaurants and Delta Sonic car washes. 

This one only runs until January 1, 2011 and is closed Christmas eve and day, so time is running out.  It’s open every night from 5:30pm – 9:30pm and the other attractions stay open until 10.  Since it’s a family event, mom and dad can have fun and support New York State their child’s education at the Hamburg Casino, conveniently located at the entrance/exit.  There’s also wine tastings from local Lake Erie wineries. 

Overall, I’d say this one, while pricey, was worth the money and a far more enjoyable show than Olmstead Lights.  Being in the south towns might have helped sway my opinion a bit too.  Check out more pictures in my Flickr gallery below:   

A Major Addition to the Town of Aurora Parks System

Hikers, bird watchers, autumn leaf peepers, and nature lovers alike have a major new place to check out in East Aurora. At around 40 acres of largely untouched marshland, Major’s Park is the latest addition to the Town of Aurora’s already-impressive recreation spots.

Intrigued by my discoveries here, I wanted to learn more about the park, its history, and its surroundings.  It turns out a man by the last name Majors donated parts and sold other parts of a large parcel of land to the town.  His original intent was to develop the land into houses, but it looks like now it will remain greenspace.  (Didn't Wal Mart try to turn this same parcel into a big-box a few years ago?  They actually planned a park behind the store as I recall...) 

I first discovered the park late this summer, and have enjoyed exploring its boardwalk area, swampland, and various trails. Since that initial visit, the parking area has been expanded, and a proper sign was added at the NY-16 entrance, proving that Major’s is still being improved.

In fact, the park is actually in a soft-open phase. Peggy Cooke of Town of Aurora Recreation explains, “It is not ‘officially’ open. We are planning to do so this fall, but residents are welcome in the park.”

My first visit to Major’s was spent mainly exploring the boardwalk area. The elevated Trex walkway makes exploring a much less mucky affair. The boardwalk circuit is relatively short, but easily accessible to people with disabilities, and it provides unprecedented views of wildflowers, marshland, and various wildlife that call the surrounding woods home.

After becoming bored with the ‘walk, I proceeded to explore some of the trails that veer off from the main path. One trail led to a grassy opening along the banks of Cazenovia Creek. Benches and a picnic table dot the landscape and make this little forest oasis an ideal place for a picnic lunch. The park benches and table look particularly worn, but, “…only [appear] aged because it came from another park,” says Cooke.

Perhaps most intriguing about this little alcove is what lies directly east in the underbrush. Laid to rest in this woodsy area is a magnificent old iron trestle, now collapsed and partially submerged in the lazy waters of Cazenovia. Walking around, I studied the trestle in great detail, searching for a name, a foundry marking—anything that might shed a little light on why this piece of iron was rusting away in these otherwise undeveloped surrounds.

Again Mrs. Cooke was helpful by explaining, “The old iron trestle was purchased by a prior owner—he bought a used bridge from Buffalo and had it hauled out here and placed across the creek so he could get to the apple orchard.”

Turn around and head northwest on the same trail, and you can enjoy a peaceful nature hike along this incredibly placid and murky branch of Cazenovia Creek. I say this because Cazenovia is usually a turgid creek, especially during a rain or snowmelt. If I had the gear, I’d love to try kayaking along this branch of the Caz.

I followed the aforementioned trail to its end at a grassy meadow. I couldn’t help but notice civilization was never far away—homes are perched right above the creek bed. A climb up a steep embankment, well fettered with gnarled tree roots for handholds, and behold, nature had given way to 1960s-era bungalows on a quaint cul-del-sac. I was in the Geneva Road subdivision of East Aurora.

VISIT IT

Major’s Park is easily accessible from the surrounding areas. Exit NY-400 at NY-16 (Olean Rd.) and head north toward East Aurora. Major’s Park is clearly marked on the left side of the road behind Old Tyme Chet’s hot dog and ice cream stand. Another entrance, albeit with minimal parking, is accessible near the Community Pool park on South St.

While not a huge preserve by any means, Major’s is big enough to make an afternoon outing of it. You can hike, kayak, bird watch, or grab a picnic lunch from Chet’s. Or you can do what I did:  take a camera along. You never know what kind of wildlife or scenery might surprise you at Major’s Park. Speaking of photos, be sure to check out the Flickr gallery below for some shots of my major discoveries:




Check it out in full screen too.  Be sure to select "Show Info" for photo captions!

Bitterness Brewing at Main & South Grove

The few times I’ve been in a Teavana store, I have to admit I liked the place. For those who don’t know, Teavana is a chain of gourmet tea shops. Often located in malls (Galleria is the closest near Buffalo), Teavana sells a variety of unique, imported, and exotic leafy concoctions just waiting to be steeped in boiling water.

In addition to loose leaf teas, stores also have a cart of free samples parked out front and plenty of expensive pots and other steeping equipment for serious steepers of tea.

Unfortunately, I visit Galleria maybe once or twice a year at the most. Buffalo’s den of all things material is just too crowded, crazy, and far away for me to be a regular. Suffice to say, I don’t frequent Teavana.

Imagine my interest when I heard that an exotic tea shop is looking at setting up in East Aurora. Right on the edge of the Roycroft Campus, Roycroft Tea Co. seeks to sell exotic brews in the little yellow raised ranch that once housed the chamber of commerce. Entrepreneurs Michael and Maryna Caputo envision a second-story teahouse with administrative and fulfillment offices in the downstairs for their Web-based tea sales business. According to the report first seen in Sunday’s Buffalo News, the shop would also sell a mix of merchandise including tea accessories and local baked goods.

I like the idea. It’s fitting in a village like East Aurora to have an artsy place like a gourmet tea shop. Unfortunately, this venture is not without controversy.  For once it’s not the town impeding progress for the sake of preserving the historic feel. Those at the adjacent Roycroft Campus on South Grove St. feel the name is trademark infringement. Roycroft is not a name that’s just up for grabs they say. I can certainly see their point; Roycroft has come to define more than just an era of furniture and art making. It was a movement and today it’s an inn, restaurant, and arts community.

Caputo says he’s ready for battle royale in the courts. He’s also an experienced public relations practitioner and is currently working with “Mad as Hell” Carl Paladino’s campaign to overtake Albany. Obviously the guy is a marketing guru, and playing on the Roycroft namesake is great marketing in East Aurora.

The teahouse (whatever it’s name may end up being) has a target opening set for late May. It’ll be interesting to see what transpires with this over the next month. There’s already a placeholder website set up at roycrofttea.com. It’s furnished in the arts-and-crafts typeface that seems to decorate many businesses’ signs in this town. (Perhaps the Roycroft folk should’ve licensed that font long ago—they’d be wealthy off the royalties!)

Naming issues aside, I hope the business goes forth. If Teavana can survive in the malls, there’s no reason why a business like this can’t survive in artsy East Aurora. The village desperately needs something to fill the glut of vacant retail space. Plus, it'd just be urbane to sample fine exotic teas.

ROYCROFT GROWING—At the corner of S. Grove & Main a serene park has taken shape. It reflects the vision of the original Roycrofters and replaces an asbestos-laden A-frame that previously occupied the site. Will a teahouse also become part of the near-Roycroft landscape?