Summer vacation may be officially over as syllabus week kicks off, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to bundle up and brace for winter yet. Outside of UB lies the City of Buffalo, a bustling place filled with outdoor events like Canalside concerts and kayak tours.
It’s an easy drive, but those without a car can take the metro by South Campus out to the city. This student-budget friendly summertime entertainment won’t last much longer, so make sure to explore around the town.
Food and music
This Wednesday, the Buffalo History Museum, located at One Museum Court near Elmwood Avenue, will host the final Food Truck Rodeo of the summer from 5-8 p.m. Trucks present will include Frank Gourmet Hot Dogs, House of Munch and The Great Foodini. The event will also feature live music from Stoneflower, a classic rock band, courtesy of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.
Fifteen food trucks full of delicious and fresh options, a picnic area and live music – the combination may just provide you one last classic summer feast before school really picks up.
A waterfront view
Elevator Alley Kayak Tours gives participants a unique view of the grain elevators that line the riversides of downtown Buffalo.
The tour begins at Mutual Riverfront Park at 41 Hamburg Street, where a history of the many grain elevators and silos in Buffalo is presented to give some background to the trip. It takes participants from Mutual Riverfront Park to Canalside and back. While the tour does allow for some solid photo opportunities, participants are warned that cameras may get wet.
The tour only costs $30 with your student ID – not bad for a scenic, historical ride. There are only two more days to take advantage of this tour – this Wednesday and Saturday. Reservations are required in advance.
Two days of chicken wings
If you don’t like wings, you’re probably in the wrong city.
The National Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival kicks off Saturday, Sept. 5 at Coca Cola Field in downtown Buffalo. For two days, wing lovers from around the world come together to celebrate Buffalo’s most popular export – the Buffalo wing.
The festival will feature the musical stylings of The Heavenly Chillbillies, a group that mixes jazz, country and rock.
National Buffalo Wing Festival has something for wing lovers of all ages. Competitions such as the “Amateur Creative Sauce-Off,” “Bobbing for Wings,” and “Miss Buffalo Wing Pageant,” are just a few activities in which attendees can participate.
The festival runs from 12-9 p.m. on Saturday and wraps up Sunday from 12-7 p.m. Tickets are $5 per day and all food is paid for through food tickets, which can be purchased at Coca Cola Field during the festival.
Music by the river
Outdoor concerts are a summer luxury. Cool nights roll in, providing the perfect atmosphere for some good music out on the fields by the river.
Buffalo River Fest Park has featured Wednesday night concerts for free all summer, including local bands Five to One and Wide Right.
The Valley Community Association’s final concert of the series is from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday and features Crash Cadillac, a cover band made up of Western New York locals who play just about everything from country to disco, for the night’s entertainment. Admission is free, so bring a few chairs and blankets and enjoy the last free concert of the summer.
Elmwood food tours
Instead of picking one restaurant, why not just sample many?
Buffalo Bites Food Tours take place in Elmwood Village and provides food tastings from restaurants around downtown Buffalo, ranging from artisan chocolate to the classic Buffalo wing. Luckily, this opportunity lasts longer than the others – the food tour runs Thursday through Sunday until December.
The tour kicks off each day at 11:30 a.m. near Elmwood and Cleveland Avenues. Participants will be able to taste food from seven different restaurants, and some establishments include drinks. The tour is more than enough to satisfy lunch-time hunger and provides an eclectic experience for those looking for a taste of Buffalo.
Dan McKeon is the features and can be reached at dan.mckeon@ubspectrum.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McKeonSpectrum.
Photo: Courtesy of UB Blueprint
