Facility Review - the Outer Harbor Trails

With summer coming, we're going to have lots of evenings coming up when it is just way too beautiful out to workout inside or at the gym. Those are nights when it's nice to just grab your bike, your skates, or you dog and head down by the lake.

On the evening in question, I grabbed my roller skates, my bike, and my boyfriend's daughter and headed to the parking area at Gallagher Beach in Lackawanna/Buffalo. Although this beach is not great for swimming yet, the city has definitely put some work into the area, with relatively-new paved walking and biking trails, green areas, a nice pier, and playground equipment a little ways down the path. 

This walking/biking trail is actually pretty nice, even on roller skates, although there are a few areas where the materials that they used for the trail are kind of questionable...

Normal pavement - yes, this is good for skates!

Wood plank - ok, it looks good, but it is NOT great for skating on. Very loud, hard on the knees.

...Some kind of granite tile with tons of gaps?? Why???

All told, a walk on this 3mi trail should take you about an hour (with normal walking pace being about... wait for it... 3 miles an hour). So if you park your car down by Gallagher beach, walk down to the Coast Guard Station and the lighthouse, and then walk back to your car, plan for about 2hrs (plus time for selfies by the water, of course).

The area down by the water is scenic and beautiful - sail boats and motor boats cruise by in the shipping channel, you have a perfect view of the lighthouse, and a partial view of the USS Little Rock docked at the Naval and Military Park. 

View of the city and the USS Little Rock

View of the point and the lighthouse

I would definitely recommend this ride - it's a great view of the waterfront in Buffalo, very bike-friendly and walking/dog-walking-friendly (be careful on skates), and it's the perfect trail length for an evening stroll. 

Bonus - I went before Memorial Day, but as of 5/30 the Queen City Bike Ferry will be open. At that point, the Coast Guard Path won't be the end of the road - for $1 you can cross the channel (with or without a bike) and head to Canalside in Buffalo - awesome!!

And, of course, on your way back to the car, you can stop at the new restaurant that took over the former Dug's Dive - the brand new Charlie's Boatyard (owned by the owner of Brick Oven Bistro and The Mess Hall). With a full bar, restaurant, and Nick Charlap's ice cream, it's sure to please. (we had clam chowder and sweet potato fries - pretty good!)

Enjoying an Oberon Ale at Charlie's - a very bright tasting, cloudy, summery beer!

All in all, I definitely would recommend heading out to the walking trails by the lake for a nice night out with the family or your best friend :)

What's going on - week of 5/26-6/1

Each week I will be publishing 2 posts - Mondays will be articles and reviews. Thursdays will be a "What's Going On" feature, in which I highlight upcoming events and ticket deadlines.

Congratulations! You made it to the long weekend! Memorial day weekend is a great time to get active - there is always a lot of "beginning of summer" events going on (however, please do not forget to thank those in the armed forces, and to send positive energy/say a prayer/light a candle/do whatever you do for those that were killed in action - without their sacrifice, there are a lot of freedoms that we would no longer be able to enjoy).

Here's some of what's coming up this week:

5/26 - Tonight (Thursday) at 6:30 is a FREE Sports and Adventure Nutrition Class at Survival of the Gear on Niagara Falls Blvd. "Want to go farther, faster, or more extreme in your outdoor adventures? Learn how to fuel your body for optimal performance, enjoyment, and safety."

5/27 - Tomorrow night (Friday) at 6PM is Yoga in Bidwell Park with Yogis In Service - this volunteer organization will be collecting donations at this event, and the proceeds will go toward bringing movement classes to those who don't currently have access to them. Live music and a yoga class from 6:30 until 7:30, with the party continuing at Mr. Goodbar afterwards. A $5, $10, or $20 donation is recommended (and a $5 donation at the door at Goodbar buys your first drink).

5/28 - Saturday, all day (starting at 8AM), check out the Summer Kickoff Sweat Sesh with Love in Motion Yoga. Try out Yoga flow, cardio, PiYo, bootcamp, barre, HIIT, power yoga, and finally a cool down with Vinyasa yoga - see their facebook event for session times!

5/28 & 5/29 - This Saturday and Sunday, check out some of the options that Explore Buffalo has available to stay active, and see parts of our city in a brand new way - all through the weekend they will have Silo City tours (both from the ground, and from the silos themselves), kayak tours or elevator alley, and walking tours of Hamlin Park and East Aurora. Please see their website for ticket information and recommendations. These are ticketed events with limited spots, so it is recommended to book ahead (for kayak tours, a rental kayak and a lesson on the basics will be provided).

Photo from Explore Buffalo's  Facebook page

5/30 - MEMORIAL DAY - please remember to say a quiet "thank you" to those that died for our county.

• Check out this link to find a memorial day parade near you. 
• Slow Roll Buffalo will be holding a bike event on Monday at 5:30PM. These are every Monday, and kick off from a different spot each week - this week, the roll starts at the Naval/Military Park in downtown Buffalo. This event is FREE. 
• Buffalo Hula Hoop Group will be holding a Memorial Monday Night Hoop Jam at 6PM. Ever want to check out hoop dancing? This event is for you! They will be gathering across from the backside of the Albright Knox art gallery near the Lincoln Statue. This event is free and open to the public. 
• Also meeting in the same area (near the Lincoln Statue) will be Acro Yoga Buffalo for their Memorial Day Acrojam, starting at 6:30. Come to test your balance, strength, and teamwork!

6/1 - June comes with the beginning of activities at Canalside! Wednesday night has the first FREE classes with Garage ROCKS at 6PM, and PiYO at 7PM. A lack of money is no longer an excuse - get out there and get active!

This week is supposed to be beautiful, and warm, so get outside and get moving!

Photo taken by Patty's People Pictures

Taken last year at Canalside

Eating Healthy to Stay Active part 1 - grocery shopping

Staying active is essential, and with so many different ways to do it locally, there's no reason for it to be a boring chore. However, when it comes to all-around health, "working out" is only half of the equation.

In order to stay at (or get to) your peak physical health, and in order to stay moving, you need to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Every day our facebook feeds are inundated with posts about miracle foods, "amazing" diets ("Watch what this woman eats for 3 weeks - you won't BELIEVE the results!!!"), and folks like Dr. Oz and David Wolfe telling us what new toxin we have been unknowingly ingesting.  All of this may seem daunting - information overload - but really, it comes down to 2 things:
1. What works for you? What healthy foods do you enjoy? If eating healthy is a chore and makes you miserable, you'll never stick with it.
2. Moderation - someone probably told you at some point that there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing." This goes for pretty much anything - too much of anything is not good for you (for example, you cannot have a diet consisting entirely of bacon. As tasty as that would be - and as low carb - it definitely would not be healthy).

Whether you're palio, vegan, low-carb, pescatarian, or any combination thereof, Buffalo and WNY has tons of amazing places where you can get healthy food to prepare for your meals!  And if you're concerned with sustainability and keeping your eating habits "green", this is the perfect time of year to hit a farmers market for some great locally-sourced products (the less we have to truck things in from out of town, the smaller our carbon footprint is!).

Photo from The buffalonews.com 

Taken by Charles Lewis

In Buffalo:

• Broadway Market - A perennial favorite, this Buffalo staple is open year round - Monday thru Saturday from 8AM until 5. Known for their holiday fare around Easter and Christmas, they have a diverse selection of local products in all seasons. They also have the benefit of being in-doors. 
• Clinton-Bailey Farmers Market - this market is open from May until the end of October, so you'll be able to get everything from tulips to pumpkins! Their hours are 7AM until 6PM (but they open early on Saturdays at 6AM). Not only do they have standard fare with fruits and veggies, they also have jams, baked goods, maple syrups, plants, a butcher, and baked goods. 
• Downtown Country Market - open as of May 12th, you can visit this market on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10AM until 2:30 (great for those that work downtown). They have all kinds of vendors with a wide variety of products including lip balms, cards, art, pierogis, fudge, dog treats, and candles, along with the standard farmer's market fare. 
• Elmwood-Bidwell Farmers Market - this is a great option for weekenders, open from 8AM until 1PM on Saturdays. They have over 30 vendors, and frequently have special events like live musical performances and wine tasting. 
• Kenmore Farmers Market - starting June 18th, this market will be open on Saturdays from 8AM until 12:30. Keep an eye on their link for more information as we get closer to their opening. 
• North Buffalo Farmers Market - Open Thursdays from 3pm until 7pm, this is a perfect after-work option to get some shopping done (starting on June 2nd). This market, in addition to fresh fruits and veggies, will be a regular stop for OG Wood Fire Cuisine's food truck for delicious fresh-made pizza. 
• South Buffalo Farmers Market - held at Caz Casino in Caz Park in South Buffalo, this market operates on Sundays from 9AM until 1PM (starting June 5th). Their vendors include crafters, baked goods, donuts, dog goodies, honey, clothing, and coffee, among other things. 

Photo from williamsvillefarmersmarket.com

Northtowns:

• Clarence Hollow - starting June 4th with their full market, they will be open from 8AM until 1PM on Saturday mornings. Right now, however, in May they will have vendors offering hanging baskets, vegetable plants, and other specialty garden items. 
• Williamsville - Open Saturdays from 8AM until 1PM, this market has moved to Island Park. Need some warm Alpaca-wool socks? You're in luck - one of their vendors is Alpaca Play Pen, and these are their specialty!

Southtowns:

• Bipperts Farm Market - based in Elma, this market is open daily (M- 12:30 until 6, T-F - 10 until 6, Sa - 10 until 5, and Su - 12:30 until 5). Check them out for fresh flowers, honey, syrup, various meats, baked goods and, of course, local fruits and veggies.
• Blasdell Farmers Market - With a new location right newar Ilio DiPaolo's, this market is open Wednesdays from 9AM until 2PM (a great lunch-time stop for those that work in the Southtowns). 
• Hamburg Farmers Market - Open Saturdays from 7:30AM until 1PM. 

Niagara County:

• North Tonawanda City Market - Open year round, this market is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 7AM until 11PM. A historic market, this location has been open for 108 years. Everything from plants to eggs to dairy is available here. 
• Niagara Falls City Market - Also open year round, you can visit them on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9AM until 5PM. They have no online presence, but they are physically located at 18th St and Pine Ave in Niagara Falls. 

What are you waiting for? Get out there and eat!

Facility review - Buffalo Riverworks

Facility Name - Buffalo Riverworks
Activities available -
Summer

• Pickleball 
• Roller Skating on Friday nights (year round)
• Jiu Jitsu and mma (year round)
• On the canal - paddleboarding, kayaking, and waterbikes between the grain silos with room to dock and walk up to Riverworks (see Explore Buffalo's facebook page for tour information, and see Longboards Paddle Co, who will be setting up shop at Riverworks this summer, for equipment rental information). 

Winter

• open skate
• curling
• adult and youth hockey leagues, as well as "skate and shoot" events
• Fitness events - Don't Miss Mondays with Longboards Paddle Co., who brings in instructors from around the area to teach various fitness classes on Monday nights.

Spectator events - 

• Roller Derby with the Queen City Roller Girls, Pond hockey, adaptive sled hockey special events (just generally lots of hockey), pro wrestling, mma and boxing events, and many other things (including music and cultural festivals)! 

What it costs - price varies based on event and sport.
Level of difficulty - Varies - everything from complete beginner to professional athletes!

Photos of the indoor bar (above) and outdoor seating (below)

Photos from local publication Step Out Buffalo

Information about Riverworks - Developed by the same group that owns Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, the Pan-American Bar and Brawler’s Deli, Riverworks is a 60,000 sq ft, 5000 person capacity facility. Indoors, there are four bars, a full service restaurant, concessions, a ticket office, a stage where they hold live music, and a second floor where banquets are held (with its own bar). Large garage doors behind the main bar open to the outdoors during nice weather, and provide a beautiful view of the river during all seasons. Outdoors, there is a large patio area where they hold live music events during the summer, and several levels of terraced seating space that overlooks the river (my favorite place to hang out with a beer in the summer). 

Their food selection is more than just bar fare - their burgers and salads are pretty decent, but my favorite thing to order is the pizza - it's amazing. They stretch their own dough and use really tasty ingredients to create a primo pie. 

Riverworks Beef on Weck dip

Photo from Step Out Buffalo

The facility itself also houses a full-size flat roller derby track utilized by the Queen City Roller Girls (with a season stretching from January until June), a martial arts studio, and 2 full-size outdoor hockey rinks (as well as 5 locker rooms). Also frequently seen inside the main area are wrestling and boxing rings that they set up for practices and special events. 

Some of the things that you may see at Riverworks - sports events, music festivals, cultural activities, trade shows, conferences, art shows, and everything else under the sun. Want to get moving yourself rather than spectating? Strap on a pair of rental skates and hit the rink (either roller, or ice depending on the season). Or, head out to the ice rinks in your sneakers to try your hand at Curling or Pickleball (again, dependent on what time of year you are there). There is both recreational and league play for both of these sports - no prior experience required.

And some shameless self promotion - Queen City Roller Girls has 3 games left this season if you want to check it out! TOMORROW (Saturday 6/21) is the playoffs - come watch the Devil Dollies take on the Suicidal Saucies, and see who will advance to the Championships!  Saturday 5/28 start your Memorial Day Weekend off right with the travel team, the Lake Effect Furies - cheer them on as they battle it out versus the Green Mountain Roller Girls at 1:30PM. And our final home game of the season is Championships - 7PM on Friday, 6/10. This is a game that you do NOT want to miss! Get your tickets here!

Photo by the Amazing Glenn Murray

Suicidal Saucies vs Devil Dollies

Verdict- This creative re-purposing of the of the area that was the GLF grain mill operation really brings people together for many amazing things here on the waterfront in Buffalo. Bringing in both athletic and cultural events, this facility has something for everyone, and is a great way to Stay Active in Buffalo!

Buffalo Riverworks from across the river

Photo by Arthur Kogutowski

More local events coming up

With no limit to the amazing ways to keep moving while living in Buffalo NY, I'll be continuing to add more to the calendar that's live on the main page of the blog!

Here's some more coming up:

5/19 - Survival of the Gear will be hosting a Disc Golf 101 class at 6:30PM. FREE event at Ellicott Creek Park in Buffalo NY - meet at the first hole. (family friendly - all ages welcome)

5/22 - Dance Days of Buffalo will be hosting a flash mob soon (remember those from like 2012?) at a secret location in Buffalo. They'll have music from a local artist - Sunday is a practice to learn the moves at Wasteland Studios in Buffalo. See their facebook event for more information.

5/26 - Survival of the Gear is hosting a Nutrition Workshop for adventurers and sports enthusiasts. This FREE event will be held at their shop in Amherst at 6:30PM, and will talk about the benefits and science behind proper sports nutrition (samples will be provided).

5/26 - The Outer Harbor in Buffalo will open for business! See their flyer for more events and information! (keep an eye out this summer for the Buffalo Bubble Run on 7/2, the Budding Tree Yoga Festival on 7/10, and Kickstock - a kickball tournament - on 8/6)

Outer Harbor Events Flyer

5/27 - Join Yogis In Service for Yoga in Bidwell Park. This is a donation-based event (bring $5, $10, or $20) with proceeds benefiting the Yogis in Service group (who bring movement classes to kids). Live music will start at 6:30, and there will be a party for those 21 and over after the event at Mr Goodbar (a $5 or greater donation will get you your first drink for free!)

5/30 - Interested in acroyoga? Check out the Memorial Day AcroJam in Delaware Park at the Rose garden! They'll be meeting by the statue of Lincoln around 6:30pm.

6/4 - Kids driving  you crazy? Let them run a little wild at the Annual Kids Run event (sponsored by Wegmans and Independent Health) at 9AM in Delaware Park. There will be a mini dash for the smaller kids (2-5) and a 1.8 mile run/walk that is open to all ages. And this event is FREE!

Want to learn to hula hoop? The next two events are for you -

5/30 - join jugglers, drummer, and acroyogis for some Buffalo Hula Hoop Group fun! This FREE event starts at 6pm at the Delaware Park Rose Garden - bring a hoop if you have one (loaners are usually somewhat limited at hoop events).

Tuesdays - Haven't had your fill of hoop dance? Check out FREE Intro to Hoop Dance classes with Shadow Hoops at 7pm every Tuesday at Canalside starting June 7th!

Photo taken by Kassie Tamulski and posted to the Buffalo Hoop Group facebook page

Also Tuesdays - Check out Blitz Body at Canalside, another part of their FREE fitness series occurring every week during the summer.This is a high intensity workout run by Jada Blitz Training.

Wednesdays - More awesome fitness at Canalside - check out PiYo (pilates/yoga) every Wednesday starting June 1st at 7pm! This is a high intensity fitness course held on the Pierce Lawn from 7 until 8PM, hosted by Jada Blitz training.

2nd Saturdays - The Gypsy Parlor holds a Salsa dance lesson every second Saturday of the month at 9PM with Fanny and Calvin - the next will be in June, so brush off those dancing shoes and get those hips moving! Follow the Gypsy Parlor's events for updates on these lessons.

Friday nights - Every Friday night during the summer (starting June 3rd), AcroYoga of Buffalo will be hosting Acroyoga classes at Canalside (for FREE). Brign a buddy (note: no partner is required) and head into Buffalo to learn to "fly".

Photo from AcroYoga Buffalo; taken by the excellent Glenn Murray

No excuses - get out there and get active!

Bring it back to life!

Hello there!

2 years ago I had the idea to pull together all of the ways to stay active in WNY in one blog, and bring that information to the masses. I got very excited, posted one blog post, and then promptly found a new sport and forgot the whole thing (oops!). 

I am proud to say that, partially due to doing research for that blog, I became deeply entrenched with the Queen City Roller Girls, and now belong to two teams in the league (and head up the street team). 

Anyways...

I would love to bring this back for the summer time - to find all kinds of events that will help people to be active and achieve their fitness goals in new and fun ways (and to explore WNY in new ways as well). 

So here are some local events:

5/20 - Fit Like a Gladiator will be holding some FREE outdoor BLT (butt, legs, and thighs) classes. This first one will be held in Margaret Louise Park in Buffalo on Friday.

5/21 - Power Yoga Buffalo will be hosting a complementary yoga class at the new Five Hundred Seneca building this Saturday at 11AM. Stick around after for a tour of the building, margaritas, and guacamole!

5/21 - One Yoga is hosting Yoga and Hiking at Artpark this Saturday. This event is sold out but it's something that I'll be watching for reoccurring events in the future. 

5/22 - Yoga Parkside is hosting another Yoga and Hiking event the next day - Sunday, 5/22. This event is in Hunters Creek County Park (about 20 min from downtown Buffalo). Again, sold out (lesson - these events tend to sell out about 3 weeks ahead, so book them quickly if you're interested), but we'll be keeping an eye out for more events like this one.

5/22 - Bhakti, Beats and Brews with FLOAT Yoga is going down at Resurgence Brewing Co at 11AM. Tickets are $15 and everyone (21 and older) gets a free sample of beer of their choice [after the class ;) ]. At time of publication (9:30 Monday morning) there are still tickets available, so get them while you can! I have heard from friends that these events are really fun. 

5/22 - Also on Sunday, there is an event for the kiddos (10:30AM) - Garage Fitness Studio will be hosting a Kids Fitness Hour for $5/child. All proceeds are assisting Troop 30917 who is purchasing items for We Rock the Spectrum. 

5/24 - Fit Like a Gladiator will be hosting a bootcamp in Margaret Louise Park in Buffalo at 7PM next Tuesday. This class is on $5, but if you bring a friend it's only $4 each :)

6/1 - Rolling into June, Garage Fitness Studio is hosting a Rock Out fitness class at Canalside for FREE (every Wednesday at 6PM throughout the summer). This is a cardio and strength class. 

6/4 - on June 4th we have a Kettlebell class at Canalside on Saturday mornings at 9AM for FREE (every Saturday throughout the summer). If you don't have your own kettlebell, you can reserve one at garagefitnessstudio@gmail.com

6/5 - We have Namastadium 2.0 coming up at the Ralph on June 5th at 9:30AM (proceeds benefit the Women's and Children's hospital). This event is a little more expensive ($30) HOWEVER, it does benefit charity (and they will have gift bags)!

6/6 - The day after that, 6/6, there is a Rev bootcamp at Canalside in the city. This event is FREE! They will be running these Rev classes every single Monday throughout the summer. No sign-up for this one... just be there at 6PM!

6/6 - Occurring concurrently, and also FREE at Canalside is a Kangoo Jumps class (low-impact, cardio-based fitness). Please email garagefitnessstudio@gmail.com to reserve a space. 

6/6 - That same day at 7PM (right after Rev and Kangoo) is a Barre Centric class - again, at Canalside, and FREE! These classes will also be reoccurring on Mondays throughout the summer. Same deal - no signup, just show up!

6/7 - The next day starts the FREE Zumba series on Tuesday nights at Canalside at 7PM. This class will run every Tuesday throughout the summer. 

6/10 - Another FREE Rock Out workout with Garage Fitness Studio, this time at The Waiting Room on Delaware at 9PM with a LIVE BAND (nice). Stay for a drink after (if you're 21). 

6/10 - Step out on Friday 6/10 from 6-9:30 to support Compeer of Greater Buffalo and CASA for MHA of Erie County at the Buffalo Superhero Race! Come dressed as your favorite superhero or villain, and support a great cause. Tickets are $30-35 for the 5k, or $25-30 for the wellness walk. (While you're there, say hello to my friends from the WNY Superhero Alliance!)

6/19 - Garage Fitness Studios will have another Rock Out workout session on 6/19 at 9:30AM at Evans Town Park... still free, but collecting donations for a cause (Caitlin Burbige's family - see facebook page for gofundme information). 

6/24 - Fit Like a Gladiator is hosting a fitness night at Coca Cola field (home of the Bisons). This class will be $20 and can be purchased by contacting fitlikeagladiator@gmail.com or bpotozniak@bisons.com. This event will start at 7 (get there at 6:30). 

6/26 - This summer there will be four FREE BLT (butt, legs, and thighs) classes at Canalside hosted by Fit Like a Gladiator. (6/26, 7/17, 8/14, and 9/4)

7/2 - start your July out with a pop at the annual Buffalo Bubble Run! Check out this event at the Outer Harbor (starts at 8AM, tickets are $20 UNTIL MAY 18th - after that they go up to $50 so BUY THEM SOON if you want to go). 

So that about takes care of May and June - I'll post more if I find more (and if you have anything to suggest, or any events you'd like to see added, let me know!)