NOT DEAD YET: Just a $3 metro ride away, Buffalo’s theater district holds a wealth of local culture and entertainment

For anyone who has been in Buffalo long enough, there is no doubt that the Queen City knows how to “do” winter. From the piles of snow stacked as high as some houses, to the below-freezing temperatures and thirty mile per hour winds that blow through, this season is our forte.

But what is there to do if you don’t want to spend your winter watching the snow fall?

Buffalo and the areas that surround it are full of places to go and things to do that are sure to tickle just about anyone’s fancy – and you don’t even need to strap on a pair of skis or lace up a pair of ice skates to enjoy them.

Let Your Spirit Soar

With all the snow and cold weather, you may be in the mood for a nice, warm, tropical vacation. A short drive over the border to Niagara Falls, Ontario will bring you to a climate much like you would experience in places like Costa Rica or South America. You can find that at the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory.

Home to over 2,000 free-flying tropical butterflies of over 50 different species, the Butterfly Conservatory opened in 1996 and is the largest in North America.

“It is 85 degrees here everyday,” says Sarah Wood, Event and Public Relations Manager for the Niagara Parks Commission. “You can come in the morning and spend the day and it’s like a tropical vacation for you.” A tropical vacation that only costs $10 in Canadian funds.

The cost of admission at the conservatory helps with the upkeep of the facilities. Since the conservatory is completely self-sufficient, none of the taxpayers’ money is used. All the money collected is used to support and maintain the conservatory and its fluttering inhabitants.

While you are at the conservatory, you can witness the life cycle of the butterfly through the open labs that actually have the species going through the breeding process and life stages. The conservatory harvests about 30 percent of the butterflies, bringing the other 70 percent from butterfly farms in Florida and South America. Making your way along the 600 ft. path that winds around the conservatory, you will also be able to watch butterflies as they feed on fruit and juices that are placed throughout the tropical plants.

Less people visit the conservatory during the cold months. Coupled with the warm weather and constant activity inside the conservatory, winter is the best time to visit the conservatory, says Wood. “There’s no better place to let your sprit soar!”

If you would like more information about the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, visit www.niagaraparks.com.

Flowers in the Winter

If you’re still itching to get into warm weather after that, there’s an even closer spot where you can enjoy artificial sun and an array of plant life which are both practically non-existent in Buffalo for the next few months.

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is open to the public all year, and a student ID will get you in with an admission price of only $3. Cherie Messore, Marketing Manager at the Gardens, recommends this season as the best time to visit. “It gets people off the streets and into a profusion of color and fragrances,” Messore says.

Located at 2655 South Park Avenue in Buffalo, the Botanical Gardens is home to plants of all shapes, sizes and colors. Right now, the Gardens are featuring a stunning Orchid collection that focuses on flowers that bloom right here in Western New York.

In the January and February months, you can also participate in “Concerts in the Conservatory”: a series of music and poetry that takes place right inside the Botanical Gardens. The events take place every Sunday until February 20 and are free of charge to anyone who attends. The show starts each week with a poetry reading at 12:30 p.m. followed by a concert at 2:00 p.m. You can take this time to explore the beauty around you, all while listening to live music and poetry.

Regular hours of the Botanical Gardens are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the week, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays, and closed on Mondays. It is the perfect venue if you are looking to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to the whole day out of the cold. Messore says that the Botanical Gardens welcomes people to spend the day if they can, especially art students who can bring their cameras or sketch pads and capture the beauty that thrives inside the glass structure.

For a complete listing of the “Concerts in the Conservatory” series and any other information regarding the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens call 827-1584 or visit www.buffalogardens.com.

Niagara Falls Never Freezes

One place to go, no matter what the weather, is Niagara Falls. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and when you live in Buffalo, it’s practically in your backyard. “The natural beauty of the Falls on this side of the border is spectacular,” says Debbie Hengst, the Executive Assistant of Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation.

If you are brave enough to withstand the frigid weather, just seeing the Falls during these months may warm you on the inside. No matter how cold the weather is, Niagara Falls never completely freezes. The frozen spray that is produced from the mist turns to ice and changes the whole appearance by slowing the flow of water, but never completely stopping it. Some of the mist and water land on the area surrounding the Falls, creating icicles that glisten in the sun.

Many of the attractions that entice people to visit the Falls remain open during the winter months. The Cave of the Winds tour allows people to travel down 175 ft. in an elevator to view the Falls from an observation deck. There is also a three-mile guided trolley tour of Niagara Falls that stops at six locations. An added bonus to taking advantage of these attractions during the winter months is that there are reduced rates until April. The Cave of the Winds charges $8 and the trolley tour charges $2.

Although there are also many museums and indoor venues that are tempting in the winter months, Hengst says that the actual Falls “should be a large enough draw for someone who wants to see that type of natural beauty in any kind of weather.” The transformation of the Falls that occurs during the winter is worth checking out as long as you are prepared with warm clothing.

Cup O’ Joe

Relaxing with a fresh cup of coffee sounds tempting on one of winter’s bitter days. With three locations in the Buffalo area, SPoT Coffee makes that scene a bit more attainable. A Seattle-style coffeehouse and first in the area, SPoT makes all of their own baked goods and roasts its coffee beans right at the site. Joe Koessler, President of SPoT Coffee, says that those two qualities along with its convenient locations are what set SPoT apart from other coffeehouses.

The SPoT located downtown, on the corner of Delaware and Chippewa, is in the heart of Buffalo nightlife. It allows you to “be a part of the downtown nightlife without going to clubs or bars,” Koessler points out. Another popular location for college students is the SPoT at 765 Elmwood Avenue. “The Elmwood SPoT is popular with Canisius, Buff State, and UB students,” Koessler says. “It’s a great place to go if you want to meet people from other colleges.”

The relaxed atmosphere makes it very easy to mingle and unwind. People are encouraged to come to hang out at SPoT and it’s a great place to hold an otherwise dreaded group meeting for class. SPoT also features live music on the weekends and open-mic nights every Monday at the Delaware location.

With more hot chocolate selections and a special winter menu, now is an excellent time to get out of the cold and warm up at SPoT Coffee.

A Theatre District in Buffalo?

If a caffeine-rush doesn’t warm you up, maybe bright lights will. Buffalo has its very own theatre district right in the heart of downtown. Stretching from Delaware Avenue to Main Street, the district also includes parts of Chippewa and Pearl Streets. A rich combination of restaurants, art galleries, exciting nightlife attractions, and of course, theatres, make Buffalo’s theatre district a warm and welcoming place for people trying to get out of the cold. What makes the area even more inviting is that for a mere $3 you can get a round trip ticket for the metro rail and take the train from UB’s South Campus to Main Street in the theatre district and back.

Shea’s Performing Arts Center and Studio Arena are two major draws for Buffalo’s theatre district. Shea’s, located at 646 Main Street in Buffalo, is the region’s largest venue for theatrical entertainment. Its performances include a vast range of Broadway shows, concerts, and classic movie screenings. Coming up at the end of February is the Broadway musical “The Lion King.” The show will run until the beginning of April with ticket prices ranging from $20 to $67.50 depending on the day and time. On Sunday, February 6, Shea’s will have a free screening of the 1980 film, “Popeye.” Tickets must be obtained before the show and can be picked up at any Wegman’s Customer Service Desk or the Shea’s Box Office.

Studio Arena Theatre is a smaller venue located at 710 Main Street. This winter, Studio

Arena will put on “Tuesdays with Morrie,” based on the New York Times Best Seller by Mitch Albom. The show is running from February 6 to March 6.

Tickets for a theatrical production can be a bit pricy for college students, but Studio Arena offers a student rate. The $17 ticket will save you money off the regular prices that are between $24 and $52. Student tickets can only be purchased at the box office with proper student ID, one hour before the performance.

Studio Arena is a very accessible theatre with a “warm environment and warm friendly people,” says Laurel Case, Media Relations Manager at the theatre. “We have wonderful plays that will entertain you and keep you off the cold, grey streets.”

For more information and a full listing of the theatre district attractions, visit www.buffalotheatredistrict.com.

All of these activities are sure to keep you busy in the cold and snowy days that lie ahead. You don’t even have to be coordinated or able to balance to enjoy them. Best of all, you won’t have to deal with lift tickets, lackluster mountains, or that shady ski instructor.