Cecelia’s: An elegant stop along the Elmwood Strip
It was a drizzly Thursday when Lindsay and I arrived at Cecelia’s on Elmwood Avenue. While the dining area was full of families and intimate couples engaged in conversation, we had no problem finding a spot at the elegant bar, black with quaint brown stripes and a blue, triangular neon design. A young gentleman wearing a black button-down shirt and dress slacks greeted us immediately. (Updated: 11/06/09 8:43 AM )
Club Watch: Go beyond the bar for the true Hilltop Inn experience
It was a gorgeous Thursday afternoon when I moseyed through the main entrance of the Hilltop Inn. Mosey being the operative word since I felt like I was entering a saloon in the Old West. The Hilltop is a gigantic wooden leviathan on the border of Millgrove, Newstead and Alden where one could almost imagine John Wayne stumbling in through the front door. (Updated: 10/30/09 8:46 AM )
Mandy’s Cafe: Spend time with the locals
Jeff, Lindsay and I carpooled down Clinton Street to Mandy’s Cafe at 6 p. m. on a brisk Thursday. Since we were operating on a tight budget, we headed out earlier than usual to take advantage of the Happy Hour specials. A kind, older bartender approached us right away and poured a pitcher of Budweiser for $7. The pitcher arrived with two frosted pint glasses, which was a nice touch. I ordered an Absolut vodka and tea for Lindsay and a double of Jamison whiskey for $9. (Updated: 10/23/09 8:49 AM )
O’Daniels Gin Mill: There are no strangers in this neighborly place
If you’re looking for a bar where you can relax over a few brews with a jeans and T-shirt crowd, O’-Daniels Gin Mill & Grill in Lackawanna fills the bill. Just down the road from Ironworkers Local 6, you won’t find many people drinking Appletinis or scanning BlackBerrys here. Frequented by a neighborhood bunch, including off-duty fireman, policemen and iron workers, there’s no pretense here—just friendly people, good beer and extraordinary food. (Updated: 10/16/09 8:45 AM )
Holidays: West Seneca bar puts the fun in your court
During the last gasp of summer, I met my buddy Mike up at Holidays early on a Thursday evening. The loose gravel parking lot was near maximum capacity with mostly pickup trucks, and I managed to squeeze in near the road once a spot opened up. Two sponsored volleyball games were under way to the left of the building, but I chose to start my evening quietly along the middle of the evergreen octagonal bar indoors. (Updated: 10/09/09 9:40 AM )
Tailgaters: A great sports atmosphere and generous portions
After a brutally humid afternoon, my buddy Mike and I hightailed it out to Tailgaters on a fair Thursday evening. With such an expansive parking lot, Mike had the luxury of parking his convertible in a far corner to avoid any accidental dents. (Updated: 09/18/09 9:40 AM )
Swannie House: Casual atmosphere welcomes all
Swannie House is an urban treasure. Mostly for its location, in Buffalo’s Old First Ward, amid the grandly ignored industrial swath that was the beating heart of Buffalo in the early 20th century. (Updated: 09/11/09 8:34 AM )
Chandy’s: A sports bar with a touch of sophistication
It was another overcast Thursday when Mike and I tempted the fates by driving out to Chandy’s Lounge with the top down on his sporty convertible. We sauntered in to some dance music streaming off of a neon jukebox situated toward the back patio exit. (Updated: 09/04/09 8:39 AM )
31 Club: A place to see and be seen for the well-dressed
There’s been a buzz surrounding the 31 Club since it opened. Friends spoke of celebrity sightings at the swanky downtown restaurant, TV personalities and athletes and the like. It had a reputation of a place where people went dressed to the nines to eat good food and to see and be seen. (Updated: 08/21/09 8:12 AM )
Stop at Magavin's for a casual drink or a classy dinner
There was an audible roar from the dozens of conversations already in progress when I made my way into the bar area at Magavin’s Restaurant & Pub shortly after eight o’clock on a Friday. (Updated: 07/31/09 9:47 AM )
Hip and funky Faso's is worth the long, strange trip
What a long, strange trip it was. I saddled up solo on a Thursday during a great deluge of a rainstorm and knew I was onto something special the second I walked into Faso’s Grateful Bear. Entering via the side entrance, I knew I was going to like this place. The inner atrium was decorated with vintage posters from Big Brother & the Holding Company, the Grateful Dead (obviously) and other classic concerts from the heyday of Flower Power. (Updated: 07/24/09 9:37 AM )
SUMMER CASUAL
BEMUS POINT—On most occasions, a trip to the tavern or nightspot is primarily for the beverages and the company of fellow revelers. But sometimes, the visit can be to soak up the ambience. (Updated: 07/17/09 7:03 AM )
GAME FACES
The torrential downpour was downgraded to a drizzle by the time I made it to Flattery’s around 8 o’clock on an overcast Thursday. I had to circle the parking lot twice to find an open spot — and the place has an expansive lot to begin with. One look at the regulation-sized volleyball court outdoors (and the crowd on the patio) explained the scarcity with the parking situation. (Updated: 07/10/09 5:51 AM )
GRAPE ESCAPE
As a Sunday night rainstorm rolled in, we avoided the next sheet of rain by ducking into Just Vino, in the old Granite Works building at the corner of Virginia and Main. (Updated: 07/03/09 6:57 AM )
TIME TO UNWIND
Frog Hair Grille & Golf is one of the area’s most unique places to quench your thirst or hit some golf balls – or do both at the same time. What a great concept! (Updated: 06/26/09 7:17 AM )
