For a solid year, I wanted to go to a first Friday at the AKG. I didn't want to be there one to…read moreattempt Buffalo driving (we circled around to parallel park at 430) and needed someone to echo my musings. Well, I finally made it! We went through check in, where you had to fork over a suggested donation (instead of the usual 22 dollars). They take card, though we gave cash, which seemed like an easier way to exercise the discount. They offered an extra paid section to opt into for an extra 8 dollar charge that we turned down, taking our tiny tags. They're dinky and reusable and gotta attach somewhere to your person. She had also given me a wristband for the strap of Duckles, which had to be checked by a second girl who warned me that I could not wear my knapsack on my back. Could make it a tummy sack or an elbow purse to avoid bumping things, which is how I ended up cradling a stuffed duck around the museum. We hadn't nabbed a map and thought we could wing it. There are qr codes scattered about for info beyond the placards and finding where you have landed. We lucked out and scored a paper map abandoned on one of the numerous benches (there's also chairs and pull out chairs hanging for your resting pleasure) that we attempted to read. My directionally challenged self asked one of the security to send us off to the bridge, given two choices of route. We dodged the scenic way for a temporary outdoor escape, passing more art. Popping back inside we absorbed even more subsets of time and genre, respecting drawn boundaries and only touching things that said we could. There were things that touched us, our souls, that we could take photos of. There were also bizarre things and a bit of nudity. It's all art, including the special presentations and live music and everyday artists sketching in the hall. There was an interactive exhibit in the main that we skipped in the name of rumbling tummies, though we didn't try the cafe. Also avoided the gift shop, cutting out as the crowd began to swell around 6. The place was impeccably clean despite the abundance of windows and smudge worthy doors. It was worth coming out, though I'm unsure how often the exhibits rotate. Come see an authentic famous few and many more that'll have you saying the Albright is pretty *alright*.

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is our local pride, and requires no advertising or persuasion to visit…read more Believe me, it's a fantastic destination. It's a beautiful space with a nice collection of fine arts. There is a new, three-story extension, a whole new building actually. So, be sure to have plenty of time to explore everything. Their website is very informative and easy to navigate. Check out the current special events and exhibitions. Currently, among others, on display is the "One with Eternity" by Yayoi Kusama, which includes her two Infinity Mirror Rooms and "Pumpkin", a giant orange pumpkin in an orange room covered with black dots. Tickets for this exhibition must be purchased separately and are valid for specific time slots. If there is a big crowd that day, wait a little and don't come from the beginning of your time slot (or figure this out by yourself). We had to leave and come back after a ridiculous experience. Waiting twenty minutes in line to see the actual installation for forty five seconds!? It was very confusing, and I believe there must be a different way to actually enjoy Kusama's work. We came back to see the second room with no wait, but still, with the forty five seconds rule. Ugh... Yes, let's loop if this is the only way which works. Don't forget, the general museum admission is free on the first Friday of the month, and I like that price.

In Buffalo and the entire Western New York region, everyone ought to know Charles E. Burchfield. I…read moream certain that those interested in art have heard of him as well. He's recognized as one of the most distinguished American painters. Charles Rand Penney was a Buffalo native who donated his collection of Western New York Art, including 183 works by Charles E. Burchfield. The Burchfield Penney Art Center is dedicated to works by Burchfield and by regional artists. You'll see those active in the previous and the contemporary century. The Burchfield Penney functions as a gallery and a museum, serving as an institution affiliated with the Buffalo State University. For this reason, many events are related to education and personal development. It is worth checking what is happening and which events align with your individual needs and interests. Either way, it is definitely a place worth visiting. It's New York's first green museum certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's (LEED) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. It's a two-story open and bright space, pretty great to be honest :). On the second Friday of every month, admission is free. "Be ready for special events, music, workshops, happy hours and more!" It's also free for Burchfield Penney members, Buffalo State University Students, Faculty & Staff, United States and Canada Active Military and their families, United States Military Veterans, ASI Arts Access Pass holders, and children and teens under 18 years old.

A large, bright, two-story museum with several galleries on both floors…read more Unlike many museums which have no art created after 1870? This one will be displaying artwork solicited last year from local artists. Check their website for listings of rotating exhibits and openings.hh

I was here to hear a man dressed as President Abe Lincoln recite "The Gettysburg Address" in…read morecelebration of Mr. Lincoln's birthday. It was presented before a crowd of 150-200 people, including a good number of children!!! After Mr.Lincoln completed his presentation, there was a wreath laid on the portico by the statue of Mr. Lincoln, overlooking the lake behind the museum. A rifle was fired three times. After the wreath laying, there was birthday cake! "The Gettysburg Address", a speech still relevant today.

My most recent visit to the museum was actually to check out the cherry blossoms in the back. I've…read morebeen inside before but not on this visit. The museum is a great place to learn some history of Buffalo. My favorite exhibit was the recreation of the office of Tim Russett (Meet the Press host) exhibit. He was always vocal on his love of Buffalo & the Buffalo Bills. The grounds outside the museum besides the cherry blossoms include the Japanese Garden. Well worth checking out. Side note. Right beyond the side of MANY signs on the grounds saying to not pick the blossoms, climb the trees, etc one of the first things I saw was a father taking pictures of his son up in the tree! Why?? 2025-26

The Martin House was a really cool visit during my day trip to Buffalo and the Niagara Region with…read morefamily. The building (interiors and architecture) was gorgeous and impressive, especially its history and restoration. There is a small quiet cafe between info center and the gift shop (the stables). We did the shorter guided tour. The tour is about the main home. It starts in the info center and ends in the stables (where the gift shop is). There is a longer tour that includes the other buildings on the property. During the tour, you aren't able to take photos of the interior spaces. You are able to explore the grounds and take photos without being in a tour. The tour was really informative. The volunteer guides knew what they were talking about. It was more information than what I have learnt in college.

What an absolute treat to visit the Martin House!…read more The Martin House, formally known as the Darwin D. Martin House, is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest architectural works and a defining example of his Prairie School style. Located in Buffalo, it was designed for businessman Darwin D. Martin and his family, and built between 1903 and 1905. This is a massive residential estate, which Wright considered it one of his finest creations. Some of its most distinctive features include the following. The house emphasizes long horizontal lines, broad overhanging eaves and low-pitched roofs mirroring the Midwestern landscape. And rather than dividing the home into many enclosed rooms, Wright created interior spaces connected by wide openings and carefully arranged sightlines. This was a radical departure from the Victorian homes of the time and that are notable popular in the neighborhood surrounding the property. Quick note: You are required to have a tour to visit the home interiors, but you don't need a tour to enjoy the welcome center and the grounds, including the long walkway connecting buildings. The pergola is one of my favorite features. And it is such a joy that it has a replica of the Winged Nike (The Nike of Samothrace, located in Paris at the Louvre, which is a beautiful sight!). It is placed on a 3-foot-high concrete plinth, prominently visible from a 180-foot view starting at the front door of the main house. A dreamscape, really. I was enthralled. But it is not the original, unfortunately. A fiberglass resin replica was installed in 2007. The estate includes the main house, the Barton House (for Martin's sister and brother-in-law), a conservatory, a pergola, the carriage house and the gardener's cottage. These structures were connected both physically and visually, so the entire estate looks and feels very cohesive. A favorite -- the art glass windows. Apparently, there are something like 400 or so art glass windows. Wright referred to them as "light screens" because they filtered light while preserving views and privacy. Wright embraced the idea of "total design." He designed not only the buildings but also much of its furniture, lighting, decorative glass, fireplaces and other interior details. This means that pretty much every element worked together as a unified whole -- striking! In addition to the daily public tours, the events calendar is usually full. There are summer evening events, lectures, nights dedicated to kids, plant decorating events, musical performances and more. Although the property fell into severe disrepair during the mid-20th century, a decades-long restoration completed in 2019 reconstructed missing buildings and restored many original architectural details. Today, the Martin House is a National Historic Landmark and is widely regarded as one of the best-preserved and most important examples of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie architecture. I highly, highly recommend a visit -- plan for at least an hour, two if you can swing it.

This unique site is part of the National Parks Service. To visit/tour you need to book your tour…read moreand they are typically only offered on the hour. This is one of the few sites where a president was inaugurated outside of Washington DC. During the tour, you can visit the library room where Roosevelt took the oath of office. It is interesting to have this bit of unique history in Buffalo! There is an on site parking lot located in the back of the building. There is also street parking (but there are typically ample spots in the lot). Your tour guide will bring you through a display about the Pan AM and give you a sense of the time period. You also learn about Teddy Roosevelt and his presidency in a video presentation. Additionally, you can sit in a replica of Roosevelt's desk and enjoy an interactive photo opp. The down side for me is that there are several interactive exhibits and lots of panels to read when you enter the museum portion, but you really don't have any time to read and enjoy them because you are forced to move on with the tour. Worth a visit to learn more about this unique piece of Buffalo history, but also learn more about Teddy Roosevelt as well.

This is the site that brought Roosevelt into office and forever changed our nation. A docent gives…read moretours of the small museum with facts on Roosevelt. There is a small gift store with many memorabilia celebrating one of the US Presidents.

LIKED: This historic…read morebuilding boasts ample parking, a wealth of historic artifacts, and convenient access due to its proximity to a major highway. WOULD HAVE LIKED: - The exhibits could be more appealing to adults instead of students. Many of the exhibits seem to be designed for elementary and middle school students rather than adults. - A more reasonable price. The current $23 fee appears excessive considering the value provided during a visit.

I loved all the interactive games where you can learn while having fun. Building race cars,…read morefeeling a tornado force wind, engineering building paper rockets that soared through the room...so many fun projects. The exhibit rooms are spacious with interesting facts explaining what you're seeing from woven baskets to a giant polar bear. We explored space and the time of the dinosaurs. I was there with a 6 month old and I have to say they have it set up nice for parents to care for young ones from places for diaper changes to breast feeding. Impressive. There's a large room for quiet time and a snack bar for all your children's needs. Easy free parking is a plus, no hassle getting in or out. We did go up to the rooftop deck but it was closed, so was the planetarium but it didn't matter there was plenty to see and do. The Buffalo Museum of Science is FUN!

I always thought this was a bank...but turns out it's a museum that's open just once a month…read more What?! I've passed this big Egyptian looking statue on Forest Ave many times while walking home and I had no idea there was an actual exposition inside. While experiencing "Museums by Moonlight" (a once a year event where for $25 you can go museum hopping into the night), I learned this was an actual exhibit space that's part of the Buffalo History Museum. Apparently, it's only open once a month on the third Friday of every month (free admission) and is home to the Pan-American "Spirit of the City" exhibition that's been up there since 2001. It's a smaller one-room exhibit (but there's more space in the back and they organize a $10 event about once a month where they give you the inner scoop on the entire space), but it's got everything you could possibly want to experience when Buffalo was the city chosen for the Pan-American exposition in 1901. It's incredible to witness how a whole city of sorts was built up to be used between May and demolished in November for the event. My fiancé and I had some fun and even placed a bet on whether the Electric Tower displayed here is the same one that's downtown now (it wasn't and I lost the bet). Lots of fun to be had at the exhibit whether with kids, by yourself or even if you stop in after a juice at Ashker's right a few blocks away on that one Friday that they're open. Check it out!

If you have not been here COME. If you are interested in Buffalo history anyway. This Is a very…read moreeducational exhibit. Its part of the Buffalo History Museum (previously called the Buffalo Historical Society). Currently about the Pan Americam Exposition of 1901. This was supposed to be a HUGE draw for the area, and at a time when Buffalo was one of the 10 biggest cities in the US. But there were problems. Construction delays (sounds like Buffalo, right?), cost overruns, too much rain that summer, and of course the assassination of a president. The Pan Am ended up loosing money. But it was a terrific exhibit regardless. Come here and re-live a piece of it. They have pictures from that time, they take you through the various areas of the exhibt and of course cover the Presidents death. The large funny sculpture in the front is gone. We learned on a tour that it had been made of Styrofoam and when it rained it would absorb all sorts of water etc. That it would occasionally be scented. Etc. They decided to remove it the summer of 2014 and seem to be relieved that its gone. Open the 3rd Friday of each month and by special request (in advance) the Pan-am exhibit is well documented here. Check the Buffalo History Museum website for special tours and lectures here. I went on a behind the scenes tour and saw all sorts of things they store there, including a lot of art. They only have some much room to exhibit things at the History Museum, and this is where they store the rest. Its fantastic to get to see some of it. They have some parking and there is street parking around as well. Since I don't imagine its gets very crowded, the small parking area probably will be just fine. 49

They sold the paintings I had on consignment and then ghosted me without paying. I'm surprised…read morethey're in business

Beautiful space! I bought a Robert Blair watercolor and a small antique oil painting of downtown…read moreBuffalo. Lots of clutter around but I love to look.

This building is absolutely gorgeous. I attended the Queen City Market event here and it was…read moreamazing. Lots of one of a kind gifts and merchandise. The building was the perfect venue for this event. The ceiling and windows are beautiful.

Oh, you know, just one of about a billion cool Buffalo gems…read more I've been here for two events now: the Queen City Market, and the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair. And for an indie craft fair venue, you could do much worse than the Karpeles. (Especially since it's free to use for certain nonprofits!) Both times, I've enjoyed being able to find a street parking space fairly close to the library -- then grabbing some food truck fare outside (as there are no open kitchens nearby to preclude them from joining the party). Once you're inside, the space opens up, with a big organ on one side and large, ornate windows on the other. On the main floor, it's possible to pack in dozens of vendors with tables. It's nice to feel downright cozy with everyone there (as the space is a bit drafty). There's also an upstairs space where it's possible to hold breakout sessions, readings, lectures and the like. I myself have tabled in this space for Yelp, and I have no complaints, save the draft -- and the lighting, as it's a bit dim in there. But again, for a (potentially free) space -- it's gorgeous, and lends itself well to events that, like the library, highlight the pursuit of knowledge and the building of community. If you're ever on the fence about going to an event here (or being a vendor), go for it -- it's awesome!

Terra Clay Studio was still a fun experience overall, and the atmosphere was enjoyable for a group…read moreactivity. The selection for paint-a-pot was smaller than expected, but we were still able to find items to work on and had a good time. One thing that could definitely improve was the guidance and instructions provided. I noticed some groups received detailed explanations while others, including mine, received very little direction, and it didn't seem to relate to age or gender. Even so, it was a creative and enjoyable outing.

My sister, mom and I visited Terra for the first time today. We did the paint a pot which is…read moreavailable Friday-Sunday. Walk ins were welcome and we were greeted kindly and explained the process right away. Quite a selection of pieces to choose from with a reasonable price range. They allowed each person to choose 6 colors of paint. My only complaint was the color choices were limited, you could only choose the paints with the black dots, but we made it work. They supplied everything one would need. We were there for so long we seen a shift change, lol! But both workers were so nice! Overall, the place was clean, they had enough tables and chairs for everyone, and they even hold parties or events. Our pieces look a little dull currently but we will be back in approx. 1-3 weeks for our finished, bright and glossy plates! We will definitely be returning and recommending this place!