Buffalo Botanical Gardens

Buffalo, NY

June 28th 2024

Feeling fully confidant that I will be out of NY sooner then later, I have been exploring places in NY that I want to go to before we leave and came across the Buffalo Erie County Botanical Gardens. I had always been interested in going when I would visit my friend Tricia who once lived in the area, but we never went, and I knew it was not a cheep date. At least for me, I could not justify spending $16.50 to see plants. Yes, I am that person. What I did find out however that on the first Thursday of every month they open up the garden to the community for a FREE evening with the flowers, so there was my in. 

As it would happen, my mom was willing to take the 2 1/2 hour trip to Buffalo with me, and we made an afternoon/evening trip to see...plants. 

OK, ok...so it was so much more then plants!!!!!

These "plants" are almost like art!

I never even knew there were so many different types of cactus.

And the flowers. Woah!!!!

I've always had a love for the lilly pads. Maybe it has something to do with the story of Thumbilina. Or maybe it is my youthful love for the tea colored lakes of the Adirondacks splashed with the green little frog boats that live along the shore. BUT wait is that a gator down in there? 

Orchids are simply perfect. 

and then there are these oddities of the plant world. The carnivorous breeds. 

 All in all this was an enjoyable evening with my mom looking at the many different plants. I'm still not totally convinced that I would have spent the $16 dollars, but it was well worth the trio for free. TTFN

Back to the 80's an evening with Night Ranger

 July 12, 2024

Verona NY

I am becoming a fixture at the Vernon Downs race course, however this evening was not for the viewing of some running horses. This evening the track was hosting a concert. I never even considered that this place could be a venue for such an event, but here I was with my three friends Kelly, Carol and Nicole about to enjoy the sounds of a popular band from the 1980's Night Ranger. 

I hadn't seen Nicole in possibly 10 years, so it was especially nice to reconnect with her. We arrived at the show and apparently missed the memo that there would be some pre-gaming going on in the parking lot. No pre-party for us. Not that I would have drank much anyways, those things are always an after thought, but it would be fun if we were with a big group of people and hanging out by the car having some cocktails. I know this is now a traditional pre-sporting event for most games. (I have had the pleasure of tail gating before) but this style of drinking in the parking lot before an 80's relived concert would have totally brought me back to the nastalgia. 

The band, I have to admit, was never a band that I followed nor was I aware of many of their songs. I was convinced that upon arriving at the show, Sister Christian was the only song that I ever heard of and the only hit song the band had. I soon found that there were many songs this band actually played that I knew and was singing along with maybe not 100% confidence, but I could certainly recall the refrain of the song. I sang, cheered and danced most of the evening.

 Rock in America was the lead song and it started the crowd off. 

Returning members of the band, (I am not aware of whom) had also played with Ozzy and Alice Cooper, so they played a song by each of these bands as well as a Dam Yankee's song as the bassist Jack Blades was in the band with Tommy Shaw. (of Styx).

At one point they did a drum solo, but they all came out on stage and drummed with the drummer. One member even wearing a gorilla mask. It was fun and they did a great job. 

I was, IMPRESSED. These guys did a great job and preformed an incredible stage show. Of course, we were not squeezed in with 100 people and I had a straight shot to view the stage, that does help. 

I find that most times I have a bad time at concerts its when I am smooshed into a seat, and people prevent my view. This show didn't have that issue. We had room to move and lots of viewing. It really did become a wonderful night. 

The most awesome thing about the show, was that the proceeds were going to the Central NY Food Bank, and I just thought that made the show and the members even more incredible. 

Certainly a great time, despite trying to miss the exiting crowds by beelining to the casino and loosing way to much money. I was glad to have made the memory.