FROZEN FALLS ADVENTURE

Chickie and I have been waiting for a decent day to drive to Niagara Falls to see the falls, which is frozen (apparently, most years it does not freeze over).  Today SEEMED like it would be a good day for it, and I picked her up at 9:30 a.m. and off we went.

I got to use my ENHANCED LICENSE for the first time, when we crossed into Canada.  Our first task was to find good parking.  After rejecting a spot that would have been good, but would have cost us ten dollars for two hours, we found a "free parking lot"  just off of CLIFTON HILL.

 It was a short and colorful walk down the hill and then to a couple of viewpoints for the falls.

We stepped inside an arcade to warm up a bit.

Unfortunately, it started to snow and the snow combined with the mist seemed to partially obscure the view of the falls.  We walked a ways down and took pictures, anyways. I think this is  the best picture I took of the falls.

 We headed back to Clifton Hill and checked out a couple of gift shops.  I think I took this in front of a wax museum of celebrities.

We checked out a few places to have lunch.  We immediately found out that prices are exorbitant.  We rejected BOSTON PIZZA,  FAMILY RESTAURANT, but settled on IHOP when we saw  that they were offering FREE PANCAKES today.   IHOP was on the third floor over two floors of games, etc.

We both got the free pancakes and split an omelet, which came with home fries.  It was PLENTY of food.  The pancakes were light and fluffy and quite large.  The omelet was chock full of vegetables which made it SO good.

After lunch, we could see that the weather had deteriorated, so we walked to the car and headed for Lockport.   In order to get to the parking lot we used, we passed the huge ferris wheel (which was running) and a DINOSAUR Miniature Golf.  

We decided that if we get a decent day soon when the sun is shining and the sky is blue, we may go up to the falls again.

MARKET CRAFT AND VENDOR SHOW: February 28, 2015

It has been a long, difficult winter...........severely cold temps and lots of snow.  I get out of the house several times a week for shopping and errands, Bible study and lunch with friends.....but its been hard to schedule fun things to do.

Peggy told me about this even sponsored by the Lockport Care Net Pregnancy Center, where she is on the board of directors.  Its an agency I like to support, so I said I would accompany her.  I called my cousin Becky and she was happy  to hear about it since she also supports this ministry.

The event was held at CANALSIDE, which is an event center in the building that was originally the Lockport and Boston Block Company.  There were a lot of vendors, food was offered and a basket raffle.  

None of the three of us won anything, but it was a nice break from staying home.

WINTERFEST Adventure: 2/7/2015

The Gasport Lions sponsored WINTERFEST today at RoyHart Elementary School.  I asked Mary Ann if she wanted to go and she did!  She picked me up and we headed out to Gasport.

The festival offered many various things to see and do.  Mary Ann particularly enjoyed the Siberian Huskies.

 We watched the reptile show and some dancing.

 I purchased a few items from a couple of the vendors.  We had lunch (mac and cheese) in the cafeteria and later on returned for desert.  We looked at the baskets but decided against purchasing tickets.  I offered to donate blood, but since I did not have a picture ID with me, I was not allowed to.

After the event, we headed back to Lockport.  I asked Mary Ann to show me where she lives (for future reference) and she also showed me the house that used to be Joe's Market.  I showed her the house I grew up in on Evans Street.  

I suggested one last stop: there is a new vintage/collectible shop in the old STRANGES GROCERY STORE.  I found this piece of furniture, I don't know what to call it, but I knew it would fit perfectly into this spot just beyond my front door, so I bought it and they delivered it to my house immediately.   It gives me more spots to hang up coats and bags, etc.  I love i!

TASTE OF NIAGARA REGION January 31st, 2015

About ten days ago, I saw a poster at the Lockport Library for this event. It was being put on to benefit HEART OF NIAGARA (an animal shelter).   I asked Peggy if she wanted to go with me.  She said an enthusiastic YES.    So I purchased the $20 each tickets online.

We really didn't know what to expect but it turned out to be a great event.  It was in a convention center in downtown Niagara Falls.

 Restaurants, caterers and bakeries had tables set up around the perimeter of a huge banquet hall.  Each one was giving out one or more samples of items.  We were each given this card to take to the various tables so they could check off that we had received our sample.

Some of the vendors were giving out small samples, but some were giving out very large samples.  We tried many of them and also took many samples home with us.  I particularly loved the BORSCHT which was made by the staff that runs the catering service at the convention center.

After we left Niagara Falls, we went to TRADER JOES and we each picked up several items.

Festival of Trees in Lewiston ADVENTURE December 27, 2014

My cousin Becky was off from work for a couple of weeks (she drives a school bus) and we wanted to do something together.  We met up at my house this morning and headed to Lewiston for the FESTIVAL OF TREES at the Power Vista in Lewiston, New York.

We enjoyed seeing all the trees.  Each one represented an area agency that helps people.

After that we went out to lunch in Lewiston.  My complete set of pictures can be seen here:

www.flickr.com/photos/juneny/sets/72157647652641993/

Trans-Siberian Adventure

I think I first heard A MAD RUSSIANS CHRISTMAS by Trans-Siberian Orchestra nine or ten years ago and since that time I have wanted to go to one of their concerts.  A month or so ago, I saw on TV that they were coming to Buffalo to present CHRISTMAS ATTIC.  I knew my new friend Mary Ann likes to go to concerts so I asked her if she would like to go.  She had never heard of them, but she wanted to go.   I purchased the tickets online, and was shocked at the $160.00 price for the two of them, but I REALLY wanted to go.

We met up at my house at 11;30 a.m. and headed to Buffalo.   We stopped in Amherst/Getzville for lunch at SEAN PATRICKS, a very nice Irish pub/restaurant.  I was surprised at the elegance of this place.  The prices are reasonable.  We had a nice relaxing lunch before continuing on  to Buffalo.

We parked in a lot at the University of Buffalo and walked to the Metro Station.  After wrestling with the ticket machines for several minutes, we finally found one that worked.  It was $2.00 for a round trip ticket.  We were seated on one of the subway trains when Mary Ann realized that she did not have her ticket  for the concert.  She thought it was either in the car, maybe having fallen out of her purse OR it had fallen out in SEAN PATRICKS.  We went back to the car and her cell phone case with the ticket in it was on the seat.  We went back to the subway station and the next car was waiting!

We took the subway/train all the way to the end to the FIRST NIAGARA CENTER.  We were in our seats about a half hour before the performance.  This place is GINORMOUS!!!!!  We had very good seats.

The concert was fantastic.  About 15 minutes into it, I put soft ear plugs in my ears because it was SO loud.  I am glad I had them.  After THE CHRISTMAS ATTIC, which was about an hour and a half, the chorus performed and then the band.  I was glad that they did A MAD RUSSIANS CHRISTMAS, it was the next to last piece that they played.

We found our way out and to the subway station quickly and even though there was a huge crowd heading back the same way, we got seats.  We discussed possibly stopping for something quick for supper, but decided to skip it since tomorrow is our weekly lunch out with the other girls from our 1967 high school graduating class.

VICTORIAN TEA and SCROOGE (the musical) ADVENTURES

It was a busy Saturday!  My cousin Becky picked me up and we went to the UCC Church on Main Street for their Victorian Tea and basket raffle.  We met up with Elaine and Bonnie (girls I went to high school with).  The tea buffet was great, consisting of small sandwiches, veggies and dip, devilled eggs, lots of desert choices and more.  The UCC Church offers this type of event twice a year, and the buffet is free!

We all spent time looking at the baskets that were being raffled off (I think there were about 90) and placed our tickets.  I was hoping to win a very large basket with some "Christmas Village" buildings in it, so I put most of my  tickets in there, but neither Becky or I won anything.

I went home and rested for a while before David and Peggy picked me up to go to SCROOGE: THE MUSICAL at the Palace Theatre.  

Picture taking was not allowed during the performance, but I took a few of    the interior of the Palace, which opened up in 1925 and I believe it has been in continual use (although usage has changed).

It was a great day!