A P Wagner

You may be seeing a future Julia Roberts or George Clooney on stage when you take in a highly entertaining performance at the Theatre of Youth in Buffalo. The group consistently presents child-centered entertainment and professionally produced theater that will surely put a smile on your face. The troupe has won various awards for its great sets and costumes. The Theatre of Youth has moved into the recently renovated Allendale Theater, a former vaudeville house that was built in 1913. Despite that deep historical connection, every performance comes alive with an intoxicating, youthful exuberance.

The Beaver Meadow Audubon Center was designed to offer Buffalo's many city-dwellers a great opportunity to get close to nature. This 324-acre wildlife sanctuary includes a forest, a field and wetland areas that are all just a short drive from downtown. In addition to the natural settings, the trail on site stretches for eight miles and the adjacent beach offers still yet another scene in which to absorb some natural beauty. Even during the winter, the center is still open as it offers more outdoor fun in the form of snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Cool music and even cooler brews await you and your friends at Nietzsche's. This is one of Buffalo's favorite nightlife destinations to check out new and upcoming musical talent, as live music is featured regularly. Also, the bar is equally famous for its plentiful pints of Guinness, Bass, Killian's Irish Red, or Rolling Rock. If your taste buds prefer, there is also an inviting selection of bottled brews from which to choose. So, it's safe to say that your beer mug will never be empty for long. And, appropriately, the dance floor is large enough to accommodate anyone and everyone who cares to move to the music.

Buffalo City Hall is not only the hub of the town's government but it also represents an example of classic architecture both inside and out. The charming Art Deco design of the building has been a fixture on Buffalo's skyline for decades, and the building's interior charm balances the classic and the modern. A popular attraction for visitors is the 28th floor observation deck that offers stunning views of the city and Lake Erie, as well.