School's out! Fun stuff to do all summer long
Summer. It’s one of the most cherished words in the English language for any hardworking student who’s been toiling away at books, homework and tests nonstop since September.
And no matter what your budget is, you deserve to savor that break. So whether you’ve got tons of cash to spend, or are pretty much flat broke, you can take advantage of all that Buffalo has to offer.
There are plenty of things to do that don’t require a ton of money. Take for instance, THE WATERFRONT. Lake Erie is one of Buffalo’s most beautiful natural aspects, and the best part is it’s free!
With the new developments around the waterfront, there’s even more to do (some, including the NAVAL PARK MUSEUM which charges $8 adult admission, cost money), the NEW BEACH (but no swimming!) or just sitting at the HATCH RESTAURANT and enjoying lunch with your friends.
While you’re there, check out the new wood-carved statues of public Buffalo figures, including Ralph Wilson and Frederick Law Olmsted, made out of trees from the October Storm.
• For anyone who’s into music, THURSDAY AT THE SQUARE is a great option. Running every Thursday from 6 to 10 p. m. through Sept. 4, it features a different band every week. Even if you’re not familiar with the band, grab a group of friends and go anyway! It’s always a great time, no matter what the music is. The best part? It’s free! For a list of scheduled performers, go to www.buffaloplace.com.
• For all you theater-crazed teens, one fun free thing to do in the summer is to go to SHAKESPEARE IN DELAWARE PARK.
Held at Delaware Park from Tuesday through Sunday from now through the third week in August, this year’s performances are “King Lear” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Lear follows the legend of King Leir of Britain and the misjudgment of his daughters. “Windsor” is Shakespeare’s only play to deal exclusively with contemporary English middle-class life. They’re both definitely worth a look, so be sure to check them out.
• If you’ve got a few more bucks to spend, why not check out the TASTE OF BUFFALO? Running July 12 and 13, the food fest costs only as much as you want to spend. Tickets are 50 cents each, with food items running from two to eight tickets. There are also freebies, contests and entertainment galore. Find the list of restaurants and the food they’ll offer at www.tasteofbuffalo.com.
• For even more ethnic flavor, try the IRISH FESTIVAL at the Hamburg Fairgrounds from Aug. 22 to 24. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for kids under 12. Parking is free, and there’s tons of reasonably priced foods from Ireland and America, as well as five Irish Step-Dancing and Ceili group performances and at least 20 vendors selling everything from kilts to hand-styled ceramics and glassware.
• To celebrate the culinary heart of Buffalo even more, head to Dunn Tire Park on Aug. 30 and 31 for WINGFEST. Running from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Wingfest costs $5 for admission and $1 per food ticket. Wings at every stand are 2 for $1. Last year’s Fest featured great wing connoisseurs from the Anchor Bar of Buffalo to the Captain Spongefoot Trading Co. of Granby, Colo.
• Another great alternative is a trip to the ZOO. Admission is $7 with proper student ID up to age 22, and with the new rain forest and other additions, the zoo never gets boring, no matter how many times you’ve been there. Bring a group of friends and make a trip out of it!
• Of course, there’s always the classic: AMERICA’S FAIR. This year, the fair runs from Aug. 6 to 17, with admission at $9 for anyone over 12, and $4 for kids ages 4-12. The fair is great because there’s something for everyone: games, entertainment, contests, food, animals, and midway rides! Grab some friends or family and make a day out of it – you’ll need a day to cover the entire 265 acres!
• For you artsy guys and gals, check out the ALBRIGHT KNOX ART GALLERY, 1285 Elmwood Ave. Student admission (14-18) is $8, and there’s FREE admission on Fridays from 3 to 10 p. m. It’s a great way to expand your art repertoire, and exposing yourself to a little art never hurts! For hours and more info, check out the gallery’s Web site at www.albrightknox.org.
• Another great museum to try out is the MUSEUM OF SCIENCE at 1020 Humboldt Parkway. Admission for students is just $5 with ID. Hours vary during the summer, so be sure to check their Web site at www.sciencebuff.org before you head out.
You can also check out the Tifft Nature Preserve, which is FREE (donations accepted.) It’s a 264-acre habitat with five miles of nature trails, guided walks, bird watching, wild plants and animals. It’s something different to do besides just sitting home on a sunny day!
So, as you see, there’s absolutely no reason to blame a boring summer on your lack of finances. We’ve worked hard for this summer, and it’s time to enjoy it, no matter how much money you have – or don’t have, for that matter. Enjoy it while it lasts, because before you know it, summer will be over (but let’s not think about that right now).
Melissa Kania is a senior at City Honors.
