FY FAVES
FAVES
BY SABRINA KAHWATY AND JOHNATHAN CIOLEK
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021 was the year of reuniting with what we’d missed, including local activities and restaurants. We were excited to see readers respond to our Faves survey with such enthusiasm, and even more excited to share the results here. This year, we revamped our categories to include even more Western New York establishments and hope this list will inspire you to support local by trying something new. Congratulations winners and thanks for making WNY a great place to live!
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Favorite Weekend Activity Walking While many activities (golf, gardening, being with grandkids) received mentions, walking was the far and away favorite. Especially in the early days of the pandemic, daily walking was one thing we didn’t have to forgo; perhaps that accounts for its overwhelming popularity this year.
Favorite Theater Shea’s Performing Arts Center 650 Main Street, Buffalo; 847-1410, sheas.org What began as a movie theater built by Michael Shea in 1926 is now a campus of three theaters in Buffalo’s theatre district: Shea’s Buffalo, Shea’s 710, and Shea’s Smith. Declared a National Historic Site in 1975, Shea’s Buffalo is a touring house providing a full season of Broadway shows. Things got extra exciting in 2016, when Shea’s was tapped to launch national tours, beginning with Finding Neverland.
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www.foreveryoungwny.com | December 2021
Favorite Outdoor Event Taste of Buffalo tasteofbuffalo.org Taste of Buffalo, presented by TOPS, the largest two-day food festival in the United States, made a welcome return in summer 2021. Attendees enjoyed food and drink from dozens of excellent Buffalo restaurants, food trucks, and wineries, as well as demonstrations from area chefs. Mark your calendars for next year’s Taste: July 9 and 10, 2022. Favorite Park/Nature Trail Chestnut Ridge Park 6121 Chestnut Ridge Road, Orchard Park; 662-3290 While it’s probably best known for its path to the Eternal Flame, a small waterfall with a shale rock base that hosts a seldomextinguished flame created by a natural gas leak, this longtime favorite park features many hikes and nature trails. The Park also received mentions as a favorite place to bring kids.
