The ins and outs of Buffalo’s arts

Welcome to Buffalo. You’ll hear that phrase a handful of times within your first few weeks in the City of Good Neighbors, as well as every claim to fame this wonderful city has to offer. Chicken wings, Loganberry, Niagara Falls, the Bills, Bisons & Sabres. These elements merely scratch the surface of what this small, but diverse city contains.

Buffalo is full of entertainment outlets. It’s home to countless art galleries, playhouses, concert venues, and theaters big and small. Don’t underestimate this city; explore it.

This is your guide to arts in Buffalo. As important as it is to get to know your campus, don’t deprive yourselves of endless good times.

Theaters/Performing Arts

Shea’s Performing Arts Center

646 Main St. Buffalo, NY 14202

Ask any theater enthusiast about big venues in Buffalo and they’ll immediately mention Shea’s. Located in downtown Buffalo on Main Street, Shea’s is home to some of the most popular live performances in the city. It’s even registered as a historic sight in Buffalo, and one glimpse at the gorgeous, red-and-gold décor will have you feeling like you’re back in 1929, the yearShea’s opened. Names like Bing Crosby, The Marx Brothers, and even Frank Sinatra have performed here through the years, adding to the theater’s allure. For those who are especially intrigued by the historic spot, Shea’s offers tours of the theater every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (except on performance days). One of the biggest perks of Shea’s is that the theater is easily reachable – simply take the Metro Rail from University (on UB’s South Campus), to the theater station downtown, and you’re there. Because it’s one of Buffalo’s most renowned spots, Shea’s is definitely worth a trip. Some upcoming shows to look out for are Broadway’s famous Billy Elliott from Sept. 25-30, and special Halloween performances of Jekyll and Hyde on Oct. 30-31.

MusicalFare

4380 Main St. Suite 123, Amherst NY 14226

If you are the type of person who prefers musicals to any other type of live production, you are in luck. A self-proclaimed “theatre of note”, MusicalFare solely focuses on musical theater. They are open year round and offer shows ranging from completely new musicals to revamped performances of traditional musicals (such as Urinetown or Oliver!) The theater is also partnered with UB’s Department of Theater and Dance and offers internships to students, ultimately providing them with opportunities to perform in some of the most well-known plays in musical theater. While located at Daemen College on Main Street, the theater is independently owned and therefore students and regular theater fans alike are welcome to any of their productions.

Regal Walden Galleria Mall Stadium 16

6 Galleria Dr. Cheektowaga, NY 14225

If you’re not a fan of live performances, the countless movie theaters in Buffalo are here for you. The Regal Cinema, located in the Galleria Mall, is a great choice for much needed breaks from campus. The mall itself is massive, with over 375 different stores to explore. Seeing a movie at the Galleria’s theaters might be the perfect end to a day full of shopping and food-court perusing. What are the best parts about seeing a movie here? Each theater has stadium seating, so even the shortest moviegoers are guaranteed a great view of the action (plus, who doesn’t enjoy stadium seating?). If you decide to catch a movie before 4 p.m., one adult ticket to any 2-D movie is $8, and $10 anytime after that. Although the Galleria Mall is a bit expensive to get to by taxi, students 18 years or older can also rent Zipcars from UB, allowing them not only the freedom of their own car for the day, but the luxury to spend as much time at the mall as they please. Zipcar rates at UB can start as low as $8 per hour and $66 per day.

AMC Maple Ridge 8

4276 Maple Rd. Amherst, NY 14226

Of course, not every trip off campus needs to be a big event. For the nights when you just want to grab some popcorn and catch a movie, the AMC Theater on Maple Road is the perfect choice. The movie theater is located right on the corner of Maple Road and Sweethome Road, in the Office Max shopping center. While it is within walking distance of North Campus, it’s a bit of an ambitious walk. However, according to the Buffalo Taxi Service, it is only about an eight-dollar cab ride away should you choose their services instead. The AMC Theaters are also right next to Tea Leaf Café, a small restaurant with a coffeehouse vibe that sells bubble tea, espresso, and even small meals such as dumplings or spring rolls. One of the best parts about this particular theater is that on every weekday, excluding Fridays, movie tickets are only $4.50. The cheap prices and the great location make this theater a perfect choice for a relaxing day or night in Buffalo.

Concert Venues

Town Ballroom

681 Main St. Buffalo, NY 14203

Serving as one of Buffalo’s most popular music venues, the Town Ballroom’s downtown address only adds to its appeal. The venue is only one block away from Chippewa Street and is located on the NFTA Metro Rail line, which is easily accessible from UB South Campus. In the past year, Town Ballroom has headlined artists such as Skrillex, Reel Big Fish, A$AP Rocky, and The Devil Wears Prada. Housing both established and local acts has made the Town Ballroom a local gem as opposed to a run-of-the-mill concert venue. Whatever your musical fancy might be, the Town Ballroom will more than likely fulfill your needs.