Best Of Buffalo

With the Buffalo Sabres undefeated after nine games, the arts season in full swing and city-wide recovery from an unseasonably-early blast of classic Queen City weather all part of the talk of the town, The Spectrum runs down the best the region has to offer.

This is not a particularly in-depth or scientific study, but rather the first-response answers of members of The Spectrum staff and guest panelists. Enjoy!
Arts, Entertainment and Leisure

Art gallery

Albright-Knox Art Gallery - Western New York's premiere gallery, free on Fridays

Runners-up: Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, UB's Early Childhood Research Center (if you like handprints and other adorable works)

Music venue

Mohawk Place - Dark, dingy, and everything else a great up-and-coming music scene should be

Runners-up: Dome Theatre, Riviera Theatre, Kleinhans Music Hall

Bookstore

Talking Leaves - Everything from textbooks to book talks, locations on Main Street and Elmwood Avenue

Movie theater

Regal Cinemas on Elmwood and Transit, Dipson Theatre Amherst

It's not so much where you go as what you see

Festival or event

Allentown Art Festival and Taste of Buffalo - a citywide sampling of local favorites, a myriad of art and food respectively

Runner-up: Italian Heritage Festival (Hertel Avenue) - similar theme, sponsored by Sorrento cheese

Place to relax

Delaware Park - take a stroll in one of the legendary parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted

Runner-up: The Commuter Lounge in the Student Union

City district

The Elmwood Strip - window-shop and check out Buffalo's alternative scene

Runner-up: The Chippewa Strip, Buffalo's not-so-alternative scene

Bars and Restaurants

College bar

Third Base - a favorite of The Spectrum's sports desk, who also mourn the loss of Molly's Pub

Non-college bars

Brinks, Alternative Brews, Bogarts, Allen St. Hardware Caf?(c), Bobby McGees - As far as bars, almost everyone wins

Club

Level - More or less the biggest game in town

Wittiest write-in: Club Capen (As in, Capen Library). How sad.

Fast food

Mighty Taco - It's like Taco Bell, only tastier and (hopefully) healthier

Mighty won in a landslide, but don't forget Ted's Jumbo Red Hots and breakfast favorite Tim Hortons (Buffalo being the American gateway for the Canadian company)

Delivery

University Hots - A Rochester cuisine transplanted to Buffalo, grease and all

A popular write-in: NOT Domino's

Diner

Amy's Place - close and cheap

Runner-up: Pano's - Not so close or cheap, but still very good

Open 24/7

Tom's Restaurant - not only is it good, it's not a chain

Although they close at 5 a.m., Jim's Steak Out is still almost always a good late-night choice

Chicken wings

Duff's - many people concur, they beat the original

The original: Anchor Bar

Ice cream

Anderson's - local, easy to find, some right near Ted's (a full Buffalo dinner when eaten together)

Pizza

Try one of any of the local places, go by word of mouth. Don't get your hopes up too high, this isn't NYC.

Chinese food

Wok 22 - particularly fast, particularly nice, haven't messed up an order to the office yet

A little more upscale: Red Pepper

Coffeehouse

SpoT Coffee - great brew and atmosphere, plus it's where all the cool kids go

Runner-up: Tim Hortons, again

Specialty restaurant

Italian: Frank's Sunny Italy

Mexican:Gramma Mora's

Japanese:O Restaurant and Lounge

Uniquely Buffalo foods

Duff's, Ted's, Jim's Steak Out and Charlie the Butcher (Beef on Weck)

Sports

Buffalo pro sports team

Buffalo Sabres

Note: Records at the time of the survey, Sabres 9-0, Bills 2-5

UB sports team

Men's Basketball

Buffalo fans

Tie: Sabres and Bills fans - Sabres fans are big right now, but Bills fans are about as devoted as any

Sports venue

HSBC Arena - It's a lot closer than Orchard Park

Final thoughts

On architecture: "Buildings may be run down, but take away the spray paint and boards over windows and the buildings are beautiful. Plus City Hall, Niagara Square, Lafayette Square and Buffalo Electric." - Colin Size, Student Union Manager and guest panelist

On weather: "The 30-day span where there's no rain or snow." - Alex Rubin, sports editor

On entertainment: "I would not move for the world... I haven't been bored yet!" - Debbie Smith, business manager

Overall: "Awesome place to be." - Matt R. Manera, arts & life editor