What’s Good – July 20-July 26, 2023
Our weekly guide to what’s going on around Buffalo and in the world of pop culture.
Thursday, 7/20
Five Points West Side Bike Tour (Five Points Bakery, 44 Brayton St, 6-8pm, $17/$7 students)
This four-mile bike ride tours the eclectic neighborhoods of the West Side. Learn about neighborhood history, and how neighborhood groups are revitalizing the West Side. Helmets required, reservations required, ages 14+.
Waterfront & Silo Tour (RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St, 2-3:30pm, $27)
This 90 minute tour begins with a walk through RiverWorks’ abandoned grain elevator, whose 36 silos once stored over a million bushels of grain. The tour then takes a bus towards Canalside, along the Erie Basin Marina for views of the lake, through Outer Harbor and then back to Riverworks. Every Tue-Fri through the end of September.
Tours of Open Gardens (Gardens Buffalo Niagara, 371 Delaware Ave, 10am-8pm Thu/Fri, FREE)
Green thumbs all across Erie and Niagara Counties open up their gardens to the public this and next Thursday and Friday. Entry to the gardens is free; a guide to where they are and what planets they contain is available with a $15 donation to Open Gardens WNY.
Organ Fairchild w/Dale Tolliver Trio (Fountain Plaza, 20 Fountain Plaza, 5-8pm, FREE)
Jam band Organ Fairchild started out as a Dead cover band before they started writing original music as a three-piece instrumental group. Dave Tolliver is a jazz guitarist who plays originals and standards. Part of Buffalo Place’s ongoing Thursday & Main concert series.
SuperCharger (Buffalo Irish Center, 245 Abbott Rd, 5-9:30pm, FREE)
SuperCharger is this week’s act to play under the tent at the Irish Center’s weekly concert series, with food and beer available. Bring your own lawn chairs!
Twelfth Night (MusicalFare Theater, 4280 Main St, Amherst, 7-9pm, $50)
Shakespeare’s comedy is updated with a jazz/funk score.
54th International Edsel Club Rally (Buffalo Mariott Niagara, 1340 Millersport Hwy, Amherst, All Day, FREE)
Ford only manufactured the Edsel from 1958-1960, but while the cars were derided in their time as ugly, they still have their fans 60 years later, and there are still Edsels on the road. This five-day celebration of the old-fashioned roadster includes cruises around town, sightseeing for out-of-town Edsel drivers, a memorabilia auction on Thursday, a judged competition on Saturday.
Friday, 7/21
52nd Grease Pole Festival (Pucho Olivencia Center, 261 Swan St, 5-11pm Fri, noon-11pm Sat/Sun FREE)
Three days of music, food, dancing, and celebration of Puerto Rican culture, including performances by Charlie Cruz, Alexandra, and more; carnival rides and games; and a competition where teams try and climb a greased 35-foot telephone pole.
Buffalo Subaru 4-Mile Chase (Bidwell & Elmwood, registration 11am, race 7pm, $35/$40 day of)
This run through Elmwood Village features prize money to the winners in every age group, free t-shirts to the first 750 entrants, live music (5-6pm before the race), kids’ races for ages 5-10, and free food and drink at the afterparty.
Rhett Miller of Old 97s (9th Ward, 341 Delaware Ave, 7pm, $30)
The lead singer of the venerable alt-country band comes to Babeville, with opening act Tonemah.
A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (PAUSA Art House, 19 Wadsworth St, 7pm, $10)
The Matt Michaud Quintet pays tribute to the jazz guitarist with, “the biggest, warmest, fattest sound on record,” whose music still resonates almost 40 years after his death.
Royal Bliss w/Royal Thunder, New Monarch (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $22)
The crowned heads of rock convene at Iron Works, with Utah-by-way-of-Nashville “heartland rock” group Royal Bliss, with two royalty-themed opening acts.
Concert For Unity (Wiley Pavilion, 1100 Jefferson Ave, 7-9pm, FREE)
The Buffalo Philharmonic plays a free outdoor concert, led by JoAnn Falletta.
Shakespeare at the Terminal (Buffalo Central Terminal, 495 Paderewski Dr, 7pm, FREE)
Shakespeare in Delaware Park presents Where There’s a Will, There’s a Play, an hour-long greatest-hits package of some of the Bard’s best-known scenes and sonnets. Seating not provided — guests are encouraged to bring chairs or a picnic blanket.
Twilight at the Museum (Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy, 8-11pm, $18)
Visit the museum after dark, for stargazing from the rooftop deck, talks with astronomers, and access to all four floors of the museum.
M&T Third Friday (Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court, 10am-5pm, FREE)
The Museum is free for all on the third Friday of every month, including special children’s activities and crafts, and an “artifact detective” event where kids can actually touch and hold items from the museum’s collection. And don’t forget to check out the Buffalo History Museum Podcast!
Hoyt Lake Walking Tour (Delaware Park Grand Staircase, 199 Lincoln Parkway, 11am-12:30pm, FREE)
This walking tour visits some of Delaware Park’s statues and landmarks, and teaches about Fredrick Law Olmstead’s vision for the city, and how the park has evolved over the years. Tour starts in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln near the Rose Garden, across from Albright-Knox. Reservations required.
Underground BLO Christmas in July (Rec Room, 79 Chippewa St, 10pm-2am, $20)
S&M-themed dance troupe and artist collective Underground BLO puts on an all-night show.
New Movies This Week
Barbie (in wide release)
Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the immortal doll line is getting rave reviews for building an actual emotional arc around a plastic dolls. And of course, the internet has been obsessed with the unlikely double-feature of this and…
Oppenheimer (in wide release)
Christopher Nolan takes on the epochal true story of the team of scientists that developed the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy plays the Father of the Atomic Bomb, who has to wrestle with the morality of bringing such a destructive force into the world.
They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
This sci-fi/comedy/Blaxploitation homage stars John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx, who uncover a secret government cloning experiment.
The Beanie Bubble (Apple TV+)
Zach Galifinakis and Elizabeth Banks play the real-life couple who divorced after investing a small fortune in Beanie Babies, a stuffed toy series that was all-too-briefly collectible in the 90s. Written by former First Daughter and Futurama writer Kristin Gore, and co-directed by Gore and OK Go frontman Damian Kulash.
Saturday 7/22
Buffalo’s Most Amazing Race (Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St, 8am)
Teams of two compete in a series of challenges including running, kayaking, rock climbing, puzzle solving, singing, and trying exotic foods. Prizes include $1000 cash, and tickets to Darien Lake, a Bills game TBD, the Irish Classical Theater, and more. Competing teams must raise $250 by the fundraising deadline (the race organizers frustratingly do not say when that is), and teams that raise more money get a head start!
Buffalo Ska Fest 2023 (Mohawk Place, 47 East Mohawk St, 4-11:30pm, $20)
The first annual ska fest is nearly sold out, so get tickets while you can! Acts include touring acts like Mephiskapheles, Backyard Superheroes, The Upfix, and local artists like Working Class Stiffs, The Abruptors, Do It With Malice, and Skamagotchi.
FrostFest 2023 (The Rapids Theater, 1711 Main St, Niagara Falls, 2-11pm, $18)
The lineup includes Fight From Within, Set For Tomorrow Midwinter, and Buffalo/Rochester bands Orange Grove Ave, Pale Hell, Perelandra, Face First, Alterist, and Tim the Truth.
Wage War w/Zero 9:36, Within Destruction, Avoid (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 2-11pm, $30)
These Florida hard rockers come through town on their Manic Tour.
Creed Fisher (Iron Works, 49 Illinois St, 7pm, $20)
Proud redneck Fisher plays Texas country music.
Buffalo FieriCon (Public House, 1206 Hertel Ave, 4-10pm, FREE)
The only bar crawl where participants are encouraged to dress up like Guy Fieri, as Hertel Avenue becomes the main drag in Flavortown for the day. Proceeds benefit food bank FeedMoreWNY.
Chef Darian’s Jamaican Market (Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St, 4-8pm, FREE)
This 3rd annual event features Jamaican food, African dancers, local vendors, games, prizes, and music.
Sunday 7/23
BanglaFest (Island Park, 555 Main St, Williamsville, noon-8pm, FREE)
This outdoor summer festival celebrities Bangladeshi culture with live music, food and craft vendors, and more.
Pappy Martin Legacy Jazz Fest (Buffalo History Museum, One Museum Court, 2-8pm, FREE)
The 28th annual celebration of music spans this Sunday and next. This week features Carol McLaughlin and Magnitude, George Caldwell, Nasar Abadey and Supernova, Buster Williams, and Trigger and the Sermon. Bring your own seating.
Big D and the Kids Table w/The Abruptors (Mohawk Place, 47 East Mohawk St, 7pm, $18)
If Saturday’s ska festival wasn’t enough, this Boston ska/punk band headlines at Mohawk.
Sunset Sundays (RiverWorks, 359 Ganson St, 6-11pm, $17)
Listen to house, techno, and breaks along the waterfront as the sun goes down.
Monday 7/24
Queen City Jazz Ride (Lafayette Square, 415 Main St, 6:30pm, FREE)”
This week’s Slow Roll is a 10-mile trip that explores the history of jazz in Buffalo, including a stop at the historic Colored Musicians Club, as well as a ride through Canalside. Food and drink at Lafayette Square after the ride.
Tuesday 7/25
Food Truck Tuesdays (Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St, 5-8pm)
Dozens of food trucks from Buffalo and Rochester ply their wares, along with live music.
Mest w/Makeout, Don’t Panic (Rec Room, 79 W Chippewa St, 6:30pm, $20)
Pop-punk group Mest played their final tour in 2008, but got back together a decade later and have been back at it ever since.
Skiffle Minstrels (Elmwood Village, 7pm, FREE)
This Western Swing dance band performs as part of the Bidwell Parkway Summer Concert Series.
Wednesday 7/26
SciNight: Physics of Color (Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Pkwy, 6-7:30pm, $30)
This workshop examines how light behaves in nature, and how wavelengths of light mix to form the color spectrum.
Bayside w/I Am the Avalanche, Koyo (Town Ballroom, 681 Main St, 6:30pm, $32)
Queens punk rockers Bayside come through town.
After Affect (River Fest Park, 249 Ohio St, 6:30-10pm, FREE)
Local alternative rockers play as part of the Buffalo River Fest Park outdoor concert series.
Shaun Murphy (Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi St, 8pm, $22)
Buffalo native Murphy is a veteran of the comedy circuit, including performances at the Boston Comedy Festival.
The Great British Baking Show: The Professionals (Netflix)
Everyone’s favorite comfort food shakes things up by bringing professional bakers in to go head-to-head.