Buffalo/North Buffalo

North Buffalo's location further from downtown than any other part of the city, as well as its poorly drained topography, conspired to make it the last part of Buffalo to urbanize. Being located at the foot of the Onondaga Escarpment in what was once the bed of a glacial lake, the marshy land of North Buffalo — or the Buffalo Plains, as the area was called in the early days — made it far less suitable for agriculture than the ground above that low ridge of flint. Cornelius Creek, which roughly followed the course of today's Hertel Avenue from its headwaters near what is today the corner of Parkside Avenue, traversed North Buffalo until sometime in the 1880s, when it was buried as part of the city's storm drain system. An outpost of civilization in this wilderness was the Great Iroquois Trail (today's Main Street), which was an important thoroughfare between Buffalo and points east such as Williamsville and Clarence Hollow that ran along the crest of the escarpment. Like the aforementioned hamlets, the farmsteads along that road played an important role in the War of 1812 as refuges for residents of Buffalo and Black Rock which were burned by the British in December 1813, and, in the case of Dr. Daniel Chapin's farm in what is now Parkside, as the site of the Flint Hill Encampment, where the Army of the Frontier under General Alexander Smythe spent that same winter. However, even as the city to its south grew astronomically, North Buffalo remained a rural backwater even well after 1868, the year Frederick Law Olmsted laid out the centerpiece of Buffalo's park system, Delaware Park, on land just south of here.

It was the construction of the New York Central Railroad's Belt Line in 1882 — a 15-mile (24 km) loop intended to enable residents of Buffalo's outskirts to commute to jobs downtown — that spurred the beginning of urbanization in North Buffalo. As early as 1876, Frederick Law Olmsted had planned to follow up the success of Delaware Park with a development he called Parkside, a verdant residential neighborhood adjacent to the park that would serve as a buffer between the pastoral park system and the bustle and congestion of the city. Now, with the construction of the railroad having driven up property values, construction of Parkside could begin in earnest. By the turn of the century, the ample houses of Parkside were occupied by a growing number of Buffalo's richest citizens — including Larkin Soap Company executive Darwin D. Martin, who moved into a substantial home on Jewett Parkway designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Immediately north of Parkside, across the tracks of the Belt Line, local business magnate Lewis Bennett had success with Central Park, a similarly upscale neighborhood situated on his former estate that he developed beginning in 1890; further west, the first houses and streets began appearing in what is now West Hertel, just northeast of the corner of Hertel Avenue and Military Road.

The Parkside Community Association maintains a website that contains neighborhood news and event listings, and — most notably by far — is an extremely comprehensive resource for information about Parkside's rich history, with an extensive written history of the neighborhood spanning the 18th Century to the present day, descriptions of many old houses and historic sites on its leafy streets, historic maps, and a myriad of other resources.

The University Heights Collaborative's website contains information on restaurants, nightlife, community happenings, and other items of interest to those visiting University Heights.

The Scajaquada Expressway (NY 198) is a short highway that passes through North Buffalo, extending between the Kensington Expressway on the East Side and Interstate 190 in Black Rock. The Scajaquada passes through the south end of Parkside and traverses Delaware Park, after which point it enters the West Side. Interchanges at Main Street and Parkside Avenue provide access to Parkside, Central Park, the Vernon Triangle, and (further afield) University Heights, while Hertel Avenue and Park Meadow are best accessible via the northbound Delaware Avenue and Elmwood Avenue exits.

Hertel Avenue can be almost inarguably considered the "main drag" of North Buffalo, passing from west to east through the heart of Buffalo's "Little Italy" and ending at Main Street just past the south end of University Heights. In addition, Kenmore Avenue straddles Buffalo's northern border with the suburban communities of Tonawanda and Kenmore, and Amherst Street passes through the residential areas of Parkside, Central Park, and Park Meadow, at the southern edge of North Buffalo. Major north-south routes in North Buffalo include, from west to east: Military Road (NY 265), Elmwood Avenue, Delaware Avenue (NY 384), Colvin Avenue, Parkside Avenue, Starin Avenue, and Main Street (NY 5).

In the Hertel Avenue business district, parking can be hard to come by on Hertel itself as well as on side streets within a block or so of the main drag. Parking meters are in place on Hertel along essentially the entire length of the business district (from Wallace to Virgil Avenues); paid parking is in effect Monday through Saturday until 5PM, at a rate of 50¢ per hour up to a maximum of two hours. The two free parking lots provided by the Hertel-North Buffalo Business Association are often your best bet for parking on the Hertel strip. These lots are located, respectively, next to Terrapin Station near the corner of Virgil Avenue, and next to Hertel Avenue Poutine and Cream near the corner of Sterling Avenue.

Though finding a spot in the University Heights business district can be difficult, parking along Main Street between LaSalle and University Avenues is free (though limited to two hours). On-street parking on Main Street north of University Avenue is prohibited, but most businesses at the outer extremity of University Heights have their own parking lots, so this shouldn't pose too much of a problem. There are also three free parking lots on the north side of Main Street: at West Winspear Avenue behind the Mobil gas station, at Heath Street behind the 1 Gloria J. Parks Community Center (this one is closed to the public during the community center's business hours), and at Englewood Avenue adjacent to the former P. J. Bottoms. Parking in these lots is limited to two hours. Perhaps your best bet for parking in University Heights, however, are the large, free NFTA Park-and-Ride lots at the University and LaSalle rail stations — see the By Metro Rail section below.

2 Enterprise, 2643 Delaware Ave (Metro Bus 5 or 25), ☏ +1 716 873-0100.

Members of the Zipcar car-sharing program have access to five vehicles located on UB South Campus. In the Main-Bailey Lot located adjacent to 3 Goodyear Hall there's a Ford Focus ($7.50/hr or $69/day M-Th, $8.50/hr or $77/day F-Su) and a Honda Civic ($8.50/hr or $69/day M-Th, $9.50/hr or $77/day F-Su), and in the Townsend Lot next to 4 Hayes Hall there's a Mazda 3 ($8.50/hr or $69/day M-Th, $9.50/hr or $77/day F-Su), a Ford Fiesta ($7.50/hr or $69/day M-Th, $8.50/hr or $77/day F-Su), and another Honda Civic (same price as the one at Goodyear Hall). All quoted prices include fuel, insurance, and 180 free miles (about 290 free kilometers) per day.

Public transit in Buffalo and the surrounding area is provided by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA). The NFTA Metro system encompasses a single-line light-rail rapid transit (LRRT) system and an extensive network of buses. The fare for a single trip on a bus or train is $2.00 regardless of length. No transfers are provided between buses or trains; travelers who will need to make multiple trips per day on public transit should consider purchasing an all-day pass for $5.00.

North Buffalo is traversed by a number of NFTA Metro bus routes:

NFTA Metro Bus #3 — Grant. Beginning at the city line at the corner of Kenmore Avenue and Military Road, Bus #3 proceeds westward down Kenmore Avenue through Riverside, re-entering North Buffalo at the corner of Military Road and Skillen Street and continuing southward down Military Road through West Hertel, ending downtown.

NFTA Metro Bus #5 — Niagara-Kenmore. Beginning at the University Metro Rail Station, Bus #5 proceeds westward down Kenmore Avenue, then entering Black Rock and continuing through the West Side via Niagara Street, finally ending downtown.

NFTA Metro Bus #8 — Main. Beginning at the University Metro Rail Station, Bus #8 proceeds down Main Street along the east edge of the district, through University Heights, Central Park, the Vernon Triangle, and Parkside (with service to all Metro Rail stations in the district), ending downtown.

NFTA Metro Bus #11 — Colvin. Beginning in Tonawanda, Bus #11 proceeds down Colvin Avenue through North Buffalo, then turns west at Hertel Avenue. Turning south again on Delaware Avenue, the bus passes through Park Meadow with service to Delaware Park before ending its run downtown.

NFTA Metro Bus #20 — Elmwood. Beginning in Tonawanda, Bus #20 proceeds down Elmwood Avenue through North Buffalo, with access to the Regal Elmwood Center and Tops shopping plazas, and ends downtown.

NFTA Metro Bus #25 — Delaware. Beginning in Tonawanda, Bus #25 proceeds down Delaware Avenue through North Buffalo. The bus passes the Delaware Consumer Square (Target) and Delaware Place shopping plazas, then proceeds perpendicularly across the Hertel Avenue corridor, through Park Meadow, and past Delaware Park, ending downtown.

NFTA Metro Bus #23 — Fillmore-Hertel. Beginning at the Black Rock-Riverside Transit Hub, Bus #23 proceeds eastward along Hertel Avenue to Main Street, where it turns south and accesses the Amherst Street Metro Rail Station. The bus then enters the East Side via Fillmore Avenue and ends in South Buffalo.

NFTA Metro Bus #32 — Amherst. Beginning at the Black Rock-Riverside Transit Hub, Bus #32 proceeds along Amherst Street, detouring briefly into the Elmwood Village via Elmwood Avenue, with service to Buffalo State College and the Museum District. After returning to Amherst Street, Bus #32 proceeds eastward through Park Meadow, Parkside, Central Park, and the Vernon Triangle, then passes the Amherst Street Metro Rail Station and proceeds further eastward into the East Side, ending at the Thruway Mall Transit Center in Cheektowaga.

The Metro Rail is an LRRT line that extends along Main Street from the University at Buffalo's South Campus southward to downtown, along the eastern border of North Buffalo. The Metro Rail serves as the backbone of Buffalo's public transit system, accessed directly by many bus routes. Like the buses, the fare for the Metro Rail is $2.00 ($4.00 round-trip); the $5.00 all-day passes available on Metro buses are also valid for the Metro Rail.

There are four Metro Rail stations located in North Buffalo. From north to south, they are:

1 University Station — Main Street at UB South Campus (University Heights).

2 LaSalle Station — Main Street at LaSalle Avenue (University Heights).

3 Amherst Street Station — Main Street at Amherst Street (Central Park/Vernon Triangle).

4 Humboldt-Hospital Station — Main Street at Humboldt Parkway (Parkside).

It bears mentioning that the University Station is a major node in Buffalo's public transportation network, served directly by no fewer than eleven bus routes, as well as the subway. In particular, anyone travelling on public transit from Buffalo to one of its northern suburbs, such as Tonawanda or Amherst, will very likely have to transfer at the University Station.

Also, the NFTA operates a large 600-space 5 Park & Ride lot on Main Street, adjacent to the University Station, and an even larger (and generally much less crowded) 800-space 6 Park & Ride lot behind the LaSalle Station. Parking in these lots is free, and they're great for people whose hotel may be located in the aforementioned northern suburbs but would like to visit North Buffalo (or anywhere else the Metro Rail goes). Users of the University Park-and-Ride in particular should ensure that they are parked in the correct place — the Park-and-Ride lot is surrounded by a number of other lots that are reserved for students and faculty of UB, and campus police will not hesitate to ticket cars without parking passes parked in reserved spaces.

Buffalo has made great strides in accommodating bicycling as a mode of transportation, with recognition from the League of American Bicyclists as a Bronze-Level "Bicycle-Friendly Community" to show for its efforts. Sadly, the bicycle infrastructure in North Buffalo is relatively underdeveloped compared to other parts of the city, and especially compared to other upscale neighborhoods such as the Elmwood Village and Allentown. However, this is not to say that North Buffalo is not a thoroughly enjoyable place to see by bike — the safe, quiet, and leafy streets of Park Meadow, Parkside, and Central Park are a cyclist's dream come true, with magnificent scenery to admire on the way to one's destination courtesy of the grandiose and architecturally distinguished housing stock of those areas.

What specialized bike infrastructure there is in North Buffalo is largely centered around Delaware Park. Meadow Drive, the 1.8-mile (2.9 km) ring road that circumnavigates the Delaware Park Golf Course and passes within view of the Buffalo Zoo and some of the grand old mansions of Park Meadow, is delightful for walkers, joggers and bicyclists alike. Though 1.1 miles (1.7 km) of Meadow Drive — from Agassiz Circle to Meadow Road — is also open to automobile traffic, traffic is generally quite light and speed limits for cars are very low (15 mph, or 24 km/h) and enforced strictly. Additionally, the Scajaquada Creekside Trail, also known as the Jesse Kregal Bike Path, begins in Park Meadow near the corner of Lincoln Parkway and Nottingham Terrace (a pedestrian bridge over the Scajaquada Expressway provides access from the Hoyt Lake trail) and proceeds 2.4 miles (3.8 km) along the north bank of Scajaquada Creek, passing the Japanese Garden and the Buffalo History Museum on its way into the West Side, where it ends at the Shoreline Trail in Black Rock.

Away from Delaware Park, University Heights boasts North Buffalo Rails-to-Trails, a network of paved multi-use trails, 1.4 miles (2.2 km) in total length, straddling the former Erie Railroad right-of-way. The main branch begins at the back end of the Park & Ride lot at LaSalle Metro Rail Station and extends along the west side of the old railroad embankment, with access to Shoshone Park near its south end. On the opposite side of the embankment is the 7 Minnesota Linear Park, which (along with a short spur west to Taunton Place) converges with the main line near the west end of Merrimac Street. From there, the route continues further northwest to the city line at Kenmore Avenue, whenceforth the Tonawanda Rails-to-Trails leads into downtown Tonawanda, with a further extension planned to connect to the Erie Canalway Trail. The entirety of the network is open to both cyclists and pedestrians, but the former are better off sticking to the straighter and better-maintained main line, while the latter are safest in the Linear Park, which unlike its counterpart is outfitted with security cameras.

North Buffalo has six Reddy Bikeshare racks:

on the north side of Hertel Avenue between North Park and Norwalk Avenues, in front of the North Park Theatre

on the east side of Parkside Avenue at the corner of Hertel Avenue, alongside M&T Bank

on the north side of Hertel Avenue at the corner of Parker Avenue, in front of the Daily Planet Coffee Company

adjacent to Delaware Park, in the back of the parking lot of St. George Orthodox Church at the corner of Amherst Street and Nottingham Terrace

on the south side of Amherst Street at the corner of Parker Avenue, in front of the entrance to the Amherst Street Metro Rail Station

on the west side of Main Street at the corner of LaSalle Avenue, in front of the LaSalle Metro Rail Station

In addition to the above, UB Bikeshare is a presence on the South Campus. Though these bikes are part of the Reddy system, you'd be forgiven for thinking otherwise: for instance, UB bikes are of a different model and sport a blue-and-white color scheme that's starkly distinct from the fire engine-red color of normal Reddy bikes, and their spokespeople are on record as saying the UB network is intended for use by students and generally try to steer non-students away from campus bikes. Nonetheless, if you're in a pinch, the UB bikes are fully accessible to ordinary Reddy members and work the same was as any other bike in the network. You can even drop them off at off-campus racks (though, again, the folks at Reddy prefer that you don't). UB Bikeshare racks can be found:

on the north side of Goodyear Road, at the entrance to Goodyear Hall

at the back end of Main Circle, in front of Abbott Hall

near the corner of Hayes and Winridge Roads, at the west end of the Pharmacy Building

Being a more spread-out area with attractions often spaced a good distance from each other, North Buffalo is relatively less amenable to pedestrians than other upscale Buffalo neighborhoods such as the Elmwood Village and Allentown. Exceptions include Hertel Avenue and Main Street in University Heights, both boasting dense and lively concentrations of shops, bars, restaurants, and other attractions. Also, the safe, verdant streets of Parkside, Park Meadow and Central Park are pleasant places for a leisurely stroll.

1 Nichols School Gallery, 1250 Amherst St. (Metro Bus 32), ☏ +1 716-332-6300. Hours vary. Located in the foyer of the Glenn & Audrey Flickinger Performing Arts Center on the campus of one of Buffalo's foremost private prep schools, the focus here is on works in a wide range of media by local artists (especially current Nichols students and alumni, much of whose work is displayed at the adjacent SEEARTRUN Gallery) or whose themes are relevant to Buffalo, Western New York, or the surrounding region. The Nichols School Gallery also hosts a range of travelling exhibits, workshops and visiting artist lectures. Free.

2 Revolution Gallery, 1419 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-322-7656. Th noon-6PM, F Sa noon-8PM, Su 11AM-4PM. A longtime fixture in the Buffalo arts community whose untitled illustration graced the inaugural issue of The Public, Craig LaRotonda opened Revolution Gallery in December 2016 along with his wife, fellow artist Maria Pabico LaRotonda, after a successful Kickstarter campaign. LaRotonda's own style is a sort of noir surrealism, and that's the aesthetic he's going for with this gallery — to borrow the words of the website, the emphasis is on works by local artists (including, of course, the LaRotondas themselves) that are "provocative and imbued with dark beauty, emotion, and mystery" and are executed in a variety of media: drawings, paintings, photography, and sculpture but also handmade jewelry and postcard prints offered for sale. As well, Revolution Gallery augments their permanent collection with a regularly scheduled slate of temporary and travelling exhibitions by local, national, and international artists including their inaugural one, Inception: a multimedia exhibit of work by artist Damien Echols, famous as one of the exonerated "West Memphis Three" falsely convicted of murder in 1994. Free. (updated Dec 2016)

3 St. Andrew's Sculpture Garden, 3107 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle). Opening hours vary by exhibition. The Buffalo arts community first took notice of the once-forlorn empty lot behind St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in University Heights in 2013, when it was pressed into use as a staging area for the University Heights Art Crawl. Owned now by the University Heights Art Association — the community group that's behind that annual event as well as many of the outdoor murals you'll find on area buildings — the space has been transformed into a beautifully landscaped, intimately scaled outdoor garden centered on a stone-paved courtyard of ten platforms where sculptures and other works of three-dimensional art are displayed on a changing basis. St. Andrew's Sculpture Garden is open for temporary exhibitions as well as poetry readings, live music performances, and other events. Free. (updated Dec 2015)

5 Buffalo History Museum (Formerly the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society Museum), 25 Nottingham Ct (Metro Bus 20 or 32), ☏ +1 716-873-9644. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, W until 8PM, Su noon-5PM, Resource Center by appointment during business hours, Research Library W-Sa 1PM-5PM. Located just off Elmwood Avenue in Park Meadow, adjacent to Delaware Park, the newly renamed Buffalo History Museum has by far the most extensive collection of artifacts relevant to the history of Buffalo and Western New York from pre-Columbian times to the present day. It was built for the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, so it is perhaps not surprising that the Exhibition is a particular focus of the exhibits at this wonderful museum. A Pierce-Arrow roadster built in Buffalo, the medal presented by George Washington to Chief Red Jacket, prototypes of the cardiac pacemaker invented by Clarence native Wilson Greatbatch, and artistic renderings of historical scenes and people flesh out the collection. Further historical records, manuscripts, photographs, and personal documents are housed at the Research Library. The Buffalo History Museum is also an invaluable resource for local residents interested in genealogy. $7, seniors and students 13-21 $5, children 7-12 $2, members and children under 7 free. Research Library $7, free to members.

6 McKinley Death Rock, Fordham Drive (Metro Bus 20 or 32). On the center island in the middle of Fordham Drive, in Park Meadow on what once were the grounds of the Pan-American Exposition, is a small rock with a historic plaque marking the spot where President McKinley was standing when felled by the bullet of his assassin, Leon Czolgosz. (Well, not the exact spot, which is now inside the living room of the house at 29 Fordham, but close enough.) (updated Feb 2020)

7 Delaware Park, Parkside Lodge, 84 Parkside Ave. (Metro Bus 8, 11, 20, 25, or 32; Metro Rail: Humboldt-Hospital), ☏ +1 716-838-1429. Dawn to dusk. With an area of 234 acres (93 ha), Delaware Park is the central node in Buffalo's park system, by far the largest park in Buffalo, and one of the largest and best-preserved examples of Frederick Law Olmsted's landscape architecture anywhere. All the classic Olmsted features are present here: a large, grassy Meadow that is now the site of the Delaware Park Golf Course, thick stands of trees, and Hoyt Lake, the 46-acre (18.5-ha) pond in the southwest corner of the park that Olmsted originally named "Gala Water". An essay by Charles Beveridge on the Olmsted park system in Buffalo describes how well Delaware Park continues to fulfill its intended role as a place for Buffalonians to experience nature and greenery without leaving the city limits; Delaware Park, as per his essay, is "the only public space designed by Olmsted in Buffalo that met his definition of the term 'park' — a setting of pastoral scenery extensive enough to provide complete escape from the artificiality and noise of the city." Delaware Park is popular year-round, but is most often enjoyed during the warm months, when walking, bicycling, jogging, tennis, golf, and basketball are popular activities. Delaware Park is also the site of the Buffalo Zoo, described in more detail below.

8 Buffalo Zoo, 300 Parkside Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 32), ☏ +1 716-837-3900. Summer: Sa-Th 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-7:30PM Winter: Daily 10AM-4PM. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Buffalo Zoo is the third-oldest zoo in the United States (founded in 1875 on the former site of the Deer Paddock at Delaware Park) and is second in popularity only to Niagara Falls among tourist attractions in the Niagara Frontier, welcoming 400,000 visitors each year. The 23-acre (9.5-ha) Zoo boasts exciting thematic displays that play host to 1,200 different animals, such as elephants, bears, otters, sea lions, hyenas, and of course, bison. Some of the animals, such as a resident peacock, are allowed to roam freely on the walkways, allowing visitors to get closer to nature than they would in most zoos. In 2002, a new Master Plan was unveiled that will see the Zoo thoroughly modernized over the next 15 years. Under this framework, the Vanishing Animals, EcoStation, Otter Creek, Sea Lion Cove and South African Rainforest exhibits have already opened, with a new Children's Zoo and other exhibits slated for the near future. $10, students and seniors $8, children 2-14 $7, children under 2 free. Parking $3.50. Train and carousel rides $2.

Parkside is also the home of what is undoubtedly the premier attraction in Buffalo for architecture buffs:

13 Darwin D. Martin House Complex, 125 Jewett Pkwy. (Metro Bus 8 or 11; Metro Rail: Amherst Street), ☏ +1 716-856-3858. Basic Tours leave M W Sa 11AM, noon, & 1PM; Su 12:30PM, 1PM & 1:30PM; In-Depth Tours leave M W F Sa 11AM, Su 12:30PM. The most important work of the first half of Frank Lloyd Wright's career, and the first commission for that renowned architect outside of Chicago, the Darwin D. Martin Complex is one of the crown jewels of Buffalo's huge architectural cornucopia. The complex includes not only the Darwin D. Martin House itself — built in 1904-05 for the president of the Larkin Soap Company. Basic tour $15, $13 seniors, $10 students, members free; In-Depth Tours $30, $28 seniors, $25 students and members.

14 UB Museum of Neuroanatomy, 360 Biomedical Education Building, UB South Campus, 3435 Main St. (Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-829-3081. Open for guided tours by appointment. Otherwise known simply as the "Brain Museum", the UB Medical School's Museum of Neuroanatomy is the only one in the United States dedicated exclusively to the human brain. Since 1994, this unique collection has comprised over 80 of these organs preserved in formaldehyde — both healthy specimens whose internal structures, such as the cerebellum and hippocampus, are clearly displayed and labeled, as well as pathological ones showing the effects on the anatomy of the brain of Alzheimer's disease, aneurysms, and other maladies. Exhibits are engagingly designed and accessible to everyone from the layman to the academic. Free. (updated May 2015)

Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival. Buffalo's Cherry Blossom Festival serves as both a tribute to the city's sister-city relationship with Kanazawa, Japan, as well as a fundraiser for the continuing upkeep of Delaware Park's Japanese Garden. This weeklong festival usually takes place about three weeks after its much more famous counterpart in Washington, D.C., with peak bloom in early to mid-May. In between admiring the lovely trees, you can also catch live music, take a boat ride on Mirror Lake, and — especially — take a taste of Japanese culture with bunraku puppet theater performances and a traditional tea ceremony on the portico of the Buffalo History Museum. Expanding their scope far beyond the Japanese Garden, the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival's organizers also sponsor cherry tree plantings all over the city, and will even sell you one to plant in your own yard. (updated May 2015)

2 Delaware Park Golf Course, 84 Parkside Ave. (Metro Bus 8, 11, 25 or 32; Metro Rail: Humboldt-Hospital), ☏ +1 716-838-1249. Opened in 1930 on the site of Delaware Park's Meadow, the Delaware Park Golf Course is arguably the most popular golf course in the city. Golfers can enjoy playing a full 18-hole game in a beautifully landscaped environment; the course is par 68 and its longest tees have a yardage of 5,359 yards. The 1 Parkside Lodge is a lovely 1914 Craftsman-style building that houses a snack bar and the course's pro shop. Weekend green fees $15.00. (updated Sep 2017)

3 Grover Cleveland Golf Course, 3781 Main St. (Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-836-7398. Located at the far northeast corner of the city, across Bailey Avenue from UB's South Campus, this 18-hole, par 69 course is not only one of Western New's most challenging, but also one of its most historic: as the home of the Country Club of Buffalo from 1900 until its move to the suburb of Williamsville in 1925, the course was the site of the first airplane flight in Western New York, which took off from here in 1910, played host to the 1912 U.S. Open, and contains on its premises the 15 Schenck House, the second-oldest extant building in the city (built in 1822, four years after the Coit House in Allentown), now used for storage and office space. The Grover Cleveland Golf Course boasts a practice green, men's and ladies' locker rooms, and a clubhouse and concession stand. During winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is permitted from 7AM-dusk. $16, $18 weekends and holidays, $11 seniors and youths (weekdays only, proof of age required), cart rental $24, club rental $10.

4 North Buffalo Ice Rink, 156 Tacoma Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-873-8481. Open skate M & Th 11AM-1PM, Tu-W 4:30PM-6PM, F & Su 7PM-9PM, Sa 5:30PM-6:30PM (Sep-Mar); M-Th 3PM-5PM, F 8PM-9PM, Sa 7:30PM-9PM, Su 4:30PM-6PM (Apr-Aug). $2, children 5-17 $1, children under 5 free, skate rental $2.

5 Kaleidoscope Theatre, 18 Agassiz Circle (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: Humboldt-Hospital), ☏ +1 716-479-1587. With a mission of enriching and enlightening audiences through the power of live theatre, the Kaleidoscope Thratre is an independent, award-winning production house dedicated to high-quality original material produced in-house, as well as occasional performances of classics such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Kaleidoscope shows three plays per year, usually with a run of two weeks each, at the Lecture Hall Theatre in Medaille College's Main Building.

6 Subversive Theatre Collective, 255 Great Arrow Ave (Metro Bus 20 or 32), ☏ +1 716-408-0499. The Manny Fried Playhouse, named after a former Buffalo theatre actor, union organizer, and political radical and located in the former Pierce-Arrow Factory Complex in Park Meadow, is the new home of the Subversive Theatre Collective. This bold new troupe's mission is to present provocative works of drama that are "dedicated to the needs, concerns, and aspirations of those who are oppressed, exploited, and disenfranchised by the existing social order". The Subversive Theatre Collective has staged performances of works such as Maxine Klein's The Furies of Mother Jones and Bertolt Brecht's The Mother, and has traditionally been an integral part of Buffalo's annual Infringement Festival.

7 Dipson Amherst Theatre, 3500 Main St., Amherst (at University Plaza; Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-834-7655. Owned by Dipson Theatres, a local chain of movie houses, the Amherst Theatre is located at the University Plaza at the outer end of University Heights. It features three screens showing an interesting mix of indie and arthouse films, Hollywood blockbusters of the more high-concept variety, and the occasional foreign film.

8 North Park Theatre, 1428 Hertel Ave (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-836-7411. Almost inarguably the most distinctive movie theatre in the Buffalo area, the North Park was built in 1920 as an old-fashioned silent movie palace and still boasts an exquisite (and newly restored) Baroque interior with Art Deco flourishes. The single screen shows indie films almost exclusively. The North Park Theatre is also famous as the site of the world premiere of Buffalo '66, the critically-acclaimed directorial debut of local native Vincent Gallo, which took place here in June 1998.

9 Regal Elmwood Center, 2001 Elmwood Ave (Metro Bus 20 or 23), ☏ +1 716-871-0950. 16 screens showing standard big-name Hollywood fare.

10 Voelker's Bowling Center, 686 Amherst St. (Metro Bus 20 or 32), ☏ +1 716-876-6020. M-F 6PM-4AM, Sa noon-4AM, Su 9AM-4AM. Situated at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Amherst Street and especially popular with students of nearby Buffalo State College, Voelker's may seem like it was plucked from another time. Behind a lively bar redolent of old-school Buffalo — the kind of place where you might see Pabst Blue Ribbon being drunk by rough-around-the-edges blue-collar types, rather than ironically by hipsters — are 36 bowling lanes, as well as three pool tables and a few dartboards. Open daily till 4AM, Voelker's is the place to go for late-night bowling in Buffalo.

11 Hippodrome Billiards, 975 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-874-1802. M-Sa 1PM-3AM, Su 4PM-1AM. The oldest continually operating billiard hall in North America, Hippodrome Billiards opened in 1914 in the Theater District; through its early years of operation, some of history's great pool sharks, such as Minnesota Fats and Willie Mosconi, were regulars here. Sadly, Hippodrome is situated today in a nondescript suburban-style strip mall at the southwest corner of Delaware and Hertel Avenues. Despite the unfortunate location — and its spacious, bright and clean ambience that runs counter to the stereotype of pool halls — Hippodrome manages to conserve some of the old-school feel with chairs, cue racks, and several billiard tables retained from the original property. And, for those who'd rather skip the history lesson and just shoot a few games of pool, Hippodrome's rate of $4 per person per hour is hard to beat.

The Hertel strip is the place to go in Buffalo for antiques, furniture and housewares, and quirky gifts.

1 Agorie Headwear, 1434 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-834-4287. Tu-F noon-6PM, Sa noon-5PM. If the "New Buffalo" is all about finding inspiration for the future in the glories of the past, then Agorie Headwear fits right in. With an aesthetic described in the pages of Buffalo Rising as "fashion-forward yet retro", the inventory of bowlers, fedoras, Panama hats, newsboy caps, and other merchandise you'll find on the shelves is a throwback to the days when it was unthinkable to leave the house bare-headed. And prices are surprisingly reasonable, as well: while a particularly high-end hat might cost as much as $150, it's rare that you'd be unable to find a truly high-quality piece for less than $100. (updated Sep 2018)

2 Bon Fire Craft, 1455 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-424-0229. Tu & Th-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Bon Fire Craft is the only jewelry shop in Buffalo where all stages of production take place in-house: all of these limited-edition pieces are hand-forged, hand-cast, hand-carved, and gems and other inlays are hand-set by owner Emily Sajban herself. There's definitely a house style, but it's impossible to describe in any succinct way — "rustic" might be the word that comes closest; popular artistic motifs include trees, leaves, bears and other forest animals, as well as skulls and Indian-head nickels. (updated Sep 2018)

3 Buffalo Apparel Company, 1415 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23). M 9AM-4PM, Tu 9AM-5PM, W 11AM-7PM, Th-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11AM-3PM. This somewhat ambiguously-named shop at the heart of the Hertel strip isn't merely an apparel company in Buffalo: its stock in trade is indeed specifically focused on Buffalo apparel. The impresario behind it all is Jeff Morreale, who traded in a career in graphic design to launch Buffalo Icon, his own line of custom-designed T-shirts, hoodies, and other gear emblazoned with themes of local identity and pride (which just so happen to also make great souvenirs and gifts!) (updated Feb 2020)

4 Korona Jewelry, 1588 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-834-4755. Tu-F 11AM-6PM, Sa 11AM-4PM. In business since 1900, Korona is the longest-running family-owned jeweler in Buffalo, providing a shopping experience and a selection of rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, and other gold and silver jewelry that marries old-school customer service and quality workmanship with the latest in modern techniques and technology. Bridal jewelry is a particular specialty, and staff is happy to work with customers to design custom pieces to their personal specifications. (updated Sep 2018)

10 Cone Five Pottery, 1508 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-332-0486. W-Sa 11AM-5PM, Th till 8PM. Greg Link is the self-taught craftsman whose sculpture and handmade pottery can be found among the unique items for sale and on display in Cone Five Pottery's ample gallery space. The rest of the collection encompasses works by over 50 artists from all over Buffalo and Western New York, in media as diverse as painting, jewelry, metal and wood art, photography, and blown glass, as well as occasional temporary exhibitions. In addition, open studio time for gallery members takes place at Cone Five every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from noon till 9PM, and Donna Goeckel Martiny and Rachel Kofahl conduct pottery classes for basic and advanced learners. (updated Sep 2018)

11 Dana Tillou Fine Arts, 1478 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-854-5285. W-F 10:30AM-5PM, Sa 10:30AM-4PM. After over half a century operating out of a breathtaking mansion in Allentown, Dana Tillou moved in 2016 to a smaller space on Hertel, and with that move came a change in focus: away from 19th- and early 20th-century American and British paintings and furniture to more contemporary pieces in line with the tastes of a new generation of art and design aficionados. If you've just come to browse, though, never fear: a somewhat more selectively curated variety of works by Western New York artists is still displayed at his gallery-cum-shop, with locally famous names like Martha Visser't Hooft, Carlo Nisita, and Evelyn Rumsey Cary represented. (updated Sep 2018)

12 Local Color Gallery, 1417 Hertel Ave (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-885-5188. Tu-Sa noon-6PM or by appointment. A small storefront boutique gallery operated by the legendary Michael Morgulis out of a section of his Hertel Avenue shop, New Buffalo Graphics, the Local Color Gallery's exhibit space features brightly colored, pop art-style prints with almost a comic-book look to them, where local themes predominate and Morgulis' background in graphic design is on full display. Works can be purchased in-store or online. (updated Sep 2018)

13 The Main Frame, 1386 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-447-1107. Tu-F 10AM-5:30PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Opened in 1988 as a small art gallery and frame store at the heart of the Hertel Avenue corridor, The Main Frame is a sister shop to the venerable Vern Stein Art & Frame in Williamsville, and serves also as the production facility for the custom-made frames sold at both stores. The Main Frame boasts a large selection of prints on display and for sale, with antique prints featuring local scenes and themes a particular specialty. The Main Frame's staff has over 30 years of combined experience in custom framing, and really does a marvelous job at it. (updated Sep 2018)

14 The Antique Lamp Company and Gift Emporium, 1213 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-871-0508, info@antiquelampco.com. W-Sa 11AM-4PM. Wherein longtime antique aficionado John Tobin offers up a full selection of antique and vintage lamps and light fixtures in 19th- and early 20th-century styles such as Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Mission, and Art Moderne, along with a variety of fine china, timepieces, jewelry and fashion accessories, and other gifts. Western New York's only full-time, professional lamp restorer, Tobin's work in restoring these pieces to their former brilliance truly betrays the boundless love he has for what he does. Best of all, soft music and subtle fragrances make for a pleasant shopping experience. (updated Apr 2019)

15 Buffalo Antiques and Quality Furniture, 1539 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-832-4231. W-Sa noon-5PM. Dealing in a wide selection of wholesale antique furniture, timepieces, china, sterling silver, light fixtures, and decorative accessories, Buffalo Antiques is a massive emporium that's been in business on Hertel for over fifteen years. In addition to the antique items, which represent Victorian and 19th-century European styles through the Mid-Century Modern period, a variety of new furniture is also sold here: Buffalo Antiques is a licensed dealer of the Maitland-Smith and LaBarge brands. As well, these fine folks are always on the lookout for quality items to purchase, from single items to partial and total estate sale liquidations. (updated Sep 2018)

16 JM Gold Buyers, 1484 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-913-8549. M-F 9AM-5PM. This store's name is an unfortunate misnomer: much more than just another sleazy old-gold buyer, the much more interesting half of the operation has been described by one satisfied customer as "like the best parts of an estate sale were put together in a small shop". Specialties among the maddening diversity of antiques here include weaponry including guns, knives and Japanese swords, "modern vintage" paintings, sculptures and other art, and Oriental rugs. Fans of the usual array of furniture, timepieces, light fixtures, jewelry and collectibles won't be disappointed either. (updated Sep 2018)

17 Man Cave Outfitters of Buffalo, 1453 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-830-3984. M-Sa 9AM-8PM. If you prefer to "outfit your mancave" with collectibles from the golden age of Buffalo brewing, check out the vintage neon signs, wall clocks, steins, ice chests, and bottle openers at this unique breweriana shop. Iroquois and Simon Pure logos abound, but if you're not familiar with those local brands of yore, never fear: they've got old-timey national-brand merchandise too. But that's only half the story: in partnership with the House of Jacob with whom they share the building, Man Cave Outfitters also sells restored vintage guitars and other musical instruments, and there's even a custom jeweler who practices his craft in a small nook in the back. (updated Sep 2018)

21 The Second Reader, 1421 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-862-0001. Tu-Th 11AM-6PM, F Sa 11AM-7PM. The selection at this small used book shop directly across from the North Park Theater may not be the widest, but the Second Reader makes up for that with the quality of its merchandise and the friendliness and enthusiasm of its staff — not to mention the surprising and unusual finds that can often be encountered on the shelves there. The Second Reader's excellent prices are exemplified by the "$1 Book Table" which makes regular appearances in season on the sidewalk in front of the store. In addition to books, a range of prints, gifts and other ephemera are available here. (updated Sep 2018)

22 Blue Marble Sweet Shop, 1096 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-249-1080. W-Sa 10:30AM-6:30PM, Su noon-6PM. Bella Mia may have closed in 2019, but Hertel wasn't without a resident confectioner for long: enter Blue Marble, where the inventory is not a Boomer-friendly lineup of retro-nostalgic candy brands but a millennial-oriented international smorgasbord of sweets with a focus on a different country every month (for instance, the inaugural one was Japan, with lychee milkshakes and wasabi Kit Kats in stock). If using your sweet tooth to promote intercultural awareness and harmony sounds like an idea you can get behind, stop on in — and if coffee is your indulgence of choice, do the same. (updated Feb 2020)

In addition to the imported cheeses, pastas, olive oils, and so forth that are to be expected in Little Italy, Hertel has a small colony of Middle Eastern groceries that's located near the corner of Delaware Avenue.

23 Al Noor Grocery, 1200 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-876-4752. M-Th Sa Su 11AM-8PM, F 3PM-9PM. Tasty Middle Eastern groceries of all types are the order of the day at Al Noor, with the crowded aisles of this little place fully stocked with everything from spices to Turkish coffee to canned vegetables to sheesha to a small selection of frozen foods. This stuff is the real deal, authentic and delicious — especially the halal meats that are the specialty here. Interestingly enough, British visitors will note that this is the only place in Buffalo that stocks Vimto soft drinks. (updated Oct 2018)

24 The House of Olives, 1374 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-876-6457. Tu-F 11AM-6PM, Sa 11AM-7PM, Su noon-4PM. Easily the most interesting of the products sold here by owner Sandy Hofschneider are her flavored olive oils: infusions of fresh basil, jalapeño, Meyer lemon, garlic mushroom, and more into the imported extra-virgin oils you can also buy plain. Infused vinegars are also a specialty, with blackberry, raspberry, hickory, and chocolate among the available flavors. Best of all, Hofschneider herself is always on hand to suggest pairings, share recipes, or — bringing to bear her experience working as a registered nurse in North Carolina — extol the myriad health benefits of extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars. (updated Sep 2018)

25 Jerusalem Halal Market, 1146 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-259-8381. Daily 10AM-10PM. What sets Jerusalem Halal Market apart from the competition among the Middle Eastern grocers on the west end of the Hertel strip is the pleasant shopping experience: the store is clean and brightly lit, the merchandise is well-organized, the aisles are easy to navigate, and customer service is friendly and attentive. As well, there's an in-house butcher that sells fresh meat (100% halal, like everything else sold here) several days a week; if it's closed when you stop in, there's always an ample selection of frozen meats. Rounding out the inventory is a modest selection of fresh produce as well as hookah pipes, headscarves, and other Islamic clothing. (updated Sep 2018)

26 Johnny's Meats, 1191 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-876-2500. M 9AM-5:30PM, Tu-F 8AM-5:30PM, Sa 7AM-5PM. Since 1960, Johnny's Meats has offered for sale a full range of meats, cold cuts, and cheeses, many of which are produced locally. Johnny's homemade Italian sausage, crafted with a secret blend of herbs and cheeses, is a specialty, but it's also just the beginning of the story — this real, old-fashioned butcher shop sells it all. Beef, lamb, bacon, veal, locally produced Sahlen's hot dogs, seafood, pork, poultry, and delicious homemade meatballs all keep Johnny's loyal customers coming back for more. In another nod to Hertel Avenue's status as the epicenter of Buffalo's Italian community, a small line of pasta products is also available. (updated Sep 2018)

28 Jam Records, 1225 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-213-7604. M W Th noon-7PM, F Sa noon-8PM, Su noon-5PM. The merchandise on the racks here is the basically the same as at Revolver Records down the street: a vast, diverse, and well-organized collection of mostly used vinyl, accurately graded and generally in good condition. But in terms of ambience and clientele, Jam Records skews older and tones down the hipster factor a bit: picture veteran scenesters who saw the Ramones play at Buffalo State College in '77 versus twentysomething rich kids wearing $99 designer-label Ramones t-shirts. In keeping with that old-school identity, Jam is also a place to pick up reasonably-priced vintage audio equipment such as turntables, amps, and speakers. (updated Oct 2018)

29 Revolver Records, 1451 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-213-7604. Tu-Th noon-7PM, F noon-8PM, Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-5PM. As has become the rule among the new crop of record shops that have lately sprung up around Buffalo, vinyl is the name of the game at Revolver Records: on offer is a gargantuan yet carefully-curated kaleidoscope of over 15,000 titles spanning all genres and time periods from the 1950s to the present and representing some of the most interesting, obscure, sought-after, and above all, best music on the planet; everything from popular favorites to hard-to-find imports to offerings from Buffalo's local music scene, all accurately graded. There's a limited selection of music on CD and other formats too. (updated Sep 2018)

30 Conley Interiors, 1425 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-838-1000. M-F 10AM-5PM or by appointment. Here you have three floors of stylish sofas, tables, chairs, bedroom sets, lighting elements, original works of art, and other decorative baubles; an inventory that encompasses a timeless diversity of styles and includes everything from major brands to custom-made pieces from small workshops all over the world. Conley Interiors also proudly custom-designs interior spaces to their customers' specifications — in fact, it was named in 2002 by Architectural Digest magazine as one of Western New York's top interior-design firms. (updated Sep 2018)

31 Hertel Home Consignment, 1390 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-248-2588. Tu W 10AM-5PM, Th F 11AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-4PM. "Consignment with flare" is the operating credo at Hertel Home Consignment, with an exceptionally well-curated selection that is high-quality yet affordable, constantly changing, and often tailored to reflect seasonal trends. Living room furniture, dressers and armoires, lamps, objets d'art come gently used but still vibrant, often sourced from people selling their homes, downsizing, or the like. And if you're looking to find a new home for your favorite piece, bring it on in: consigners get 50% of the profit after the sale! (updated Sep 2018)

32 MiMo Decor, 1251 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-873-0727. W-Sa 11AM-7PM, Su noon-5PM. As its abbreviated name implies, the stock in trade is furniture, home decorative elements, and original artwork representing the best in Mid-century Modern design. The inventory at MiMo Decor is, for the most part, a well-curated collection of authentic vintage items, but you'll also find a few Midcentury-inspired new pieces as well. Modernist and industrial-chic chairs are a particular specialty, but you can find pretty much anything for the home, whether it be dressers and armoires, living room sets, lamps, interior baubles, even unique handcrafted jewelry. Prices at MiMo run the gamut, too — no matter your budget, chances are you can find something affordable here. (updated Sep 2018)

33 room, 1400 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-939-2692. Tu-F 10AM-6PM, Th till 8PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Described by one reviewer as "a fantasy world of what my living room could be like", in a pleasant ambience of scented soy candles and elegant chandeliers are placed a bevy of classic modern furniture, dinnerware, rugs, textiles, and other decorative elements and accessories. The brands room carries are not only stylish and cutting-edge, but are often locally manufactured and are united by a commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly production. These items are high-end and priced accordingly, so come prepared to splurge; if not, sales and promotions do occur on a regular basis. (updated Sep 2018)

34 BuffaloMart, 1499 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23). W-Sa 10AM-6PM. Whether through mail order or at a series of retail shops, John Hoffman has been proudly promoting his hometown since the early '90s via an exclusive line of t-shirts, embroidered baseball caps, hoodies, coffee mugs, and other Buffalo-themed souvenir swag that he screenprints himself in the workshop behind Buffalo Bar & Grille in the Old First Ward, which he also owns. Choose from some 30 custom designs that pay homage to all of the many facets of Buffalo that locals take pride in — from sports to history to ethnic heritage to architecture. (updated Sep 2018)

35 New Buffalo Graphics, 1417 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-885-5188. Tu-Sa noon-6PM and by appointment. If you want to commemorate your visit to Western New York with high-quality t-shirts, prints, cards, mugs, and miscellaneous gifts emblazoned with icons of buffaloes, photos of beloved Buffalo landmarks, and catchy slogans all the locals can recite by heart (in fact, one of Buffalo's most enduring nicknames, the "City of No Illusions", originated as a slogan on a New Buffalo Graphics t-shirt), this is the place for you. All the designs are the work of owner Michael Morgulis, whose knowledge of the ins and outs of Buffalo is matched by the enthusiasm of his love for his hometown. (updated Sep 2018)

36 Daisy's Doghouse, 1448 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-998-1257. Tu-Sa 11AM-7PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Named by owner Lisa Samar after her beloved dog, pet supplies for the dog lover is the name of the game at this independently-owned specialty boutique. Natural, holistic, and often locally-sourced products are priced competitively with mass-market big-brand items: everything from leashes to shampoos to bowls to organic, filler-free dog foods and treats from brands such as Fromm and Wild Callings. All this is available to browse in a brightly-painted, well-lit retail floor that also serves as space for the puppy training classes the store puts on. You can even choose from a range of animal-themed greeting cards. (updated Sep 2018)

37 Her Sanctuary, 1438 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-886-6457. Tu-Sa noon-7PM. Sharing the same positive vibes and life-affirming ethos of Her Story Boutique (the now-closed Elmwood Avenue shopping destination owned by the same mother/daughter entrepreneurial team) but taking things in a somewhat different direction, Her Sanctuary does double duty: on the shelves you'll find anything and everything to do with health and wellness — think locally-sourced kombucha, yoga mats, and handmade healing crystals — while the pleasant, peaceful event space is where you can hear prominent women from around the community share inspirational stories about their lives and accomplishments during the "Her Story Hours" the shop hosts periodically. (updated Sep 2018)

38 Shickluna Bikes & Darts, 1835 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-837-6122. M W 10AM-7PM; Tu Th F 10AM-6PM; Sa 10AM-5PM. It's not often that a business is in the top of its class selling two completely different products, but Shickluna is an exception to that rule. If a bike is what you're looking for, you'll find some of the highest-quality models in town here (Giant brand is a specialty; they're Buffalo's only licensed dealer), all of which are assembled onsite by a professional mechanic and come with a year of free adjustments and flat-tire repair. Meanwhile, if darts are your game, soft- and steel-tip darts and boards by such brands as Dart World and Harrows are on offer. Customer service can be indifferent, but the value you get for your money can't be beat. (updated Sep 2018)

39 Spoke & Dagger, 1434 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-480-4855. Tu-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 11AM-7PM. A good way to describe the experience at this motorcycle clothing and gear shop is as "a hipster's paean to biker culture" — that is to say, the merchandise says "image-conscious, urban-dwelling motorcycle enthusiast" much more than "Hell's Angel". Apparel tends toward the high-end, sourced from designers both local (the store's own branded clothing is screenprinted by the West Side's own Positive Approach Press) and far-flung, while accessories include canteens, attractive yet functional boots, helmets, a rack of motorcycle magazines, and even spare bike parts. And if you're a do-it-yourselfer, classes on bike building and repair are offered periodically. (updated Sep 2018)

The portion of the Delaware and Elmwood Avenue corridors north of Park Meadow is characterized by a proliferation of suburban-style shopping centers and other "big box" retail, with many national chain stores and restaurants present.

42 Delaware Consumer Square is a large shopping center located on the west side of Delaware Avenue south of Hinman Avenue, anchored by Target. Other chains located in this plaza include GameStop, OfficeMax, and Rainbow.

43 Delaware Place is a smaller plaza located directly across Delaware Avenue from Delaware Consumer Square. The main anchor store at this plaza is a Goodwill thrift store.

Regal Elmwood Center is located on the east side of Elmwood Avenue about midway between Hertel and Hinman Avenues. It's anchored by the Regal Elmwood Center 16 movie theater, as well as Catalyst Fitness.

44 Tops Elmwood Plaza is the largest shopping center in North Buffalo, located on the east side of Elmwood Avenue directly north of the Regal Elmwood Center, abutting Delaware Consumer Square at its rear. Anchored by the namesake Tops supermarket, other stores here include Bath & Body Works, Citi Trends, Dollar Tree, Famous Footwear, Five Below, Party City, Petsmart, and Rainbow Kids.

Other national chain stores with locations in this area include 45 Big Lots, and 46 Home Depot.

47 Top Notch Apparel & Footwear, 2207 Elmwood Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 20), ☏ +1 716-871-8000. Su-Th 10AM-9:30PM, F Sa 10AM-10PM. Taking a stand for homegrown retail amidst the wasteland of national chains that this part of North Buffalo is, Top Notch is the place to go to shop for the latest in street-level urban fashions from brands like Rockstar and Timberland in an environment that's spacious, well-organized, and uncluttered. Sports wear is a specialty here, with fans of popular teams like the New York Yankees and Chicago Bulls well cared-for when it comes to jerseys and caps. There's also a snazzy selection of unique designer sneakers. (updated Oct 2018)

48 Flying Anvil Metalworks, 51 Botsford Place (Metro Bus 20 or 23), ☏ +1 716-308-0825. Tu-F noon-6PM, or by appointment. As you approach this anonymous brick industrial building set amidst a sea of warehouses and big-rig parking lots, you might think your GPS has misdirected you. But appearances can be deceiving: inside Flying Anvil you'll find a bevy of unique, custom-made furniture, collectibles, and objets d'art fashioned by owners Mollie Atkinson and Kenny Kash out of steel, copper, brass and aluminum. They'll help you create your own metal-art masterpiece whether it be functional or strictly decorative, or else you can browse their selection of other artists' works in the medium. Flying Anvil even doubles as a gallery where local metal artists display their works. (updated Oct 2018)

49 Hyatt's All Things Creative, 1941 Elmwood Ave. (Metro Bus 20 or 23), ☏ +1 716-884-8900. M Tu 9AM-9PM, W-F 9AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-5PM. Founded in 1959 by graphic artist Charles W. Hyatt, Western New York's leading purveyor of art supplies stocks goods such as oil, acrylic and watercolor paints, brushes, canvas, pens, inks, papers, easels, ad nauseam at the hugely expanded warehouse-like location in North Buffalo that they inaugurated in January 2019. Hyatt's also offers picture framing services, classes and workshops, and miscellaneous gifts, and is one of the world's leading distributors of Pantone color-matching products. (updated Jan 2019)

50 Scime's Sausage, 2484 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-877-5010. W-F 9AM-6:30PM, Sa 9AM-5:30PM. Scime's Sausage is an old-style meat market that's been sating hungry Buffalonians practically forever. Though a full range of meats is on offer at their butcher's counter, the specialty here is the homemade Italian sausage that owner Salvatore "Sam" Scime crafts daily from high-quality, specially-purchased pork shoulders, to which is added a blend of herbs, spices and flavorings including black pepper, fennel seed, fresh parsley and Romano cheese. As well, a range of Italian groceries is offered at Scime's that includes imported cheeses, olives, produce, pasta, and fresh, locally-baked Luigi's bread. (updated Oct 2018)

51 Delaware Camera, 2635 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 25), ☏ +1 716-877-3317. M-F 9AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. In business since 1951, this photographer's paradise attends to the needs of old-schoolers with a selection of film, slides, and photo paper to choose from and an onsite darkroom. But Delaware Camera's specialty is a top-of-the-line range of digital cameras representing many major brands (a notable exception is Canon), along with lenses, filters, flash mechanisms, tripods, camera cases, memory cards, and other such accessories. And not only does the staff go above and beyond in the field of customer service, but their expertise also extends to restoring old photos to their former glory, either as prints or digitally. (updated Oct 2018)

The outer end of University Heights is dominated by the 52 University Plaza. Situated on the north side of Main Street between Kenmore and Springville Avenues, directly across from UB's South Campus, the University Plaza was the first suburban-style shopping center to be constructed in Erie County, with ground broken in 1939. The University Plaza contains locations of the national retail chains Dollar Tree, Rainbow, and Villa, as well as the Dipson Amherst Theatre, M&T Bank, and Tops supermarket.

The entire north side of Main Street east of Kenmore Avenue, including the University Plaza, is actually part of the Town of Amherst.

53 Greeks & Sneaks, 3230 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-833-4913. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa noon-5PM. Greeks & Sneaks is not only a place for UB students to purchase or rent textbooks (at prices much more reasonable than the on-campus bookstore and sometimes even cheaper than Amazon), but it also doubles as a one-stop shop for all manner of college-themed clothing and gear. Dedicated UB football and basketball fans can find a full range of t-shirts, sweats, hoodies, and other items emblazoned with the Bulls logo. Greeks & Sneaks also offers fraternity and sorority swag, as well as silkscreen prints, embroidery, and a wide range of sneakers. (updated Oct 2018)

54 O'Connell's, 3240 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-836-4140. M Th 9:30AM-8PM, Tu W F Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM. The ambience at O'Connell's is decidedly old-school, redolent of a time when merchandise was crafted with pride and skill and salespeople knew their customers by name, which makes it fitting that the specialty here is high-end men's formalwear, almost a sartorial anachronism in this day and age. The suits, sportcoats, dress shirts, shoes, slacks, ties and accessories offered here are of a style that marries staid conservatism with quirky individuality (novelty cufflinks shaped like race cars and champagne bottles are a good example of this). Prices tend toward the higher end of things, but you get what you pay for. (updated Oct 2018)

55 Pamela Inc., 3142 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-725-6215. M-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su noon-6PM. The vivacious Pam Alexander's eponymous women's clothing boutique may be small, but — as indicated by the impeccable effort she puts into her window displays — the selection is vast, diverse, and constantly changing. The clothing at Pamela Inc. is characterized by fun, sassy fashions with bright colors and a chic urban style, but where the place really distinguishes itself is in the realm of accessories: handbags, belts, jewelry, scarves and sunglasses — and above all, what may be the city's best selection of women's hats — all take a prominent place among the merchandise. (updated Oct 2018)

56 Queen City Vintage, 3126 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle). W-Sa 11AM-7PM, Su noon-5PM. What exactly does "vintage" mean, anyway? What time period does it represent? For most people, the word conjures up images of the 1950s and '60s, but if you're prepared to stretch the chronology to encompass the latter decades of the 20th century — say, World Wrestling Federation "Austin 3:16" t-shirts, New Kids On The Block lunchboxes, or memorabilia from the 1993 Summer Universiade, held in Buffalo — then head down to this shop in the Heights where you'll find all these and hundreds of other fashions, collectibles, and trinkets from that bygone-but-not-too-bygone era. Old Bills and Sabres gear is a particular specialty. (updated Jul 2019)

University Heights is heaven for comic book fans.

57 Iron Crown, 3077 Main St. (Metro Bus 8 or 23; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-831-0957. W-Sa 11AM-6PM. Iron Crown may play perpetual second banana to its neighbor further up Main Street, Queen City Bookstore, but this smaller, more out-of-the-way comic store makes up for that with its reasonable prices, customer service that is arguably even more friendly and personable than Queen City's, and — above all — a full range of supplies for players of Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, and other card games. Iron Crown also sells a variety of toys and collectibles. (updated Oct 2018)

58 Queen City Bookstore, 3184 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-833-6220. M noon-7PM, Tu-F 11AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Easily Buffalo's largest, longest-standing, and best-loved comic book store, with a wide selection that encompasses traditional superhero stuff, gritty graphic novels, quirky indie titles, kids' comics, and a dizzying array of back issues for completists, not to mention a vast selection of toys, collectibles, and collctors' supplies. As well, head honcho Emil Novak is the man to seek out if you're interested in local low-budget horror cinema. All titles are 20% off on Sundays and come with a free bag and board. (updated Oct 2018)

59 Parkside Candy, 3208 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-833-7540. M-Th 11AM-6PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM, Su noon-8PM. Parkside Candy has been in business since 1927 — and walking into their original location is like a trip back in time to right around that year, with a full range of chocolate truffles and cordials, peppermint patties, fudge, old-fashioned lollipops, and their famous sponge candy merchandized amid an Art Deco interior with Adamesque flourishes (designed as a conscious imitation of French confectionery stores) and the classic black-and-white checked tile floor. Best of all, Parkside Candy's Main Street location doubles as an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and soda fountain perfect for warm summer days. (updated Oct 2018)

60 Militello's Luggage, 3400 Main St. (Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-833-1600. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, W till 6PM. These folks have been outfitting travel-happy Buffalonians with wheeled suitcases, duffle bags, tote bags, garment covers, and other high-quality luggage and travel accessories since 1946, with renowned brands such as Briggs & Kelly, Travelpro, Eagle Creek, and Hartmann represented among the selection. But that's not the end of the story at Militello's: they're also a full-service purveyor of leather goods whose oeuvre extends into the realm of attaché cases, wallets, and even repair service. Customer parking is available at the rear of the building, a relative rarity in the Heights. (updated Oct 2018)

61 Music City Buffalo, 3236 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-838-4547. M-Th 11AM-7PM, F 11AM-6PM, Sa 11AM-5PM. If you're a touring musician in search of gear, Music City is the place to go: guitars, bass guitars, drum kits, brass band instruments, amps, PA systems, and effects pedals from all the leading brands are not only for sale or rent at great prices, but even optimized and customized for each customer by a staff headed up by local guitar hero Vincent James Mastrantonio (who even offers private lessons out of the shop!) And if your favorite instrument is in need of some TLC, never fear: tuning, repair, and pickup installations are also offered. (updated Oct 2018)

62 Vivid Buffalo, 3124 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-261-8203. M 7PM-9PM, Tu 6PM-8:30PM, W 7PM-10PM. It's tough to categorize this place, but by way of a broad-strokes description, Vivid sees its mission as "helping artists sell themselves with a low cost retail space". Stop by and you never know what you'll find at any given time — a pop-up art gallery or consignment shop, a free yoga class, a community seminar or workshop — but you will know that it's a unique, and uniquely Buffalo, DIY labor of love from the vibrant collective of artists and other creative types in the local area. (updated Jul 2019)

Though it's one of North Buffalo's main thoroughfares, Kenmore Avenue is quiet and largely residential. However, peppered among the brick apartment blocks and houses are a smattering of unpretentious neighborhood businesses — particularly in the vicinity of Colvin Boulevard.

63 Nickel City Shirt Co., 1106 Kenmore Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 11), ☏ +1 716-207-3803. M-F 9AM-5PM. Located for many years on Kenmore Avenue near the corner of Colvin, the Nickel City Shirt Company offers customized embroidered and screen-printed T-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, as well as hats, mouse pads, and other goods emblazoned with the design of your choice. "Quality Work at the Lowest Prices in Town" is the vow of founder Keith Marzec, and that's no lie — this place is highly regarded among Buffalonians. (updated Oct 2018)

64 Gino's Italian Bakery, 1104 Kenmore Ave (Metro Bus 5 or 11), ☏ +1 716-874-2315. Tu-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 8AM-3PM, Su 8AM-2PM. Whether you're in search of a loaf of fresh, tasty house-baked bread, or you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth with delectable pastries (the pasticiotti is a perennial favorite), cookies such as cuccidiati and giugiuleni, Italian wedding cakes, or all manner of other sweets, Gino's is as good as it gets in Buffalo when it comes to authentic, delicious Italian baked goods. And the prices can't be beat. (updated Oct 2018)

65 Nick's Sporting Goods, 1212 Kenmore Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 11), ☏ +1 716-875-9218. M 11AM-6PM, Tu-Th 11AM-8PM, F Sa 11AM-5PM. "Sporting goods" nothing: this small, jam-packed Kenmore Avenue storefront might be better described as a surprisingly comprehensive outdoor goods shop, with a full range of gear for hunters, fishermen (including live bait!), and sport shooters. But that's all just a prelude to the real raison d'être of Nick's, however, as Buffalo's premiere archery store. Not only does this place sell the best state-of-the-art gear, but customers can also come to Nick's for adjustments, repairs, and even archery lessons and New York State bowhunting education courses at the indoor range in the basement. (updated Oct 2018)

The commercial corridors of Delaware and Elmwood Avenues cut parallel north-to-south swaths through the otherwise tranquil, upscale residential area of Park Meadow.

Retail in Park Meadow is dominated by 66 Marshall's Plaza, which is located on the west side of Delaware Avenue between Great Arrow Avenue and the Belt Line tracks, just behind the Pierce-Arrow Factory Complex. Aside from its namesake, Marshall's, the shopping center is anchored by locations of Dollar Tree, Rainbow, and Shoe Dept.

67 Carriage Trade Pastries, 1654 Elmwood Ave. (Metro Bus 20 or 32), ☏ +1 716-881-2326. Tu-F 8AM-5PM, Su 9AM-5PM. In addition to supplying desserts to some of the finest restaurants in the Buffalo area, Carriage Trade Pastries is a great place to pick up some of the best scratch-made baked goods in Buffalo: cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, muffins, sticky buns, scones, and more for prices that are surprisingly affordable given the quality. Pies, cakes and other specialty items are available too, but as this is a small operation that custom-designs all their cakes, these must be ordered at least a day in advance. If you're hungry for something else, there's a lunch counter where a few light items such as soups, meatless chili, and quiche are on offer. (updated Oct 2018)

68 Gatti Jewelers, 1598 Elmwood Ave. (Metro Bus 20 or 32), ☏ +1 716-875-1003. M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 11AM-3PM. This small, friendly neighborhood jewelry store has been on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Amherst Street since 2003. Gatti Jewelers' selection of bracelets, necklaces, earrings, watches, and other pieces is curated by an owner whose knowledge of gold and silver jewelry is encyclopedic. As well, Gatti does an impressive side business dealing in used musical instruments as well as accessories such as amplifiers. Estate sales are also handled. (updated Oct 2018)

69 Moriarty Meats, 1652 Elmwood Ave. (Metro Bus 20 or 32), ☏ +1 716-860-5200. W-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-4PM. Vino's may be no more, but the torch has been passed to a whole new purveyor of tasty goodness on upper Elmwood. Thomas and Caitlin Moriarty got their start on the West Side, performing "artisan-tailored whole-animal butchery" in the traditional French manner (Thomas is a proud graduate of the École nationale superieure des metiers de la viande in Paris) using locally-sourced beef, pork and lamb, then in 2020 they "moved on up" to their brand-new (and much larger!) space and expanded their opening hours too. Fine house-made bacon and sausage abound as well — everyone loves their merguez! — and prices are a lot more reasonable than you might be expecting. (updated Mar 2020)

Though these neighborhoods are primarily residential, their eastern boundary — Main Street — is a commercial strip of increasing vibrancy. The business district is mostly concentrated around the corner of Amherst Street and the few blocks to the south, in the Vernon Triangle. Property values along the Metro Rail corridor began rising rapidly when plans for the downtown Medical Corridor were revealed to entail a paucity of parking and an emphasis on alternative methods of transportation, so look for the current array of nail salons and prepaid cell phone outlets to be replaced by more upscale businesses over the next few years.

There's another cluster of shops and restaurants at the corner of Parkside Avenue and Russell Street, across from the entrance to the Buffalo Zoo.

70 Mini Fashion, 287 Parkside Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 32), ☏ +1 716-835-0740. W-Sa 10AM-6PM. If you've got a son or daughter age 8 or below, check out this "children's boutique for the unapologetically stylish fashion mini" situated right in the heart of the Parkside action. At Mini Fashion, the house style splits the difference between streetwise urban sassiness and a casual yet upscale preppy look. They even carry kid-sized aviator shades! (updated Oct 2018)

71 Fairy Cakes, 289 Parkside Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 32), ☏ +1 716-688-0361. W-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 11AM-4PM. The cupcake craze of the 2010s may be over, but don't tell that to the folks at this cute little bakery-café that still busily turns out cupcakes in a range of creative flavors ("Pancakes and Bacon" specimens come topped with maple buttercream and real bacon, and the "Original Buffalo Hot Wing Cake" is a seductive marriage of rich chocolate and spicy cayenne pepper), a selection of "adults only" cupcakes made with rum and other potent libations, and a modest selection of other desserts. If nothing else, Fairy Cakes is worth a visit if only to experience the whimsical decor: an almost dollhouse-like setup in cheery pastel colors, truly befitting its name. (updated Oct 2018)

If you’ve come to Little Italy with visions of pasta with red sauce, fine wine, and some of Buffalo’s best pizza, you will of course not leave disappointed. But Hertel is no one-trick pony: the offerings have diversified considerably, and nowadays you’ll find restaurants for all tastes there. Also of note is a cluster of Middle Eastern groceries-cum-restaurants at the west end of the strip, near Delaware Avenue, where shawarma, falafel, and other such dishes are served.

1 Bertha's Diner, 1430 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-836-3100. M-Th Sa 7AM-3PM, F 7AM-8PM, Su 8AM-3PM. Bertha's, which according to its slogan is "the diner that takes you back a few years", is a 1950s-style affair that's located right next door to the North Park Theater. Open daily for breakfast and lunch and till 8PM on Fridays, Bertha's serves standard diner fare at unbeatable prices. The lunch menu is dominated by standard fare — burgers (monikers of selections such as the "James Dean", the "Davey Crockett", and the "Buddy Holly" continue in the '50s theme), club sandwiches, and similar items, as well as salads, wraps, and simple entrees. Full breakfasts comprise delicious omelettes, egg sandwiches, buttermilk pancakes and "Buffalo's best Belgian waffle", and weekly specials are offered. Cash only. $10-20. (updated Oct 2018)

2 Bob & John's La Hacienda, 1545 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-836-5411. Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. A newly remodeled dining area boasting several high-definition flat-screen TVs which are inevitably tuned to the big game (this place is understandably popular during Bills and Sabres seasons) is the setting where patrons of Bob & John's La Hacienda enjoy simple yet delicious items such as subs, wraps, burritos, a small selection of salads, pizza, and stromboli. A particular specialty at Bob & John's is the chicken wings, which come in a wide variety of delicious sauces including classic Buffalo, barbeque, Cajun, and Jamaican jerk (boneless "wingdings" are also available). A modest range of simple entrees, comprising mostly pasta dishes as well as a locally renowned fish fry that's available on Fridays, is also on offer; at lunchtime, a buffet is offered featuring pizza, soup and salad. $10-25. (updated Oct 2018)

3 Café on the Avenue, 1240 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-877-2233. Daily 7AM-3PM. Café on the Avenue hops during the morning hours with a full menu of breakfast sandwiches and (huge!) burritos, omelets, pancakes, French toast, and egg-and-breakfast meat platters, but the flagship item here is homemade donuts, prepared by what is proudly cited as "the first Donut Robot in the Buffalo area" and available in quite a few more varieties than you'll find at your average Tim's or Dunkin'. At lunchtime, the slate of options transitions into classic American diner fare: no surprises on the menu, but everything's reliably good. Service can be hit-or-miss, but the price is right, the ambience is spacious and airy, and the kitchen is open, with all the food prepared freshly before your eyes. $10-20. (updated Oct 2018)

9 Belsito, 1368 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-240-9273. M Tu 11AM-2PM, W Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-1AM, Su 11AM-7PM. Striking a blow for the continuing Italian-ness of Little Italy is Belsito, where a modest-sized menu of "unique foods made from Italian cured meats and cheeses" comprises a range of appetizer salads, cheese-and-cold-cut plates, and — above all — a mouth-watering selection of sandwiches and panini featuring various combinations of imported Italian charcuterie and cheeses of impeccable quality. Call the menu a one-trick pony if you want, but Belsito sticks to what it does well and earns raves from local foodies as a result. Best of all, the place is far less crowded than it ought to be, which makes for excellent service and ample opportunities to chat up the friendly, ever-present owners. $15-40. (updated Oct 2018)

10 Burgerim, 1460 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-495-8888. Su-Th noon-9:30PM, F Sa noon-11:30PM. Part of the initial incursion into the U.S. market of this Israeli fast-casual burger chain, Burgerim's unusual name incorporates the Hebrew plural suffix -im — and "burgers, plural" is a pretty good summation of the experience. Not only is the specialty of the house small "chef-inspired" burgers (albeit not quite as small as sliders) ordered in groups of two or three to mix-and-match, tapas-style, but each burger itself is further customizable in myriad ways: patties come in beef, chicken, salmon, turkey, lamb, falafel, and plant-based burger patties, and toppings are multitudinous as well. If bigger is better (or if you're overwhelmed by excessive variety, a common complaint), they also offer a smaller selection of specialty quarter- and third-pound "Big Burgerim". The menu is rounded out by standard fast-food sides such as chicken tenders, fries, onion rings, and milkshakes, in gourmet versions to match the burgers. $15-35. (updated Feb 2020)

11 Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill, 1504 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-259-9060. Su-Th 3PM-midnight, F Sa 3PM-2AM. The rule of thumb on Burning Buffalo's short but sweet menu is pub grub brought a bit upscale, but not too far — Burning Buffalo is not a dive by any means, but it's no cooler-than-thou "new Buffalo" hipster hangout either — with an emphasis on bison and other game meat. For example, check out the bison meatloaf, which comes in a delicious gravy made with stout beer, and the build-your-own burger option, wherein you can mix-and-match over 20 cheeses, vegetable toppings, condiments, and a patty of either premium ground steak, bison, or a daily selection of wild game (anything from alligator to wild boar to ostrich). $15-40. (updated Oct 2018)

25 Ristorante Lombardo, 1198 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-873-4291. M-Th 5PM-10PM, F Sa 5PM-11PM; lunch F 11:30AM-2:30PM. At the center of the action on Hertel Avenue, Ristorante Lombardo calls their food "the best Italian in Buffalo", a claim that is hard to refute given the extensive menu of elegant and authentic Italian dishes served to patrons in a setting that is among the most exquisite and upscale on Hertel. Ristorante Lombardo boasts a full bar and patio and an expansive wine list. $15-65. (updated Oct 2018)

26 SZND, 1448 Hertel Ave. (entrance on Norwalk Ave., Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-322-0037. Tu-Sa 4PM-10PM. If you agree with the vowel-challenged impresarios of Hertel's newest fine-dining hotspot that "EVRY THNGS BTR SZND", you'll find much to like here: a diverse range of upscale New American cuisine sharing a common bond of bold, often fiery flavors. Witness the blackened artichoke appetizer — undoubtedly the most popular item on the menu, wherein succulent crab and Green Goddess dressing provide scant relief from the heat of the spice rub — and of course the Cajun-spiced jambalaya, made with a mix of andouille sausage and shrimp. Keep in mind that this is quite a small space, so reservations are recommended, and don't come expecting a quiet intimate ambience (though the outdoor patio can be a pleasant respite from the din). $20-65. (updated Jul 2019)

The following local chains have locations on or near Hertel Avenue. Descriptions of these restaurants can be found on the main Buffalo page.

27 Louie's Texas Red Hots, 2350 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-877-6618.

28 Marco's Italian Deli, 1518 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-862-9117. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su 11AM-4PM.

2017 will go down in North Buffalo history as the year when Hertel Avenue became the premier summertime destination in Buffalo for aficionados of ice cream and other frozen goodies, with two new shops opening within a couple weeks of each other and a third one just a few months later.

29 Churn Soft Serve, 1501 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-863-9781. Daily 8AM-11PM. Serving as a sort of "sister brand" to Lloyd, whose Taco Factory is found just next door, Churn differentiates itself from its Hertel competition with its emphasis on soft ice cream: theirs is scratch-made using locally-sourced milk and cream (the only place in Western New York that does this with soft-serve), then flavored in both standard (vanilla, chocolate) as well as creative (matcha, vegan coconut) varieties, and finally served in your choice of a paper cup or a house-baked waffle cone. If you're after something a bit more elaborate, there's also a range of specialty sundaes (the "Gramma Angie" — vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate chips, cookie crumbles, and cream cheese icing — is an early favorite) as well as "Churned Ups", which are basically the house version of Dairy Queen's "Blizzard" treats. (updated Oct 2018)

30 Hertel Avenue Poutine and Cream, 1488 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-551-6995. M-Sa 11:30AM-midnight, Su 11:30AM-11PM. Wherein the impresarios behind the Allen St. Poutine Company expand their oeuvre to encompass not only the titular Canadian fast-food specialty but also a range of homemade ice cream treats. The poutine selection is identical to the original location in variety, quality, and price point, so those without a sweet tooth will leave happy. But if you do want to sample the sweets, expect to shell out: $8-9 is a lot to pay for a milkshake, regardless of the high quality of the ingredients and the size of the portions (they're served in Mason jars). Elsewhere on the dessert menu you'll find "creamy buns" (one of North Buffalo's own Famous Doughnuts hollowed out and stuffed with your choice of ice cream) as well as regular old ice cream by the (disappointingly small) scoop. $10-25. (updated Oct 2018)

31 Lake Effect Artisan Ice Cream, 1900 Hertel Ave (Metro Bus 8 or 23; Metro Rail: LaSalle). Daily 11AM-10PM. Out of Hertel's trio of ice cream shops, Lake Effect is by far the most popular. Why? For one, it doesn't hurt that they were a known quantity already; since 2008, Buffalonians had been buying the stuff in supermarkets and making the trek to the original location in Lockport. Moreover, Lake Effect doesn't divert any attention to poutine, tacos, or other such culinary distractions: here it's all ice cream, all the time. All two dozen or so varieties are locally sourced and manufactured, and many draw inspiration from the unique elements of local cuisine: the Paula's Glazed Donut flavor incorporates chunks of its namesake ingredient into a honey glaze-flavored ice cream, the Loganberry ice cream reflects Buffalo's soft drink of choice, and the Icewine Sherbet is an homage to the signature vintage of the Niagara Peninsula. $5-10. (updated Oct 2018)

The following pizzerias are located on or near Hertel Avenue. Those who are interested in pizza delivery (as opposed to pickup) might want to also check listings in adjacent districts; local pizzerias will often deliver to several different neighborhoods of the city.

32 Avenue Pizza, 1116 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-877-5959. M Tu 10AM-11PM, W-Sa 10AM-midnight, Su noon-11PM.

33 Daddio's, 1247 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-877-7747. M-Th 10AM-2AM, F Sa 10AM-3AM, Su 10AM-10PM.

34 Just Pizza, 2350 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-871-5700. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM.

35 La Pizza Club, 1511 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-837-3838. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F 11AM-midnight, Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-9PM.

36 Dash's, 1770 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-835-3083. Daily 7AM-10PM. (updated Jul 2019)

37 Lexington Co-op, 1678 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-886-0024. Daily 7AM-11PM. The much-anticipated second location of Elmwood Avenue's beloved upscale specialty grocer finally opened its doors in July 2017, with the same range of items on its shelves: if you're an aficionado of things organic, locally-sourced, gluten-free, non-GMO, or pretty much anything Gwyneth Paltrow might be into, the Lexington Co-op is your promised land. If not, it's still a friendly and pleasant place to shop for products that other area grocery stores usually don't carry. And if you're planning on staying in town for awhile or being a repeat visitor, consider purchasing an annual co-op membership to get access to special discounts and promotions. (updated Jul 2017)

38 North Buffalo Farmers' Market, 780 Parkside Ave (Metro Bus 23). Jun-Nov: Th 4PM-7PM. The North Buffalo Farmers' Market is a true community partnership, with the Hertel-North Buffalo Business Association lending its support and a myriad of local businesses, including North Buffalo's own House of Olives and Gino's Italian Bakery, turning out weekly to sell an impressive range of produce, baked goods, artisanal pasta, coffee, organic honey, juices and smoothies, and even bath and body products — all grown or manufactured locally — on the front lawn of North Park Academy. Best of all, you don't have to get up early on a weekend morning to attend — the market runs on Thursday evenings, perfect for folks looking for a healthy and affordable alternative to another restaurant dinner. There are even live music performances every week! (updated Oct 2018)

In addition to the restaurants listed here, the suburban-style shopping plazas in this area include a number of chain restaurants, notably 39 Applebee's, 40 Boston Market, 41 Denny's, 42 Five Guys, and 43 Moe's Southwest Grill.

44 Catch 22 Bar & Grill, 715 Military Rd. (Metro Bus 3 or 5), ☏ +1 716-768-0358. Tu-Th 2PM-midnight, F 2PM-2AM, Sa 4PM-2AM. Under its former incarnation, Maggie's, this unpretentious neighborhood spot was most famous for its Friday fish fry, which aficionados classed among the best in town. Seafood lovers can still indulge in style at Catch 22, but there's now an expanded menu to go along with it, comprising both all-American pub grub classics to nosh on at the bar (a creative menu of burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches as well as local specialties like chicken wings and beef on weck), and a dining-room menu that skews Italian. Prices are a touch on the high side, but large portions make up for that. $10-25. (updated Oct 2018)

45 Fenglin Buffet, 1999 Elmwood Ave (at Regal Elmwood Center; Metro Bus 20 or 23), ☏ +1 716-873-8439. Su-Th 11AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM. There's really nothing remarkable or out of the ordinary about this Chinese buffet at the Regal Elmwood Center (not that there ever is with this kind of place — if you've seen one, you've pretty much seen 'em all). But they keep the steam trays consistently stocked with a good selection of Americanized Chinese specialties, and service is efficient and usually friendly. $10-15. (updated Nov 2017)

46 Frank's Sunny Italy, 2491 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-876-5449. Daily 11AM-11PM. Gourmet fine dining this is not, but if you're looking to make like the Coneheads and "consume mass quantities", Frank's Sunny Italy is certainly a place where you can do that. Veal parm, chicken cacciatore, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, pizza, and other standard red-sauce Italian specialties have all the culinary refinement of the stuff the lunch lady used to ladle out at your school cafeteria, but the price is right, especially considering that your doggie bags will be big enough to make at least one additional meal out of. $10-25. (updated Oct 2018)

47 The Kitchen Table, 690 Hertel Ave (Metro Bus 20 or 23), ☏ +1 716-622-6001. M-F 8AM-3PM, Sa Su 8:30AM-4PM. The Kitchen Table moved in July 2014 to a larger location in West Hertel, but otherwise it's the same deal as before: they still serve up classic, unpretentious, all-American comfort food in a downhome atmosphere described in Buffalo Rising as "a mix between a greasy spoon and a country kitchen". Burgers (served with heaping sides of fresh-cut fries that customers rave about), club sandwiches, fish fry, and multitudinous flavors of Turkey Hill ice cream can be had, but the Kitchen Table's true claim to fame is their hearty, homestyle all-day breakfasts. The staff here really goes out of their way to please, and they treat customers like family. $10-15. (updated Oct 2018)

49 Roaming Bison Tavern, 732 Hertel Ave (Metro Bus 20 or 23), ☏ +1 716-235-8281. Su-W 4PM-midnight, Th 11AM-midnight, F 11AM-2AM, Sa 4PM-2AM. The name of the game at Roaming Bison is pub grub tempered with Southern barbecue influences that are a perfect match for the dizzying selection of bourbon at the bar. Favorites on the menu include the Nashville Chicken Sandwich (a juicy breast deep-fried to perfection, served barbecue or Buffalo-style), the ingenious "mac-ancini" appetizers (balls of macaroni and cheese coated with crispy panko breading in an imitation of Italian arancini), and — most popular of all — huge platters of grilled smoked chicken wings coated in a savory-sweet blueberry-bourbon barbecue glaze. Better even than the food is the service, which in the words of one reviewer "makes you feel like you've been friends [with owner Greg Herzog] for years". $15-30. (updated Oct 2018)

50 Taj Grill, 2290 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-875-1000. Lunch daily 11:30AM-2:30PM; dinner Su-Th 4:30PM-9:30PM, F Sa 4:30PM-10PM. Taj Grill lauds itself as "the finest Indian restaurant in Buffalo", and though that's certainly debatable — opinions seem to be divided evenly between it and Elmwood's India Gate — customers unanimously praise Taj Grill's extensive menu, which boasts a huge selection of all the traditional curries with your choice of chicken, beef, lamb, seafood, and even tofu and goat, as well as myriad options for vegetarians. The food here caters more to the Indian palette than the Americanized version of the cuisine available elsewhere in the region, to the delight of traditionalists. For best results, come at lunchtime for the astonishingly cheap all-you-can-eat buffet, where you can get your fill of the same refined cuisine for no more than you'd spend on a fast-food value meal. $15-35. (updated Oct 2018)

51 Tokyo II Japanese Seafood and Steakhouse, 2236 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-877-2688. M-Th 11AM-10:30PM, F Sa 11AM-11:30PM, Su noon-10PM. At Tokyo II, steak, seafood, rice, and other entrees are prepared for diners before their eyes on the hibachi in an entertaining spectacle. In addition, a wide range of sushi and sashimi is available, as is other Japanese fare, a small selection of Thai entrees, domestic and imported beers including Kirin, Asahi, and Sapporo, wine, and sake. $15-40. (updated Oct 2018)

The following local chains have locations on Delaware and Elmwood Avenues in North Buffalo. Descriptions of these restaurants can be found on the main Buffalo page.

52 Anderson's, 2634 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 25), ☏ +1 716-873-5330. Daily 11AM-9AM.

53 Jim's Steakout, 2611 Delaware Ave. (at Delaware Place plaza; Metro Bus 5 or 25), ☏ +1 716-877-7500. Daily 10:30AM-5AM.

54 Mighty Taco, 2363 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-871-8670. Daily 10AM-midnight, drive-thru till 1AM.

A location of 55 Little Caesars can be found on Delaware just south of Hertel.

56 Aldi, 2090 Elmwood Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 20). M-F 9AM-8PM, Sa Su 9AM-7PM.

57 Gordon Restaurant Market, 1959 Elmwood Ave. (at Regal Elmwood Center; Metro Bus 20 or 23), ☏ +1 716-874-1490. M-Sa 7AM-7PM, Su 8AM-6PM. Gordon is mainly in the business of selling wholesale groceries and food service supplies to local restaurants and banquet caterers, but if you're a visitor to Buffalo looking to self-cater as a more budget-friendly alternative to eating out all the time, and especially if you don't mind buying in bulk, you'll find name- and store-brand foods at prices that are a fraction of what you'd pay at a normal supermarket and oftentimes even comparable to Aldi and other discounters. Those in search of a genuine taste of Buffalo can peruse a decent selection of local products — king-size tubs of Weber's horseradish mustard and fresh-baked Costanzo's sandwich rolls are hot items — but even if not, Gordon also stocks a full range of national brands in a warehouse-style environment. (updated Oct 2018)

58 PriceRite, 1716 Kenmore Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 20), ☏ +1 716-873-4148. M-Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 8AM-8PM.

59 Target, 2626 Delaware Ave. (at Delaware Consumer Square plaza; Metro Bus 5, 20 or 25), ☏ +1 716-447-0094. M-Sa 8AM-11PM, Su 8AM-10PM.

60 Tops, 2101 Elmwood Ave. (at Tops Elmwood Plaza; Metro Bus 5 or 20), ☏ +1 716-515-0050. Daily 24 hours.

Visitors to Buffalo in search of a late-night snack can scarcely do better than University Heights — an unusually large proportion of eateries there stay open late, catering to midnight oil-burning UB students.

The entire north side of Main Street east of Kenmore Avenue is actually part of the Town of Amherst.

61 Amy's Place, 3234 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-832-6666. Daily 7AM-9PM. A popular dive where the latest indie tunes can be heard on the soundsystem and people-watchers can enjoy a clientele that trends heavily toward bohemian urbanites and other alternative types (not to mention students of UB's nearby South Campus), Amy's Place is among the hippest eateries on Main Street. By day they serve a range of Lebanese and other Mediterranean fare of respectable quality, including abundant options for vegetarians and vegans. However, Amy's Place is perhaps best known for their substantial, delicious and reasonably priced breakfasts. Cash only. $10-25. (updated Oct 2018)

62 Burger Authority, 3480 Main St. (Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-833-5000. Daily 11AM-10PM. Okay, so the prices are high (especially given the place's location in the middle of a student ghetto), the portion sizes are nothing to write home about, and the setup is fast-casual without much in the way of ambience. But if you're prepared to splurge, all of the foregoing is justified by the stellar quality of the food. At Burger Authority they're made with superior-quality, grass-fed beef, cooked to order and served on brioche buns sturdy enough to not fall apart under a mountain of meat and toppings. Choose from among a huge range of specialty options, available à la carte or as "super" or "happy" deals in combination with various sides. You can even get your burger made halal for no extra charge. $10-25. (updated Jul 2019)

63 Doctor Bird's Caribbean Rasta-Rant, 3104 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-837-6426. M-F 11:30AM-10PM, Sa 11:30AM-10:30PM. This humble take-out (with a few tables for indoor seating) offers what is by far and away, without a doubt, the best Jamaican food in Buffalo. The jerk chicken, rotis, curry goat, and oxtail are all simply fantastic, and are universally served with a side of fried plantains and rice and beans. Wash your food down with a bottle of strong ginger beer. Reggae, calypso, and soca records are also for sale at the counter. $10-20. (updated Oct 2018)

64 Kalypso, 12 Winspear Ave. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-834-3663. M-Th noon-9PM, F noon-11PM, Sa 1PM-11PM. Located just off Main Street in the former Fast Frank's, Kalypso serves up a range of Caribbean specialties that is surprisingly ample given the relative humbleness of its appearance from the outside. Among the usual suspects — jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail — can be found several delectably prepared selections available nowhere else in Buffalo, such as brown stew chicken, Jamaican pepper steak, and escoveitch fish. A small selection of vegetarian options is also offered. $10-25. (updated Oct 2018)

67 @Eleven Wings and Cuisines, 3225 Main St (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-899-2011. Tu-Th 11AM-8PM, F 11AM-9PM, Sa noon-9PM. The space was home to University Hots forever, then did short stints as a hipster coffeehouse and Buffalo's first Cambodian restaurant; now it's returned to its roots as a purveyor of good old-fashioned Buffalo-style junk food, this time with a slight Southern-style bent. @Eleven's name is half accurate: while the only "cuisine" offered is the aforementioned one, wings are easily the most popular item on the menu, and they're meaty, crispy, and bursting with flavor. Chicken also comes in the form of tenders and in marinated quarters; other comfort-food classics include sandwiches and hoagies, deep-fried seafood of varying descriptions, and a surprising wealth of pasta dishes topped variously with alfredo or Cajun red sauce — whatever you get, it's going to be good, so don't be shy. $15-30. (updated Feb 2020)

68 Heart of India, 3500 Main St., Suite 370, Amherst (at University Plaza; Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-342-2004. Su-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11:30PM. Even more so than Tandoori Hut down the street, Heart of India's menu represents another big step up in the steadily increasing quality of such eateries in the area. All your favorite Northern Indian curries, biryani, seekh kebabs, and fried appetizers make their expected appearance both on the à la carte menu and at the $10 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, each bursting with authentic flavor and spiced generously but not excessively — but the main attraction is a refrigerator case stocked with by far the widest and most delicious selection of Indian sweets in the area. Definitely good enough to make you overlook the brusque service and the staff's somewhat limited English proficiency. $10-35. (updated Oct 2018)

69 Ming Café, 3268 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-833-6988. M-Sa 5PM-9PM. What Ming Café offers is a lot more refined than the drab look of its exterior may suggest: sit-down meals of gourmet American Chinese fare in a setting that's several cuts above your average take-out joint. That is, if you can catch the place open: opening hours are not what you would call long. Szechuan chicken, kung pao shrimp, moo shu pork, and the like seem a relatively humdrum selection at first glance, but that's just another case of "don't judge a book by its cover"; once you tuck in, you'll find they're elegantly prepared and bursting with flavor. The hot and sour soup is particularly good. But it's in the "signature dishes" section of the menu where the true extent of Ming Café's creativity is brought to bear. The icing on the cake is the huge selection of imported Chinese teas, as well as a variety of coffee. Cash only. $15-40. (updated Oct 2018)

The following local chains have locations in University Heights. Descriptions of these restaurants can be found on the main Buffalo page.

73 Jim's Steakout, 3094 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-838-6666. Daily 10:30AM-5AM.

74 Mighty Taco, 396 Kenmore Ave. (Metro Bus 5), ☏ +1 716-834-4647. Daily 10AM-midnight, drive-thru till 1AM.

The following pizzerias are located in University Heights. Those who are interested in pizza delivery (as opposed to pickup) might want to also check listings in adjacent districts; local pizzerias will often deliver to several different neighborhoods of the city.

75 Gino's NY Pizza, 3500 Main St., Suite 150, Amherst (at University Plaza; Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-768-2462. M-Th 10AM-10PM, F 10AM-11PM, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM. (updated Oct 2018)

76 Just Pizza, 3172 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-831-9979. Su-W 10AM-midnight, Th-Sa 10AM-4AM.

77 Aldi, 3060 Main St. (Metro Bus 8 or 23; Metro Rail: LaSalle). M-F 9AM-8PM, Sa Su 9AM-7PM.

78 Tops, 3500 Main St., Amherst (at University Plaza; Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-515-3240. Daily 6AM-midnight.

79 Curry's, 864 Kenmore Ave. (Metro Bus 5), ☏ +1 716-447-0502. M-Sa 11:30AM-midnight. Those who are expecting Indian cuisine will be disappointed — there's nothing exotic about the menu at Curry's. Rather, the sandwiches, main-course salads, meat and pasta dishes served up here match the workmanlike reliability evoked by the humble exterior of this Kenmore Avenue restaurant. What is special about the heaping portions of classic American comfort food offered up at Curry's is the friendliness with which it's served — this is a real "where everybody knows your name" type of place — and its surprising quality. Beer-battered fish fry, a well-known Buffalo specialty, is served with aplomb on Friday nights. $10-30. (updated Oct 2018)

80 Yummy Thai, 914 Kenmore Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 11), ☏ +1 716-877-4959. M-Th 11AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-9PM. If you're looking for the authentic flavors of Thailand, definitely head elsewhere, but if you're a newbie looking to dip your toes for the first time into the world of Southeast Asian cuisine, Yummy Thai might serve as a good introduction: the menu (identical to the one at the original location in North Tonawanda) doesn't venture far beyond the basic standards of pad thai, red, green and penang curries, pad kee mow, tom yum soup, and the like, and the recipes compromise with the American palate to a greater degree than pretty much anywhere else in town. Portions are ample and the place never gets crowded, but don't expect that to necessarily translate into fast or attentive service, which is a weak spot here. $15-40. (updated Oct 2018)

81 Nye Park Tavern, 1672 Elmwood Ave (Metro Bus 20 or 32), ☏ +1 716-270-9747. Su-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM. If you've been reading through these restaurant listings and remarked that "pub grub with an upscale twist" tends to be a popular trope on the North Buffalo restaurant scene, you'd be right, and here's another example. At Nye Park Tavern there are no real surprises on the menu, but you'll sure get one when your food comes out: the quality of the ingredients and presentation are head and shoulders above your average Buffalo gin mill (for instance, the "steak in the grass" sandwich is a full-size New York strip smothered in fresh-cut, unprocessed provolone), which goes a long way toward justifying the price point. The signature item are the so-called "West Side spare ribs", a smoky concoction inspired by the ones served at the long-gone Arkansas Lounge off Grant Street. $15-40. (updated Oct 2018)

82 Oliver's, 2095 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 25 or 32), ☏ +1 716-877-9662. M-Th 5PM-10PM, F Sa 5PM-midnight, Su 4:30PM-9:30PM. "Fine Dining in the Old-School Tradition" is Oliver's credo, and true to form, it is one of the most elegant restaurants in Buffalo, with prices to match. With myriad different permutations of Continental cuisine present on the menu, Oliver's is a foodie's dream come true, with veal milanese, strozzapreti, and foie gras torchon among the most popular delicacies on offer. The wine list is, to quote the restaurant's website, "deeper than deep". Oliver's also prides itself as one of Buffalo's best caterers. $25-75. (updated Oct 2018)

The following local chain restaurants have locations in Park Meadow. Descriptions of these restaurants can be found on the main Buffalo page.

83 Bagel Jay's, 2130 Delaware Ave. (at Marshall's Plaza; Metro Bus 25 or 32), ☏ +1 716-874-1800. M-F 6:30AM-5PM, Sa Su 7AM-4PM.

The following pizzerias are located in Park Meadow. Those who are interested in pizza delivery (as opposed to pickup) might want to also check listings in adjacent districts; local pizzerias will often deliver to several different neighborhoods of the city.

84 Jet's Pizza, 2165 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 25 or 32), ☏ +1 716-877-6700. Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. (updated Dec 2015)

85 Habibi Halal Restaurant, 2614 Main St. (Metro Bus 8, 23 or 32; Metro Rail: Amherst Street), ☏ +1 716-322-1022. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 11AM-6PM. If you've got a hankering for Yemeni food but are not inclined to venture into the (let's be honest) sketchy East Side neighborhoods where most of the local spots are found, head instead to this little hole-in-the-wall in the Vernon Triangle where first impressions are of a small but spic-and-span dining room and service that's at an absolutely rarefied level: if you're not familiar with the cuisine, owner Mohamed Abuhamra is practically chomping at the bit to walk you through the menu. Speaking of the menu, haneeth lamb chops are the odds-on favorite (incredibly flavorful, and they don't hold back on the spice for the Western palate), but you can't go wrong no matter what you pick. And, of course, it's all 100% zabiha halal. $10-20. (updated Jul 2019)

86 Parkside Meadow, 2 Russell St. (Metro Bus 11 or 32), ☏ +1 716-834-8348. M W-Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su brunch noon-3PM. Parkside Meadow offers "dinner with a side of nostalgia", in the words of Buffalo Rising, and true to that description, it sports a menu that's informed but not confined by the classic pub grub that defines Buffalo's bygone days, improving on that template with food impeccably crafted using high-quality ingredients. Sandwiches rule the roost here: familiar classics like reuben, pulled pork, and various burgers have their own creative touches, while inventive concoctions for more adventurous palates include a shaved lamb sandwich on toasted sourdough with melted Havarti and spearmint aioli. Service is excellent even when they're busy (which is pretty much all the time), and the downhome neighborhood friendliness of the staff is yet another reminder of olden times. $15-35. (updated Oct 2018)

If you're expecting to party the night away with folks who look like the cast of Jersey Shore, you can certainly do that here in Little Italy. But like everything else in the neighborhood, the bar scene here is changing and diversifying. The best way to sum things up, perhaps, is that there's a little bit of everything on Hertel: scruffy dives, thumping clubs, swanky wine bars, and trendy hipster hangouts stand side by side.

1 Bar Della Città, 1488 Hertel Ave (at the EXPO Market on Hertel; Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-931-9680. As GBGB stood in the original EXPO Market, so Bar Della Città is to the Hertel Avenue branch: the designated alcohol purveyor, managing a hip and trendy feel despite the plastic-fantastic ambience of the building itself. As you might have inferred from the name, there's an Italian flair to the proceedings here, with the Campari-, bourbon- and citrus-based "Italian Gentleman" serving as signature cocktail, and limoncello slushies the perfect antidote to the summer heat. The food menu consists of a selection of tasty grilled panini. (updated Jul 2019)

2 Burning Buffalo Bar & Grill, 1504 Hertel Ave (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-259-9060. Burning Buffalo's beer list is long, but the selection is a lot less pretentious than many of the new spots that have opened in Buffalo of late. Options are divided about evenly between run-of-the-mill domestics and imports, with a few craft beers to make things interesting, as well as some really nice upscale specialty cocktails. In keeping with the unassuming vibe of the food menu, the ambience is bright and airy; equal parts Japanese tea room and where-everybody-knows-your-name neighborhood watering hole. (updated Oct 2018)

3 Colonie Lounge, 1795 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-862-0987. The Colonie Lounge is not the most highly-regarded strip club in the area, but if you'd rather not make the trek out to suburbia or across the border to Canada, it's a lot less skeevy than the other options within Buffalo proper. As a licensed cigar bar, the Colonie is one of the few establishments of any kind in Buffalo where it's legal to smoke inside, so feel free to puff away while watching the dancers. (updated Oct 2018)

4 Del's, 1553 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-837-5360. Lately on Hertel the only constant has been change, but in the case of the erstwhile Del Denby's Tavern, the change stopped with the name. Now going by the shortened moniker Del's, what's in store for you here is more or less the same as it always has been: cheap beers, a standard slate of mixed drinks, a dartboard, and a pool table in a delightfully divey ambience. The back patio is a pleasant change of pace on nice days (even chilly nice days; there's an outdoor firepit!) (updated Oct 2018)

Along with Hertel Avenue's emergence to the head of the list of lively commercial strips in Buffalo has come the emergence of a robust coffee culture, with a wide and growing range of options available up and down the strip.

20 Daily Planet Coffee Company, 1862 Hertel Ave (Metro Bus 8 or 23; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-551-0661. M-Th 7AM-9PM, F 7AM-10PM, Sa 8AM-10PM. "Good enough but not exceptional" is a phrase that sums up the Daily Planet experience in many ways: the selection and quality of drinks, the trendy-but-not-too-trendy vibe (very much in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood), the service (once reliably cheerful, now hit-or-miss), the food menu (ranging from usual coffeeshop fare like pastries and breakfast sandwiches up to more elaborate stuff like panini and wrap sandwiches, and including several vegan items), and the prices. If you're a live music fan — especially offbeat genres like folk, bluegrass, and Eastern music — check out their website to see what's on. (updated Jul 2019)

21 Purrfect Cafe and Gallery, 1507 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-322-7358. Tu-F noon-8PM, Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-6PM; last admission one hour before close. Buffalo's first cat café offers visits with a rotating cast of about ten friendly, furry, adoptable kitties (advance reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are accommodated when possible). But if you just want to kick back with a yummy smoothie, specialty coffee or tea, or some pastry — or if you're an art lover in the mood to peruse some feline-themed work by local artists — you're welcome to just hang out in the café area, for no charge other than that of your food or drink. Kids under 7 are welcome at Children's Storybook Hour (check website for event calendar) but not allowed at other times. $8/hour. (updated Jul 2019)

22 Roots Coffee and Tea, 1685 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-436-6891. Tu-Th 7AM-3PM, F 7AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 9AM-3PM. If you do want a hipster coffeeshop experience in North Buffalo, Roots is the place to come — especially if you agree with the one reviewer who said "robust and bold isn't the only way coffee can succeed"; the flavor of the house brew is light, subtle, and almost tea-like. Plus, aside from the two titular beverages, they also serve a selection of craft beer from around the region, pastries from the Blue Eyed Baker, and kombucha on tap. Best of all, the quiet, mellow vibe doesn't translate into lackadaisical service: Roots takes care of their customers in a way that's quick and efficient, but still friendly. (updated Jul 2019)

24 Sahara Hookah Lounge, 1177 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-877-7143. M-Th 4:30PM-1AM, F Sa 4:30PM-2AM. Miles away from the frat-bro experience you'll find at other hookah lounges around Buffalo, Sahara affords you a relaxed, upscale smoking environment at the heart of the Middle Eastern district on the west end of Hertel, with interesting decor, chilled-out music on the soundsystem, and a variety of teas and other non-alcoholic drinks to sip. (And don't be put off by some of the reviews on Yelp and elsewhere — new management has really whipped the place into shape). The flavor selection is wide, prices are a good sight cheaper than the competition, and if you really want to relax without being bothered, semi-private booths are a nice touch. (updated Jul 2019)

If you're in the mood for a less prefab bar experience than Applebee's, there are also a number of lively neighborhood watering holes lining Delaware Avenue, as well as a small cluster in West Hertel near the corner of Military Road.

25 Amity Club, 340 Military Rd. (Metro Bus 3 or 23), ☏ +1 716-877-9025. A "non-alcoholic bar" serving soda, energy drinks, juice, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate as well as simple food from the grill. The $6 monthly membership fee entitles you to 25% off drinks. (updated Oct 2018)

26 Catch 22 Bar & Grill, 715 Military Rd (Metro Bus 3 or 5), ☏ +1 716-768-0358. Nothing fancy at this old-school neighborhood dive, just ice-cold beers and a range of specialty mixed drinks that is pleasant and well-executed if not exactly cutting-edge. Catch 22 comes alive on weekends with karaoke and DJ sets on Friday night and open mic on Saturday; there's also pub trivia on Tuesday. (updated Oct 2018)

27 Dill's Military Road Tavern, 362 Military Rd. (Metro Bus 3 or 23), ☏ +1 716-877-9708. Miles away from the snooty hipster BS you'll find elsewhere in town, walking through the front door at Dill's is like stepping into a time machine (so much so that it's a regular stop on Eddy Dobosiewicz's Forgotten Buffalo Tours of the dwindling remnants of the rough-and-tumble, blue-collar Queen City of old). With its tile floor and wood-panelled walls, a beer list that doesn't go far beyond Labatt's, Coors and Genny, and even an original 1950s-vintage phone booth in working order, the place has been preserved almost exactly as it was in the days when it was the favorite lunch-break and after-work pit stop of workers at the old American Brass factory up the road apiece. (updated Nov 2018)

28 Froth Brewing Co., 700 Military Rd. (Metro Bus 3 or 5), ☏ +1 716-783-8060. The seemingly neverending craft-brewery craze in Buffalo set its sights on West Hertel in early 2019, with the opening of this 10-barrel operation on Military Road — and with a topnotch roster of beers right out the gate, plus a cozy ski-lodge ambience in the tasting room, Froth is quickly becoming a standout on the scene. That's especially true if sours are your thing: Froth brews no fewer than three of those, the "Mango Peach OG" sour ale, "Tangerine Sunset" sour blonde ale, and "Lemon Raspberry Sourbet" sour IPA. A sticking point are the prices, especially when it comes to the food menu of upscale pub grub. (updated Jul 2019)

29 Kelly's Korner, 2526 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-877-9466. This no-frills, rough-around-the-edges neighborhood gin mill has a limited range of beers on tap, priced cheap and served cold in a barroom with all the ambience of some guy's garage in the suburbs (complete with old Buffalo Bills pennants tacked to the walls!) But where Kelly's Korner really distinguishes itself is with their food: though the menu is as brief as you'd expect, their renditions of chicken wings and beef on weck — the twin titans of local cuisine that form its cornerstones — are home runs. (updated Nov 2018)

The closure of Surrender in early 2017 was pretty much the final death knell of the once-vibrant University Heights bar scene, which had spent the past few decades being slowly suffocated by competition from places like Chippewa and Allentown, as well as sharply increased enforcement of underage drinking laws by the Buffalo Police. The Steer still draws in its share of the frat crowd, but that's about all the action you'll find on Main Street these days. It's a different story if you're looking for a coffeeshop instead — read on.

Sadly, the coffeeshop scene in University Heights is dominated by national chains — the dueling powerhouses Tim Hortons and Dunkin' Donuts both do an extremely brisk business at their respective locations just across from the South Campus. Caffeine aficionados in search of something more distinctive have only one option in the area: a similar, but locally-owned, coffee-and-doughnut operation at the other end of the strip.

33 Famous Doughnuts, 3043 Main St. (Metro Bus 8 or 23; Metro Rail: LaSalle), ☏ +1 716-834-6356. M-F 6:30AM-6:30PM, Sa 6:30AM-2PM, Su noon-4PM. Yes, you can get coffee here, and it's perfectly good. But the specialty Famous Doughnuts is best known for is right in the place's name: they've been whipping 'em up hot and fresh everyday for University Heights denizens since 1938. You won't find a ton of variety, but what these folks do, they do well. Glazed doughnuts are what to order: unlike some competitors we could name (ahem, Paula's), the texture is pleasantly light and fluffy, the sweetness is not overbearing, and the doughnuts are manageable in size, small enough for one person to eat at a sitting. They do serve filled doughnuts too, but they're not quite as good. (updated Jul 2019)

For something a bit different, the Heights is also where you'll find Buffalo's best bubble tea.

34 Cow Bubble Tea, 3500 Main St., Suite 340, Amherst (at University Plaza; Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-398-5640. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10:30PM, Su noon-10PM. Lucky Koi down the street has the hipster tunes on blast, the sleek trendy decor, and the über-creative food menu. But if you prefer a comfier café that's better for lounging and lingering, hit up Cow — a place where the seating is cozy, the mood music is chill, and there are even board games on hand to pass the time whilst sipping on an ample variety of fruit- and milk-based teas, smoothies, and slushies. If you're indecisive, daily specials always hit the spot; if the opposite is true, you can customize your drink with your choice of fruit slices or compotes. And if you're hungry rather than thirsty, you've got an abbreviated but delicious slate of Vietnamese banh mi to nosh on. (updated Feb 2020)

35 Lucky Koi Bubble Tea, 3216 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University). M-Th 2PM-10PM, F 2PM-midnight, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10PM. At this friendly and snazzily decorated shop, the namesake item is super flavorful without the cloying sweetness you see at a lot of other places: the folks at Lucky Koi understand that high-quality tea, even more than the flavor syrups, is what can really make or break this sort of place (choose from white, black, green, or oolong). As for the flavors, you've got your work cut out for you navigating the huge range of options; if you need help narrowing things down, the rule of thumb is the Asian flavors — ube, longan, dragonfruit — tend to be better than the Western ones. Made-to-order Hong Kong bubble waffles are a winner too. (updated Jul 2019)

36 LIT Hookah Lounge, 3550 Main St., Amherst (at University Plaza; Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-835-3200. Su-Th 6PM-1AM, F Sa 6PM-2:30AM. Well and good to provide your customers with a laid-back and chilled-out experience, but North Buffalo's premiere hookah lounge, Sahara, takes it to the soporific extreme. If you prefer a more peppy ambience, head instead to the University Plaza, where LIT offers events such as karaoke (every Wednesday night), DJ sets (multiple times a week), belly dancers, and other spectacles (check their Facebook page for details) to go with your sheesha session. A downside is a more modest variety of flavors on offer, and higher (but still reasonable) prices too. (updated Jul 2019)

37 Nye Park Tavern, 1672 Elmwood Ave. (Metro Bus 20 or 32), ☏ +1 716-270-9747. While somehow retaining the same cozy homeyness, Nye Park Tavern is a spiffy makeover of the erstwhile Papa Jake's that brings the place firmly into the fold of the incipient hipster district that's coalesced on upper Elmwood. The beer list splits the difference between some two dozen regional craft microbrews on draft and more pedestrian big brands available in cans and bottles, plus there are some interesting specialty cocktails to choose from and a not-half-bad wine list. (updated Oct 2018)

38 Ashker's in the Park, in Delaware Park, at the corner of Meadow Rd. and Nottingham Terr. (Metro Bus 11, 25 or 32). Daily 9AM-10PM in season. For a description of this local chain of juice bars, see the main Buffalo article. (updated Jul 2019)

39 Parkside Meadow, 2 Russell St (Metro Bus 11 or 32), ☏ +1 716-834-8348. Parkside Meadow opened in 2015 in what used to be the similarly named Park Meadow bar, but if you've come in search of the rowdy frat-boy hijinks that old place was famous for, you're in for a rude awakening: the place has been thoroughly chilled-out and hipster-fied by its new owners. Sure, there are plenty of places in North Buffalo to wash your upscale pub grub down with a lengthy selection of local and regional craft beers or a chichi specialty cocktail, but where else can you do so amidst a collection of old-Buffalo postcards, photographs, and artifacts so vast that it may as well be considered a satellite location of the Buffalo History Museum? (updated Oct 2018)

40 JAM Parkside, 301 Parkside Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 32), ☏ +1 716-381-8828. Daily 7AM-7PM. JAM offers "coffee and community" across from the Buffalo Zoo, right at the heart of the Parkside action: the former is locally-roasted by the good folks at Tipico (the house special "JAM Blend" is accurately described on their website as "exquisite and world-class, but also approachable and well-balanced"); the latter is embodied by their unique not-for-profit ownership structure with over 70 local shareholders, the schedule of community events they host, and even their interior decor, airy and inviting and furnished with upcycled materials from ReUse Action. Decent prices, too. (updated Jul 2019)

1 Foundry Suites, 1738 Elmwood Ave. (Metro Bus 20 or 23), ☏ +1 716-240-9693. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. "Industrial chic" is the name of the game at the historic General Railway Signal Company factory, now renovated into a mix of offices, apartments and this little boutique hotel. The Foundry Suites has only ten rooms, but they're all beauties: one- or two-bedroom suites decorated in Midcentury Modern style by the staff of Buffalo's own CooCooU, with full-kitchens, floor-to-ceiling windows (the best of which look onto a beautiful tree-lined courtyard), flat-screen HDTVs, and luxurious bedding and linens. By day, the "Foundry Lounge" downstairs features coffee in a relaxing ambience; by night you can enjoy a rousing game of pool while bartenders whip you up an upscale mixed drink. Free amenities include parking, concierge service, passes to LA Fitness, and 24-hour business center. $189/night in high season. (updated Nov 2018)

2 University Manor Inn, 3612 Main St., Amherst (Metro Bus 5, 8, 12, 13, 19, 34, 44, 47 or 48; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-837-3344. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Among the cheapest hotel accommodation in the area, but you get what you pay for: tired, basic motel-style rooms with cable TV, coffeemaker, and WiFi Internet that works when it wants to, a few suites with kitchens and microwave, limited continental breakfast (only coffee and waffles; thankfully, Dunkin' Donuts is next door), staff with an attitude. There's a free shuttle to the airport, and the Metro Rail's University Station is right across the street. $109-149/night in high season. (updated Oct 2018)

3 The Parkside House, 462 Woodward Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 32), ☏ +1 716-480-9507. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Christopher Lavey, Johnny Mora, and their three dogs operate the Parkside House, one of Buffalo's most charming B&Bs, in a restored Queen Anne-style house from the 1890s. Located on the curving, leafy streets of the historic neighborhood of Parkside, within walking distance of Delaware Park, the Buffalo Zoo, and Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece, the Darwin D. Martin House, the three units of the Parkside House are large and airy, and boast comfortable yet contemporary furnishings, plasma televisions, and full private baths. Common areas include the dining room, where a sumptuous breakfast is served daily, and a front porch. Wireless Internet access is available throughout the property. Limited off-street parking. $140-160/night. (updated Oct 2018)

Published every Thursday, the North Buffalo Rocket is a weekly source for neighborhood news, editorials, classified ads, a police blotter, and other matters pertaining to North Buffalo.

For medical emergencies that most travelers may encounter, the nearest hospitals are Sisters of Charity Hospital at 2157 Main St. in Hamlin Park, and Kenmore Mercy Hospital at 2950 Elmwood Ave. in Tonawanda.

10 Buffalo VA Medical Center, 3495 Bailey Ave. (Metro Bus 12, 13, or 19; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-834-9200. Opened in 1950 in the wake of World War II, the Buffalo VA Medical Center is affiliated with UB Medical School and provides medical, surgical, mental health, and long-term care services to veterans of the United States military under the aegis of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Buffalo's medical center is the VA system's main place of referral in Upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania for veterans in need of cardiac surgery, cardiology, and comprehensive cancer care.

For non-emergency situations, 11 WNY Immediate Care has a location at 2497 Delaware Ave., two blocks south of the Delaware Place shopping plaza.

12 Hertel Avenue Coin Laundry, 1274 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-768-3807. Daily 24 hours. (updated Feb 2020)

13 Becker EZ Wash Laundry, 2412 Delaware Ave. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-873-2116. Laundromat daily 24 hours, dry cleaner daily 7AM-10PM.

14 Military Laundry & Lounge, 346 Military Rd. (Metro Bus 3 or 23), ☏ +1 716-447-2170. Daily 11AM-2AM.

15 Campus Laundromat, 3130 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: LaSalle). M-F 8AM-9PM, Sa Su 7:30AM-9PM.

16 Corvette Cleaners, 530 Kenmore Ave (Metro Bus 5), ☏ +1 716-838-2211. M-F 7AM-6PM, Sa 7:30AM-3PM.

17 The Laundry Basket Too, 860 Kenmore Ave. (Metro Bus 5), ☏ +1 716-876-6322. M-F 8AM-10PM, Sa Su 7:30AM-10PM.

18 Wesselmann Cleaners, 564 Colvin Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 11), ☏ +1 716-875-3141. M-F 7AM-7PM, Sa 7:30AM-5PM.

19 Dial Cleaners, 2496 Main St. (Metro Bus 8, 23 or 32; Metro Rail: Amherst Street), ☏ +1 716-838-4800. M-Sa 7AM-7PM.

Mirroring the demographics of the Niagara Frontier as a whole, religious life in North Buffalo is dominated by the Roman Catholic church, with no fewer than five parishes located within its bounds. Far from the aging, moribund congregations to be found in other parts of the inner city, North Buffalo's Catholic churches retain a remarkable degree of vitality.

20 Holy Spirit RC Church, 91 Dakota St. (Metro Bus 11, 23 or 25), ☏ +1 716-875-8102. Mass Su 11AM, Sa 4PM, Tu F 8AM, W 6:15PM. Founded in 1910, Holy Spirit Catholic Church was for many years the site of a shrine to Saint Rita, a pilgrimage site for local faithful who came to venerate her as the "patron saint of lost and impossible causes".

21 St. Joseph University Parish RC Church, 3269 Main St. (Metro Bus 8; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-833-0298. Mass Su 8:30AM, 10AM, 11:30AM, also 8PM when school is in session at UB; Sa 4:30PM; M-F 8:30AM in chapel. Founded in 1850 as a country church in what was then a rural area, St. Joseph University Parish actually predates by over half a century the UB South Campus, next to which it is located today. With an identity that fundamentally emphasizes the welcoming of visitors and new members to its flock, St. Joseph mirrors the constitution of the University Heights neighborhood as a whole, with a congregation that is surprisingly progressive and diverse given the traditional reputation of Buffalo's Catholic community.

22 St. Margaret RC Church, 1395 Hertel Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-876-5318. Mass Su 8AM & 9:30AM; Sa M Th 8AM. Serving the Catholics of North Buffalo from its location in the center of the Hertel Avenue strip (its slogan, the "Heart of North Buffalo", is an apt one), St. Margaret Church was named after the late sister of former Buffalo bishop Charles Colton, a personal friend of its founding priest, Rev. Thomas Timmons. It remains one of the most active Catholic congregations in the City of Buffalo.

23 St. Mark RC Church, 401 Woodward Ave. (Metro Bus 32), ☏ +1 716-836-1600. Mass Su 9AM & noon; Sa 4PM; M W F 7AM. Parkside's Catholic congregation meets in a robust English Gothic-style church whose bell tower rises 88 feet (27 m) above Amherst Street. Linked since 2010 with St. Rose of Lima Church a short distance to the north, the vitality of parish life at St. Mark is attested to by the activity among the congregation of such organizations as the Boy Scouts, the Legion of Mary, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Visitors are always welcome at this friendly faith community.

24 St. Rose of Lima RC Church, 500 Parker Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-834-6688. Mass Su 7:30AM & 10:30AM, Sa 5:30PM, Tu-Th 8AM. The youngest Catholic congregation in North Buffalo, St. Rose of Lima was founded in 1926, with a school staffed for many years by the Sisters of Charity of Montréal — the famous Grey Nuns. Always an active force in the surrounding neighborhood that grew up alongside it, St. Rose of Lima remains a vibrant congregation that's engaged in the community.

Protestant churches in North Buffalo are most concentrated in Parkside and Central Park, whose populations still include a considerable number of old-money WASPs. Similarly, the Protestant congregations in University Heights draw a good deal of their parishioners from similarly affluent nearby suburbs such as Eggertsville, Snyder, and Kenmore.

25 Central Park United Methodist Church, 216 Beard Ave. (Metro Bus 8, 23 or 32; Metro Rail: Amherst Street), ☏ +1 716-833-3193. Services Su 10:30AM. Headquartered in a lovely English Gothic edifice with exquisitely ornate art-glass windows, Central Park United Methodist Church is considered the cathedral church for Methodism in Buffalo. A diverse and welcoming congregation, Central Park Methodist Church truly lives out its mission of outreach to the community through its mentoring program for at-risk students at nearby Bennett High School, its partnership with the Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida in service to the Spanish-speaking community of Buffalo's West Side, and its support for worthwhile organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, and Journey's End Refugee Services.

26 Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 96 Jewett Pkwy. (Metro Bus 8 or 11; Metro Rail: Amherst Street), ☏ +1 716-833-1151. Services Su 8:30AM & 10:30AM. Founded in 1888 on land donated by Elam Jewett, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is a longstanding cornerstone of the Parkside neighborhood. An architectural wonder, this stout Romanesque edifice was designed by the Syracuse-based architectural firm of Silsbee and Marling and boasts several lovely stained-glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Darwin D. Martin, whose Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house is located kitty-corner from here, was a parishioner in the early days. With the Reverend Catherine Dempesy-Sims at the helm, the Church of the Good Shepherd, like many of Buffalo's Protestant congregations, is a progressive, diverse and accepting faith community (describing itself as "a place of welcome to all, no exceptions") which is active in a wide range of charitable and neighborhood-improvement organizations and initiatives.

27 North Park Lutheran Church, 310 Starin Ave. (Metro Bus 23), ☏ +1 716-836-2785. Services Su 10:45AM. North Park Lutheran Church has traditionally been a congregation whose outsize sense of community — both within the congregation and as a component of the larger community — belies its small size. A choice of traditional and contemporary worship services are held by this church whose zeal for sharing their faith and love for the community is really remarkable. Visitors are welcomed with open arms.

31 The Church in Buffalo, 2540 Main St (Metro Bus 8, 23 or 32; Metro Rail: Amherst Street), ☏ +1 716-870-2540. Meetings Su 10AM (English) & 11AM (Mandarin). The oldest extant building in North Buffalo — the Washington Russell House on Main Street in the Vernon Triangle — is now the meeting hall (don't say "church"; which, according to the website, is a word reserved for the congregation itself) of The Church in Buffalo, a nondenominational, heterogeneous community of Bible-believing born-again Christians who hold one service each on Sundays in English and Mandarin Chinese. Visitors are welcome to those "Lord's Day meetings" as well as special weekly functions for young people (Saturdays) and UB students (Wednesdays).

32 New Bethel Community Church, 175 Englewood Ave. (Metro Bus 5), ☏ +1 716-835-8300. Services Su 10:30AM. The former Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church — a handsome English Gothic church erected in 1928 — is now home to this similarly-named, nondenominational diverse, friendly and welcoming congregation that's uncommonly engaged in the community. (updated Jun 2016)

Parkside is home to a majority of North Buffalo's black churches — particularly the blocks close to Main Street, which serves as the district's boundary with the East Side, long a stronghold of Buffalo's African-American community. There are perhaps half a dozen of these churches in the area; listed here are two of the largest.

33 Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ, 143 Beard Ave. (Metro Bus 8, 23 or 32; Metro Rail: Amherst Street), ☏ +1 716-833-3302. Services Su 11:05AM & 7PM. The former home of the Parkside Baptist Church, a stout Romanesque edifice in handsome stone that dates to 1894, is now the home of the Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ. The Gospel Temple's services, which take place on Sundays at 11:05AM and 6:45PM as well as Friday nights at 7PM, are a mélange of traditional and contemporary styles of ministry and music. Special ministries for children and young adults also take place on a weekly basis.

34 North Buffalo Community Church, 350 Kenmore Ave. (Metro Bus 5 or 34; Metro Rail: University), ☏ +1 716-833-6598. Services Su 10:30AM. Kenmore Avenue in University Heights is where this small but tight-knit community of believers has been situated since its foundation in 1994. With services every Sunday at 10:30AM, small-group ministries catering to young people, men, and other specialized sectors of the church population, and extensive community outreach programs, the primary dedication of the North Buffalo Community Church is evangelism. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the North Buffalo Community Church is a friendly congregation that, while primarily African-American in constitution, is multiethnic and welcomes all to its lively services.

35 St. George Orthodox Church, 2 Nottingham Terrace (Metro Bus 32), ☏ +1 716-875-4222. Services Su 10AM. St. George Orthodox Church began its life in 1913 in Black Rock, serving a small enclave of immigrants from Romania, and found strength in 1963 through its merger with a Russian Orthodox congregation whose struggle with small size and declining membership mirrored its own. An affiliate of the Orthodox Church in America, St. George describes itself today as a "pan-Orthodox" church that is a syncretic combination of the traditional liturgies of many Eastern faiths. Their modern building in Park Meadow is immediately adjacent to Delaware Park, where worshipers of all stripes are enthusiastically welcomed.

Though it's not the hotbed of Semitic culture that it was in the 1950s and 1960s, Hertel Avenue and the adjacent side streets retain a pair of synagogues that primarily deal in the same strain of Orthodox Judaism that has always characterized Jewish North Buffalo.

36 Congregation Achei T'mimim (Saranac Synagogue), 85 Saranac Ave. (Metro Bus 11 or 23), ☏ +1 716-876-1284. Describing its approach as "a fresh take on traditional Jewish values", Congregation Achei T'mimim was founded in 1911 as among the first of what would soon be many synagogues serving a thriving Jewish community in North Buffalo — in point of fact, it is the only remaining unaffiliated Orthodox shul in the entire city. Though it is Ashkenazi Orthodox in constitution, Achei T'mimim welcomes Jews of all stripes, regardless of ethnic or denominational differences, to their still-vibrant services which take place Fridays at sundown as well as Saturday mornings at 9:30AM.

37 Knesset Center (Bais Haknesset Hagadol), 500 Starin Ave. (Metro Bus 5), ☏ +1 716-832-5063. Shachrit M-F 7:30AM, Sa 10AM, Su 8AM; mincha and maariv daily 15 minutes before sunset. This Orthodox synagogue on Starin Avenue just south of Kenmore Avenue is operated by Chabad, an Orthodox ministry connected with the University of Buffalo. Here two Shabbat services are held weekly: the small, intimate Saturday morning services (followed by a hearty lunch!) provide a quieter counterpoint to the busy, lively Friday evening ones. Midweek services are also held.

38 Masjid At-Taqwa, 40 Parker Ave. (Metro Bus 8, 23 or 32; Metro Rail: Amherst Street), ☏ +1 716-836-9789. Located in Central Park, At-Taqwa is a traditional Sunni mosque, including formal jum'a, with a multicultural congregation and services in English. The building was a private residence before being purchased in the 1970s by the Islamic Society of the Niagara Frontier and is now a mainstay of the local Muslim community. It's still easily mistakable for an ordinary house, however, and there's no real exterior signage.