What to Do When You're Not Studying
Unless you’re a cyborg or a walking stiff, you’ll soon discover the yearning for something to do other than schoolwork. “Gee, what’s going on tonight?” you might ask, or, “what’s there to do now that I don’t have to (or won’t) study this weekend?”
Most of your classmates will resort to a little R&R that they missed out on during the week. Many go home
to visit family and friends. Some head back to their alma maters to relive the carefree days of undergrad life.
Certainly, if you choose to stay in Buffalo, there’s plenty to do. A bit of advice: go out early in the semester, while
you still can. You and your classmates have not yet been totally engulfed by medical school and still know how to
have a good time.
Whether you’re a Bills fan or not, you must attend a game at some point during your tenure here. The games can get pretty wild, so get there early, have a tailgate party, watch for your classmates on the Jumbotron, and be part of the wave!
The Bisons are Buffalo’s minor league baseball team. This is not major league baseball, which means one
thing: CHEAP SEATS! If you want to pay more for the big league, head to Toronto to see the Blue Jays. The Bisons
are the Toronto Blue Jays’ affiliate, which enhances the experience since the big league team is so close to home. Hey, for $7.00 for a ticket, you can’t go wrong. In the spring/summer, there will also be concerts held at the Bisons stadium (Coca-Cola Field), including Taste of Country for you country-music fans.
For you hockey fans out there, we have the Sabres. The First Niagara Center is home to the Sabres and is despite being built back in 1996 is still one of the nicest arenas in the entire league, thanks to the addition of the Harbor Center, a new facility adjacent to the hockey arena that houses two hockey rinks itself, a Tim Hortons, a hotel soon to be opening, and 716 Sports Bar, home to the second largest TV screen in any North American restaurant. Both the Sabres and Bandits (lacrosse) play at First Niagara Center (FNC). The occasional concert is also held there. If your favorite band isn’t playing at FNC, Canalside, one of Buffalonians’ favorite outdoor spots, is right across the street lying on the inner harbor, and hosts a free concert every Thursday from the end of May through the middle of September. The Town Ballroom, The Waiting Room, and The Tralf are all small music clubs in downtown Buffalo that all attract great musicians and fans alike through their doors.
Buffalo has a Theater District: it’s small compared with that of NYC or Toronto, but it has some very good shows and comedy clubs, which are all reasonably priced. You’re also not far from Toronto’s superb theater district. In the summer, head north to Lewiston to check out Artpark, an outdoor theater set on the lower Niagara River. In the summer, there’s also Shakespeare in the Park, held in beautiful Delaware Park. It’s lawn seating, so bring a blanket, some wine and cheese, and have fun.
The Albright-Knox is a world-class art museum, with works by Picasso, Pollock, Rothko, and other giants. It features excellent traveling exhibits. The lake across from the museum has a beautiful jogging path. There is also free yoga at the museum every Saturday morning.
Buffalo is home to many parks and nature preserves, including Tifft Nature Preserve (for trails and fishing), Chestnut Ridge Park, and Delaware Park (designed by Frederick Olmsted, who designed Central Park in New York). In Williamsville, Glen Park off of Main Street has a nice waterfall. Letchworth state park provides some of the most picturesque view in the entire region, especially in the fall. If you get a free weekend in the fall you should consider the hour drive and check out the gorge. There are books in local bookstores that have information about “secret” hiking trails, waterfalls, and other outdoor adventures around Western NY. In these books are directions and parking instructions, but don’t bother buying the books, just write everything down!
You will soon realize that the cash from your loans dwindles quickly, but do not fret! Inexpensive and fun
activities are plentiful in the Buffalo area. Many of us have found time to have fun regularly on weekends; you don’t need to wait until after exams to have fun. Get out and make sure you have a life outside of school. Some helpful websites are Artvoice (http://www.artvoice.com - this site also has apartment listings) and Buffalo Rising, (http://www.buffalorising.com).