Monthly Archives: April 2022

Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival

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Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival

This Spring, we wanted to wander beyond Erie to an event that we’ve never been to before. In doing some looking around online, we stumbled upon the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival, which is happening April 30 and May 1, 2022, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on both days. After heading to the website to read up on it, we decided that heading to this festival in Buffalo for the day sounded like a lot of fun! So off we went!

Location:

The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival is located in the Japanese Garden at Delaware Park and The Buffalo History Museum. The address for the Japanese Garden and History Museum is 1 Museum Ct, Buffalo, NY 14216. The drive is roughly an hour and a half from Erie, PA.

Free parking is available in the Museum Parking lot. If you find that lot is full, there is street parking available. If you do have to park in the street, be sure not to block any driveways. We arrived around 11:15 a.m., and we did have to park in the street. The event was very crowded. If you do have to park in the street, there are sidewalks available and the walk to get to the park around the lake is very pretty.

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Property Description:

The grounds of the museum are absolutely beautiful. Cherry blossom trees are plenty in the garden, with pink and white flowers blooming everywhere on the branches. There are several concrete paths to walk. You’ll find food trucks to the side and in front of the museum, as well as vendors with items celebrating Japanese heritage.

What to Do:

This festival not only celebrates the beautiful cherry blossom trees, but also highlights Japanese culture. Inside the Buffalo History Museum, you can visit activity tables to learn about bonsai, origami, folk dolls, and Kanazawa, Buffalo’s sister city in Japan. You can also visit all of the museums other attractions for free, including a room dedicated to trains that our littles loved!

Outside in the Japanese Garden, you can take a walk and enjoy the beautiful array of color in all the shades of pink found in the Cherry Blossom Trees. As you walk the garden, you’ll find many people about. Some brought blankets and were enjoying their food having little picnics underneath the trees and we even saw a few groups with professional photographers getting family photos done! Our littles loved watching the artists!

Several vendors were set up selling their items or services; you can even get a henna tattoo! We found so many beautiful things, but unfortunately we didn’t have cash on us so we were unable to purchase. If you go to the festival, be sure to bring a little cash in case you find a unique treasure.

We saw many options in food trucks to grab a bite to eat during your visit. On ours, we enjoyed food from Sun Roll.

Sun Roll serves sushi, spring rolls, and other Asian favorites. This truck was pretty packed, but we really wanted to try it. After a decent wait (only because of the long line), we received our food. The food was so worth the wait. Everything was delicious. We got a sushi burrito, mango roll, fried vegetable spring rolls, and Thai ice tea. It was our first time trying Thai iced tea; it’s a cold tea served with milk and spices. It presents as a “creamsicle” color that melts down into typical iced tea color (photo above), but don’t let that fool you as it does have a kick of spice in it. While the adults enjoyed the flavor, only one little liked it. And by liked, we mean really liked; might be a new favorite drink!

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Music is a huge highlight of this festival. Outside, you’ll enjoy several different musicians on 3 different stages. We enjoyed listening to the different sounds as we took in the atmosphere of the garden and watched the boats on the water. One really cool part of the festival was the boat rides on Mirror Lake. The line was very long, and we didn’t have the time to wait, so we didn’t get to enjoy a boat ride. However, it looked like a lot of fun!

Who Can Go:

Anyone can enjoy this festival celebrating Japanese culture and the beauty of the cherry blossom trees. From young to old, we noticed people of all sorts taking in the beauty around them.

You can also bring your dog(s)! Dogs are more than welcome in the outdoor areas of the festival. As always, be sure to clean up after your pup!

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed our visit to the 9th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Buffalo, NY. This festival was very busy and a lot of fun to be at, especially if you appreciate nature and culture. We were at the Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival for about 2 hours, and enjoyed food, nature, and culture while there! The drive was pleasant and we had a great time trying something new! If you’d like even more information, head to their website by clicking right here.

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

New Wandering Coming Tomorrow!

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Look forward to a new blog post tomorrow evening!
Here's your first clue as to where we're going...
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Look forward to a new Wandering Beyond Erie, coming tomorrow night! Are you subscribed to our exclusive email list? If not, sign up below!

Valerio’s Italian Restaurant

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Valerio’s Italian Restaurant

Thinking about Italian food in Erie, PA tonight? We’ve got a suggestion for you in Valerio’s Italian Restaurant! Italian restaurants in Erie, PA are plenty, but Valerio’s offers several food options for it’s diners, not only in the food that they serve, but in the location options to get that food to you!

Location:

Valerio’s Italian Restaurant has 4 locations (including a main office for catering) in Erie, PA. The location we went to is at 1803 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16510. We decided to check out this location as it’s close to a local college, Mercyhurst University.

Property Description:

This restaurant is located in it’s own building, and if you’re on 38th street coming from Mercyhurst College, it will be on your right. There is ample parking available in front of the building. When you walk in, there will be a counter to pick up your order directly in front of you. If it’s not done yet, there are benches against the windows for you to sit and wait. To your right there is a drink refrigerator, and to your left there is a small hallway that leads to the dining room.

Counter for Pick Up

What to Do:

Valerio’s is a full service restaurant as well as a take out and delivery service restaurant. You can choose to dine in and enjoy their Italian theme, or if you would rather eat at home or at a different location, you can order online or call in your order. Valerio’s will either deliver your order to you or you can pick it up at the location you order from.

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Their menu is incredibly vast, featuring Italian food of all kinds. They have anything from pizza to soups, Italian stuffers to seafood dinners, subs to Italian dinners such as Chicken Parmesan, Fettuccini Alfredo, Stuffed Shells, and Ravioli. They even have an extremely large pizza called the Sasquatch; with 18 slices this is a great pizza to enjoy during the game! If you’re interested in checking out their entire menu, click here.

On this particular visit, we chose to pick up takeout, and got a simple cheese pizza. However, we’ve had Valerio’s before, and we can vouch that they do have some delicious food on the menu! If you’re looking for take out in Erie, PA, remember that Valerio’s not only offers you the typical “pizza shop” goodness, but several Italian dinners as well!

Large Cheese Pizza

We’ve said it before, there’s nothing like a local pizza shop’s pizza. It’s just different. Everything from the crust to the cheese. This is one you’ll definitely want to try.

Who Can Go:

This restaurant is accessible by all, and of course take out and delivery make it a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to eat inside! Anyone can enjoy Valerio’s food.

Final Thoughts:

Valerio’s is a great local Italian restaurant in Erie, PA that’s been serving Erie since 1994! With 4 locations, you’re bound to be close to one of them whether you’re looking for something near to your house or you’re out and about.

Looking for more pizza in Erie? Click here.

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Valerio’s in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Pleasant Ridge Park 42322

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Pleasant Ridge Park April 23, 2022

What do blooming cherry blossom trees, construction equipment, frisbee golf, and muddy trails have in common? You can find all of these things right now at Pleasant Ridge Park!

Weather reaching up to 70 degrees brought us to Pleasant Ridge Park for a little stroll. Even though it rained early Saturday morning, we decided to grab the dog and head to the park; clearly we were hoping it wasn’t too muddy throughout the woods.

FYI: Because this is an update on a previous wandering, we’re linking the article with general information on Pleasant Ridge Park here. With that in mind, check out how our visit on April 23, 2022 went!

With the rain, comes mud.

Currently, the park is pretty muddy. On our walk, we went through several areas of thick, wet, “your shoe will stick in this” mud. The kiddos had a really hard time getting through some of it and had to be picked up. The dog needed a bath when we got home. Our shoes are all being washed. If you don’t like mud, don’t plan a walk here for at least a week. If you don’t mind mud, head on over!

A section of the trails through the woods
“Your shoe will stick in this” mud

It’s that time of year…

Another thing we would caution you about is to check yourself and your dog for ticks. We found 2 on our pup when we arrived home. This shouldn’t deter you from going as it is to be expected in the woods this time of year, but be aware of it and make sure to check your dog any time they spend long periods of time outside.

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Get out your camera!

On another note, the cherry blossom trees are starting to bloom and they are absolutely gorgeous. If you’re a fan of pink trees, head to the park and get some photos as they have 2 on the outskirts of the parking lot, across from the sports fields.

Blooming Cherry Blossom Tree
Perfect Photo Spot

Construction Vehicles

Upon entering the parking lot, you’ll see several construction vehicles currently parked (or at work, depending on when you visit) on the edge of the lot by the fields. They were simply parked during our visit as it was a Saturday afternoon, so we were unable to tell exactly what they were there for. From the looks of the parking lot and the vehicles, our guess is the parking lot refurbishment. If you know what’s going on, please drop us a comment!

Parking Lot

No matter what reason they were there, we had fun looking at them. The littles loved seeing the big vehicles. If you head to the park be sure to take a peek, but remember to keep a safe distance; we kept about a 15 foot distance. It’s important to let kids know this is a “looking” experience and not to touch them. If they look forward to seeing construction vehicles up close and personal, Equipment Day at the zoo is scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

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Golfing at the park…with a frisbee?

Walking around, we saw several “holes” (they look like big metal and chain baskets) set up as we went on our walk, and noticed several signs warning you to watch out for flying discs. Pleasant Ridge Park now boasts a disc golf course throughout their 80 acres of park. If this is something you’re interested in, you should definitely go check it out. Although we didn’t play ourselves, we did see other people playing.

Frisbee Golf Hole

We never saw a flying disc or feared getting hit by one, so don’t let this stop you from coming to the park. There are strict rules the disc golfers must follow, signs posted throughout to let you know where you could run into someone playing the sport, and pathways to walk as they play the course.

For more information about disc golf, specifically at Pleasant Ridge Park, please click here.

Final Thoughts:

Although very muddy, we still managed to have a lot of fun on our visit! The mud is not bad at all in the grass near the cherry blossom trees, so if you just want to visit those and play at the small playground, you won’t end up with soaking wet shoes like we did after venturing through the trails. If you do want to venture through the trails, in its current state after the rain, we would recommend visiting the open areas before you head into the woods and get muddy.

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On this trip, we were thankful to be wearing our Vessi shoes. Our feet were completely dry because of our Vessi’s yet again! A walk in the wet, sticky mud never felt so dry! Vessi makes 100% waterproof sneakers that we highly recommend. We have an exclusive code for $20 off your first purchase of $100 or more. Click here to be directed to Vessi’s website to browse and use our code!

[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

This post contains affiliate links for a product. If you buy something, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

5 Coffee Shops for Studying in Erie, PA

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5 Coffee Shops for Studying in Erie, PA

We know what time of year it is. Finals week is quickly approaching and end of the semester projects are due. Knowing there are many colleges in the Erie area, we wanted to highlight a few coffee shops students may want to stop by to have a cram session or work on a project while taking in some much needed caffeine, and maybe even grab a bite to eat!

Pressed

If you’re looking for a place to not only grab a coffee and study, but do a little shopping for books and gifts too, Pressed is a super cool place to visit. Head into the bookstore first and pick up some new reading material (or bring your own) and then walk through the doors into the coffee shop to grab a drink and a snack to enjoy while you read. Hightops, tables, and a couch provide different locations for you to relax while you indulge (in studies or coffee, or both). You can also sit outside, right in front of the shop. This is a great option for Gannon and Mercyhurst students, as it isn’t a very far drive from either. Open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10:00 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays, convenient for those of you who may have evening classes.

Above: Seating in Coffee Shop
Interested in more info? Click the picture above.
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The Crick Coffeehouse & Eatery

Although it is a small drive from most colleges in the area, we think The Crick is worth it. With seating indoors and outdoors, you can choose your atmosphere. This is a great place to go if you’re looking for a place to study while eating breakfast or lunch. The Crick is great for students who enjoy studying earlier in the day, as it is open from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. every day except Monday, when they are closed.

Outdoor Seating
Some Indoor Seating
More info? Click the photo above.

The Mainstreet Cakery Cafe: 2 Locations

Either location (Fairview or Millcreek) of The Mainstreet Cakery Cafe would be great for studying while grabbing a bite to eat. While both locations offer indoor and outdoor seating, you will find a wonderful atmosphere to dive into your studies while enjoying a coffee, eating a meal, or even indulging in a bakery treat or some ice cream. The tables are spaced well, and it’s a great place to meet up with a group for dinner as you dive into your studies. Open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. every day except for Sunday, this is for studiers at any time of day.

Outdoors: Fairview Location
Indoors: Millcreek Location
Want more info? Click the picture above.
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Javamango’s Outpost

A quaint coffee shop and small eatery as a pass-through inside of an office building, Javamango’s Outpost offers a few tables and a hightop bar that are perfect for posting up while hitting the books and enjoying some much needed caffeine. Enjoy the calm atmosphere of a quiet space while you get your study on. Open from 6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, this is for morning and early afternoon studiers.

Want more info? Click the picture above.

Romolo Chocolates

Studying while drinking coffee in a candy store? Initially, it sounds like a bad idea, and quite unattainable. But if you’ve ever been to Romolo Chocolates, you would understand why it’s a good idea. With a quiet atmosphere in the ice cream and coffee shop, you’ll find couches and tables set up for social interactions or some time to yourself. If you’re more of an outside person, you’ll find several tables outdoors in front and to the side of the building, and even heaters available to warm you in the colder months. Enjoy the provided scenery of a fictional alleyway well lit with many Instagram worthy spots to snap a picture in between cramming for your classes. And added to all of that, you can induldge in some amazing sponge candy! Romolo Chocolate is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays, and 10:00 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays.

Above: Seating inside of the shop
Beside: Seating in front of the shop

[Editors Note: We know there are several other coffee shops in Erie, some we have yet to visit and post on our site. We are not trying to be selective, simply offering choices from our current blog posts. If you have any suggestions of other places we could visit and highlight, please comment and let us know! We want to make sure we mention as much of what Erie has to offer as we can! All business hours are current as of 4/18/2022, please check the hours on their Facebook pages or Google Search if you are reading this at a much later date.]

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with any of these businesses in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Legacy Hydroponics Fundraiser

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Legacy Hydroponics Fundraiser

Many of you may have noticed we’ve included Legacy Hydroponics and their events in our previous articles, as we plan to also keep telling you about them in future posts. They are an organic and hydroponic farm loacted in Waterford, PA. All of their produce is ripened on the vine and harvested daily to bring it fresh to your table. They provide the community with several seasonal events on their property, and these events are always a great time.

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We were recently informed that while they were in Florida with their CBD business in January, their main greenhouse collapsed due to a heavy snowstorm. Unfortunately in Pennsylvania, insurance will not cover greenhouses. The estimate given to them was over $30,000.

Their wonderful customers, vendors, family, and friends are throwing a Bingo Fundraiser to help provide funds to fix the greenhouse. The event will take place on April 24, 2022. It will be held at the old McLane Church, as it’s now a Bingo Hall and Event Center, located at 2319 West 38th Street, Erie. Doors open at 1:00 p.m., and at 2:00 p.m. Bingo will promptly start. TIckets for Bingo are $30 if purchased before the event and $35 at the door. All extra Bingo cards will be available at the door for $15. Anyone that reserves their card early will receive a special Bingo card for a special game.

They will have food, drinks, a 50/50, a lottery/gardening raffle tree, pull tabs, tip boards, and a basket raffle. Vendors will also be set up with all of theri wonderful items available for purchase.

If you have any questions about this event or if you would like to make a donation, please contact Legacy Hydroponics through messenger on Facebook. You can purchase your tickets by clicking HERE. You can also support their event page for the fundraiser on Facebook by letting them know that you’re coming!

All money collected by this event will go toward rebuilding their greenhouse.

Like what you read? Subscribe below and be notified of new things to do in Erie County whenever we post!

[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]