Cheektowaga, NY Road Trips

1 Our Lady Help of Christians Chapel (Maria Hilf Chapel), 4125 Union Rd. (at Genesee St), ☏ +1 716 634-3420, [email protected]. Built in 1853 in Greek Revival style. (updated Feb 2020) 2 Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr., ☏ +1 716 683-5959, [email protected]. Daily, sunrise-sunset. Education Centerː M-F 9AM-4ː30PM, Sa 1-4ː30PM. 292-acre complex of forests, ponds, and wetlands. Free. (updated Feb 2020) 3 Tomb of Rabbi Eliyahu Yosef Rabinowitz, Ahavas Sholem Cemetery, 645 Pine Ridge Rd., ☏ +1 716 838-5110. Belying the modest size of Western New York's Hasidic community is its importance in the history of that strain of Judaism: it was to the B'rith Sholem Synagogue on the Near East Side of neighboring Buffalo where Eliyahu Yosef Rabinowitz came from his home in what's now Ukraine to serve as the first Hasidic rabbi in the United States. Rabbi Rabinowitz's stay in the area was short — from 1908 until his death just two years later — but his piety, modesty, and exceptional knowledge of the Torah so endeared him to local Jewry that his passing made national news. Today, his ohel (tomb) near the entrance to Ahavas Sholem Cemetery on Pine Ridge Road is an important pilgrimage site for Hasidim from New York City, Toronto, and elsewhere, especially on his yahrzeit (the anniversary of his death), the 13th day of Cheshvan in the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls in early to mid-November. It's said that anyone who visits his grave on that day can present a request to the rebbe and it will be granted within a year. (updated Mar 2021)

Polish-American Arts Festival. The Polish-American Arts Festival has been held annually since 1979 at Cheektowaga Town Park to honor Casimir Pulaski, the Polish nobleman and mercenary who played a pivotal role in the American Revolution. Aside from the General Pulaski Parade down Harlem Road that kicks off the festivities each year, the Polish-American Arts Festival offers polka dancing, food and drink, and live music over three days in mid-July. 1 Sky Zone Buffalo.

1 Taqueria Los Mayas, 3525 Genesee St., ☏ +1 716 906-3730. M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-9:30PM. From the looks of it, tucked between an auto body shop and a tired-looking suburban strip mall out by the airport, you'd never peg this as the place where locals flock to enjoy the best Mexican food on the Niagara Frontier. But appearances are deceiving at Los Mayas — and the word "flock" is apropos too; rare is the time when there's not a long wait for a table. Tacos come on house-made corn tortillas with a variety of fillings from the familiar (ground beef, chicken, al pastor) to the more esoteric (cactus leaf and potato; chorizo with buche, i.e. beef chitterlings), with a full toppings bar to visit once you've been served; the balance of the menu consists of familiar Tex-Mex standbys enhanced with an extra zing of authenticity. Service is friendly, but slow and rather inattentive. $15-40. (updated Sep 2019)

1 Best Western The Inn at Buffalo Airport, 4630 Genesee St., ☏ +1 716 631-8966. Fitness club, business center, data ports in all rooms, cable TV with HBO. 2 Comfort Inn Near Walden Galleria Mall, 475 Dingens St. (I-190 exit 1), ☏ +1 716 896-2800. Fitness center, business center, indoor pool, guest laundry, complimentary hot breakfast. All guest rooms contain refrigerators, irons and ironing boards, and coffeemakers; whirlpool suites are also available. 3 Comfort Suites, 901 Dick Rd., ☏ +1 716 633-6000. Business center, fitness club, indoor pool and whirlpool, laundry service. 4 Best Western Plus Galleria Inn & Suites, 601 Dingens St. (I-190 exit 1), ☏ +1 716 896-2900. Check-in: 3:00 PM, check-out: 11 AM. Fitness center, business center, satellite TV with premium channels, free continental breakfast. Heated outdoor pool open in season; indoor whirlpool open all year. 5 Hampton Inn Buffalo-Airport Galleria, 1745 Walden Ave. (I-90 exit 52W), ☏ +1 716 894-8000. Fitness center, business center, coin laundry, indoor pool and whirlpool spa. 6 Holiday Inn Express Buffalo Airport, 131 Buell Rd., ☏ +1 716 631-8700. Business center, fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool, laundry and dry cleaning service, Global Newspaper service. 7 Millennium Airport Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave. (I-90 exit 52E), ☏ +1 716 681-2400. Immediately adjacent to Walden Galleria and convenient to Walden Avenue shopping. Indoor pool, fitness center with his-and-hers saunas, business center, valet services, guest laundry, satellite TV in all guest rooms.

1 Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF IATA), 4200 Genesee St, ☏ +1 716 630-6000. 2 Buffalo-Depew Train Station, 55 Dick Rd.. (updated Apr 2019) Train operator: Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Dec 2020) Routes stopping at Buffalo-Dewep: Empire Service operating twice daily between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City including stops in Buffalo (Exchange Street), Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Maple Leaf train operating daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and Niagara Falls (New York) include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls (Ontario). Stops between Niagara Falls (New York) and New York City are the same as those made by the Empire Service. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States. Lake Shore Limited operating daily between Chicago and Boston or New York City. It makes stops at most stations along the route, though it does not stop at some of the smallest stations. Trains consist of train cars from both branches between Chicago and Albany (Rensselaer). The trains split into separate branches between Albany (Rensselaer) and both Boston and New York City.