delphica

So, I was in Chicago for the first time! I loved what I saw of the city during my very quick visit and hope to return soon.

A great art collection for a relatively small gallery! If you have studied art history, especially modern art, you might be surprised how many famous pieces are in the Albright. It’s a good location as well—if the weather is good, you can spend time in the park behind the gallery, or walk up Elmwood Avenue for shopping and dining.

I was there recently to see the highlights of the museum’s collection, which includes some works that haven’t been displayed recently. I was disappointed that The Marvelous Sauce (included here for your viewing pleasure) is not considered a “highlight” of the collection—any kid that went to the Albright on school field trips knows that The Marvelous Sauce is pretty much THE highlight. I might start a petition!

The gift shop is small and most of the unique items are a little pricey. They do have some very nice Frank Lloyd Wright inspired gift items if you are looking to spend some money. Other than postcards, most of the other things in the shop are generic and not too special. (Okay, I’m a shopaholic and I can’t resist reviewing museum shops.)

Back when I was in college I visited friends at SUNY New Paltz often, and have great (if rather blurry) memories. Just recently I was back for a conference held at the Mohonk Mountain House. I had always wanted to stay there. It was really an experience, like going back in time. The hotel is charming and if you have to be trapped with your coworkers somewhere for a week, this is a great place to do it. Overnight stays are very pricey, but you can also visit for the day for a more reasonable fee. The food was pretty good, but I did expect a little better for the price level of the hotel.

Weather is definitely an element, there is so much to do outside that bad weather will really detract from your visit.

I also love the Stone Houses—these are preserved houses dating back to Dutch colonial days. Tiny and adorable! You can pay to tour them, or even appreciate them (from the outside) for free just strolling through the neighborhood.

Fitting for a college town, there are plenty of affordable places to grab a quick lunch or drink on Main Street.

This is a great museum, it was once the estate of a Tulsa oilman. Built in the 1920, it’s intended to be an Italian-style villa. I used to work in Italy, and this estate really captures the “feel” of being in Italy. The art collection is small, but there are some gems and the whole thing is arranged to showcase the artwork as well as give you a sense of the building as a home (apparently a home for people who had more money than they knew what to do with, but still) during the oil-rich days of the 1920s.

There is also a great formal garden. My only regret is that when I visited, it was the summer and 100+ degrees, so it was difficult (for this northerner) to spend very much time enjoying the outdoors.

It’s worth visiting if you are looking for a relaxing (and low cost) place in which have fun in the summer. It’s a pretty quiet area, but the people are nice and the drinks are cheap. The drive down Old Lake Shore from Buffalo to Angola is short, and you see a lot of the grand old estates from back in the glory days of Western New York.

Angola also has a drive-in, which is fun if you are looking for something a little different to do on a summer evening. It has a little bit of a Scooby-Doo haunted drive-in vibe going on, which I think is a plus.