Larkin Square

Let me first issue a disclaimer.  I work right in the heart of Larkin Square as my company is headquartered there.  It is possible my review is somewhat biased.

Now onto my review:

There is no place in Buffalo like Larkin Square. Nowhere in Rochester. Nowhere in Western NY. What we have here is a true regional masterpiece!  Larkin Square is the intersection of Swan and Seneca street. This area was previously a neglected urban industrial center known as the Hydraulics.  Thanks to investment from First Niagara and the ECIDA this area has truly transformed. What we have now is an incredibly well designed public gathering spot that features a covered boardwalk, elevated picnic tables, funky seating, games, and a good variety of food options. This place is pure fun.

To truly experience what Larkin Square has to offer you need to come here for lunch or a special event.  Lunch options include a specialty sandwich shop serving from a converted Airstream trailer, an outdoor grill/bar, and a restaurant located in a nicely restored art deco gas station used by the Larkin Soap Company.  You may eat "in" at  the restaurant or at a stool by the grill. You may also order "to stay" at the Airstream and have your food brought to you at any of the many seating areas located throughout the square.

I'll save the food reviews for another day, but the atmosphere here is unbeatable and very relaxing -- Almost in a Miami Beach kind of way.

Special events occur at least twice a week during the summer. Mainstays are Food Truck Tuesdays featuring up to 15 area food trucks, and Live at Larkin. Live at Larkin features original artists you've likely never heard of before. Whether you like the music or not is largely irrelevant. It serves mostly as a backdrop to a festival atmosphere that includes market vendors, games, drinks, and food.  They even provide hoola hoops and sidewalk chalk for kids! This is an an excellent environment for young and old alike.

Other special events include bike races, car shows, book signings, and art shows.

How special is Larkin Square? You can even play pickle ball here! What's pickle  ball?  Imagine combining the very best of ping pong and tennis into a single super sport -- That's pickle ball. In all seriousness, it's a fun way to work off a bit of the calories you've consumed while here.

My only negative remark is that outside of weekday lunch or special events, Larkin Square is deserted, including weekends. Hopefully that will change over time.

Forget downtown. Forget the waterfront. The future of Buffalo is now. It's at Larkin Square.

Citizens of Buffalo, please find this amazingly lively, bright and wholly unexpected community space hidden amidst the abandoned buildings of deindustrialized Buffalo's East Side. Say what???

I guess by now, almost a year after I first discovered its existence, it's not so surprising and unexpected anymore. But I haven't ventured out here until recently, so until now a place this amazing smack-dab in the middle of the East Side seemed more like a dream.

Colorful chairs are arranged across vibrantly green grass and cute tables fill a giant gazebo. This is surrounded on one side by a spacious courtyard and on the other by an open space that is home to a Square 1 Sandwiches and a couple other cafes. From what I know, this place is also home to a variety of market stalls on weekdays and a venue for concerts during the warmer half of the year.

The food trucks often frequent this spot during lunch hours, and the ever increasing number of food trucks convene here on Tuesday evenings during the summer. Yay!!

I haven't been here during the day yet, but if it's anywhere near as awesome as it is in the evening hours....I can't wait to explore more this summer!

So there is this new really cool outdoor space in Buffalo. Where? On the Eastside. No really, where? Really on the Eastside. C'mon, what is this some kind of joke? No joke, it's a super well designed public outdoor space off Seneca street by the Larkin building. Where's that? Behind the first Niagara Building you see from the 190. Oh, really?

That is how I imagine the conversation with people will go when I tell them how sweet this place really is. I went to Larkin Square for lunch today to check out Lloyd's Taco truck. They were busy so I headed over to Square 1 Sandwich. (which is good by the way) While waiting for my sandwich I scoped out this Larkin Square I keep hearing about and noticed how really awesome this place is.

I mean it had quite a bit of people chilling out enjoying their lunches outside. Some good options to eat at (Lloyds was there, filling station, square 1, a hot dog cart vendor, the grill) Plenty of cozy seats. Nice flowers and vegetation lining the sidewalks. I mean nothing you would expect to be on the east side of Buffalo. Felt like I was in L.A. or San Diego enjoying public outdoor space. Totally wanted to just sit down for a while and soak up the vibe. Might have to come back and see what this pickleball court is about too.