Accommodations
Accommodations
Allison and James will be staying at Courtyard by Marriott Buffalo Downtown/Canalside. The hotel is located centrally to many great restaurants, attractions, and is an 8 minute walk/3 minute drive to the venue.
We have secured a block of rooms for guests visiting from out of town. The discounted rate of $249.00-$269.00 per night. A minimum two night stay is required to get the group discounted rate (available 6/18-6/20). Reservations associated with the block must be received on or before 05/7/2026.
Please use the link below if you are interested in booking at the Courtyard:
Other Accommodations
There are plenty of other hotels, motels, Airbnbs, and vrbos nearby in Buffalo as well! Please stay wherever fits your needs the most!
Nearby Accommodations:
Hilton Garden Inn Buffalo Downtown, Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY: 10 minute walk/2 minute drive to venue
Hampton Inn & Suites Buffalo Downtown, Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY: 17 minute walk/4 minute drive to venue
Welcome to the "City of Good Neighbors!" Buffalo is world-famous for chicken wings, the local food scene is actually a deep, multi-layered "iceberg" of immigrant traditions and unique regional hybrids.
🍗 The Buffalo Staples
Every visitor needs to know the quintessential Buffalo kit:
Buffalo Wings: Forget "Buffalo-style" elsewhere. Here, they are just "wings." They are never breaded, always crispy, and traditionally served with blue cheese (never ranch—that’s a local sin).
Our Favorites: Bar-Bill Tavern (Garlic Parmesan and Honey Butter BBQ are a great try in addition to a traditional Medium)
185 Main St, East Aurora, NY 14052
About a 25 minute drive from downtown but well worth the drive, East Aurora is also a bit of a " Hallmark Movie" town with lots of great shops.
Bar Bill does offer a takeout window as well.
2nd Runner Up (if you're looking to stay closer to downtown) Gabriel’s Gate
145 Allen St, Buffalo, NY 14201
Beef on Weck: A sandwich of thin-sliced, rare roast beef on a salty, caraway-seeded kimmelweck roll, dipped in au jus and topped with sinus-clearing horseradish.
Our Favorite: Bar-Bill Tavern
Buffalo-Style Pizza: A distinct hybrid—thicker than NYC style but thinner than Chicago deep dish. It’s known for its sweet sauce and "cup and char" pepperoni (small slices that curl into little bowls of oil).
Our Favorite: Casa Di Pizza
11 E Mohawk St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Spaghetti Parmesan: World Famous pasta with butter and sauce, smothered in mozzarella cheese and broiled to a golden brown.
Our Favorite: Chef’s Restaurant Famed for inventing the "World Famous Spaghetti Parmesan"
291 Seneca Street Buffalo, NY 14204
🥤 Pro-Tips
Drink: Try a Loganberry. It’s a non-carbonated, dark purple berry drink that tastes like a mix of blackberry and raspberry. It's a Buffalo childhood staple
Offered at many restaurants including our local taco chain, Mighty Taco.
The "Stinger": If you see this on a menu, it’s a sub sandwich with both steak and chicken fingers.
Al and James’s Favorite: Jim’s Steak Out
92 W Chippewa St, Buffalo, NY 14202
Blue Cheese Rule: Do not ask for ranch with your wings. You will get "the look.”
Buffalo Riverworks: Entertainment center on Buffalo's Waterfront. Ferris Wheel, zip lines, ropes course, axe throwing, arcade, kayak rentals, roller rink.
Explore and More Children's Museum: A four-floor, hands-on children's museum in downtown Buffalo's Canalside, focusing on child-led play, creativity, and learning through interactive exhibits that cover science, culture, and local history
Maid of the Mist: Boat tour at Niagara Falls, New York, offering a 20-30 minute ride that takes visitors past the American Falls and into the basin of the Horseshoe Falls, providing close-up views.
Fisher Price Toy Store: The store features a wide selection of current and classic toys, including a large "Little People" wall. (Near Bar-Bill)
Buffalo History Museum: Learn more about the people, places and stories that make Western New York's history extraordinary.