Cheektowaga, NY Indoor Activities

A vintage photo of Mallwitz’s Island Lanes, presumably from the 1980s, shows a much different alley than the one that stands today. Its patrons are dressed and coiffed for the times, bright yellows and reds flash across the walls, and strikes and spares are scrawled by hand. A modern-day snapshot illustrates the transformation that has occurred since the center's 1980 opening: 24 lanes feature computerized scoring systems and freshly oiled surfaces that glisten in the muted glow of black lights like a newborn’s head after his first waxing. Other contemporary touches include a full bar, complete with a food menu headlined by popular wings.

The Pilates Loft's owner, Beth Elkins, is not only a Core Dynamics–certified instructor, but also the creator of her own version of Pilates dubbed the Elkins Method Pilates technique. Between the exposed brick walls of her boutique studio, Beth and her two instructors teach her core-strengthening method to students of all levels during mat and tower equipment classes. By keeping each class in a private, two-person, or small group format, instructors can give one-on-one attention to each student to ensure every stomach curl, leg lift, and arm detachment exercise is performed safely.

A Golden Griffin emblem presides over Canisius College Athletics’ 17 sports teams, which traverse grass, water, and hard court in search of victory. As part of the NCAA Division I’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Canisius’s athletes face off against other East Coast schools including Marist College, Niagara University, and Loyola University Maryland. From the stands, a sea of blue and gold cheers on the men’s basketball, hockey, and lacrosse teams, the women’s soccer, softball, and volleyball teams, and the adjunct professors’ annual soapbox derby.

Kenmore Lanes is a safe haven for pin-pummeling patrons as they relish strikes and avert gutter balls on the stable of slick lanes. Participants can practice their rolling skills during open-bowl sessions or within the intergalactic realm of Friday and Saturday night moonlight bowling, where the lanes remain open until 2:30 a.m. and are entirely illumined by glowing blocks of radioactive cheese. Tykes celebrating their birthdays can launch orbs alongside friends during 90-minute party sessions, which include pizza, soda, and a gift for the guest of honor. A pro shop supplies attendees with custom-fit balls, bags, and shoes, and 10-week leagues encourage team camaraderie and passive aggressive celebrations after every strike. Kenmore Lanes' restaurant reenergizes postgame rollers with abundant eats, and visitors craving more competition can chalk up cues at the pool table or take on classic games at the arcade such as skee-ball.

Dr. Nicole Bishop's signature Mommy and Me Pilates classes were born the same time as her son, Reza, as a way to connect with him while helping women balance their fitness regimens with their brand new bundles. During the 90-minute Mamilates classes, two instructors—one for mom and one for baby—guide participants through short bursts of challenging Pilates exercises. During these drills, fun activities such as singing, massage, and dance keep growing minds entertained while women bolster their muscles. With regular practice, women may notice a reduction in physical tension around the neck and shoulders, stronger abdominals, sturdy backs, and weightlessness despite carrying 15 sacks of lead. The team strives to achieve these results specifically to aid in the recovery from the strain of carrying a baby or to make common postnatal lifting easier. The staff makes careful modifications for women still recovering from Cesarean sections.

Dr. Bishop earned her PhD in comparative literature at the University of Michigan, an academic track that involved a focus on mindfulness, meditation, and reading methodology. She incorporates these disciplines in her budding practice, along with her specialty in African and Caribbean dance, the spark for which ignited at the ripe old age of 5 years. As a kicker, Dr. Bishop also boasts certification in mat Pilates instruction and the ability to fashion a yoga mat out of a napkin.

Bing Crosby. The Marx Brothers. Frank Sinatra. These are only a few of the luminaries who have trod the boards at Shea's Performing Arts Center over its nearly 90-year history. Shea’s originally opened as a movie house in 1926, shortly before the advent of talkies. Partnering with Tiffany Studios to create an extravagantly lush interior, Chicago architects C.W. and George L. Rapp modeled the opulent venue after a European opera house and created a Neo-Spanish Baroque masterpiece in the process. Tours of the venue provide an up-close view of its grandeur and many electrical outlets, and they benefit the center’s ongoing restoration initiatives. Shea’s Performing Arts Center also houses the Western New York Entertainment Hall of Fame, whose inductees include stars such as Lucille Ball, Buffalo Bob, and Christine Baranski.