Things to Do in North Tonawanda

Awash in the aromas of all manner of edible creations, the air in Cazenovia Park buzzes with the strums of guitars and cheerful chatter as Taste of South Buffalo’s festivities carry on into the night. Throughout the day, chefs from area restaurants such as Brick Oven Bistro & Deli and Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub can be found serving up hearty helpings of their signature dishes. In the background, live music from local artists Jane Jane Soundsystem, The Voice contestant Zack Joseph, and So Far So Good add a toe-tapping component to the proceedings and facilitate synchronized eating routines.

Taste of South Buffalo’s loaded schedule of events mingles food with entertainment, starting off with a USA Track & Field-sanctioned Mike Diggins Memorial 5K walk and run at 8 a.m. Afterward, the Buffalo Warriors take on the South Buffalo Catholic School's parents in a basketball game at 11 a.m. Other events include a split-club drawing and a taping of the game show Duck, Duck, Goose wherein elementary students answer questions culled from 36 categories in an attempt to scoop up various prizes.

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.