5/4/10

Thursday: Gardens of Allentown/North Pearl

Early arrivals on Thursday are invited to cocktails and dinner in Buffalo’s great historic preservation district, Allentown. First, there will be drinks and snacks at the home of Elizabeth Licata from 4:30-6 p.m. During that time, guests are invited to visit a number of nearby Allentown gardens that will be open, including Bob Fink’s (shown above), Gretchan Grobe’s, Deborah Ellis’s, the Quaker Meeting House garden, and others. A map will be provided.
Allentown’s residential side streets are lined with meticulously restored and preserved nineteenth century homes, many of which have unique gardens. There are also two quiet pocket parks, and some of the city’s best galleries and restaurants. The architectural styles include Queen Anne, Italianate, Worker’s Cottage, Gothic Cottage, Second Empire, and many others.

North Pearl Street is perhaps the most conscientious example of a prosperous Victorian residential street left in Buffalo, despite some modern changes. The homes were built for nineteenth-century Buffalo's upwardly mobile population and the structures reflect their builders’ post-Civil War prosperity. The gardens generally feature ingenious uses of small spaces and most are modeled around a courtyard/patio structure.

At 6:15, everyone will make their way to the 20th Century Club, about a block away from Elizabeth's house, for dinner at 6:30.

18 comments:

  1. Okay, maybe I'm crazy or blind - but I can't find the actual dates of the event. Which weekend is it? I would love to come, but need to check to see what weekend it is.

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  2. I guess it wasn't too apparent. I did add it to the Agenda page in the menu at the top of the site. It is from Thursday, July 8 through Sunday July 11.

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  3. Thanks, Elizabeth and Jim. We are working on flights now. What time would we need to be there for dinner, and what would be the best transportation from the Embassy Suites?
    Frances

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  4. 5:30 Thursday would be drinks at Elizabeth's. Best transportation from the hotel to Elizabeth's? By foot. It's a few blocks away, a nice walk on a summer day. I'll provide Google maps for all locations ahead of time. It's a very short drive if you hook up with someone with a car -- but parking might take as long as walking!

    Jim

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  5. Fabulous, Jim! Walking distance is perfect. My flights are bought and paid for. See you in July.
    Frances

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  6. Yes, people should be able walk to everything on Thursday. I am starting drinks at 4:30, so we have time to see a few gardens before dinner at 6:30. That means it will still be light at the end of dinner, which adds to the desirability of walking.

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  7. Sounds wonderful. Katie and I will be there.

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  8. We'll be there as well. I don't see the rsvp list now so don't know if I got on it or not. I so look forward to seeing your garden, Elizabeth. Walking is wonderful, thanks for everything.

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  9. How wonderful to live where everything is so walkable. I'm looking forward it!

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  10. We can't wait. Sarah and I will be there on Thursday, looking forward to the amazing agenda you two have organized. You're stars!

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  11. I'm so glad the first event is within walking distance. I'll be needing to stretch my legs. Can't wait.

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  12. Well, I'm local (Niagara Falls) I'd love to see the gardens Thursday and meet everyone. Michelle Vanstrom

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  13. Just Words,
    Viewing the gardens and drinks & dinner is for the garden-blogging guests. Do you have a garden blog? The weekend is really a social event for people that have garden bogs in common, not a tour open to the public.

    There are opportunities to connect with the group at some of the more public venues we'll be visiting, the Japanese Garden, Marina & Botanical Gardens.

    As far as touring gardens, the tours we've arranged are private on Thursday. Garden Walk Buffalo is only two weeks later, free -- and there'll be WAY more gardens to view, these Thursday gardens among them.

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  14. JCharlier,
    I believe I understood the entire concept. Although I don't have a garden bog, I do have a small pond with mini cattails and dragonflies, rain gardens and barrels, native plant gardens-- one is an ecological restoration project, a western New York woodland with its regionally associated native plant community-and a blog. (www.fadingintomyth.blogspot.com ) It advocates the use of regional native plants and native plant communities, how natives create a sense of place, and local approaches to these concepts that I've encountered.

    Additionally, I have a website (www.wildonesniagara.org) and a not for profit in Niagara Falls dedicated to education and advocacy about native plants and natural landscapes. I'm Garden Walk sponsor.

    I already paid for my dinners, however, I'm not an author or an academic expert. Please let me know if I should stay home and request a refund.

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  15. Michelle,
    I did not know that was you -- from your first comment above, I thought you were someone that wanted to attend the events, not an attendee that has already paid for dinners & lunches and provided gift bag items! We've had more than a dozen requests to attend from people that do not have blogs, thinking it was a garden bus tour open to the public -- and have had to turn them away. Apologies for any confusion. I've just not memorized the names of all 70 guests and didn't recognize yours. No slight intended.

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  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  17. Wonderful, i think this is the best idea to put some different more than the garden like some fish into your picture.

    Just like to share with you a quote...

    "Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I'll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I'll give you a stock clerk." - J.C. Penney

    You can get more quotes at http://quotelandia.com

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