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|  |  | | |  | | | | Illumination of Niagara Falls |
Featured in the Niagara County section of the November 2011 - February 2012 issue of Explore New York, is information about Niagara Falls, Lewiston, Lockport, Sanborn, North Tonawanda, Youngstown.
Advertisers include: Aquarium of Niagara, Hard Rock Cafe Niagara Falls USA, New York State Power Authority's Power Vista, Riviera Theatre, Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, Old Falls Street, Niagara River Region, Erie Canal Discovery Center and Penney Gallery, Niagara History Center including Niagara Historical Society and Col. William Bond/Jesse Hawley House, Giacomo Hotel, Becker Farms, Marble Orchard Ghost Walks and Foley's Pub.
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Niagara County
As the autumn season nears its end, Niagara County celebrates the last few falling leaves and the colder temperatures with a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy!
To begin the season of giving, start out by attending the Niagara Wine Trail’s Share the Bounty (Nov. 18-20), which charges for wine tasting by requesting a donation of a non-perishable food item or $2.50, that is donated to a local food pantry. Get into the Christmas spirit by visiting the Festival of Lights (Nov.19 – Jan 8) at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine.
As the snow begins to fall in December, the regions of Niagara County offer activities to spread the warmth and joy that the holiday season brings! Niagara County’s historic past can be relived when attending events such as the Newfane Holiday Lights and Parade (Dec. 2), Lewiston’s Christmas in the Village and Tour of Homes (Dec. 3-4), and Old Fort Niagara’s Castle by Candlelight (Dec. 10). To fully experience the Christmas season, visit and have lunch with Santa Claus himself at the Herschell Carrousel Museum (Dec 3, 10 & 17).
Throughout the holiday season, the Niagara Holiday Market (Nov.25 – Jan. 1) will feature more than 80 vendors featuring an array of gift ideas including one-of-a-kind arts and crafts to high-end fashions from Tony Walker and company. In addition to shopping, acclaimed musical acts such as Aaron Neville and Canadian Tenors will perform during the festival and winter-themed events such as ice skating, snowshoeing and more will be available to those in attendance.
In the New Year, winter in Niagara County is best spent keeping warm indoors! Visit Niagara Power Project’s Power Vista, which highlights exhibits on energy, electricity, and its ties to the area’s unique history. Dive into a world of discovery at the Aquarium of Niagara, which is home to over 1,500 aquatic animals, and a colony of endangered Peruvian Penguins! Try your luck at Seneca Niagara Casino. To fully experience the beauty of winter, visit Niagara Falls State Park as it is covered in a stunning sheet of ice and snow. Be sure to take a walk onto the Observation Tower, which offers dramatic views of all three Falls and the icy river below!
For more information on any of these special events or to receive a free copy of the Niagara USA Visitor Guide, call the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation at 1-800 FALLS US. For a more complete list of events and festivals or to book your Niagara USA vacation package, visit www.niagara-usa.com .
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February Storytellers share tales at Aquarium
Looking for something for the kids to do in February? How about bringing them to the Aquarium, making yourself comfortable (and warm) as you and the kids listen to a story, or two.
Storytelling Saturdays will be held on these dates in February: Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25. Story times are 11:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Storytellers on those dates, in order, are Anne Marie Jason; Mr. Beau the
Clown; Denise Chapman-Acosta, and The Wondermakers. Each has his or her own unique way of telling a tale. Anne Marie Jason, for example, has shared her stories with Aquarium members and visitors for years. She combines her tales with music, action, puppets and rhymes. Mr. Beau the Clown puts on his clown makeup as the children watch him juggle, perform magic, puppetry and make balloon animals he gives away at the end of his performance.
Denise Chapman-Acosta, new to the storytellers, brings variety to her storytelling. Her stories are directed toward adults and children, various ethnic groups and are accompanied by drumming and song. The Wondermakers have shared their participation-type tales for many years, as they involve the audience.
All the storytellers will be in the second level Community Room. Aquarium members are free and regular admission rates will be in effect for non-members; adults, $10; $6 for children 3-12 and free for 2 and under. No reservations are needed. For more information, call 285-3575, Ext. 206 or visit the aquarium’s website at www.aquariumofniagara.org .
Storytelling is sponsored by Target.
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| Penguin Love at the Aquarium of Niagara |
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Aquarium program all about penguin love
Looking for something special for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day? The Aquarium of Niagara has just the thing: A special program on “Penguin Romance: Love on the Rocks.”
This romantic adventure will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 9 in the second level Community Room. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
Believe it or not, penguins, like people, have to work at their relationships, too. Another similarity is in the types of couples – we have cute couples, odd couples, May/September couples and even playboy penguins, who waddle from mate to mate.
These flightless lovebirds, 11 of them, will be the topic of an interesting and entertaining evening where penguin and Valentine themed light refreshments will be served and penguin art (actual paintings by penguins) will be available for purchase.
This presentation will include how to properly identify the Aquarium birds, learn their courtship habits and discover why a pebble makes the nicest Valentine gift, if you’re a penguin.
Seating is limited and reservations for this adult only event should be made at 716-285-3575, Ext. 206. Admission is $10; $15 for a couple. All proceeds benefit the Aquarium and the critters that live here.
Proudly sponsored by; AccuMED Innovative Technologies, Amy’s Place, Oh Pour L'amour Du Chocolat, Edible Arrangements, Go Veggies, Spicy Thai, Cheesecake Factory, Salvatore's Italian Gardens and Orleans Niagara BOCES
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Newest Niagara Falls Boutique Hotel
The former United Office Building has been given new life as a luxury boutique hotel and no detail has been overlooked. Now called the Giacomo, as a tribute to one of the owners’ father, this gem of a lodging property is something you would expect to see in San Francisco or another chic metropolitan area. The 1929 structure even has a residential component- 24 apartments that have access to all of the hotels amenities. The Giacomo is within walking distance of Niagara Falls, the Seneca Niagara Casino and other attractions.
Local artist Donna Wojcik has been selected to institute her design talents into the decor of the building.
The bar in the lounge and desk in the reception area have casts of the foyer banister incorporated into their motif. Replicas of the Indian statues on the outer building that welcome you are also present on either side of the fireplace mantle in the front sitting area. Wojcik also created every painting adorning each room. The letter G (for Giacomo) is found somewhere in each piece of artwork. The color scheme and patterns in the wallpaper and paint also tie into the marble in the floor and bring the entire building together as one.
The art deco-themed spacious rooms have high ceilings, large bathrooms, mini refrigerators and some include fireplaces and Jacuzzis. Complimentary extended breakfasts, a fitness center, free Internet access are just some of the amenities available to Giacomo guests. The Giacomo offers butler service and complimentary valet parking for your entire stay. Although you can walk to most destinations around the Giacomo, transportation is included to and from the Buffalo Niagara International and Niagara Falls airports and within a 3-mile radius of the hotel.
For pampering and a restful stay in Niagara Falls, make your reservations at The Giacomo. They are located at 222 First Street, Niagara Falls USA. They can be reached at 716.299.0200 or go online to www.thegiacomo.com . | | |  | | | | | | | | Fireplace in the Sitting Area |
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Aquarium of Niagara Creature Feature
They’re called hermit crabs because they keep pretty much to themselves except when they need a bigger shell to live in. Then, they rely on larger hermit crabs to shed their shells so they can move in. These crustaceans are one of the most popular residents of the Aquarium of Niagara.
Hermit crabs don’t start out with a shell of their own. After a final larval stage, they find a small shell that will keep them from being someone’s lunch. The hermit crab usually moves into a sea snail shell where its soft, vulnerable abdomen is protected from predators. When the shell is big enough and the crab small enough, they are able to retract so far into their shells that it is sometimes impossible to know they’re in there. As a result, the crabs sometimes find themselves “collected” and taken home as a souvenir. One Florida-vacationing family did just that, but when they found the shells had moved overnight, they returned them to the cove where they were found and the crabs quickly crawled off into deeper water.
These fun crabs live in varying depths of salt water, from shallow reefs and shorelines to deep sea bottoms. Tropical waters host some terrestrial species. There are only a few hermit crabs that don’t occupy “mobile homes;” however they too head for a place to hide, often crawling into immobile structures left by sea worms, gastropods (sea snails, slugs, etc.), corals and sponges.
If you haven’t been to the Aquarium or at least not in awhile, there is so much more to see at sea level. There’s Twister, a Pacific ocean octopus, two young sea lions in the main pool and rare yellow lobsters.
The Aquarium opens at 9 a.m. daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, call 716-285-3575.
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