Monthly Archive for May, 2006

A New Guide To Niagara Falls And Vicinity

Published
by
Graham
on May 31, 2006
in Niagara Falls Web Sites
. 0 Comments

The name of this post may have been a bit misleading. This “new” guide is actually from around 1895 and is online at the Niagara University Library web site:

A New Guide To Niagara Falls And Vicinity,

Giving A Full And Complete Description of Niagara Falls, Suspension Bridge, Buffalo, Rochester, Ontario Beach, Toronto, Lockport, Tonawanda, Lewiston, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Chautauqua, And Other Places Of Interest.

By Rand, McNally & Company, Publishers.,

[no date provided, possibly 1895]

Cover-title reads: Illustrated Guide to Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Neighboring Points of Interest

(Digitized by Matthew J. Curry, 2005)

The book has been scanned and turned into PDF files that can be downloaded. Also, all of the images are available separately as well as in the PDFs. It’s very interesting. My favourite picture is probably A Winter Scene at Niagara Falls. where you see a crowd of people down people on the frozen river. We’re certainly not allowed to do that now!

Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection

Published
by
Graham
on May 31, 2006
in Niagara Falls History and Niagara Falls Web Sites
. 0 Comments

The Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas at Austin has a Historical Maps of the United States section. They have 3 maps of the Niagara area: one from 1812, one from 1844, and one from 1894. It’s interesting to see the names of familiar streets and parks on them like Clifton Stree, Queen Victoria Niagara Falls Park, Robinson Street, Murray Street, Ferry Road, and more. The maps have more information on the US side of the Niagara River, but there is still information on the Canadian side.

To see the maps, visit the Historical Maps of the United States page and use your browser’s search function to search for the word Niagara.

Falls icon towers above rest because of the view: Niagara landmarks

Published
by
Graham
on May 30, 2006
in Niagara Falls Attractions and Niagara Falls News
. 2 Comments

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Forty years after opening to the world, the Skylon Tower remains a Niagara Falls icon.

Soaring 775 feet above the Niagara gorge and overlooking the Canadian and American Falls, the Skylon offers a breathtaking view of Niagara.

But for Lee Carr, sales and marketing manager, investing in new and exciting services is vital to maintain and exceed the million or so visitors who tour the landmark on a yearly basis.

“The mainstay today is what it was 40 years ago and that’s primarily our world-famous revolving dining room and the exterior elevator ride to the top of the tower,” said Carr.

“But the landscape in this city has changed dramatically over the years, so we have adopted an aggressive and ambitious approach to our sales and marketing efforts.”

Summer fireworks series kicks off with a bang

Published
by
Graham
on May 30, 2006
in Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From Niagara This Week:

Thousands came from all over, despite the cold, to witness ten minutes of sheer magic.

The Niagara Parks Commission kicked off its annual summer concert and fireworks series with a big bang.

Jazz band Borderline entertained the crowd as it waited for the first of the weekend displays over the falls.

Ask Journeys: You’ll fall for Niagara region

Published
by
Graham
on May 30, 2006
in Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From the Winnipeg Sun:

Q.) I have heard so much about Niagara Falls and have never been there. Is it worth the trip?

A.) You, along with several thousand foreign visitors, multitudes of honeymoon couples and Canadians like yourself who finally make the decision to follow through with the same idea you have will come away absolutely overwhelmed by the power of the Falls.

Cirque Niagara’s ‘Avaia’ has a ‘Big Top’ flavor

Published
by
Graham
on May 29, 2006
in Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From Buffalo Business First:

The latest attraction in Niagara Falls has a lot of legs to stand on.

Like about 186 of them.

Cirque Niagara’s “Avaia” production, began its summer-long run in Rapidsview Park, just beyond the Table Rock area of Niagara Falls, Ont., on May 20. The show, which blends acrobatics, equestrian demonstrations and a healthy touch of Barnum & Bailey’s big tent circus feel, is designed as a family attraction and serves as a counter balance to the city’s two casinos and healthy mix of nightclubs and adult-orientated entertainment venues.

“It truly rounds out the overall experience of Niagara,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci.

Comfort Inn Fallsview construction

Published
by
Graham
on May 29, 2006
in Niagara Falls Hotels
. 0 Comments

I previously reported on the construction at the Comfort Inn Fallsview (formerly the Horseshoe Falls Motor Inn). They’ve made excellent progress and it is looking very nice. Although they aren’t totally finished, it is done enough for people to be able to stay there:

Construction at Edgewaters Tap & Grill

Published
by
Graham
on May 29, 2006
in Niagara Falls Developments and Niagara Falls Dining
. 0 Comments

The Edgewaters Tap & Grill restaurant at Queen Victoria Place (at the base of Murray Hill) is having some renovations done. It looks like they are coving the patio.

A busy Memorial Day weekend

Published
by
Graham
on May 29, 2006
in Niagara Falls Events
. 0 Comments

I was out for a walk Saturday at lunch and there were a fair number of people around. I’m sure it got even busier as the weekend progressed.

I’m not sure of anything special happening other than fireworks and the regular Falls illumination.

Galaxy Golf/Canada Trading Company/Tim Hortons building

Published
by
Graham
on May 27, 2006
in Niagara Falls Attractions, Niagara Falls Developments, Niagara Falls Dining and Niagara Falls Shopping
. 3 Comments

The multi-purpose building that HOCO is finishing on Clifton Hill looks kind of odd. It has the beautiful new Tim Hortons and a soon to be opened retail store called Canada Trading Company. Those two parts of the building have different stone work, but they still go well together. Then the last part of the building is for the glow-in-the-dark mini-putt called Galaxy Golf. It is a blue colour.