Co.’s 12-story complex that includes a
parking ramp, apartments, offices, retail
space, a theater, meeting space, even a
modern bowling alley.
FAMILY TRAVEL
— by Deborah Williams
The hotel occupies the top three
floors of the $65 million project that
includes the adjacent former Buffalo
Christian Center.
I
t’s February, the perfect time to
plan a close to home, romantic
mini getaway without the kids.
It is amazing that even an overnight can
be so relaxing and rejuvenating.
Undecided about a present for a spe-
cial birthday or anniversary? How about
a gift certificate for a nearby hotel? It
will likely be a most memorable gift.
This is the shortest month, although
it is a Leap Year with an extra day. This
Aloft Downtown Buffalo
month also features Valentine’s Day
and President’s Day. It also means that
spring officially begins next month, yet
Western New Yorkers all know that win-
ter can linger well into April. Hotel rates
are often lower in winter.
Here are three standouts: all are in
the center of downtown — one in Buf-
falo and two in Toronto. The Canadian
hotels benefit from continuing favorable
exchange rates ($1 US = $1.30 CA at
press time).
Toronto traffic is unpredictable and
downtown parking is quite expensive
but there is a solution: drive to Burling-
ton on the QEW and exit to the nearby
GO Train free parking lot. Hop on the
train that leaves every 30 minutes. An
hour later walk out of Union Station in
the heart of the city with no traffic or
parking worries.
The Aloft Downtown Buffalo is
the newest entry in the burgeoning
downtown hotel market. It opened last
April as part of Ellicott Development
Aloft Downtown Buffalo
Part of the Marriott chain, this fun
and stylish hotel has it all: an ideal lo-
cation close to downtown attractions
and restaurants; the highest rooftop bar
outside New York City with breathtak-
ing views of Lake Erie, Buffalo and
Canada; 110 hotel rooms boasting floor
to ceiling windows with more amazing
views; a salt water pool with a perfect
temperature for winter swimming, and a
fitness center. Fresh Catch Poke, a sea-
food restaurant has already opened and
Vice, a full-scale restaurant, will open
this spring.
Be sure to arrive before sunset. I
walked into my window-filled room just
a few minutes before sunset and quickly
grabbed my camera. Then I discovered
my balcony and it was even better. I was
seeing the city and lake from a new van-
tage point and it was quite awesome.
Later, before turning off the lights I
made the decision to keep the view clear
and not pull down the window shades.
As dawn broke in the morning, I was
able to watch the gradually brightening
sky over the lake and the city — a quite
wondrous experience.
The Aloft is the perfect location for
anyone attending the nearby Shea’s Per-
forming Arts Center or a Sabres Game
— grab the Metro Rail just a block away
on Main Street.
End your evening with a stop at Pat-
rick’s Rooftop, with the best views in the
city. Open year-round, with four eight-
foot-long fire pits and radiant heating,
the outdoors is inviting even into late fall
and early spring. It was cold and windy
on my December visit, but the views are
just as good inside.
It is named in memory of Patrick
Paladino, younger brother of William
Paladino, CEO of Ellicott Development.
Patrick died in an auto accident in 2009.
Up here there are no traffic sounds
and it is hard to believe you are in Buf-
falo — this is definitely the big leagues.
It has a big-city, hip vibe. A visit feels
28 WNY Family February 2020