A Multi-Use Casino For Everyone.
After fifteen years of non-public use, there is finally an opportunity to see the Marcy Casino emerge as a year-round operational landmark. Reponses to a recent post on the casino drew some interesting responses, many of which suggested that the building be opened up as a restaurant. That’s a wonderful thought, but how would the restaurant function during the wintertime? Hoss brought up the idea to bring skating back to Hoyt Lake… can you imagine how popular that would be? We’ve decided to place a call to The City to see if that would be possible, or if the insurance issue would be too much of a hurdle. Maybe if the skate park organizers and the ice rink committee got together they could figure out the insurance issue.
OK, back to the restaurant idea. If it were to happen, the casino would be drastically impacted by the seasons due to its location. It’s fairly isolated (compared to other eateries), which means that during the winter there would have to be a big draw (especially if there was no ice skating). I imagine the casino to be like a chalet during the winter (with lots of snow shoeing and x-country skiing). And during the summer the boats would have to make a comeback. I’ve been asking around and there are a lot of people who say that vegetarian is the way to go (especially during the summer)… but is that too limiting? Imagine if guest artists from the Burchfield-Penney were allowed to use the casino to paint the scenic views while people ate healthy foods grown locally. Of course there would have to be musicians playing for tips (like at the Saint Lawrence Market in Toronto).
Maybe organizations like Blue Bikes could lead bike tours that would start and end there. Maybe Riverkeepers could promote water activities. Or what about Mudpies Childrens’ Museum… it would be a shame to let that dream die. The boat-building program at Buffalo State College could launch their boats from the Marcy Promenade ;) Theatre Figuren puppet shows could take place in and around the building on a regular basis. There are so many different groups that could come together to make this work… each taking a role and responsibility to promote and enhance the lake, the park and the casino. Please feel free to add suggestions regarding tie-ins to this idea.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
If You See This Posting, You're at the Wrong Site
We've updated Buffalo Rising. Some people haven't seen it yet, though, so if you're seeing this post, you need to refresh your browser to be taken to the new www.buffalorising.com. If hitting refresh alone doesn't do it, hold the *shift* key and hit refresh. If that doesn't work and you still see this old version of the site, try going to this story. That should certainly take you to the new site and from there, you can navigate around the new BuffaloRising.com.
- Feb 5th 2009, 9:21pm
- Continue Reading
- 3 Comments
-
The Wait is Almost Over - BR's New Site
As we mentioned in our previous post, we’re in the process of changing the Buffalo Rising site. We’re almost there as we expect to launch the new site on Friday, December 19th.
In the meantime, posting will be light as we log new stories in the new publishing system which will only be viewable when we launch on Friday.
As always, we appreciate our users’ patience as we make this transition but we promise it will be well worth it. With faster load times, a comment view … - Dec 18th 2008, 11:32am
- Continue Reading
- 6 Comments
-
A Kennedy Visits Buffalo
Caroline Kennedy was in town for a visit with our mayor yesterday. A possible choice to succeed US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Kennedy's name has been mentioned along with that of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo) and our own Byron Brown, among others.
Certainly, Kennedy has "been around politics" all of her life, which is to say she was born into a family of politicos and lived in the White House--neither of which would necessarily f … - Dec 18th 2008, 7:55am
- Continue Reading
- 34 Comments
-
Downtown Free Fare Zone May be Axed
Free light rail rides on downtown's above ground section could be derailed thanks to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's budget mess. That is the news coming out of a Buffalo Place meeting this morning. Facing a budget shortfall and reduced State operating assistance, the NFTA is scrambling for new revenue sources and is contemplating charging for rides along the lengthy downtown pedestrian mall.- Dec 17th 2008, 4:40pm
- Continue Reading
- 48 Comments
Comment Options
bghahn
If it's a quality dining establishment, I don't think there would be any difficulty attracting customers, no matter what the season. With all the nearby cultural attractions, this truly has the opportunity to become Buffalo's equivalent to Central Park's Tavern on the Green. So long as the food is good and not overpriced, a restaurant here would do great. And please bring back the skating! The city always needs more family-friendly, cheap things to do. Have skate rentals, clean public restrooms, hot chocolate, etc. on the lower levels in the winter (convert to juice bar type thing in the summer) and a year-round restaurant on the upper floors. And wi-fi access year-round. This would be so cool!
Report this
chrish
I'd go to the Casino for a hot chocolate and an apfel struddle any day in the winter. Restaurant all the way - year-round. Boat, canoe and bicycle rentals in the summer.
Report this
chrish
Put out some gas heaters on the veranda, bring out the mulled wine, it will be the hippest spot in January!
Report this
123
I moved to Buffalo a year ago and I thought it was on the upswing. I hate to say this, but I am a little disappointed and I think that doing something with it-i.e. boat and bicycle rental, hot chocolate after tubing, ice skating etc. would be so appealing. Is this just banter or will something happen?
Report this
chris69
have to say....daycare and childrens museum would be incredible use of part of the space for the Delaware Park Casino.
there are plenty of urban restaurants that like being in remote location like the Delaware Park Casino...but my suggestion would be to put lights around the lake promenade and then replace the terrace with floor to ceiling mirrors....the terrace could be for outdoor dining....while the windows would allow magnificant views from indoors.
the lower floors would make great boat rentals, roller blade rentals, bike rentals, cross country ski rentals, sell kites, etc.
also I have to be fair. I do not recognize political renaming of Buffalo assets. In cash starved Buffalo, unless someone comes of with $50k, $100k, $250k for renaming rights then to bad. This idea of renaming every friggin thing to make a politician look like their doing their job is obsurd.
Report this
queenseyes
123, We'll know better by week's end. Of course I'll keep you posted.
Report this
Denizen
Great ideas everyone! I really believe this is something that can easily work and make our fair city a few ounces greater.
Report this
DumpsterKid
Eithier an incredibly heated patio, or a patio surrounded by glass so you could look out onto the snow covered landscape during day and night. It might not work unless there is a hotel there, which doesn't sound like a horrible idea, more like an inn though. LIke the Roycroft in East Aurora.
Report this
WestSideLonghorn
I have to say the last thing this town needs is another high-priced exclusive restaurant. Might as well give it back to the caterers. You’ve got a beautiful lake for skating and boating and the only real sledding hill in the city right next door. If you think the cold weather will keep people away you’ve obviously never been there in the winter. I’m a recent Buffalo repat and I seem to remember not only ice-skating but winter festivals with ice sculptures lining Lincoln Parkway. I’ve seen kids there skipping school to sled and snowboard in the dead of winter. Just think of what it could be if they brought back ice-skating. The future of this city is families, not private receptions and snooty restaurants. Bring back the boats and the skating, a cheap snack bar, hot chocolate in the winter, kites and bikes in the spring and summer. Give Marcy Casino back to the people.
Report this
Auburner
Slots? Kidding, kidding!
I like any idea of making the park more freindly I was lucky to attend a fund raiser for a pal of mine who got 1,700 people to the boat house in Central Park last night... Do it Buffalo
Report this
chris69
whatever is decided..lets remember that is not the only park casino in Buffalo. I know there is one in Cazenovia and I think there is one in Humboldt, Riverside, LaSalle and South Park. If there arent then perhaps there should be casinos in the rest of the Olmstead Parks to support activities. It doesnt have to be big...just enough..
Report this
zimmermann
Great article, Newell...
Imagine Ottawa's city canal picture of possible liabilities and yet their consistent unbeleaguered boasting the largest skating rink in the urban world...so let's think: we can do it!
The casino is a glorious piece of urban involvement opportunity-- to be fully operational on its two levels and several ground floor outlet veeks, it could boast a whole panoplay of mixed offerings of commerce and engagement.
Bring on the winter hot chocolate and the winter skaters; bring on the summer boaters and lemonade, welcome the events, both rich and free-- and let the urban setting paradise it is wake up and be city alive.
It's our central park, designed by the guy who designed Central Park. Such opportunity-- with fewer loopholes than we, the citizens, should allow to stop us--
Glue the always-apppeasing politicians to their co-cadre in government-- and let's make them meet and legislate and let deals like this dream arrive to its obviously logical reality.
Report this
Ike
Sometimes this website really is a caricature of itself....public, multi-use, vegetarian restaurant.
Making any destination restaurant vegetarian is a terrible idea...ther are a lot of people who will be totally turned off for no good reason. Why couldn't you just have half a menu of vegetarian options. No good reason, that's why
Report this
gaustad
123 - welcome to Buffalo - you would think a bicylcle/boat rental would be a no brainer - NOT HERE. Most people living in Buffalo have never left and ,therfore, have not been exposed to successful business ideas in other cities. YOU ARE STUCK IN 1983 - bad hair, bad music, bad style.
If it has something to do with the Sabres or the Bills, people will show up.
Report this
nickturbo
put a Tim Horton's franchise in there..........instant success for sure.........I love going to the park, but there is no place to get a drink or use a rest room
Report this
PrincetonElms
Used to get a great $2 (then $3) hamburger at the boathouse in Central Park, until they "upgraded" it. Now, look at this : http://thecentralparkboathouse.com/sections/food/lakeside/spring07/lunch.htm
Handfull of greens: $10 ... soup: $10 .... "boathouse burger" $19. A lunch for 2, around $100. Spare us, please.
Simple, decent, affordable food will fit the bill.
Report this
PrincetonElms
PS: Tavern on the Green is much, much worse than the Boathouse. Tavern is nothing but a snotty, poorly serviced, tourist ripoff joint.
Report this
Spoiled
Couldn't the casino have a section with a nice restaurant and another part of the building have a coffee-wine-micro brew "cafe" (they can even serve vegie wraps and beef on wick- both very Buffalo).
I love chestnut ridge. Maybe we can borrow a few ideas. We can even throw a few local pieces of art on the walls.
Snow castle competition - why not a small snow sculptures - Quebec even has a snow hotel !
Expand the Solar Splash with corporate sponsors.
Where are the boats? I've paid $10/hour to take the canoe out...I'd do it again. I paid $60 in Venice.
Where are the icecreme carts?
I see multiple cash flows here...it could generate the money the Omsead people need.
Report this
Spoiled
Olmstead
Report this
Jim
It's Olmsted.
Report this
ChristaSeychew
I think there's any awfully wide path between snack bar and Tavern on the Green.
I think that having a well-thought out snack bar downstairs (where there is one open sometimes but they struggle with flooding if I remember correctly) is fine. I love the idea of putting heaters out front of the building (lake side), enjoying real hot chocolate, toasting a marshmallow and skating sounds fantastic. A few drinks on a cold winter's night near the lake seems pretty appealing to me as well.
Having space upstairs for a restaurant that is not pricey, but focuses on locally produced food and drink would be great. The Niagara region is bursting at the seams with fantastic produce, beer and wine (all of which I think we're pretty out of touch with for the most part, unlike our neighbors in Ontario). With the new passion for localism that's sweeping the nation, it seems to me like a no-brainer. I don't think we need a swanky place, but something delicious and fresh. I, like Newell, think that having a good set of vegetarian options would help in the sense that there are plenty of vegetarians with money and no place to spend it. Strictly vegetarian might marginalize the establishment with tourists and non-Metro folks, but anyone offering an inventive veg-friendly menu would be doing their wallet a favor.
Report this
42nate
"Non-public use?" Not sure what you mean by that, with weddings in there every weekend from spring to fall. There used to be ice cream for sale in the ground floor facing Hoyt Lake.
[Grammar cop moment for BRO writers in general: the relentless parentheses look like a pair of fluorescent orange crutches in every sentence. If what you're saying needs to be there to support your argument, then you don't need parentheses. Use parentheses to insert what a reader might not already know, like what an acronym stands for.]
Report this
Martin
with two levels it could be two styles of eateries, what a view for a sit down dinner even in the winter on the upper level and the lower would be a great coffee house. but, this is buffalo after all, lets see what really happens ...
Report this
senorita
Ike, that's funny. I was thinking of just what a contrast this idea was to burgers and dogs at the beach that was proposed last week. The only caricature that I see is that of the typical negative commentor who goes on the attack rather than offering to help guide an idea.
Report this
Jay
ice skating. boating. biergarten.
Report this
Ike
@Senorita -yeah, if there's one thing posting on this webpage does , it's "help"
Report this
senorita
Exactly. I'm glad you finally get it.
Report this
Auburner
OK, think 79th St Marina
Report this
chris69
Bring back the Olmstead Fairgrounds that were at Hamlin Park and rebuild them somewhere around William and Bailey most likely in one of those abandoned railroad yards.
By the way, when are they going to dig up the Delaware Park Quarry?
By the way, when are they going to dredge the South Park Lake?
Report this
vgs
How about it is used as one of the most saught after desinations for weddings and events and serviced by an excellant catering company and doubles as nice source of revenue for the Parks and the City. And how about a nice ice cream stand dowstairs with public restrooms, oh wait a minute that is what it already is. This has been an incredibly successful formula for years and evrybody can enjoy it.
Just bring back boats and skating and maybe a Sunday Brunch/Lunch.
Report this
chris69
and dont forget about the casinos in the other Olmstead Parks.....that are being un-used....
Report this
PrincetonElms
Okay chris69, ENOUGH of the "Fairgrounds" garbage.
Read the Buffalo Park Commission's reports, from 1870 on, and find us where the "fairground" or "driving park" was ever a part of Buffalo's park system. It was not.
That plot was NEVER a public park, was NEVER connected with Olmsted, and will NEVER be reproduced. It.Was.Not.Ever.A.Public.Park. Get it?
Report this