Banas, Kenneth R DDS

With hectic schedules and various other distractions, it is often difficult for couples to make time to just talk and enjoy each other's company. If that sounds like a familiar scenario for you and your partner, then take a little time for a romantic date of a different sort by visiting the Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center. Stroll hand in hand from gallery to gallery as you take in the best in cutting-edge visual arts, contemporary music or innovative performance art. And maybe after absorbing it all, the two of you can find a bench in the corner and share some intimate conversation among these memorable expressions of art.

While many people see the Erie Canal from a distance, getting a closer look will reveal how this body of water works to further the area's economy. The canal is actually quite interesting, and you can learn more about it when you take the Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruise. Your tour guide will be quite informative from start to finish, describing how Lockport is known for the area's water "locks" that run approximately 50 feet. When you cruise through the canal on this tour, you'll actually go through the "locks" and see for yourself how these locks are used to move traffic along the river and its uniquely elevated terrain. It's a great tour for the whole family.

Add some adventure to your aquatic recreation by going kayaking. If you're a novice to the sport, you can get the proper gear and guidance from the staff at Buffalo Harbor Kayak. They are located on the wharf next to the Commercial Slip in Buffalo's Inner Harbor.

For some of the finest musical performances you'll ever see and hear, you only have to go as far as Buffalo's Kleinhans Music Hall. Built in 1940, this iconic entertainment venue features incredible acoustics and a classic yet inviting atmosphere. The hall is also the home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the site of various seasonal plays, operas and ballets. So if you are in the mood to broaden your cultural outlook and be pleasantly surprised at the variety of performances you can take in, the Kleinhans Music Hall is most definitely the place to discover it all.