Last evening my wife and I were on our way to check out After Hours at the Hotel Lafayette when we came across a sight for sore eyes. A large yoga class had descended upon Niagara Square, bringing a burst of life to the circle that is usually fairly empty around 7pm. It turns out that it was a group from the Buffalo Athletic Club (BAC), located just down the street. Not only was this inspirational to witness, it must have been equally inspirational for the individuals within the group. To the casual observer (with a wild imagination) they looked as if they were praying to the monument (or City Hall depending on the viewing angle).
I have often though that this square would be best utilized as a public plaza with café tables and chairs spread about. At night the tables and chairs could be locked up, and then placed about the square each morning. A different food truck would then be allowed to pull up each day, and a coffee vendor would be on hand as well.
Even crazier, I envision the roadway surrounding the roundabout closed on Sundays, essentially turning the circle into a track for cyclists, roller skaters, pedestrians and other non vehicular modes of transport.
Thanks to the BAC for bringing life to the square… I hope to see more of these types of activities in the future.