Daylife in Dunkirk -

Circle of Light Spiritual Center

May 8, 2022
Spirituality
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I’ve been wanting to check out Circle of Light Spiritual Center for a while now. It’s located on East Main Street, only a short walk from my house. There are two sides to the building, the shop and the center. Unfortunately, I was only able to go into the shop when I visited because the owner was in the middle of giving readings. But the shop itself was incredible and they have a detailed overview of the services offered at the center on their website. The owner and the person who runs the show is Jeff Smith. He is an is an astrologer and tarot intuitive reader who …..

Dunkirk City Pier

May 1, 2022
Nature
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Last Sunday, April 24th, was my 21st birthday. A bunch of my family and friends came to Fredonia to visit and we got dinner at Demetri’s on the Lake. If you’ve never been there, the restaurant is located right next to the pier and across from the Boardwalk Market. The Boardwalk Market is a strip of restaurants, pubs and shops along the pier. After dinner, we walked around and checked it out. I went into the Artisan Shop, called Papaya Arts, where they had the prettiest jewelry, clothing, accessories, hand made decorations and more. My moms friend bought the most beautiful crystal necklace while we were there. The …..

Luensman Overview Park

April 24, 2022
Nature
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This week I visited Luensman Overview Park. Up until a couple weeks ago I had never even heard of this place. After posting about my blog in a Facebook group, I received suggestions for cool places in the area to write about. I’m really grateful for all of the recommendations, especially this one. On my way there, I drove through winding country roads with really steep hills. I missed the park entrance at first and had to double back to find it. The day I went, I couldn’t have asked for better weather. It was clear and sunny skies and the temperature was in the 60s. Since …..

Niagara Falls (Easter Edition)

April 17, 2022
Nature
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I do realize that Niagara Falls is not in Dunkirk. In fact it’s significantly farther away than the rest of the places I’ve chosen to write about, but this week is sort of special. I’m home for Easter break right now and have had a lot on my plate recently, which made it hard to check out a place in Dunkirk. I live in North Tonawanda which is just over an hour drive from Fredonia and very close to Niagara Falls. It occurred to me that the Falls are not too far from the Dunkirk area. Having one of the most well known natural attractions in the …..

Point Gratiot Park

April 10, 2022
Nature
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When I first arrived at Fredonia as a freshman, I would always hear people talk about going to Point Gratiot. Naturally, I had to check it out for myself. Since then it’s become a regular spot for my friends and I. Point Gratiot is a beautiful natural park and beach that runs alongside Lake Erie. Especially now that the weather is getting nicer, it’s the perfect spot for a day trip. Some amenities and activities you can partake in here include: Life-guarded Swimming Tennis Golf Bike Trails Fishing Playgrounds Pavilions Picnics There are technically two beaches, one to the east of the point and one to the …..

Fredonia Opera House

April 3, 2022
Entertainment
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In April 1891, the Fredonia Opera House opened its doors for the very first time. People from throughout the region got dressed up in their classiest garments and gathered to watch a rousing performance of Josephine, Empress of the French. Who would have thought 130 years later, people would still be coming to see performances at this same theater. Renovations were made through the years, but unfortunately due to long periods of neglect the Opera House had to be shut down in 1981. Two years later, there was a movement to have the building torn down, which sparked controversy and backlash throughout the community. Citizens got together and formed the Fredonia …..

Daylife x Align: The Mental Benefits of Spending Time in Nature (Podcast)

March 27, 2022
Podcast
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Hello! This week I sat down with my friend Abby to create a podcast discussing our blogs and how our themes overlap. Abby runs a blog called “Align” that revolves around mental self care. She talks about ways to properly look after yourself and tips to make sure that you’re not neglecting your mental health. As you probably know, my blog is about cool places to check out in the Dunkirk area. Getting outside and exploring your surroundings is a great way to destress and expand your horizons. Also, many of the places I have written about or plan to write about involve beautiful nature and scenery which can …..

Lily Dale

March 13, 2022
Nature
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If you’re looking for somewhere to get in touch with your spiritual side and enjoy some beautiful scenery, go check out Lily Dale, “Western New York’s home for mediumship and spiritual healing since 1879.” Located less than 20 minutes from Fredonia’s campus, this historical hamlet sits on the east side of Cassadaga Lake. It is home to more than 50 professional, registered mediums and the world’s largest Spiritualist community. Over the summer, they have a program that is designed to share and teach a variety of spiritual and wellness topics. They also host events you can enjoy year-round, including Zoom workshops that you can RSVP for on their website. …..

Van Buren Drive-In

March 6, 2022
Entertainment
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A hidden gem and a local piece of history, Van Buren Drive-In, reopened this past season for the first time in thirty years. The theater originally opened in 1949. With 850 spots spread across 15 acres of parking, it was one of the biggest of its time. Unfortunately, over the years the popularity of drive-ins declined and VBDI suffered the consequences. In 1991, they showed their final movie (or so people thought). Flash forward 20 years to 2011 – a tornado tore through the city destroying what was left of the abandoned theater. The big screen was ripped down. All that was left in the following years was a mess …..

Lake Erie State Park

February 27, 2022
Nature
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It feels only right to kick off my blog by discussing the place that inspired it – Lake Erie State Park. If you read my last post, you might know that this is my comfort spot. I find myself ending up here at least once or twice a week. On a sunny day after class, I don’t usually feel like going right home. Sometimes I like to drive around, turn up the music, and explore. One day last year I stumbled upon this place, and I’ve never looked back. The first thing I noticed upon arrival at the park was the INSANE view of the lake. One time, …..