Kensington - Buffalo, NY

During the 19th century, the Kensington area served as farmland and timberland. However, as the city of Buffalo grew, people began to spread outward, creating suburbs. Kensington was founded around this time, mostly by German immigrants.

The Buffalo Museum of Science sits near the neighborhood of Kensington. Exhibits include Science and You, Our Marvelous Earth, Bug Works, Artifacts, Our Place in Space and Digging into Western New York’s Past.

If you prefer the art scene, check out the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. This modern art gallery strives to enhance the city's understanding of contemporary art. The many exhibits routinely change.

Kensington houses many chain and local restaurants, most along Highway 62 and Kensington Avenue. Standing on the corner of Bailey and Lasalle Avenues, one small restaurant perfectly captures the area's East Coast charm and serves some of the best fried fish around. Bailey Seafood provides a great place to pop in and grab a quick haddock sandwich and coleslaw.

Nestled away in a charming brick building, you'll find some of the area’s hard-working pizza makers at Via Veneto Pizzeria. Get tasty pizza at incredible prices, choosing between vegetarian, or cheese and pepperoni Sicilian-style pizza and many more. If you aren’t in the mood for pizza, try some homemade lasagna or baked ziti. Via Veneto also serves wings, subs, tacos and calzones.

Another hidden gem that serves incredible food in the Kensington area, Caribbean Experience focuses on providing customers with authentic Caribbean cuisine in a Jamaican atmosphere. Definitely try the jerk chicken, and don’t forget to ask for a rum punch to start. For good drinks in the evening, head over to The Moor Pat, which features a rustic feel and intimate atmosphere. The bar boasts an impressive beer list and serve manys fine liquors. If you want some exciting entertainment in the Kensington area, visit the Town Ballroom, the area’s premier concert venue, featuring great live music concerts.

Many residents in the area get around with their own vehicles; however, public transportation provides a great alternative. You'll find many bus stops reside in the area, especially near Kensington Avenue. Hailing a cab proves difficult in Kensington, so call and schedule an appointment first; Uber doesn't service this area. If you need to travel to other parts of the city, the convenient location of Kensington Expressway and Highway 62 make it simple. They run right along the neighborhood. Most businesses that reside in Kensington provide their own free parking. Because the businesses sit throughout the small neighborhood, walking and biking serve as adequate transportation options.

Buffalo’s central park, Delaware Park, sits near the Kensington area. This park provides an incredible amount of amenities and fun for all visitors. Stroll along the many paths as you get some exercise with your dog, sit along the shore of Hoyt Lake with a picnic basket, or meander through the Japanese Garden or Rose Garden with a special someone.

If you have kids, they’ll love the many playgrounds. With exciting annual events such as Shakespeare in the Park, Delaware Park serves as a great place to discover fun and entertainment. Park amenities include an 18-hole golf course, baseball diamonds, football fields, basketball courts and tennis courts, making this park a free place to get out and exercise.

The cost of living in Kensington averages about 1 percent lower than the rest of Buffalo and about 19 percent less than the rest of the nation. The low cost of housing serves as the major reason for the lower cost of living in Kensington, with a typical one-bedroom apartment costing about $735 a month.

On the other hand, gas prices sit about 8 percent higher than the national mean. Other amenities cost about the same as the rest of Buffalo but significantly less than the New York median. For example, a pint of beer at a local pub costs about $3.50.

If you choose to take public transportation to the city center, expect to pay $2 for a single use ticket or $5 for a day pass with unlimited use. If you want to save money and travel to downtown often, get a monthly pass for $75.

Many shops sit along Highway 62, and the neighborhood houses some high-end stores. Featuring men’s suits, dress shirts and accessories, United Men’s Fashion strives to deliver quality clothing at affordable prices. For women’s clothing, the Modern Nostalgia boutique sells stylish but unique clothing and accessories for women. The inventory here ranges from casual to dressy and the shop gets new pieces regularly, so you always find something new.

O'Connell's Clothing sells both men and women’s fashions. This boutique stresses traditional high-quality clothing and providing excellent services for customers, including free alterations when you purchase something.

Wegmans serves as one of the area's local grocery stores. It sells everything you expect to find at a local supermarket, and in an effort to meet the growing demand for organic food, Wegman’s also started its own organic farm, which provides regionally grown produce.

For the freshest local food possible, try one of the area’s farmers markets, such as Farmers and Artisans. This local food market and bakery features locally grown produce, baked goods, prepared meals, meats, eggs, cheese and many other foods. You get the freshest foods available and support local farms.