Despite living in the GTA,
both my mother and I listen to a radio station from Buffalo, NY – Star 102.5.
It started years ago, when they became the only station we knew of to play 24/7
Christmas songs from mid-November onward and we got hooked (we both love
Christmas music!) We loved the morning show host Rob Lucas, who was enjoyable
to listen to. I find most of the Toronto morning shows more annoying then
enjoyable, as they have multiple hosts going back and forth over the silliest
of topics. Rob Lucas speaks in a way that you feel he is truly talking to you,
and always has a great mix of humor and seriousness, with relevant topics. The
other radio announcers and hosts are also great to listen to, so Star has
become our station!
For the last few years they
have hosted an event called ‘Starry Night
in the Gardens’ which is held at the Botanical Gardens in South Buffalo.
It’s an evening that has food, wine, and multiple musical acts which benefits
the programs and upkeep of the gardens. Each year mom and I have wanted to
attend, but the timing never worked out. This year we vowed as soon as the
event was announced, we were marking it in our calendars and booking tickets
and a hotel.
We were able to get tickets
through a pre-sale, and opted for the VIP tickets. Regular admission was $45.00
and VIP was $100 and included drinks and a meal. Not knowing what to expect
from the event, and having paid around $100 for numerous other concerts, we
figured it was worth it. Plus, if it turned out not to be – we would know for
next time.
The event was held on
Wednesday June 18th, and started at 6:00pm. The musical acts were
Kodaline (a band from Dublin, Ireland) and Great Big World (an American group
composed of two singers/song writers). That morning on our drive down to
Buffalo, we heard Rob Lucas talking about the event and what to expect. He was
answering questions on air, and mentioned that guests could bring lawn chairs
or blankets. Not knowing anything about the event, or what VIP entailed, I
quickly sent off a question on twitter asking if VIP would also need chairs or
blankets. Within minutes my question was answered on air. That’s something else
I love about Rob Lucas and Star 102.5 – they are always effectively using
social media to connect with their listeners! Awesome job guys!
Thank goodness I asked,
because it meant we had time to stop and buy lawn chairs! Sitting on the grass
would have been fine, but the lawn chairs were far more comfortable.
My dad also came with us, so
by 5:30pm, (after a stop at the outlets and Walden Galleria) my parents and I
arrived at the gardens and found a parking spot. Parking along the sides and
roads were free, but there was a lot near the entrance that was charging $10.00
in donations to the gardens – definitely worth it. The Botanical Gardens are
beautiful – it is this large, white building on an expansive green lawn. My
husband Brian actually used to live down the street from it when he was living
in Buffalo, but of all the times I visited we never got around to going. We
really missed out!
Checking in was an easy
process, and we were given our wristband, VIP lanyard, and a wine glass. We
made our way up the lawn, and set our chairs up just outside the VIP tent. One
of the bands were doing a sound check, and a bunch of booths and vendors were
finishing getting set up. As a first
time guest, we didn’t realize a few things at that time. First, we were able to
get in a bit early due to being VIP. At 6:00, the place started to fill up
quickly and soon blankets and chairs were everywhere. Secondly, we didn’t
realize that almost everything was included. When we saw the tents and booths
across the park, we incorrectly assumed those wineries and restaurants were
selling samples – similar to the Niagara Wine Festival. In actuality, these wine and food samples
were also included for both general admission and VIP. Once we realized this,
we had already eaten in the VIP tent, and the crowds and lines were long. Next
year, we would go to that area first, and check out the various vendors, wineries
and restaurants before it got busy, and do the VIP tent later.
VIP was definitely worth it.
There was a buffet set up, that included a delicious chicken mac and cheese,
pulled pork, fruit, bread, salads, potatoes and vegetables. They were giving away
Pom-tini samples, and had a bar filled with a variety of soft drinks, water,
wine, beer, and coolers. The view from just outside that area was great, and we
picked an awesome seat.
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| "But first, lemme take a selfie!" |
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| The best seats in the house that a listener - not Canadian one's :( - could win |
We were only slightly
familiar with the bands – just knowing the songs that Star had been playing.
Kodaline is known for the song “All I want” which has been on TV shows, and is
now in “The Fault in Our Stars” and Great Big World for the songs “Say
Something” (which features Christina Aguilera) and “Already Home”.
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| Kodaline |
Both
bands were great. A few of the lyrics to Kodaline’s songs were a bit hard to make
out, but the music was excellent. And
Great Big World was awesome – the energy that the two main guys had was
remarkable! Both groups really engaged with the audience, which was nice to
see. Often when a group or artist gets big, they stop doing that during their
shows. When I got home, I made sure to download both groups’ albums, as they
were truly enjoyable. Often you go to events like this, and the music is just
okay – that was far from the case here.
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| Great Big World |
The
Botanical Gardens building remained open for the event, so you could go inside
and walk around. You could also use their toilet facilities, which was awesome.
There were portapotties as well, but I much prefer a working washroom. There
were raffles, and other contests happening, and the Star 102.5 team was walking
around and engaging with fans. Mom and I got to meet and get a photo with Rob
Lucas, which was awesome, and he is just as nice in person as he seems on air!
Overall
it was a fantastic evening, and one that we will definitely return to. It
benefits a great place, and the VIP tickets are well worth the cost!
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