Lauren Hall

Buffalo

Reporter and Fill-in Anchor at WGRZ-TV (Buffalo, NY)

Anchor of "First at Four" and "Most Buffalo" on @WGRZ & WGRZ+. SyracuseU grad & Buffalo girl. [email protected]

Articles

GLYS expands services for LGBTQ+ youth in Western New York

1 week ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

BUFFALO, N.Y. — LGBTQ+ youth and their families in Western New York now have access to even more resources and support, thankls to a major transition in local community services. GLYS Western New York, or Growing LGBTQ+ Youth Support, has officially taken over operations of the Pride Center of WNY, expanding its reach while allowing both organizations to focus on what they do best.
Out 2 Eat: Big Ditch celebrates 10 years, and a legacy of 500 beers and a sizzling menu

1 week ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ten years ago, Big Ditch Brewing Company opened the doors of its downtown Buffalo tap room with just three employees and a big vision. Today, they're celebrating a decade of growth and community, not to mention more than 500 different kinds of beers brewed. “There weren’t a lot of places like ours at the time, now there's a few other places, it's grown a lot since then,” Matt Kahn, President and Co-Founder of Big Ditch, told 2 On Your Side.
Osteria 166 starts new chapter with focus on events and catering

2 weeks ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

BUFFALO, N.Y. — After nearly 12 years as a staple of Buffalo’s downtown dining scene, Osteria 166 is making changes to its business model to focus on events and catering, while staying open for dinner service three nights a week. Pitillo says the decision comes at a pivotal time for the restaurant. “We're actually coming up on our 12th anniversary, which is in about two weeks, and we started this up when downtown was really just starting an uptick,” Pitillo said.
Kae Baramee shares Thai culture at Tiny Thai

2 weeks ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

BUFFALO, N.Y. — As part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we're visiting Kae Baramee, the owner of Tiny Thai, a small-but-mighty restaurant in Buffalo’s Chandlerville complex at 27 Chandler Street. Kae, who moved to Buffalo from Thailand, and named the business after herself. "I'm so tiny," she told 2 On Your Side with a big smile. Kae grew up loving to cook family recipes, and worked as a restaurant manager in Thailand.
Farmcraft Brewery opens in Sheldon with local drinks

3 weeks ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

SHELDON, N.Y. — If you like craft beer and cocktails, beautiful scenery, and homegrown hospitality, there's a new place for you to check out on Route 20A in Sheldon, just about ten minutes away from the Village of East Aurora. "Farmcraft is a taproom, brewery, restaurant, and event space," owner Ashley Meyer Howe told 2 On Your Side. "We have a full kitchen, a bar that serves wine, beer, liquor, cocktails, seltzers, and ciders.
Local mom celebrates extended breastfeeding journey with art

3 weeks ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

BUFFALO, N.Y. — In honor of Maternal Health Month in May, a local mom and her 2-year-old daughter are revisiting a piece of art commemorating their breastfeeding journey. "You see the pictures of the newborns all cuddled up, but you don't really see it when it's a toddler," Challis Graham said. Graham and her daughter Zuri are 25 months into their breastfeeding journey.
Out 2 Eat at Blue Cave's new spot in Lewiston

1 month ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

LEWISTON, N.Y. — Blue Cave Cotemporary Italian Cuisine is open on Center Street in Lewiston, just in time for the busy summer season. "We have a lot of festivals, people coming from Canada," Owner and Chef Mario Bianca told 2 On Your Side. After three years in downtown Buffalo, Chef Mario Bianca and his wife Pamela, a Niagara County native, relocated the business to the village's historic Clarkson house. It's a cozy space with a wraparound bar and private dining room upstairs.
Casa Azul tequila, tacos will be served on Cinco De Mayo

1 month ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Every year, the staff at Casa Aszul Mexican Taqueria in Allentown gets a bet going to see how many tacos they will serve on Cinco De Mayo. "The winner last year was 2,400," owner and chef Zina Lapi told 2 On Your Side. "This year because it falls on a Monday, we're going to have an all day party Sunday and Monday, so you get two chances to come celebrate with us." This is Casa Azul's ninth year in business and fifth at their location at the corner of Elmwood and Allen.
Turkish coffee: New Yemeni Coffee Shop opens in Williamsville

1 month ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — A new coffee shop in Williamsville is bringing a whole new taste and the vibe to the village. "Yemen is very unique when it comes to its coffee, the culture, the tradition of it, and the history of it. It's very, very deep," Fatim Rashed told 2 On Your Side. He is the president of the group that brought Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Company to Main Street last fall.
Out 2 Eat at Lake Effect Diner

1 month ago | wgrz.com | Lauren Hall

BUFFALO, N.Y. — If the blueberry pancakes at Lake Effect Diner look familiar, it's because you may have just seen them on the Food Network. "In 2009 the Food Network noticed us and came in and did a little bit on us and that was really great," owner Tucker Curtain told 2 On Your Side. "Just this past year, they came back and filmed and did a little reboot." Curtain has owned the diner, located on Main Street in University Heights, for more than 20 years. "It's great to be an anchor here.