Buffalo Runners Getting a Taste of Utica in More Ways Than One

The Buffalo Marathon Weekend is coming up Memorial Day weekend, May 24 - 25, in the city of Buffalo and athletes and fans will get a little sample of what it's like in Utica on Boilermaker weekend.

The F.X. Matt Brewery is hosting a Post Race Party after the races, modeled after the Boilermaker Post Race Party, which year after year draws more than 40,000 runners and spectators in the back lot of the brewery. Meanwhile, with health in mind, Saranac's new Mid-Strength Weekend Warrior, a 3-percent ABV golden pilsner with full-bodied flavor, has been named the official beer of Buffalo's Marathon weekend.

“For over a century, F.X. Matt Brewing has been successful by evolving alongside our customers and delivering beverages that delight them,” said Fred Matt, the fourth-generation leader and President of F.X. Matt Brewing. “Today, Americans want a better way to enjoy craft beer without compromising on taste or lifestyle. Saranac Weekend Warrior delivers the perfect middle ground.”

Weekend Warrior beer. credit: F.X. Matt Brewery

Matt recently told WIBX's Keeler Show that the new brew at only 3-percent ABV is perfect when you want to enjoy a beer or two on a summer afternoon, without feeling sluggish and teed up for a nap.

According to a release from the brewery, "Friends and family are encouraged to celebrate with their loved ones after the marathon, at the Post Race Party located on the North Exhibit Floor (2nd floor) of the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, where guests 21 and older can enjoy a celebratory mindful brew!"

The Buffalo-Erie Marathon Association Inc. (buffalomarathon.org) organizes and presents the annual Memorial Day Weekend, which includes a 5k, Diaper Dash, Kids Mini Marathon, Ruffalo Stampede dog race, along with full and half marathons. The events combined include 8,000+ runners from more than 10 countries and 45 states. The weekend is supported by more than 1,500 volunteers from 40+ not-for-profit organizations who, over the event’s 24 years, have received grants totaling more than $664,000. The event has an estimated annual economic impact of more than $1,500,000.

O'Scugnizzo's Pizzeria is 110 Years Old in Utica, NY

Founded in 1914 by Eugenio Brullino, a determined immigrant from Naples, Italy, O'Scugnizzo Pizzeria has become synonymous with quality, consistency, and the unique flavors of

Utica.

Eugenio Brullino arrived in America in 1913 on the Canopic to Boston, Massachusetts, from Naples at the age of 25. Settling in Utica with his wife Maria, he began his American journey as a pastry chef. To supplement their household income, Maria would prepare little tomato pies, which Eugenio sold at church feasts each weekend. The name "O'Scugnizzo" comes from Naples, which was a slang term used for street urchin’s looking for a day’s work.

When he decided to open his pizzeria in 1914, it was this term that became the trade name, a legacy that would endure for generations.

Gallery Credit: Permission by Lisa Burline Roser for TSM

These 6 New York Restaurants Sell the Best Pizza in America

Eat This, Not That asked chefs across the U.S. to reveal who sells the best slice of pizza. Six pizzerias in NY made the cut. Do you agree these places sell the best of the best?

Gallery Credit: Megan