Ahhh, spring in finally upon us, and the beautiful flower show at the Buffalo Botanical Gardens is sure to put a smile on your face.

With the nice weather comes the seemingly never-ending festival season in WNY. Check back soon for our festival guide.

Here are 15 Editor's Picks of cool and interesting events going on in the area for the week of April 7 - April 13, 2014. Be sure to check out our events calendar for much more of what's going on in WNY, and check back every Friday for a "Best Bets" for the weekend.

Mummies of the World Exhibition
Buffalo Museum of Science
Mon Apr 14 – Sun Sep 21
Mummies of the World, the largest exhibition of mummies and related artifacts ever assembled, presents a never-before-seen collection of naturally and intentionally preserved mummies. This compelling collection, presented with reverence and dignity, includes ancient mummies and important artifacts from Europe, South America, as well as ancient Egypt, dating as far back as 6,500 years.
Embark on a journey into the extraordinary world of mummies and mummification. Through modern science, engaging interactives and multi-media exhibits, the exhibition reveals how the scientific study of mummies provides a window into the lives of ancient people from every region of the world, offering unprecedented insights into past cultures and civilization.

Spring Flower Show
Buffalo Botanical Gardens
Mon Apr 14 – Sun Apr 27
Don’t miss WNY’s favorite Easter tradition! The Gardens will be FILLED with spring colors and fragrances! Farmer Brown’s Animals will visit from 10am-4pm daily. Visit baby bunnies, chicks, lambs, goats, a donkey and more. The Easter Bunny will visit the Gardens April 12, 13, 18 & 19 from 11am-4pm.

Hardwell w/ Dannic + Dyro
The Rapids Theatre
Mon Apr 14
Music maturity came swiftly for the now seasoned-veteran Robbert van de Corput, better known as Hardwell. At the age of 25, the ripened heavyweight has created a legacy that would put most of his counterparts to shame. An award-winning DJ, producer, musician, label manager, lover of all things music, and #6 ranked in the DJ Mag Top 100, Hardwell has not only helped shape the current state of EDM, but has left an everlasting imprint. Like his great mentor Tisto, Hardwell proudly hails from Breda, a city tucked deep within the Netherlands. At the young age of 13, Hardwell's talents were so advanced that he was able capture the ears of a major Dutch label. Shortly after signing, Hardwell was spinning at all the major clubs across the Netherlands. Hardwell's international breakthrough came with his "Show Me Love vs. Be" bootleg, which became one of the popular and played dance hits of 2009. From this point on, a star was born. Through his refreshing sound that is characterized by complex drum ensembles, daring synths, and emotive chords, Hardwell has created the ultimate recipe for "Big Room House." His productions are received with such great praise and acclaim; it seems his shelf life is endless. As his reputation grows amongst the world's partygoers, so does his status. He was recently voted #6 in the 2012 edition of the DJ Mag Top 100, the most prestigious of industry competitions. In tandem with his worldwide popularity is his "fresh and open-minded" label Revealed Recordings, which continues to gain international momentum.

Anchorlines
The Forvm
Wed Apr 16
Anchorlines comes from a place where times are tough, people are tougher, and the weather exhibits symptoms of ADHD. This five-piece metalcore outfit has made a name for themselves by working hard, making sacrifices, and dedicating themselves to their musicianship. Sometimes they give people inappropriate and remarkably unsexy lap dances, but mostly it's all that other stuff. Anchorlines have become renowned for their unique genre-blending style of metal and hardcore, powerful live performances, thought-provoking lyrics, and their unyielding commitment to being at Applebees at 9PM for half-off apps. Fans of metalcore who search for the passion, heaviness, and riffery that make the genre great will keep a close watch on this band for years to come.

Jim Florentine from "Crank Yankers"
Helium Comedy Buffalo
Wed Apr 16
Jim Florentine is an American comedian best known for his characters "Special Ed" and "Bobby Fletcher" created for a series of prank phone calls featured on the Comedy Central television show 'Crank Yankers.'

GIANT PANDA GUERILLA DUB SQUAD WITH THE HEAVY PETS
Tralf Music hall
Thu Apr 17
An American jam reggae band, based in Rochester, New York, and founded in 2004. The group started touring nationally in 2006. Their psychedelic roots reggae album “In These Times” made iTunes Best of 2012 list. The bands album "In these Times" also peaked at #5 on Billboard's Reggae Album Chart.

UB Jazz Ensemble & Combos
The Forvm
Thu Apr 17
Dave Schiavone directs the show. Sit back and relax with an evening of Jazz.

East Coast Haven
Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel
Thu Apr 17
East Coast Haven is comprised of Amanda Nagurney (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar) Rob Burgio (Lead Guitar, Vocals, Mandolin) : Dave Miller ( Bass Guitar, Vocals) and Tim Webb (Drums). The group officially formed in the summer of 2013 although the members had been playing together in various configurations and bands for years in the WNY region. Amanda, blessed with an expressive and fiery vocal style, had been playing for years under her solo name; Amanda Nagurney. Amanda released her 3rd album titled “Gone” while residing in Nashville for the past 3 years touring throughout the United States. Amanda has sung the National Anthem for The Nashville Predators, The Buffalo Bills, Sabres, Louisville Bats (Slugger Field), World’s Toughest Rodeo and many more.

Buffalo Quickies
Alleyway Theatre
Thu Apr 17 – Sat Apr 19
Our annual evening of one-act plays features world premieres of recent finalists and one-act winners of the Maxim Mazumdar New Play Competition. A smorgasbord of tasty theatrical tidbits flavored with the spice of life!

Tammy Pescatelli
Helium Comedy Buffalo
Thu Apr 17 – Sat Apr 19
From The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, National Lampoons Funny Money, NBCs Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central’s The World Stands Up! and WETV's A Stand Up Mother.

HOLLERADO
Town Ballroom
Fri Apr 18
A Canadian indie rock band formed in 2007 from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They were nominated for the Best New Group Award at the 2011 Juno Awards. Three of the four members of Hollerado grew up on the same street in Manotick, Ontario a suburb of Ottawa. Hollerado later recorded and periodically lived in Montreal, Quebec where they gained attention as one of Montreal's "top up-and-coming bands". The line-up includes lead singer and guitarist Menno Versteeg, lead guitarist Nixon Boyd, bassist Dean Baxter, and drummer Jake Boyd. Since its inception in April 2007 the band has shared the stage with hard-rocker Andrew W.K. and Montreal's The Stills and Malajube, and was hand-picked by Jack White to open for his newest group, The Dead Weather. The band has also played festivals such as SXSW, Pop Montreal, Rifflandia Music Festival and Sled Island in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The Heavenly Chillbillies - Queen City Catastrophe
Buffalo Iron Works
Fri Apr 18
The Heavenly Chillbillies are a four piece band consisting of Gabrial Mayer (Guitar) and long time collaborators Earl Irving (Bass), Ben Abdalah (Keys) and Mike Olczak (drums). After getting together in early 2008 they knew right away that they had something special and wasted no time getting down to business. Months after forming, the band began playing local shows with good response and secured several residencies at local clubs. Since their debut at the Amp ’08 festival they have played nearly 400 shows at venues ranging from small bars to festival crowds of thousands. Rescent festivals have included headlining the Annual Buffalo Blues and BBQ Festival, the Brockport BBQ and Arts Festival, BeatFEST, Music Is Art (put on by Robby Takac of the Goo Goo Dolls), and the Music is Art Mardis Gras Jam ’11 and ’13 (where they shared the stage with New Orleans Legends Tab Benoit and Carl LeBlanc). They have also been a featured artist of the Western New York Blues Society and were the runners up of the Memphis Bound International Blues Challenge. Since 2012 THC has been the house band for the National Buffalo Wing Festival playing in front of ~85,000 people at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, NY.

Paul Anka
Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino
Sat Apr 19
Paul Anka is one of music’s most talented singer-songwriters of all-time. Hitting the spotlight in the late 1950s, Anka first found fame as a wildly popular teen idol. With hits like Diana,” “Lonely Boy,” “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” and even the theme to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Anka’s career was immortalized on Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Although he is the pride of Canada, Anka’s music is beloved everywhere!

Sam Brenner & Micah
Buffalo Iron Works
Sat Apr 19
Singer/songwriter Sam Brenner is a young artist on the rise. His debut studio album, Where We Begin, is a harmonious blend of honest lyrics & undeniably catchy melodies. Since its release, Sam has been busy sharing his songs in backyards, clubs, coffeehouses, and colleges all across the country.

Easter Sunday Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt
Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
Sun Apr 20
Easter Sunday Brunch will be served at The Lodge April 20 from 11am-4pm. Adults $24, children (ages 4-12) $13, kids age 3 and under eat free. A special Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 10:30am and 1:30pm.