In Niagara Falls, The Exchange offers a cultural hub for locals and tourists alike

Although it celebrated its 25th birthday only a few years ago, Las Vegas’s “18b Arts District” – it encompasses 18 blocks just southwest of downtown – is, to an arts lover and a non-gambler such as myself, the most interesting thing about that city. A mix of art galleries, retro furniture shops, cafés, bars and boutiques, it has given Las Vegas residents something to call their own in a city that sports a ratio of almost 1,000 tourists to every 100 locals.

Niagara Falls locals, who are similarly outnumbered by millions upon millions of tourists each year, surely need something similar. Where to go to soak up something that reflects who they are? And, for the tourists, where to go if seeking something culturally vernacular?