RaChaCha: September 2010 Archives

Although I'm a big fan of Buffalo's annual Labor Day parade, in the heart of historic South Buffalo, right now the two parades at the top of my list in terms of color, enthusiasm, sense of place, and sheer ethnic intensity are the "Old Neighborhood" St. Patrick's Day parade in the Old First Ward and the Valley, and the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Buffalo's lower west side.

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On a recent tour of the Larkin District (stay tuned for more), we stopped in to check out the former bank building being converted to the offices of Young + Wright Architecture.  The history of this fine building, and its present rehab, have been well-covered by Chris Hawley at his Hydraulics

One of the cool things about living in Buffalo is not just all the things that make Our Fair City cool, but our connections to cool things and places nearby.  Buffalo denizens are in the catbird seat when it comes to day trips as close as Niagara Falls and East Aurora, to Chautauqua, and Niagara-on-the-Lake.  Even New York City can be done as a day trip.

One of the coolest day trips you can take this time of year couldn't be easier and more unique: the New York State Fair by rail.  Throw fixins for a picnic lunch in a backpack, head downtown (hop on your favorite metro