Two Weeks of Buffalo Experiences
It's been over 10 days now since I moved to Buffalo from Toronto. A lot can happen in that time, especially when it involves making a move to a new city, and my situation was no exception. So, I thought I'd recap10 experiences that have made the most impressions on me from the time I arrived.
1) Only a few days after my arrival, I volunteered at the Elmwood Village Association booth at the Elmwood Arts Festival. It was wonderful to see so many people out on a gorgeous day meandering along the avenue and enjoying the diversity, the colors and the flavors of this most beautiful part of the city. Indeed, Justin and Dan of the Association, have been especially helpful to me during my first week. Thanks fellows!
2) One of the things I like about Buffalo is that it is small enough a city where you can actually run into people you know on the street, who are out shopping, doing errands, or grabbing a bite to eat. And on a day when I missed my bus along Elmwood, I was fortunate to run into Michael Gainer of Buffalo Reuse, who kindly offered to drive me to my to destination. Just another famous example of Buffalo hospitality in action.
3) Which leads me to my next experience. As I was telling Michael about the challenges of grocery shopping without access to a car, he told me I must visit Guercio's on Grant Street, within walking distance of my apartment. Promptly the next morning, I sauntered over to the market and entered an emporium the likes of which I've not seen before. Before me, there was shelf after shelf of imported Italian food. And the aromas that permeated the aisles were heavenly. But it was the deli counter that grabbed my attention. Behind the glass display case sat more than a dozen tempting freshly made salads, meat and veggie dishes. I kept the friendly counter woman busy for the next ten minutes as she filled several containers of food, which would become my meals for the next week. Best of all, I could not believe how much I got for so little.
4) Not surprising, I went back the next day to buy more. And as I was waiting at the deli counter again, in typical friendly Buffalo style, another customer began conversing with me, providing a brief history of the store which she has been shopping at since she was a little girl living in this Grant Street neighborhood. As our discussion grew, I shared with her my of my recent arrival in the city, and she shared with me the fascinating work she is doing with the Western New York Peace Center, while working as an advocate to improve the quality of life for residents on the West Side. The chance encounter reminded of other serendipitous encounters I've had with several other Buffalonians, all equally committed to making this city a better place to live. In a fitting end to our conversation, she like others before her, offered this car-less writer a lift to my next destination. Wow!
5) What I've known all along even before I moved here - the friendliness of Buffalonians - has made an especially positive impression on me. From the people at my school which I am attending, to those people (and many more) whom I've mentioned above, each individual has contributed to the warm welcome I've received. Thank you!
6) Speaking of friendly, do the people who work at Wegmans take a "friendly pill" before their shift begins? Talk about helpfulness, these people are great. No wonder Wegmans is consistently voted one of the best places in America to work.
7) Admittedly, being car-less in Buffalo is a major disadvantage. I am, in all honesty, disappointed by a transit system which is neither efficient nor extensive. So, to get around this inconvenience, I purchased a cheap bike at one of the big box stores to ease my commute, and promptly rode it down to Rick's Bike Shop where I knew I'd be dealing with cycling experts to help me outfit my bike with safety gear. Not only did I get what I needed, but given that I'm so mechanically challenged, the store owner took time out of his own workday to install my purchases, and even to check on the safety and roadworthiness of my bicycle. Now how great is that?
8) The architecture in this city is truly amazing. At every turn, I observe beautiful buildings and houses. Some have seen better days, their glory lost to a bygone era. As I pass many of these edifices, I often think to myself, “What potential. What potential.” Fortunately, there appear to be many others in the city, who in like mind, also see potential, and are actively engaged in rehabbing so many of these faded gems. Those that have been restored to their original grandeur, provide this new cyclist with beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way.
9) I've begun, the odd time, to pick up random pieces of trash on the streets around my neighborhood (scattered newspaper, beer carton, etc.) that have been discarded and left to spoil the beauty of these streets. I guess this is as good an indication as any that increasingly, like so many others whom I've met, I care about this city.
10) Finally, if I may give a special thank you to Justin and Dan at the Elmwood Village Association who have been especially helpful to me during my first week. Thanks again fellows!
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1776
Lorne, welcome to Buffalo. I first moved here in 1999 and was completely awed by what a welcoming, wonderful city this is. Truly one of the great hidden gems of the country, even with some of the massive problems we are facing as a community. Michael Gainer is a tremendous individual who is doing great work with Buffalo ReUse, and the best thing is that he is just one of many community-minded, dedicated individuals who are working tirelessly to transform the parts of Buffalo most in need. I know there is a lot of bad news in the City every day, but overall, I am so proud to be a Buffalonian, and I am inspired daily by the amazing grassroots efforts that are accomplishing real change. So glad to read your positive story about your first two weeks here--I hope it is but the first few weeks of many to come.
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al-alo
Hey Lorne,
as a former carless westsider (who first came to buffalo in 97), i often ran into the same issues for gleaning up some grub. i dont know if you are a meat eater, but just south down grant st, youll find the meeting place [sic]. its a good place (and maybe the only butcher near elmwoodville) to pick up some steaks.
of course, on saturday the farmers market on bidwell has tastey treats beyond veggies.
as for bikes, you might like to check out shickluna bikes on hertel ( http://www.shicklunabikes.com/Home.html ).
enjoy
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flyguy
Welcome to Buffalo. I am glad you experience has been a positive one and I think you are experiencing the many things that we know about already but the rest of the world doesnt. Buffalo is a hidden gem that the outside world has many misconceptions about. At the same time I feel ashamed that some of our citizens put you in a situation where you are cleaning up after them as if they are somehow entitled to litter our city. I have absolutely no respect for these litter bugs ni the city who destroy the look of the place by being careless and disresepectful of the environment and other people. Its nice that we have people who care enough to clean up but not very nice that you are put in a situation where you need to. I just wish those who choose to disrespect the community by creating a garbage dump in their own town would get a swift kick in the a$$.
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chris_h_23
Buffalo really is a great city to live in and its wonderful that you as a newcomer are experiencing how great it is and in such short of a time. Welcome to Buffalo!
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leonwestbrook
Good for you to find out about Buffalo. I hope you have a job, cause those are not in good supply here.
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rdominguez
Lorne, maybe impressionable experience #11 will be watching your GTA friends swoon when you tell them how much your rent in Buffalo is!
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RaChaCha
Lorne - congrats on your move, and best wishes!! Sounds like you might enjoy the tours offered this weekend by Buffalo Tours: Saturday a walking tour of part of the West Side with Harvey Garrett, and Sunday a bike tour of the East Side with David Torke. Both Harvey and David are solid, high-qual Buffalo activists and advocates who you might enjoy knowing. Tour details are at (http://buffalotours.org/cal.htm#September).
Um...just looking...yes, I have an extra Buffalo Tours pass - I'll contact Harvey and David with an offer to send in the pass should you show up for one of the tours, so you can check it out at no charge.
BTW, I like your comments about Wegman's - we keep trying to get them to sell those "friendly pills" to the other stores in town! If you contact their Consumer Affairs office in Rochester (1-800-Wegmans) and send them a copy of your article, I'd be surprised if they don't send you some coupons for some free stuff.
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Andrew
Congratulations on your move and discoveries. Have fun exploring!! I know I did.
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Lorne
WOW! What amazing responses.... Here are two more facts that are easing my transition to Buffalo.... Reason #11....your wonderfully kind replies to my article. Thank you to everyone who has taken a few minutes on BRO to welcome me so warmly, and to wish me well. You can't imagine how meaningful these comments are to a newcomer. Reason #12...I'd be remiss if I did not give my thanks to Aaron from PUSH Buffalo (www.pushbuffalo.org) and his partner Anna as well. Their dedication to social action resonates with me, and I hope to have the opportunity while I'm in Buffalo to help them further their work.
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Justin_Azzarella
If I may say it, Lorne rocks the cosmo and we're lucky to have him. Thanks for the kind words!
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LHoffmann
Welcome Lorne!
I moved here 2 months ago from the West Coast having never set foot in Buffalo before and have found it to be everything I hoped it would be...and MORE!!! Folks are down to earth and welcoming and most importantly, GENUINE and helpful! I know I made the right decision and so did you... Buffalo is really unique and I feel blessed and lucky to be here.
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rickyrick
Just remember not to wonder alone south of Chippewa Street at night or god forbid down Sycamore, Genesee, or Broadway at any time of the day....and try not to be downtown at all between 2:30-4pm on a school day, those kids will not move for you to walk by and/or harras you, especially if your white and dress better than them. Don't even waist your time calling 911 for anything petty like, getting mugged, followed, or loud noise etc. The cops may NEVER show up, and if you decide to use public transportation and your bus NEVER shows up, don't even waist your time calling the NFTA Customer Service line...it'll only STRESS you out. Enjoy your time in Buffalo, I know I WONT Be back.
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Andrew
^^"enjoy your time in buffalo, i know i WONT be back" yet you spend your spare time on a website devoted to discussing buffalo developments and promoting buffalo in general. cool.
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SteveP
Rickyrick:
I've lived in Buffalo for 23 years before I moved and I was downtown during the night and day a lot. I think you are just finding something to complain about. The reason cops don't come right away when you get mugged is that a) there are more dangerous and important crimes b) its nearly impossible to solve except to file a report and c) there are only so many cops. No matter how many more you hire, these things will happen.
Instead of raining on the parade of a new buffalonian, start your own thread. If you have an attitude like this we don't want you back. You aren't even constructive in your feedback and spout the same thing time and again in each response. There are much worse cities to be in in terms of crime.
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42nate
Yay, Lorne and all the transplants who commented here! Now get to work recruiting your friends and relatives to join you. We have some very nice, cheap housing for them and all kinds of urban projects for their talents & energies!
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rickyrick
Of course the housing is cheap and not enought cops...YOUR CITY IS POOR!!!! If I ever become close to homeless, I'll choose Buffalo, till then, I'll stay away and only read what is happening to remind myself why I left and don't want to return. Your stories are amusing, that's why I visit the site.
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Spaulding97
Yet you contribute nothing, thanks for leaving! I wish all the people like you were gone. Spread the word Ricky!
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rickyrick
News for ya Spaulding, WE HAVE LEFT! That's why your area is DEAD and continues to lose population, because no one can take people like YOU, the lack of ANYTHING happening. Enjoy your ghost town as it continues to rot and die with more people moving out and VERY LITTLE moving in.
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Spaulding97
If it sucks then why are you one of the most vocal and heard from one this site? I think you really miss it here. You must, because if you didn't care about it here, then why bother with this site? The real reason you left was because you were probably a jerk to everyone like you are here, so you tried to make a new life in Columbus because you have no friends in Buffalo. But it isn't working out for you. Wait, I know who you really are ... Michael Peca???!!!!
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rickyrick
See, you think I'm someone else, but you have no idea. Not from Columbus and my name is not Michael. I grew up in Buffalo and watched my entire family and friends move away in the last 20 years. Went through the RED Budget of '05 and lost my job and my hope for your city. I moved away to a BIG CITY where it's safe, clean, and things HAPPEN. Yeah, a part of me belongs to Buffalo, but do I want to move back knowing it's still in the same state as I left it?...HELL NO.
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drl
Rickyrick,
Wow, every single friend and family member. I'm speechless. That is pretty sad.
So are we to take from your last comment that you were a laid-off govt employee? Just curious. It actually helps us to put your comments into perspective. Are you a govt employee in you new BIG city?
Why not say where you live now (since most are assuming that you are a Blue Jacket)?
I still don't understand why you hang on this site. What is the draw?
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rickyrick
Um, no, the company I worked with was funding by the county. And yes, just about EVERY family and friend of mine left your city for higher paying jobs and bigger houses.
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AuburnAve
LOL... he didnt know who Michael Peca is.
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ChristaSeychew
Lorne-
Welcome! Being from a much larger city, I also fell in love with the friendliness and small town feel of Buffalo. I see it as a place with many of the benefits of a big city (great parks, arts and architecture), but you still run into people you know when your out and about- a rarity in a truly large city.
Just a note- when it's snowy and cold and you're less inclined to schlep your purchases home over the icy sidewalks, just give Guercio's a holler on the phone. They'll deliver your groceries to your house for a very small fee.
Christa
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