Welcome to the Queen City. The City of Good Neighbors. The Nickel City. The City of Light.
Most importantly, welcome to the City of Buffalo.
Before I begin my "rant" of why you, as incoming students, should love this city as much as I do, I must admit that I'm a little biased. Born and raised in this beautiful city, I'm proud to call myself a Buffalonian.
I'm going to ask you to forget anything you've heard about this city and also to remember that UB is located in Amherst, a suburb in the Northtowns, and not fully in the city proper. There is more to this city than the secluded and overbearing concrete walls of UB North Campus.
While our population may be dwindling and some of our streets may look a little ragged, this area has a heart and soul unmatched by any other (and you can quote me on that). It pains me to hear anyone my age talking about how this city has "gone to the pits" and that they cannot wait to get out and move away.
I think it takes time away from your home to really appreciate what it means to you. Recently, I took a road trip to Tennessee with a couple friends – the first time I was out on my own and out of state without any adult supervision.
I had the six best days of my life, but I couldn't wait to get home. As I was driving over the Skyway (which connects downtown to the Southtowns) upon my return, I was overwhelmed by emotion.
That drive felt like home. The smell of cheerios from General Mills, the view of HSBC Arena as I crossed the horizon into the city, and my "go-to" exit at Delaware Avenue – everything made me reminisce about the first encounters I had with this place.
As I drove through the city, I realized that many non-Buffalonians don't see the city as I do because they don't know what to look for. Let me be your tour guide.
First, take a trip to the Elmwood Village, one of the most vibrant and eclectic neighborhoods in Buffalo and the country. Filled with art galleries, unique shops, local restaurants, homey cafes, and even some parks amongst the rich architecture.
SpoT Coffee is the place to go if you need to get off campus to cram for an exam and Starbucks is too "main-stream" for your tastes. Here, the barista could be your neighbor, in your world civ class, and probably has your name and order memorized.
Take a walk through Delaware Park – the crown jewel of the Olmsted Park system. Frederick Law Olmsted designed this park to be the "Central Park" of Buffalo and amongst the expansive greenery is Hoyt Lake, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo Zoo, and a golf course.
If nightlife is your thing, Buffalo boasts a thriving scene. Party in the "sky" at Sky Bar, enjoy drinks and music at the trendy Allen Street Hardware Café, sample 32 draft beer choices at the Blue Monk, or dance the night away at Club Marcella.
Local restaurants pepper every inch of the city and give even the pickiest eaters something to enjoy. Merge on Delaware Avenue suits the needs and taste buds of vegetarians and vegans; Tempo offers some of the best fine dining Buffalo has to offer; and take a trip downtown to Anchor Bar to experience the birth place of the chicken wing (but head to Duff's for the better recipe).
The music scene is diverse and local venues are proud to support local music. HSBC Arena scores the "big-name" acts, while smaller venues, such as Town Ballroom, Mohawk Place, The Tralf, and Buffalo native Ani DiFranco's refurbished church, Babeville, provide a more intimate setting that allows acts to connect with fans.
Hailed as "the City of Good Neighbors," Buffalo is full of some of the most hard-working, kind-hearted, and welcoming people you could meet.
Citizens here are not afraid to lend a helping hand to their neighbors and it's been said that everyone is connected by 1.5 degrees of separation – you can't move an inch in Wegmans without bumping into a friend of a friend (or the friend himself!).
I don't expect this column to make anyone instantly fall in love with Buffalo, but I implore you to truly experience your new home. There's more here than UB; Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York State, filled with hidden treasures to be discovered. This place matters.
Welcome to Buffalo.
Email: rebeccca.bratek@ubspectrum.com
