They left their hearts in Buffalo

[35Pete]

They left their hearts in Buffalo

There's no place like home for the holidays. And that's not just a song. For people who have moved away from Buffalo, it's the truth.
A few weeks ago, I listed a bunch of statistics about how Buffalo's economy and cultural scene compared with other cities. They were just facts and figures. But a surprising deluge of responses poured in. The column seems especially to have struck a chord with out-of-towners who, instead of just crunching the numbers, grew very emotional.

Not all the feeling was positive.

"I couldn't stop laughing at the fact that you have a control board. Isn't that like being 35 and living with your parents?" says Mark Thomas Jr., who thanks God his parents moved the family from Buffalo to Seattle when he was 11.

"You people live in Buffalo. Get over yourselves. You guys are the "fat ugly women of cities.' "

Well, Mark: If Buffalo's so fat and ugly, how come we're still under your skin?

Former Buffalo folks are a strange breed. Here our city squats, ignoring our control board, shuttering our libraries and selling out our historic Cobblestone District to a casino, but darn it, these wanderers still miss us.

Some even admit it.

"I was born and raised in Buffalo, but have been away for most of the last 20 years," writes Bill Wessner.

"We are in Savannah, Ga., and there is nothing here. It is extremely hot and humid for eight or nine months out of the year. There are no Bills, Sabres, ice rinks, Anderson's, Ted's, no zoo within 150 miles, no residential sidewalks, etc.

"While the property taxes are lower, housing is more expensive. Gas is cheaper, but there are not a whole lot of places to go, so that doesn't matter. After I graduate [from nursing school], we will be moving back."

John Klimczyk, a Buffalonian in Atlanta, is also homesick. He tells a great tale about a neighbor in Georgia who stored guns and ammo in a shed and almost burned down the whole block.

And that's not his only problem. "Traffic is terrible down here," adds Klimczyk, who uses such Buffalo buzzwords as "anyways," "liquid refreshments" and "the wife."

...more...

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20051220/1001195.asp

[JT]

I love Buffalo......I am now in Atlanta.....but I grew up in Amherst...right off of Niagra Falls Blvd in the Willow Ridge area. I have tons of friends there....and miss it very much. My sister and her family are here in Atlanta also....and we have tons of friends from Buffalo and Rochester...So far Atlanta has been very interesting....there is so much to do...however....nothing will ever compare to Buffalo...

..I have so many good memories of growing up there.....from the snow to the sports....I do miss it....I used to go to Ted's all the time....miss the Convenient store at the corner where we would sit on that Blue Buffalo News paper box and eat our candy. I loved going to Sabres games....and before hand going to eat at Chef's.....who can forget going to Art park? Wow...that was so long ago....and Beaver Island...not that clean to swim in however....fishing at Ellicott creek park......caught plenty of fish....never would eat them.....oh and my favorite chinese.....Lee Chu's.....maybe it is not there anymore...but loved it.....and the best Christmas ever was in Buffalo....going skating at the rec center...now I think it is the Pepsi Center.....playing hockey in the streets all winter long....having to move the nets every two minutes because of cars....Anderson's ice cream....best shakes around.....and I always remember that big roller skate car infront of the eastern hills mall.....funny

[Billsman]

Im counting down the days until Im back home again! House in Phoenix is on the market, once sold, we're outta here!

[dayll]

I have been gone from Buffalo/Tonawanda since 1958 but far away as I am I am always and ever a Bills/Bisons fan. Also, I would be scared to go back to the old Brighton & Eggert neighborhood - it would be so changed and I prefer to remember it the way it was when I was a boy. Thanks for this site - it makes me nostalgic as hell - dayll

[sabrills70]

I miss Buffalo tons!!!!. I have not lived there since the early 90's. I get very excited when I get to go back home. I miss the people, the food, and Buffalo life in general. I don't hate the south, I enjoy it very much (especially the fact that it does not snow much here) its just not Buffalo. All of my family is still there. Buffalo has a ton to offer people if you could just get rid of all the corrupt politicians who are destroying the place. I would move back in a second if I could afford the same type of lifesyle I have here, but the taxes would kill me. I always root for the Bills and Sabres and love going to Raleigh when the Sabres are in town and walking in wearing my jersey. I am proud to say to everyone I know that I am from Buffalo.

[Billsman]

Wow, almost a year later and here I am, in beautiful WNY and Im loving every minute of it.

Im counting down the days until Im back home again! House in Phoenix is on the market, once sold, we're outta here!

[The Philster]

Wow, almost a year later and here I am, in beautiful WNY and Im loving every minute of it.
took you long enough to do it, though. I seem to remember you talking about making it to some Bandits games last season...lol

[Billsman]

Yeah, I'll be going to more and more things now that Im settled in and it's fall/winter. Gonna have to find me some bandits fans to hang with, know of any? :)

[The Philster]

Yeah, I'll be going to more and more things now that Im settled in and it's fall/winter. Gonna have to fine me some bandits fans to hang with, know of any? :)

I might know a few ;)
...actually, I only know myself, Meathead, and a few others from the other site...as well as most of the Bandettes
Anyway...not sure if I mentioned it, but I got seasons for this spring :D

[CoachC.]

I know this sounds corny, but I rarely even check into this particular forum because I get too emotional reading some of the threads.

I'm man enough to admit that.

I LOVE Buffalo. It's been eleven years (fifteen counting my years at Syracuse University) and I miss it more and more every day.

[Billsman]

Had some killer Pizza and wings today durning the game.

[buffalo_rocks]

Another Transplant Thrilled To Be In Buffalo

Every once and awhile, comments to old BRO posts of mine pop up in my email. This one in particular I received yesterday really caught my eye. A reader by the name “billyinthedarbies” commented in an old Saturday Coffee Talk post about all the potential benefits for downtown as a result of Bashar Issa’s anticipated investments.

The commenter tells us how so many “hot” cities, like his hometown San Diego, are overrated and Buffalo reigns king on the quality of life department. For him and his wife, Buffalo is such a wonderful place to live.

Here is his comment as follows:




My wife and I moved here in 1997 when I was accepted for graduate school at UB. She is from San Diego and I am from Orange County, CA. When I finished my degree in 2003, we moved back to San Diego--a huge mistake. The very same summer, we loaded everything in a moving van (again) and drove across the country (again) to come back to Buffalo. We bought a house on the West Side last year, and we could not be happier.
We are not native Buffalonians. Far from it. The reason we put down roots here is simple--the quality of life. Our friends and family from California used to razz us a little, until they actually came to Buffalo and saw how well we live here. Friends from Seattle to North Carolina seem to love staying here with us. While only a few have moved here, everyone's eyes bug out when they see the contrast between lifestyle and real estate prices. The formula for development in this city is simple: if you build it, they will come. That's it--bring in work, and people will fall all over themselves to move here. It sounds like Mr. Issa has done his research. I would be shocked if he doesn't meet that 40% occupancy rate. People coming from outside Buffalo don't seem to have the negative view of it that some natives do. It's baffling to me.

Our beautiful Victorian house, with a three car garage, is six blocks from a world-class museum and in the heart of Elmwood--a very cool urban district for any mid-sized city. We walk everywhere, we always have something to do, and my monthly mortgage, plus insurance, plus taxes (which everyone complains about for some reason?) is ALL LESS THAN HALF what RENTING a STUDIO APARTMENT in a trendy CA neighborhood costs. No kidding. We're young, we own a beautiful house instead of renting, and we still have money to enjoy the city. Living almost anywhere else, we'd be scrounging to get by.

But aren't the streets paved with gold in places like San Diego or Orange County? Nope. (Well, maybe they are in OC....) Spend two hours (I'm not exaggerating) trying to drive to the grocery store, where you scrimp because rent is so high on your crumbling cracker box apt., and Southern Cal will not seem attractive anymore. Sunshine in winter loses its luster when you're sitting on a freeway half of each day. On Buffalo's side, throw in stunning and accessible parks, a cool arts scene, theater, great dining, several colleges, architecture to die for, natural beauty, and friendly people.

Who wouldn't want to live here? Some of the more dour locals, I guess. For everybody else--keep developing wisely and tell the rest of the country. We're dying to come, we just don't all know about it yet.



This is yet, another once of proof that outsiders often see Buffalo in a much brighter light than longtime locals.

[McD]

A few things....

Great article from the couple from CA that now reside in B-Lo.

Next...

Rick I know I've been gone on here for awhile (Uncle Sam's duty called), but I didn't know you finally got out of AZ and back to WNY. Good for you, I hope all is working out for you back home.

McD

[SHOOTOUT STEVE]

All anyone around here talks about are the thousands and thousands of people who are leaving the City of Buffalo and The State of New York, and we hear very little about those who come here to live.

Let's set the record straight. I know there many more reasons to leave the area than there are to stay, but to be honest I am sick and tired of hearing about what is wrong about living and working in Buffalo and Western New York.

I am glad to hear the stories of those who have either returned to the area after being away for sometime, or hearing about those from out of town who have decided to give our area a chance.

Does this area have its problems?? Without a doubt it does. Lets take the time once in awhile to recognize the positive aspects of living in the area.

Besides I would rather be buried under six feet of snow, than have to clean up after a hurricane, earthquake, or tornado.