Comments on: Top 5 Travel Experiences of 2012, An Architectural Tour of Buffalo

By: mitclal

mitclal — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 08:31:29 +0000

Thanks for the kudos! I moved to Buffalo partly for the architecture about a year ago and I second that it truly is a special and unique place. It not only has architecture by all the greats (Sullivan, Wright, Richardson, Olmsted, Albert Kahn, Upjohn) but it also has many remarkably intact historic neighborhoods lined with mansions of barons from the city’s gilded past and lovely and active commercial streets lined with coffee shops and boutiques. Like the article said, we also have a pretty good culinary scene (way beyond chicken wings, though we have some really good ones). One of the recent developments I’ve been exploring is a quickly-growing SE asian immigrant community from the Burma/Nepal area that is leading to some very interesting restaurants and stores popping up. All that said, it’s still a bit gritty in places and, as another commenter said, all the good that happens is grassroots, but things are improving quickly and the changes are the result of a large group of very passionate locals. Anyways, I encourage you to visit – we’ve been getting a lot of good press lately from people that visit and find the city unexpectedly lovely, not at all what its reputation forbodes.

By: Thomas Pafk

Thomas Pafk — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:21:17 +0000

Don’t forget about East Aurora a small quaint but quirky artisan village about 20 minutes from downtown Buffalo. Home to the Roycroft Campus from the Arts & Crafts era. The Roycroft Inn is fully restored and across the street the main campus buildings are under restoration. The village is full of artisans just like it was one hundred years ago…

By: Fran Folsom

Fran Folsom — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 01:37:21 +0000

Richardson, Wright, Olmstead, Sullivan, oh my it looks like all the great architects can works can be seen there. I must get to Buffalo, have never been. It’s on my list of places to see.

By: Buffalolover

Buffalolover — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:53:47 +0000

Buffalo is one of America’s hidden gems. Literally. The architecture, the people, the beauty, the rough edges……it is truly a special place.

The city has advanced despite a lack of effective political leadership (like many poorer cities have experienced). The people have done it. I can’t imagine where that city would be if it had a Booker or Norquist?

By: Steve Jermanok

Steve Jermanok — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:57:41 +0000

Great little tidbit, Denise. Thanks for sharing!

By: Denise

Denise — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:30:16 +0000

No, it’s not exactly Paris but Buffalo’s original street plan of 1804 was inspired by Frenchman Pierre L’Enfant, who designed the plan for Washington DC.