The gossip lady in the Post today mentioned that our favorite twins, Randy and Jeff Vines, are off to Buffalo for a gathering of urban advocates.
God speed, guys!
God speed, guys!
But why did we have to find out about this from Deb Peterson. You boys are holding out on us.
Bernadette Sequeeters and Crandall better represent...........or else. I still think you guys need to make the "I gradgitated from St. Louis City Public Schools" (copyright) shirt. Make it. Now.
The twins have done a lot of good for the image of St. Louis. In my opinion, they 'get' the essence of St. Louis and have spread the message around the world at every chance. Not every city has twin ambassadors.
GREETINGS FROM BUFFALO!!!
We are here in Buffalo, meeting incredible people from cities similar to ours from all over the Rustbelt! Let me start by saying that Buffalo is an INCREDIBLY rich and storied city full of character and soul. The people are wonderful and passionate knowledgable about their city. This thread made us so proud and happy. We miss you all!
Today we took a 2-hour bus tour of Buffalo. What an interesting city. The people are great and there are so many people who love their city the way we love ours! Gotta respect that!!! And there is a lot to love about old cities like Buffalo. It makes us so proud to be from St. Louis. Here are our observations of Buffalo vs. St. Louis:
--St. Louis is considerably bigger and older (hardly any rowhousing to be found around Buffalo)
--Buffalo was built to be more "working class"-- mostly frame single family homes
--St. Louis has a lot more urban vibrancy; Buffalo has some cool hoods but nothing on the level of Soulard, South Grand, Lafayette Square or the CWE. (Edgewood Ave. is similar to the Loop, but not nearly as much pedestrian traffic)
--St. Louis is built to be much more "beautiful" and opulent and BRICK!
--Buffalo has very little new development relative to St. Louis-- the skyline is essentially unchanged since the early '80s, and the loft movement is much slower to catch on
I am proud to say that St. Louis is leading the pack-- it is regarded as an urban success story to people from downtrodden cities like Buffalo. While St. Louis may seem unprogressive and slow to catch on to all of us, it's like f**king Manhattan compared to Buffalo!!!
Can't wait to get back to our RED BRICK MAMA. It is so unique and original!
More to come soon...
The Vines Boys
We are here in Buffalo, meeting incredible people from cities similar to ours from all over the Rustbelt! Let me start by saying that Buffalo is an INCREDIBLY rich and storied city full of character and soul. The people are wonderful and passionate knowledgable about their city. This thread made us so proud and happy. We miss you all!
Today we took a 2-hour bus tour of Buffalo. What an interesting city. The people are great and there are so many people who love their city the way we love ours! Gotta respect that!!! And there is a lot to love about old cities like Buffalo. It makes us so proud to be from St. Louis. Here are our observations of Buffalo vs. St. Louis:
--St. Louis is considerably bigger and older (hardly any rowhousing to be found around Buffalo)
--Buffalo was built to be more "working class"-- mostly frame single family homes
--St. Louis has a lot more urban vibrancy; Buffalo has some cool hoods but nothing on the level of Soulard, South Grand, Lafayette Square or the CWE. (Edgewood Ave. is similar to the Loop, but not nearly as much pedestrian traffic)
--St. Louis is built to be much more "beautiful" and opulent and BRICK!
--Buffalo has very little new development relative to St. Louis-- the skyline is essentially unchanged since the early '80s, and the loft movement is much slower to catch on
I am proud to say that St. Louis is leading the pack-- it is regarded as an urban success story to people from downtrodden cities like Buffalo. While St. Louis may seem unprogressive and slow to catch on to all of us, it's like f**king Manhattan compared to Buffalo!!!
Can't wait to get back to our RED BRICK MAMA. It is so unique and original!
More to come soon...
The Vines Boys
Just thought I would chime in here. I grew up in a suburb about 20 minutes Southeast of Buffalo. I attended high school in South Buffalo and now live in South City. My wife is originally from STL. I have lived in Tampa, Tucson, Denver and STL so I have a fairly descent prospective on mid to large sized cities.
Most of your points are spot on. I have to agree with your observations.
Buffalo has a lot of potential but has been plagued by problems. It is very political in Western New York. A lot of talk about great things to come but nothing really ever happens development wise. A lot of steel jobs were shipped to Mexico. Other Rustbelt cities such as Cleveland seem to have made a comeback. We used to call Cleveland 'the mistake on the lake.' Seems like Cleveland may have the last laugh.
I have a lot of fond memories of growing up in WNY. Many of my friends have moved away and never returned. A lot of white flight.
One of the sad things is they are tearing down the historic Memorial Auditorium where the Sabres played hockey during my childhood. Check out this video if you are a hockey fan. I hope the link shrink works.
http://shrinkster.com/ucm
The redevelopment plan is to put in a Bass Pro Shop and Marina nearby on the Buffalo waterfront. Read all about it here. Note the press release date.
http://shrinkster.com/ucn
Obviously a bus tour is not the optimal way to get to know a city. You may not have a choice in this matter. I am not sure how long you are there for, but if you get a chance try the following:
- Check out Elmwood Avenue with tons of independent shops and restaurants.
- Get out on Lake Erie. You can take a blues (booze) cruise for a reasonable fare.
- Tour the large stately (brick) homes near Delaware Park.
- Go to the Frank Lloyd Wright Darwin Martin House Complex (http://www.darwinmartinhouse.org).
- Go to Niagara Falls. It is awe inspiring.
- If you are going to take a 2 hour bus ride why not go to the fabulous city of Toronto. Now TO is progressive.
- Drink Labatt and Molson. If that is not to your liking grab a micro brew at Pearl Street or Lafayette Tap Room.
- Listen to Canadian radio. 97.7, 104.5 CHUM FM and Q107 all come in clear as a bell.
- If you love art check out Albright – Knox Art Gallery.
- Eat a Beef On Weck Sandwich. Trust me, just ask for a recommendation.
Just a few other things on my mind regarding Buffalo in contrast to STL:
- Yes, it snows a lot in Buffalo, but at the moment STL may have more snow. Now that is irony.
- The original righteous babe Ani DiFranco is from Buffalo. I guess it is a toss up between Jay Farrar and Ani for the cool indie artist award.
- Wings are a no brainer. Let's talk pizza. Buffalo's pizza is far superior to St. Louis thin style. My family still makes fun of me for trying to serve them IMO's once.
- The Bills have been to the Superbowl way too many times to not have won. The Rams Dream Team in their prime was far superior to Buffalo's Jim Kelly years. The Bills play outside the way football was meant to be played. I am still baffled over the Dome. No energy at all in that place.
- You used to be able to get just about anywhere in STL in about 20 minutes. Those days appear to be over. In Buffalo there is no traffic. Seriously.
I really hope you guys have a great time while you are there.
I will be interested to read your 'More to come...' for the 'The Queen City.' I know, there are like 200 Queen City's, but I swear Buffalo is the original
njenney
Southy
Most of your points are spot on. I have to agree with your observations.
Buffalo has a lot of potential but has been plagued by problems. It is very political in Western New York. A lot of talk about great things to come but nothing really ever happens development wise. A lot of steel jobs were shipped to Mexico. Other Rustbelt cities such as Cleveland seem to have made a comeback. We used to call Cleveland 'the mistake on the lake.' Seems like Cleveland may have the last laugh.
I have a lot of fond memories of growing up in WNY. Many of my friends have moved away and never returned. A lot of white flight.
One of the sad things is they are tearing down the historic Memorial Auditorium where the Sabres played hockey during my childhood. Check out this video if you are a hockey fan. I hope the link shrink works.
http://shrinkster.com/ucm
The redevelopment plan is to put in a Bass Pro Shop and Marina nearby on the Buffalo waterfront. Read all about it here. Note the press release date.
http://shrinkster.com/ucn
Obviously a bus tour is not the optimal way to get to know a city. You may not have a choice in this matter. I am not sure how long you are there for, but if you get a chance try the following:
- Check out Elmwood Avenue with tons of independent shops and restaurants.
- Get out on Lake Erie. You can take a blues (booze) cruise for a reasonable fare.
- Tour the large stately (brick) homes near Delaware Park.
- Go to the Frank Lloyd Wright Darwin Martin House Complex (http://www.darwinmartinhouse.org).
- Go to Niagara Falls. It is awe inspiring.
- If you are going to take a 2 hour bus ride why not go to the fabulous city of Toronto. Now TO is progressive.
- Drink Labatt and Molson. If that is not to your liking grab a micro brew at Pearl Street or Lafayette Tap Room.
- Listen to Canadian radio. 97.7, 104.5 CHUM FM and Q107 all come in clear as a bell.
- If you love art check out Albright – Knox Art Gallery.
- Eat a Beef On Weck Sandwich. Trust me, just ask for a recommendation.
Just a few other things on my mind regarding Buffalo in contrast to STL:
- Yes, it snows a lot in Buffalo, but at the moment STL may have more snow. Now that is irony.
- The original righteous babe Ani DiFranco is from Buffalo. I guess it is a toss up between Jay Farrar and Ani for the cool indie artist award.
- Wings are a no brainer. Let's talk pizza. Buffalo's pizza is far superior to St. Louis thin style. My family still makes fun of me for trying to serve them IMO's once.
- The Bills have been to the Superbowl way too many times to not have won. The Rams Dream Team in their prime was far superior to Buffalo's Jim Kelly years. The Bills play outside the way football was meant to be played. I am still baffled over the Dome. No energy at all in that place.
- You used to be able to get just about anywhere in STL in about 20 minutes. Those days appear to be over. In Buffalo there is no traffic. Seriously.
I really hope you guys have a great time while you are there.
I will be interested to read your 'More to come...' for the 'The Queen City.' I know, there are like 200 Queen City's, but I swear Buffalo is the original
njenney
Southy
Thanks for the suggestions, njenney. We did see a lot of the places you mentioned. Elmwood Ave. is great, and the Frank Lloyd Wright houses are amazing. We also visited the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding Delaware Park, as well as the grain elevators and the old ethnic neighborhoods in their shadows. Buffalo is a fascinating, textured city.
Toronto is definitely talked a lot around here. It undoubtedly shares the closest relationship to Buffalo. It would be very interesting to see such contrasting cities that are so close to each other.
Okay, time to start Day #2. Jive and I will keep you posted...
PS: Antonio French of PubDef.net is here as well-- we're representing to the fullest!
Toronto is definitely talked a lot around here. It undoubtedly shares the closest relationship to Buffalo. It would be very interesting to see such contrasting cities that are so close to each other.
Okay, time to start Day #2. Jive and I will keep you posted...
PS: Antonio French of PubDef.net is here as well-- we're representing to the fullest!
- 10K
Keep up the good work, Randy and Jeff - way to represent STL!
njenney, did any of your family members attend the outdoor Sabres-Penguins game? That looked like it would have been incredible.
njenney, did any of your family members attend the outdoor Sabres-Penguins game? That looked like it would have been incredible.
Hey Gasm, I hope you are finding time to meet the locals. We all know about your quest to father an illegitimate child in every rust-belt city between here and Baltimore. Jive, you be a good little fella and listen to your big brother, don't slip on the ice and make sure you bundle up real warm like. If you go to Niagara falls don't get too close to the edge, but you should definitely go, it is truly amazing. I believe it was Mark Twain who called it "the second biggest disappointment of the honeymoon."
- 835
We are back from our urban convergence in Buffalo, and I must say that I am looking at cities through new eyes. Buffalo is a wonderful, underrated, underappreciated Rust Belt city. The knowledge base of urban enthusiasts in Buffalo is humbling, and it only makes me prouder to represent St. Louis-- another re-emerging city full of passionate and educated activists like us!
We learned a lot, made a lot of connections, and experienced a very interesting city. I have been fahklempt since Thursday.
We learned a lot, made a lot of connections, and experienced a very interesting city. I have been fahklempt since Thursday.