Buffalo can sometimes get a bad reputation. With all the snow, extreme cold temps, other weather phenomenon’s and subpar sports teams most years.

One might ask themself (or others may even ask), "why do you live in Buffalo?"

Well here are 15 reasons to be thankful that you live in the beautiful city.

 

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Traffic

We hear traffic horror stories of L.A, New York City and even cities across the world all the time. We see the pictures of packed highways and people who dread even getting in their cars sometimes.

Even where I am from in Minnesota a traffic back up can lead to hours (no I’m not joking, HOURS) on one stretch of road and the only exit you can take is still a mile and a half away.

Buffalo on the other hand… not so much. The longest I have ever been “stuck” in traffic is maybe about 20 minutes. That was on a bad day with snow flying and accidents all around. Most days though, it is not bad at all. I would much rather deal with Buffalo traffic than L.A or NYC any day of the week.

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Andrew_Mayovskyy
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4 Seasons

I don’t know about you but being somewhere that has four seasons is pretty awesome! We can swim and jet ski in the summer, rake leaves in the fall and enjoy the beautiful colors, build snow igloos, play hockey and snowmobile in the winter and sing in the rain all spring while we work on our fake tan for the beach.

We don’t need a vacation home in Aspen to ski, and we don’t need to go to Florida to enjoy a beach. We however can and do some of these things, but at the end of the year it’s all right in our own back yard.

 

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Everything is Close

Want to see Niagara Falls? It's 20 minutes away. Want to drive out to the sticks for a bonfire? It’s 20 to 30 minutes away. Amusement Park? Grand Island or Darien Lake is only about 20 or 30 mins away. Unless you need to go to a different city or want a vacation everything you could ever want – food, entertainment, relaxation… it’s only about 20 minutes away.

Gabriel Edwards, ThinkStock
Gabriel Edwards, ThinkStock
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The Waterfront

I am a child of the sea…so this is probably why the Waterfront made my list but I think it’s true. It’s close, it’s beautiful and there is always some new way you can explore it. Who needs a Cabin on a lake when you have Lake Erie right there?

 

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4 a.m. Bar Close

Some nights you wish it closed at 2 a.m. but that’s only when you went out at 8 p.m. Not everywhere in the US is open till 4 a.m. Concert let out a midnight? No worries you still got four hours to enjoy a night out on the town and there is always something to do. It’s a luxury that some of us take for granted. Others take it to heart but no matter how you take it. You can drink eat and be marry till the weee hours of the morning whenever you would like to.

 

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Canada

It’s right there… just look across Lake Erie… and you see Canada. If I drove a mile from my house, hopped in the water and started swimming it would only be a matter of time before homeland security drug me out…but still that is how close Canada is.

Some people drive hours upon hours just to get to the border and we are right here. Going to Canada in Buffalo is ten times easier and closer than driving to NYC; and with the Canadian dollar being worth less than ours now, it’s even more affordable.

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Reservations

The gas is cheaper. The smokes are cheaper (but still bad for you) and it’s not terribly far away in any direction, whether it’s the one in by Niagara Falls, the one out by Angola or the one in Akron. Reservations don’t have to oblige to certain laws that New Yorkers are used to so this makes them a hot spot for travels and residents alike.

Rob Banks
Rob Banks
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People

We are not stuck up NYC and we are not know-it-all L.A. We are humble and peaceful… unless it’s St. Patty’s Day, then all bets are off then. Yes, we might drink more than the fair share of Americans, and yes we are die hard about most of our sports but people in Buffalo are real for the most part. Just strike up a conversation and see for yourself.

 

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Free Concert Thursdays

Summer is already a good enough time; add free concerts from big names on Thursdays and you got yourself a party. The best part is that it is free to attend. Paying seven dollars for a beer is way more worth it when you didn’t have to buy a 40 dollar ticket and pack into First Niagara Center. No matter where they hold it this event will be done right every summer.

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 Food Trucks

I have never been anywhere that loves food trucks as much as Buffalo. Yeah, we had them in Minnesota too, but not like the ones here at all! It’s a staple in Buffalo that even got its own event in Food Truck Tuesday. The food you get is phenomenal, the people that work there are real and there is nothing bad to say about it. Thank the powers that may be for Food Trucks.

John Moore/Getty
John Moore/Getty
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People think you live in or very close to NYC

Sometimes it is annoying explaining to people that you live across the state from NYC. Most of the time they don’t listen anyway they will say you live in New York and people will automatically assume NYC. For some this might be frustrating and some may throw a fit about how Buffalo isn’t NYC but the lighter side of it is every one they tell is going to think you are a NYC rock star or something and that is a pretty cool feeling if you really get into it.

 

Barbecue Buffalo Chicken Wings
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Wings

I don’t think you can have any list about Buffalo and not have wings on it. Let’s face it, we do them better, we do them hotter, we do them… hold on I have to giggle cause of how much I just said “we do them” – hehe. Anyways, they don’t call them Buffalo wings everywhere else for nothing it’s because they are our wings and we have every right to be a snob about them wherever we eat them.

dyngusdaybuffalo.com
dyngusdaybuffalo.com
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Dyngus Day

This Polish Festival is done no better anywhere than right here in Buffalo. Grab your pussywillow, polka clogs and a pint and get ready to party off that Easter hangover. Dyngus Day in Buffalo might even be better than Dyngus Day in Poland… don’t know for sure but I would put money on it.

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JACK FM
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Erie Country Fair

As far as County Fairs go Erie County Fair is the biggest and best in New York State and the 3rd biggest across the country (from what the internet tells me) Keep in mind to that the Erie County Fair had to prove a lot to me coming from Minnesota which holds one of the world’s biggest State Fair’s. I say good riddance though cause this is one Fair that you can actually walk around and don’t have to wait in huge terrible lines all the time.

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Niagara Falls  

Like Chicken Wings… I don’t think you can make a list about Buffalo without including the Falls. Not everyone can drive 20 minutes from their house and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of the water cascading down creating a haunting yet welcoming mist that people from all around have to drive to see.

 

So those are 15 reasons I am thankful to live in Buffalo. Yes, I get a little homesick at times and wish Buffalo was a little bit bigger some nights but that is only because it is what I was used to. Now that I am used to Buffalo there is no place that I would rather be.

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