Buffalo+Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods & Sites in The Buffalo/Niagara Region of New York State:

Airport Niagara Falls Downtown Buffalo South & East Sides West Side Delaware Park (North Buffalo)* Suburban Buffalo & Beyond: Lancaster Hamburg Boston Syracuse Red Hook, Brooklyn


 * (Medaille College is located across from Delaware Park)

by Tiffany L. Sullivan:
 * Introduction**

Geography has made us neighbors but it is the history that has made us friends. Wherever you go there will be history, historical artifacts, and most likely historical stories. The city of Buffalo, in Western New York is no different. Buffalo has nothing but history running through its streets. Niagara Square, City Hall, and The Guaranty Building , are just a few of what is known as the most historical places to visit in downtown Buffalo. Buffalo, being the second largest city in New York has a population of 282,864 as of 2004. Buffalo is located on the east of [|Lake Erie] and at “the head of the [|Niagara River] .” Buffalo is known as the main city of the [|Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area]. This is an area that connects two different counties [|Erie] and [|Niagara]. Buffalo is also known to be the “ [|seat] of [|Erie County] .” Buffalo consists of 32 different neighborhoods. Among them is the [|Elmwood Village] neighborhood, which is ranked the third best neighborhood in America, according to the [|American Planning Association]. Elmwood Village is a neighborhood that has numerous of small “locally owned boutiques, shops, restaurants, and cafes.” Luckily for many “Buffalonian’s” the history doesn’t end there. **The Buffalo International Airport** by Shauna Szumada

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Located in Cheektowaga NY, a small town in Buffalo, the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is a popular site of airlift due to the many attractions and getaways in the surrounding area. Throughout the years they have remodeled and increased its building size in order to meet the needs and serve the five million travelers they receive each year. The newly remodeled structural building was designed by historical and regional influence. When looked at from above the building looks like a “giant aircraft poised for flight”. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport is truly Buffalo regions air travel and getaway to the nation and to the world. This is due to the vast amount of outstanding attractions the Buffalo area holds. Buffalo is New York’s second city that offers an immense amount of sightseeing in the neighboring area. One reason people travel to the Buffalo Airport is to tour Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is a place of tourism by many people all throughout the world. The Buffalo Niagara International Airport has definitely become a symbol for the region, resulting from its rich history and continues on its future goals. []

top **Niagara Falls** by John Sindoni

Niagara Falls, New York, created roughly 18,000 years ago at the end of the Ice Age, is truly one of God’s most beautiful works of art. Located between both the United States and Canada, Niagara Falls is the second largest natural escarpment in the world, (South Africa’s, Victoria Falls is #1). The Niagara River empties over the mighty falls and is the pathway for one-fifth of the world’s fresh water. The height of the three great falls ranges from 167 feet to 176 feet. In the early 1800’s Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother Jerome traveled by stage coach from New Orleans, Louisiana all the way to Niagara Falls to spend his honeymoon, giving the falls the allure of being the Honeymoon Capital of the world. Niagara Falls was the setting for many films and documentaries, most notably Superman, starring Christopher Reeve. There are many attractions to see such as the Maid of the Mist, which brings tourists on a yacht and travels within a few hundred feet of the base. Also one can take a nature trail to the Cave of the Winds which takes you into caverns that sit behind the falls and experience firsthand the strength of Niagara Falls as it rushes right over you. Finally, one cannot really appreciate the natural beauty of Niagara Falls unless you see it for yourself. Yes if you prefer a modern approach of new casinos and high rise hotels flanked by an amusement park, then by all means tour the Canadian side, however if you really want to see the falls from an historic and natural perspective, come to Niagara Falls, New York and see the beauty first hand. This land is truly one of God’s masterpieces.

[] from: http://kmanwar.files.wordpress.com

[|http://www.niagarafallslive.com]

top **Downtown**

Emily Herr, Darrell Chasse, Darius Sommerville, Danielle Samson
 * Downtown/HSBC Area**

Downtown contains a number of attractions, but the one we focused on was the waterfront. The waterfront is enjoyable, contains a relaxing atmosphere, and has many sites and attractions around. It holds things such as Shanghai Reds, HSBC Arena, Coca Cola Park, the Pier, the Marina, the Flower Garden and many others. The Lighthouse as well as the concerts taking place around the Pier and Marina are some other things that attract many people as well as Buffalo citizens. Many of these areas are tourist attractions and provide some sort of history behind the city of Buffalo. The Erie Canal proved to be the key that unlocked an enormous series of social and economic changes in the young nation. The Canal spurred the first great westward movement of American settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the Appalachians and made New York the preeminent commercial city in the United States. The canal links the waters of Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east. You can view the Erie Canal reclamation project currently underway, which includes returning water to the original Commercial Slip, which now has a replica bowstring bridge, and closer access to Eric Canal.

HSBC Group

One of the main attractions for sports fans and music lovers is HSBC Arena which is an entertainment complex located in downtown Buffalo which hosts two professional sports teams including the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team and the Buffalo Sabres ice hockey team as well as many concerts. Originally opened in 1996 as Midland Marina Park, the name was changed to HSBC Arena in 1999.

When attending one of HSBC Arenas sports events it is an all night event. Many of the local pubs offer special deals which include food, drinks, and a sports ticket. Walking down the street towards the Arena is a high energy atmosphere because of the yelling and people walking quickly towards the Arena to get out of the cold. Hearing the music blasting away from inside is very typical. Upon entering the Arena, the smell of popcorn, beer, and peanuts is in the air. Entering the small tunnel to get to the section of seating is the complete opposite once finally in the arena which is a huge sea of blue chairs that all line up around the ice rink, turf used for playing lacrosse, or stage for performers. The blaring music is all part of the fun, especially when singing along with the lyrics. The sports broadcasters for the event create half of the excitement. There are several common phrases that everyone in the audience knows and chants along. The fun continues whether it is going back to a local pub or walking back towards the car. Nonetheless, sports events in Buffalo are events that bring the city together.

HSBC Arena also hosts several concerts including Genesis and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The stage that they performed on was very wide and allowed room for the musicians to walk around and show off, and there was plenty of capacity for loud speakers and pyrotechnic lights. The lights are multi-colored and can reach any part of the stage or the auditorium, making each show an exciting visual experience. In addition, the acoustics at HSBC are excellent; you can hear the performance at a very clear level, and it is not too loud. Below are both photos and a videos of two concerts that have been held at HSBC Arena. Genesis performing //In The Cage, The Cinema Show//, and the beginning of //Duke's Travels// at HSBC during their 2007 tour. media type="youtube" key="05WxAXtUfwk" height="344" width="425"

top ** Traditions in Buffalo ** Lindsay Delano & Finesse Mitchell

Buffalo is home to some of the most historical and cultural celebrations. The Juneteenth and St. Patrick’s Day parade are just a few traditions held in South Buffalo and the East Side of Buffalo. Tradition is defined as “the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, esp. by word of mouth or by practice” (Dictionary.com). Every city, town and village has interesting aspects. These traditions have made Buffalo the diverse and tight knit city that it is today.

South Buffalo is located in Western New York, in “the southern third of the city of Buffalo.” (South Buffalo, Buffalo, New York) It is mostly an Irish-American community. St. Patrick’s Day is a big tradition in South Buffalo because of the long standing Irish heritage. This holiday is celebrated in honor of Saint Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. “St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years.”(history.com) One element of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration is the parade. There are floats, Irish dancers, and green clothing and jewelry everywhere. The parade is a party of green.

The east side is divided into 12 sections these are: Bailey-Love Joy, Cold Springs, Fillmore- Leroy, Hamlin Park, Fruit Belt, Hospital Hill, Humboldt Park, Polonia, Kensington, Masten Park, Kaiser Town, and Schiller Park. Every year in June the Juneteenth celebration is held in Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The juneteenth is a festival first established in 1865, as a way to honor the ending of African American slavery. Buffalo was one of the stops for the Underground Railroad, a system of helping slaves escape to Canada. One of the most interesting parts of the celebration is the parade. There are marching bands, cars, African dancers, steppers, and drill teams, all honoring African American culture and achievements. top **The West Side** Leah Lichtenberger Nicole Layer-Pardi

Buffalo, New York is one of the poorest cities in the nation; outsiders wonder why you would ever want to live here. Buffalo is broken up into four sectors: The West and East sides, North Buffalo and South. Not all sectors of Buffalo live up to the title “the poorest city in the nation” but others are suffering immensely. The West Side of Buffalo is a sector that has a bad history of gang violence, poverty, drug rings and prostitution. Despite the West Side’s bad history what a lot of people don’t know is the West Side of Buffalo is slowly transforming into a prestigious and pleasant place to live. There are many organizations making strides in the West Side to improve the standard of living. These organizations are taking on merely impossible tasks in order to improve the lives of the citizens who live in the West Side. One particular organization is taking the West Side three blocks at a time in order to “clean them out”. This organization (The West Side Community Coll aborative) has already successfully driven out drug lords, prostitution and violence out of a handful of neighborhoods. This organization has also re-built a number of houses and has filled up vacant houses with new home owners. top  Dante Tuzzolino Sean Oliveri
 * Delaware Park**

Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted believed in the restorative effects of beauty and found he could most easily express this through nature and park settings. Buffalo presented Olmsted with the perfect opportunity to carve a system of fresh parks lined with beautiful parkways. Delaware Park, originally known simply as "The Park" was created in 1871, is 350 acres in size, it is one of the relatively few true parks Frederick Law Olmsted created: to Olmsted, only a very large, naturalistic site which would completely shield the visitor from the bustle and cares of the city could be considered a "park." This park definitely meets that major requirement Olmsted insisted on. If you are leaving Medaille College only a 4 lane highway separates you from Olmsted’s secluded dream, the “main” section of Delaware Park. This section of the park lends every “park-goer” a sense of Buffalo’s rich history both past and present. Things like memorial statues line the park with reverence for past accomplishments of multiple soldiers, presidents (McKinley and Lincoln) and citizens. This part of the park also holds multiple sports fields including soccer, basketball, tennis, rugby, and an 18 hole golf course. Lastly, the Buffalo Zoo is a constant reminder of the city’s present time evolution as it has undergone multiple renovations over the last decade. On the right is a shot of the park from one of the golf tees. This giant tree is located in the middle of the golf course. There is also a more cultural part to our park system. The Delaware Park system host multiple seasonal galas, including a Shakespeare festival in the summer months, and a Winterfest in February. There is also a casino styled building that is available for rent to host meetings, parties, or functions to members of the community. Bordering this part of the park are three of the most important museums in Buffalo, the Albright-Knox Art gallery, the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, and the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. The top picutre is the Buffalo Historical Society and the larger bottom picture is the Albright Knox Art Gallery. These two objects are part of Delaware Park's casino entertainment area. Parties and gathering are hosted here.

Suburban Buffalo and Beyond:
The Tonawandas by Matt Gallitto

The City of Tonawanda and City of North Tonawanda are two very historical cities within Buffalo. They were both at one time very important to the United States. They are mostly known for the Erie Canal which runs from Albany to the mouth of the Niagara River and separates Tonawanda from North Tonawanda. Along with the Erie Canal there is the Long Homestead, the carousel, and many other historical things that make both Tonawanda and North Tonawanda such wonderful places to have travelers visit and see the history behind them.

There is a bridge called the Long Homestead Bridge which is right by the Niagara River which is where a lot of people go to just sit back and relax and look out at the river at night. This is also one of my favorite spots to go fishing. There is a small pathway that leads under the bridge where you can sit and fish in the river.  The Erie Canal was the first great canal in the United States and helped establish financial and commercial growth throughout the area. It was designed to connect the interior of New York State and eastern markets with the Great Lakes Region and farmers of the heartland. Teams of mules would tie up to boats and barges. Then walk the towpaths along sides of the canal, pulling the loaded vessels through an original water depth of only 4 feet. The Canal was officially opened on October 26, 1825.  In 1883 Allan Herschell built a steam riding gallery or carousel at the Tonawanda Engine and Machine Company against the protest of his partners. His first carousel had simple horses that rocked back and forth and utilized a steam engine to turn it. He operated the machine throughout Western New York, finally selling it to an auctioneer. In 1887 Tonawanda Engine and Machine Company was reorganized under the name Armitage Herschell Company, Inc., and sixty steam riding galleries were sold. By 1891 one machine a day was being produced and shipped all over North America. Herschell was now the largest producer of carousels in the United States.  top  Ashley Light Elyse Cammarano
 * Lancaster **

Lancaster is a small suburb located east of Buffalo, New York. It is a great place to live for a range of different people. There is something to do for everyone. In Lancaster there are a number of traditional events that we participate in every year, along with other more common daily activities. // 4 //// th //// of July // The 4th of July marks the United State’s Independence Day. Everyone dresses up in red, white, and blue, and heads down to the Village to watch the Parade. Residents not only from Lancaster, but people from the surrounding towns also join their families for the fun. There is a carnival filled with rides, games, and food for all to enjoy. To conclude the event the fire department set up a colorful display of fireworks. // Lancaster Depew High School Rivalry // In the fall the football season has many people enthusiastic about the long lasting rivalry between Lancaster and Depew High School. Late in October the Depew Wildcats compete against the Lancaster Redskins in a big football game that has both towns filling the stands with their team spirit. The entire community attends this event, not just the high school students. // Winter Events // Once winter hits Buffalo, the Christmas lights go up, and there are decorations in the windows of every store in the Village of Lancaster. We hold a tree lighting ceremony in front of the fire station. Then, on New Year’s Eve Lancaster residents come into the Village to watch the ball drop. Families and friends stand outside in the cold to countdown to the New Year with noise makers and party hats. Lancaster is definitely a place that any individual would enjoy living their everyday life. The family oriented events consisting of the Fourth of July, the Lancaster/Depew rivalry, and winter events unite the community as a whole.

top **Hamburg and “America’s Fair”** by Lauren Wolf

Hot, fried... crowds of people... games... words that are used to describe the America’s Fair in Hamburg, NY during the hot summer months. For many it is a time to cut loose and enjoy themselves, but for some it is an opportunity to show a hidden talent. The America’s Fair offers great opportunities along with affordable good times for Western New Yorkers with its' large location and superior reputation.

The Fair is a historical event in Western NY. The first fair was in 1820 and has been annual since then. The fair offers Buffalo a time for all to come together and forget about reality and troubles and just enjoy the overflow of happiness around. The United States needs a moment of joy especially in the economic struggles we are facing today. To live a healthy life, you must incorporate some sort of fun into your daily routine. The America’s Fair offers concerts, games, gifts, foods, competitive exhibits and wildlife. Buffalo is known as the “city of good neighbors”, and I am sure that many of those “neighbors” can admit that having a good time is necessary in this fast paced, economically stressed environment. Next time you see a Ferris wheel, smell funnel cakes, or attend a local fair, I hope you recall my story and realized the importance of happiness and joy in your life. Happiness is why I chose the America’s fair.

from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferris_wheel

top **Boston, New York** by Andrea Turchiarelli Boston is a small town located just outside of Hamburg. Despite its smaller size, it is full of places to go and things to see. Some of Boston’s well known locations are Nick Charlap’s Ice Cream and George’s Hot Dog stand. Charlap’s ice cream has been around for two generations, first owned by Henry Charlap and then taken over by his son Nick. The ice cream is homemade and the flavors are unique creations thought up by the Charlap’s. People come from all over for this delicious treat. Some famous flavors are Cinnamon, Espresso Kiss, Canoli, Pumpkin, and Deep Dish Apple Pie. They feature different flavored custard and sundae's every week during the summertime. George’s Hot Dog stand is only opened during the summer. Their menu consists of hot dogs, foot longs, hamburgers, curly fries, onion rings, chicken sandwiches, salads, and milkshakes. While their food is a bit pricey, it is worth every penny. George’s is almost always busy and offers seating inside or outside and even has a playground for children to play on. For anyone visiting Boston in the summertime, grab some lunch at George’s and then head over to Charlap’s for a tasty dessert. Driving through Boston is very scenic and beautiful. The many hills give the drive a sense of adventure and create amazing views of outside towns and cities. For example, going downhill on Zimmerman Road at night or early morning, the lights of the city of Buffalo can be seen and it is breathtaking.

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**Syracuse, New York** by Ryan Goettell Outside of Buffalo in other cities like Syracuse, there are things to do and places to see. You can visit the Carousel Mall which is quickly becoming the Mall of America. They have plans on turning the mall into the largest one in America. Having the biggest Mall in Syracuse would to a lot for its economy as well as bring a lot more people to Syracuse. Another thing to do in the winter time is go to a Syracuse Crunch hockey game \or even better a Syracuse basketball game. Since there isnt a lot of professional sports in Sryacuse the University of Syracuse gets alot of attention. I have had season tickets to The Carrier Dome where the Syracuse Basketball team plays, since I was little and haven't been to a better place to watch a game yet.The capacity is well into the 32,000 thousands and gets so loud you can feel it. The city is full of excitineg different places to eat and has a few historical buildings as well.There are a number of musical theaters and stages that range from children acting to full time professionals.Syracuse has a little bit for people of all ages and should be considered if ever visting outside of Buffalo. [|web.syr.edu/ ~jjhoffma/pictures.htm]

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**Red Hook, Brooklyn** by: Antasia Johnson

400 miles outside of Buffalo, isolated at the southern tip of Brooklyn, New York, is the neighborhood of Red Hook, the place I call my home. Though the neighborhood is plagued by violence, and crime, things have finally begun to change. Many organaziations, including, but not limited to, [|The Red Hook Initiative], the Red Hook Community Justice Center, and the Red Hook Public Safety Corps, work to get people away from drug and gangs, giving them training and employment opportunities and a help in continuing their education. Even with these issues, there are good things about this neighborhood. Red Hook is the only neighborhood that has a full frontal view of the Statue of Liberty. The neighborhood was chosen as for the opening of Fairway, Ikea, and the docking of the Queen Mary 2. Van Brunt Street is a popular location for visitors, as it is the location of many entraprenuerial businesses, such as [|Tini Wine Bar], [|Hope & Anchor], and [|Baked]. Between the good and the bad, one can say this is a lively area, and the hopes of its residents will slowly become true. Change is coming!

Images of Red Hook, Brooklyn taken by Antasia Johnson Summer 2008

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