What other city/town is like Buffalo? (Rochester, Syracuse: to live in, stores)

[Buffalonian4life]

Buffalo and Rochester are both great cities but, to put it lightly to not offend others, heh, Buffalo wins

[MarineFromBuffalo]

Moderator cut: Orphaned: post you were quoting/replying to has been deleted

... new guy. Not having the time or patience to explain them sounds like you can't explain them. What makes them virtually the same? Because I sure don't see it.

Just a little FYI, Buffalonian4Life is a pretty respected member of this forum (I think). Buffalonian may be a a little more pro-Buffalo then some other members, but at least Buffalonian stated some fact to back it.

[Buffalonian4life]

Originally Posted by MarineFromBuffalo

... new guy. Not having the time or patience to explain them sounds like you can't explain them. What makes them virtually the same? Because I sure don't see it.

Just a little FYI, Buffalonian4Life is a pretty respected member of this forum (I think). Buffalonian may be a a little more pro-Buffalo then some other members, but at least Buffalonian stated some fact to back it.

Thank you Marine, the respect you portray on this forum is unmeasured. Defending Buffalo.

[JAB27]

Originally Posted by MarineFromBuffalo

... new guy. Not having the time or patience to explain them sounds like you can't explain them. What makes them virtually the same? Because I sure don't see it.

Just a little FYI, Buffalonian4Life is a pretty respected member of this forum (I think). Buffalonian may be a a little more pro-Buffalo then some other members, but at least Buffalonian stated some fact to back it.

With the response he gave me, I wonder how he is a respected member of this forum. No reason to bash other cities. I love Buffalo. I'd move there in a heartbeat if I found a job there and not in Rochester.

But if I must respond to his points. Rochester has no past? Susan B. Anthony? Frederick Douglass? George Eastman?

Rochester is scary? No evidence to back it up at all.

Close proximity to Canada? Gee, we have to drive an extra hour to get there. Well, Rochester has a closer proximity to NYC and Boston then.

More varieties of food? Like what?

Buffalo downtown has more to offer? He mentions Chippewa, Elmwood, Allen. Great areas. Rochester has East, Alexander, Park, Monroe etc. I've been out in both cities and the nightlife is no different. The only difference is the bars close at 4 in Buffalo, which is a nice perk.

[Buffalonian4life]

Originally Posted by JAB27

With the response he gave me, I wonder how he is a respected member of this forum. No reason to bash other cities. I love Buffalo. I'd move there in a heartbeat if I found a job there and not in Rochester.

But if I must respond to his points. Rochester has no past? Susan B. Anthony? Frederick Douglass? George Eastman?

Rochester does have a great past, what I meant was by the way of the largeness of Buffalo compared to Rochester. Back then the two cities were very different, as I still feel they are today. - Buffalo being the founder of Grain Elevators, being the largest inland port in the world, while Rochester founded women's rights - where would we be today without that? - Through in that Buffalo was the largest railroad center in the world, home to the first city to have light and power, (City Of Light) and today still boosts as the Queen City-both of the Great Lakes and NYS as the second largest city in the state outside of NYC. Now we have some differences...Let me explain...

Originally Posted by JAB27

Rochester is scary? No evidence to back it up at all.

From my experiences, being in Rochester has always left me feeling empty and depressed. For instance I was driving around marveling at some of the downtown architecture, when some homeless guy mouthed to me outside the car, "What time is it?" - uh, yeah he had a knife - good thing I didn't role down the window! Yet, all cities have their crime and scares, but Ra-Cha-Cha's downtown was extremely empty and quite unnerving. (Just my opinion and experience! )

Originally Posted by JAB27

Close proximity to Canada? Gee, we have to drive an extra hour to get there. Well, Rochester has a closer proximity to NYC and Boston then.

Most of the metro population of Buffalo resides in Canada. Should it be counted in our Binational Metropolis, we could have a metro of 1.6 to perhaps 2 million, much like if we included all of Rochester - then 3 million . And we have Niagara Falls a meer 15 minutes away from the heart of the city - you can see the mist from the Falls and some of the Falls itself as one of the 7 wonders of the world, from the top of many of downtown's high rises and skyscrapers. A similarity to Rochester in this case, would only be that the urban area of Rochester was built on waterfalls - unmatched by any other US city.

Originally Posted by JAB27

More varieties of food? Like what?

Now, I didn't say MORE varieties of food, I just meant a little more high end and better restaurants - but that is indeed a stretch, as Rochester and Buffalo both do compete in this category and are similar in this way.

Originally Posted by JAB27

Buffalo downtown has more to offer? He mentions Chippewa, Elmwood, Allen. Great areas. Rochester has East, Alexander, Park, Monroe etc. I've been out in both cities and the nightlife is no different. The only difference is the bars close at 4 in Buffalo, which is a nice perk.

Have you been to Buffalo's theatre district? Shea's Buffalo Broadway... Where does anything compare to that in Rochester? Do you have a metro rail line? Though ours isn't very impressive or large, it certainly does give it that big city feel! Anyway, aside from that, the neighborhoods you mentioned are okay neighborhoods in Rochester-especially Park - like Elmwood. Have you heard that we here in Buffalo have just received an award for the 3rd best urban neighborhood in the country. Also rated one of the most walkable and scholastic communities in the nation. Enlighten me as per some of Rochester's neighborhoods that share this aspect. Any hidden gems I should know about? Maybe I haven't been in the right areas of Rochester. Downtown is sad , but on the move - (Paetec Tower - very exciting for Rochester!).

All differences aside, We Are Western New York. And all communities in WNY are great and should not be bashed. They all have similar characteristics, regardless of various opinions.

Still...IMHO, Buffalo and Rochester and very different, and I feel that they wont be very similar in the future either. Pittsburgh and Baltimore should indeed be compared to Buffalo - yet every city has their own identity and really shouldn't be compared in the first place.


I do apologize for bashing your city, as so many have done to mine and yours in these past 60 some years. Soon though, the region will grow and prosper in what will be called a "Mega-Region" between Toronto, Niagara Falls, Buffalo AND Rochester. Then we just might be able to see some changes to our hidden gems in WNY.


-WNY4life - New name!





But still.....



Ahhh BUFFALO... - no place like it.

[JAB27]

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

Rochester does have a great past, what I meant was by the way of the largeness of Buffalo compared to Rochester. Back then the two cities were very different, as I still feel they are today. - Buffalo being the founder of Grain Elevators, being the largest inland port in the world, while Rochester founded women's rights - where would we be today without that? - Through in that Buffalo was the largest railroad center in the world, home to the first city to have light and power, (City Of Light) and today still boosts as the Queen City-both of the Great Lakes and NYS as the second largest city in the state outside of NYC. Now we have some differences...Let me explain...

So Buffalo used to be a much larger city. I don't see how that gives it so much more history like you claim. These days, which is all that really matters, the cities have virtually the same population, and Rochester has been closing the gap.

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

From my experiences, being in Rochester has always left me feeling empty and depressed. For instance I was driving around marveling at some of the downtown architecture, when some homeless guy mouthed to me outside the car, "What time is it?" - uh, yeah he had a knife - good thing I didn't role down the window! Yet, all cities have their crime and scares, but Ra-Cha-Cha's downtown was extremely empty and quite unnerving. (Just my opinion and experience! )

Should I explain all my bad experiences that I've had in the city of Buffalo? Should I go on about all the depressing, abandoned houses I see all the time? How I was walking down Elmwood one night and heard gunshots a few blocks away? No, because it doesn't represent the whole city, and neither does your little story right there. To go on like Buffalo has a vibrant downtown is rather comical. Both downtowns have had their best days behind them and I'm not overly impressed with either.

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

Most of the metro population of Buffalo resides in Canada. Should it be counted in our Binational Metropolis, we could have a metro of 1.6 to perhaps 2 million, much like if we included all of Rochester - then 3 million . And we have Niagara Falls a meer 15 minutes away from the heart of the city - you can see the mist from the Falls and some of the Falls itself as one of the 7 wonders of the world, from the top of many of downtown's high rises and skyscrapers. A similarity to Rochester in this case, would only be that the urban area of Rochester was built on waterfalls - unmatched by any other US city.

Most of your metro resides in Canada? Huh?

Again, Rochester is a short drive away from Niagara Falls. Driving that extra hour doesn't kill anyone. I don't think anyone is moving to Buffalo over Rochester due to it being an hour closer to Niagara Falls.

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

Now, I didn't say MORE varieties of food, I just meant a little more high end and better restaurants - but that is indeed a stretch, as Rochester and Buffalo both do compete in this category and are similar in this way.

Your right it is a huge stretch. No sensible person could say either city has better restaurants. There's too many and no one has tried enough of them to come up with an answer.

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

Have you been to Buffalo's theatre district? Shea's Buffalo Broadway... Where does anything compare to that in Rochester? Do you have a metro rail line? Though ours isn't very impressive or large, it certainly does give it that big city feel! Anyway, aside from that, the neighborhoods you mentioned are okay neighborhoods in Rochester-especially Park - like Elmwood. Have you heard that we here in Buffalo have just received an award for the 3rd best urban neighborhood in the country. Also rated one of the most walkable and scholastic communities in the nation. Enlighten me as per some of Rochester's neighborhoods that share this aspect. Any hidden gems I should know about? Maybe I haven't been in the right areas of Rochester. Downtown is sad , but on the move - (Paetec Tower - very exciting for Rochester!).

Geva and Eastman are extremely nice theaters. As for a metro rail line, it's not necessary. I've never ridden the one in Buffalo and I would never have a need for it. Nor would I in Rochester.

I love the Elmwood area and know the award it got. Personally, it's no better to me than Park Ave is in Rochester. Actually I prefer Park. My brother had a house on it and it's a fantastic place to be in the summer. The Park Ave fest is an absolute blast.

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

I do apologize for bashing your city, as so many have done to mine and yours in these past 60 some years. Soon though, the region will grow and prosper in what will be called a "Mega-Region" between Toronto, Niagara Falls, Buffalo AND Rochester. Then we just might be able to see some changes to our hidden gems in WNY.

I understand the passion you have for your city. You just need to understand everything you say, same for myself, is an opinion. You are no more right than me when we each say our city is better than the other.

BTW, Rochester has a nicer skyline (IMO)

[Buffalonian4life]

Originally Posted by JAB27

I understand the passion you have for your city. You just need to understand everything you say, same for myself, is an opinion. You are no more right than me when we each say our city is better than the other.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by JAB27

BTW, Rochester has a nicer skyline (IMO)

Disagreed.





Who am I to say that Buffalo is better? IMO it is. IYO it's not. Whatever city is good for that individual is good enough for themselves and their family.

-WNY4life

[Buffalonian4life]

Originally Posted by JAB27

BTW, Rochester has a nicer skyline (IMO)

I know why you think that... You live there! Ah ha!

I can relate... but in Buffalo.

No one in their right mind would like the Rochester skyline over Buffalo! Ha, too funny. Right Marine and Fedup...?
Unless of course you like smaller skylines of not even one true skyscraper.


Here we go with our opinions again... heh.

[Krisps]

I would agree that Rochester's skyline is much better, it's pretty impressive for a small city. It looks like a true skyline but on a small scale. That new bridge in Rochester is pretty impressive too. Buffalo doesn't seem to really have a skyline image in my mind, outside of that ominous looking city hall.

[JAB27]

I don't know, Rochester's is pretty nice for our cities size: