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Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Haven't been to either, but if I had a choice between the two, I'd go with Milwaukee. It has bit more notoriety and that landmark art museum looks awesome, close to Chicago, and from what I've heard seems to have a bit more renaissance rustbelt revival than Buffalo. Buffalo has its advantages being near Niagara Falls and Toronto and some good architecture I would imagine, but somehow I would think Milwaukee would be a bit more compelling of a city.
Buffalo is geologically blessed... and has 2 professional sports franchises - Bills and Sabres. Not to mention 4am closing times, Canada 15 mins. away, and they also have the Bandits and the Bisons...
Buffalo is geologically blessed... and has 2 professional sports franchises - Bills and Sabres. Not to mention 4am closing times, Canada 15 mins. away, and they also have the Bandits and the Bisons...
Canada's 15 minutes away if your going to Niagara falls. But you can just cross at the peace bridge to save time. Whatever time it takes to cross a brige..
But to the OP's question. It would be a tough one for me, because as many days and nights as I've spent in Chicago, I've never gone to Milwaukee. With do regret. So since I haven't been there it would be impossible for me to choose.
Very similar cities in downtown architecture and diversity make up. I've always thought these two cities seemed the most similar. From what I've heard and seen regarding Milwaukee.
OK, I'm reviving this thread because I'm interested in knowing more about Milwaukee, and I'm a big fan of the city of Buffalo.
- Weather: Gotta go with Milwaukee. Can it possibly be worse than the blizzards and various snowpocalypses that regularly hit Buffalo???
- Sports (professional): Buffalo here. NHL+NFL>MLB+NBA. Why the heck does Wisconsin's largest city NOT have a pro hockey team??? And no, the distant Green Bay Packers team doesn't count as a local sports franchise.
- Food: OK, both cities have that Great Lakes/rust belt genre of cuisine. Beef-on-weck in Buffalo, and I'm assuming its equivalent in Milwaukee. But Buffalo is known internationally for its amazing chicken wings. I don't think Milwaukee can counter with mediocre beer. Going with Buffalo.
- Downtown: Milwaukee, from everything I've heard, has the momentum here. Buffalo has amazing architecture, but is still a work in progress.
- Architecture: Buffalo punches way above its weight, and has better architecture than cities much larger.
Plus one of Frank Lloyd Wright's best projects (the Darwin Martin House) is here.
- Location: Both cities have enviable settings on the Great Lakes. Buffalo includes Niagara Falls as part of its metro and is close to Toronto (2 hours). Decent skiing is located an hour away. Milwaukee is close to Chicago. Nearby Madison is pleasant.
As for the other criteria -- neighbourhoods, scenery, parks, shopping, nightlife -- I just don't know Milwaukee well enough. Buffalo has good neighbourhoods (and some not-so-nice ones), rather dreary scenery in my opinion, but some surprisingly nice parks.
Milwaukee all the way. Milwaukee does not have the little Detroit vibe going on that Buffalo does, Buffalo is tangibly more "rust belt". Don't get me wrong Milwaukee has plenty of issues and I found Buffalo intriguing including the location, architecture and city layout, if a bit scruffy, but to me this isn't much of a contest.
Also, the Packers played half their games in Milwaukee for decades and many of those who had season tickets retain their rights, Packers easily count for half a franchise or more IMO; I bet Buffalo's MLB and NBA fan loyalty is split among many franchises (to the extent it exists) but there is zero question the vast majority of Milwaukeeans are Hardcore Packer fans if they care about sports at all.
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