University at Buffalo - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Depending on the student, “Buffalo” means one of three very different parts of town. There’s Amherst, a bland, pancake-flat, upper-middle-class suburb where North Campus is itself isolated by rings of fields and highways. There’s the Heights, a vibrant area around South Campus chock-full of bars and shops where students pack into big brick houses and bursting bungalows. And there’s the rest of Buffalo, equal parts decaying industrial city and friendly, liberal college town, where many students party, study, and make their homes.

Most students are immediately bored by Amherst. It is peaceful, safe, and even verdant in the fall—before winter comes and dirty piles of plowed snow line its highways. But after a few months, students realize that there’s not much to do other than run on the bike path, or drive to Duff’s and Wegmans. The Heights has a completely different atmosphere—it’s the peanut butter sundae to Amherst’s vanilla soft-serve. There are bars, diners, ethnic restaurants, stores, and coffee shops. At night, you can walk from parties to bars. But the extent to which students enjoy UB often depends on how well they get to know the “real” Buffalo. From South Campus, the city stretches west to the Niagara River and south to Lake Erie. It’s a shabby, friendly, yet surprisingly sophisticated town. Buffalo has a dynamic arts community, excellent museums, a fine orchestra, and the beloved Bills and Sabres, whose games most students go to see at least once. With the bars open until 4 a.m. and Canada’s side of Niagara Falls just miles away, many students find Buffalo’s atmosphere to be its best quality.

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Students Speak Out

hiahmed2 says: University at Buffalo 2013 Other

A great place to live 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 08, 2010 Report

Anonymous says:

There’s a lot of fun stuff to do,... There’s a lot of fun stuff to do, including Sabres hockey and indie-rock shows. The Bills play 30 minutes from campus in Orchard Park. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

As far as Amherst goes, there are... As far as Amherst goes, there are tons of places to eat, spend your money, see movies, and experience the middle- to upper-class suburbs. But you need a car, so many of Williamsville and Amherst’s streets are practically highways. A bike would be better than not having a car, but it certainly wouldn’t be without leg cramps. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Being situated right next to an... Being situated right next to an international border is a definite plus. It takes about as long to get to Canada as it does to downtown Buffalo, and the drinking age is 19, and you can look at Niagara Falls. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I have lived on campus for all... I have lived on campus for all four years, which I like, but it is very difficult to get off campus without a car because the North Campus is isolated just farther than walking distance from almost anywhere. At first glance, it seems like the city of Buffalo has nothing to do, but if you ask the students who grew up in the area, they will offer many suggestions of Buffalo’s hidden treasures. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Buffalo:
• Buffalo has one of the nation’s most vibrant art scenes. Albright-Knox Art Gallery boasts one of the best collections of modern art in the world, including major paintings and sculptures by artists from Picasso to Warhol. American Style magazine has consistently ranked Buffalo among the top 10 American cities for the arts.
• Many of the most important American architects, including Stanford White, H.H. Richardson, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen, Gordon Bunshaft, and Max Abramovitz, have major buildings in Buffalo.
• At its heart, Buffalo is an industrial city. The first concrete grain elevator was built along the Buffalo River, and the first supersonic aircraft was built at the Curtiss-Wright factory on Elmwood Avenue. Today, because of its proximity to Canada, Buffalo is ranked among the United States’ 10 most important cities for international commerce.
• While Buffalo has suffered through many epic blizzards, including a week-long storm in 2001 that dumped 12 feet of snow on the city, the average annual snowfall is lower than Rochester and Syracuse. Buffalo has a higher percentage of summer sunshine than any Northeast city.
• Niagara Falls, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and a favorite nightlife destination for UB students, is located within the Buffalo metropolitan area—about 30 minutes from campus.

Famous Buffalonians:
Harold Arlen (Broadway composer)
Lucille Ball (actress)
Wolf Blitzer (CNN anchor)
Samuel Clemens (author also known as Mark Twain)
Grover Cleveland (U.S. president)
Ani DiFranco (recording artist)
Former President Millard Fillmore
Rick James (funk singer)
Milton Rogovin (famous photographer)
Mark Russell (political satirist)
Tim Russert (host of Meet the Press)
Johnny Rzeznik (lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls)
Warren Spahn (Hall of Fame pitcher)
Martha Stewart (former host of Martha Stewart Living)
Grover Washington Jr. (jazz composer)

Local Slang:
Blue – Labatt Blue.
Dere/Dah/Dat – “There,” “the,” and “that” in the famous Buffalo accent, much like the Chicago accent in the old “Da Bears” skit on Saturday Night Live.
Genny – Genesee beer.
GST – Goods and services tax, charged on items bought in Canada.
The Heights – The run-down but well-loved student neighborhood around South Campus.
The Main Line – What locals call Interstate 90 (the New York State Thruway) as it passes through town.
The Northtowns – The northern suburbs, including Amherst, where North Campus is located.
The Queen City – Buffalo’s most popular nickname, which has a double meaning because of the city’s close-knit and visible gay community.
Pop – What Buffalo residents call soda (and New York City natives find themselves using grudgingly after four years at UB).
The Southtowns – The southern suburbs and small towns, including Orchard Park (where the Bills play) and Ellicottville (where the ski resorts are).
The _____ (insert expressway name) – Many locals to insert “the” before the name of an expressway. Instead of saying “take I-90 and get off at Rt. 33 east” it’s often “take the I-90 and get off at the 33 east.”
Weck – A kimmelweck roll, on which Buffalo’s famous hot roast beef sandwiches are served.
You’se – What old people around Buffalo say instead of “you” (as in “You’se college kids over dere better keep dat racket down!”).

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