All focus turns to Dallas this week as they celebrate the winning of the Stanley cup. But what about Buffalo? The city is known for a lot more than the Sabres.

A few bits of geographical trivia: According to the Buffalo Development Council, Buffalo was the first city in the United States to light streets with electricity; Buffalo is the flour milling capital of the United States, creating 6.6 million pounds every day. And the famous Niagara Falls is located just a few minutes from downtown Buffalo.

This city of approximately 1.7 million residents employs professionals primarily in the sectors of manufacturing, health services, financial services and retail. Among Buffalo's largest companies are General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Corp., Tops Markets Inc. and Dresser-Rand Company. According to local economic statistics, more than 40 percent of the nation's work force lives within a 500-mile radius of Buffalo (approximately 100 million people). What brings them here? A growing and steadily diversifying local economy (particularly in the arena of telemarketing), a low cost of living and an advantageous location on the Canadian border. Canadian companies look to Buffalo for conducting their trade with U.S. companies. A major university (State University of New York at Buffalo) provides skilled recruits to high-tech firms and other sectors of the business community.

Located on the banks of Lake Erie and the Niagara River in Erie County, Buffalo has an abundance of cool weather, but locals say that our national image of a snowed-under city is somewhat misguided. While Buffalo celebrates winter sports (especially hockey) and holds numerous winter festivities, the city also enjoys a pleasant spring. From April to late fall, the city remains relatively cool. Come summertime, the city holds its annual Allentown Art Festival, which attracts some 350,000 visitors each year. The fall months bring spectacular foliage. If your travels bring you to Western New York, the fall is your best bet. Take a drive through the older section of the city, and you'll spot this brilliant foliage against the backdrop of fascinating local architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright, among other greats. Visit Buffalo City Hall, an art deco-style structure with a viewing area at the top, more than 300 feet above street level. Climb on up, and behold the magnificent fall foliage from a bird's-eye view.

As you've probably guessed, sports are big in Buffalo. In addition to hockey, skiing, ice fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, football, baseball and sledding are popular -- and that's just a sampling.

Buffalo is home to an eclectic mix of galleries, museums and shops. The Broadway Market is just one example. Resembling the traditional markets of Europe, this century-old staple offers various hard-to-find ethnic delicacies. Within Martha Jackson Place, a critically acclaimed, renovated building in Buffalo, you'll find Anderson Gallery, which houses a large collection of contemporary sculptures and paintings dating from World War II. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the country's ninth-largest gallery, and home to the world's second-largest modern art collection, is celebrating the completion of an 18-month-long renovation project. Its permanent collection includes pieces from Picasso, Van Gogh, Matisse, Derain, Monet, Renoir and Warhol.

The 200-acre Antique World and Marketplace is New York's largest indoor/outdoor antique market, home to hundreds of dealers selling antiques as well as jewelry and one-of-a-kind collectibles. If bargain-hunting is your bag, the marketplace is worth the 15-minute trip from Buffalo. The Buffalo Zoo is where 1,100 animals of species -- including the rare white tiger, Siberian tiger and African lion -- have taken up residence in more than 23 acres of Delaware Park. More than 320 plant species are here, as well.

If you're planning a relocation to Buffalo, you'll be happy to learn that the average commute time here is less than 20 minutes. Housing is extremely affordable; the median sales price for a single-family home in 1996 was $85,500. One of the fastest-growing trends right now is the development of downtown condominiums, many of which overlook the surrounding waterways, such as the Erie Basin Marina. Buffalo contains two districts noted for their preservation efforts: Allentown, the second-largest historic district in the United States; and the Delaware District. Both are experiencing an influx of new residents and increasing property values and rents. These districts contain unusual architecture; a young, professional population; and a reputation for being hip and trendy. North Buffalo is known for being more "neighborhood" in nature. Wander down its streets, and you'll discover a patchwork of cultures and ethnicities. Despite the popularity of these downtown regions, Buffalo's suburbs are also growing, and offer easy access to downtown businesses.

Although Buffalo will not hold the bragging rights to the 1999 Stanley Cup, the city does hold the undisputed claim to being one of New York's fastest-growing cities. Buffalo offers a pleasant change from New York's typically high home prices. The city's economy is likely to remain healthy for the forseeable future, and its residents benefit from a high quality of life and a location close to scenic Canada, as well as mild, temperate summers and beautiful falls and winters.

Published: June 21, 1999

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