I have so much city/urbanism ideas to blog about when I get back to Buffalo about Toronto…
In the mean time here’s a shot from a rooftop!
More to come….
Today my blog is posted on CNN.. so while I have the worlds attention for one minute I want to say this: I LOVE BUFFALO and YOU should too!
Come visit and see how incredible this city is. The history, the architecture, the raw / rustbelt feel … its an incredible city that is on pushing over the edge into an abyss of awesomeness. We have houses you can buy for a dollar, incredible festivals for free all summer and plenty of concerts/shows/ theatre & art to keep anyone entertained… and more!
BUFFALOVE!
Who wants to join a 2013 Buffalo Bocce League?
Let me tell you about Providence, RI’s Downtown Bocce League… and why Buffalo is the perfect candidate for something like this!
First of all – Go to this link and check out Providence’s Bocce Team Page.. Great website! (Link to Website Here)
Here is why this is awesome.
The Bocce Court is set on a vacant land parcel in the downtown core of Providence. The vacant lot also has a white screen to show movies when Bocce is not in session! Double use of vacant land! Buffalo has a bunch of great vacant lots that are sitting there lifeless… why not convert one into a combo Bocce / Movie center? This is a simple, almost temporary use of a vacant lot but beats having a lifeless, half mowed lot and can bring life to an area!
Most importantly, by the reaction and results in Providence, you can tell this is so much fun and soooo hip! The Bocce League has parties, they hang out, they play… there is a link below about their league. Check it out. Their team names and party fliers scream urban city dwellers that appreciate good fonts.
So why doesn’t Buffalo have one? Lets start thinking about where this could happen and how we can fund the costs for the initial start up. I will start the first team - Team Buffalove and will contribute $50.00 towards this cause.
Let’s do this, Buffalo! Buffalo Bocce League 2013!
Providence Downtown City Bocce League – Link
Bocce in Downtown Providence – Photo Credit from the link above!
Montreal is full of art. It’s everywhere!
I was surprised to see how much art was about involving and interacting with the general public.
So impressed with this city… It’s so alive.. So french.. So urban..
It makes my heart ache!
Jason and I headed to NYC a few weeks ago and I had to show him the Highline.
I was happy to see that the Highline has gotten weird – in a good way!
Here are a couple photos. The Highline zoo is my favorite! On top of that, there are several murals, funny window clings, music/art vendors and even a lady who does a dance for highliners every hour or so from her apartment window.
Check it out next time you’re in NYC!
Providence, RI is the newest addition in my book/brain of cities that I love.
Here are a couple photos I snapped in Providence this morning.
Take a look and notice the intense urbanism – the flower beds, bikes and bike racks, the narrow streets and dense historic buildings.. Its wonderful!
Providence has seen their entire downtown come back full swing over 12 years due to the rehab of its downtown historic commercial/retail buildings into mixed use and mixed income apartments/lofts and local retail stores.
Today at 10am, there were tons of people buying books, eating brunch and hanging out. A bocce court and giant white video screen sit on the only vacant lot along Westminster street and are used daily by locals – something that could be easily done here in Buffalo!
Another neat fact: Andres Duany, the famous new urbanism gentleman from Cuba, actually held charettes for the city when it was going through its redesign. I heard it cost a lot… Maybe Buffalo can bring him on for one or two charettes for the green code?!
Go Providence!
More to come!
Jason and I are heading to NYC for business and pleasure! I love when these two things come together.
Life is good.
Ps. Many thanks to vanessa for letting us hitch a ride with her.
