Growing up in Buffalo certainly has its perks: summers spent running through splash pads, autumns crunching fallen leaves on the sidewalks, enjoying beautiful snowfalls in the winter until you literally-cannot-take-another-single-day-of-winter-so-help-you-God, splashing through puddles on warm spring days. While these are all great, there are a few interesting side effects you’ll experience after life in the 716. Here are our top nine:
- You’ll always rush the seasons
evilgirl - Flickr In Buffalo, we break out the flip flops when the temps break 40º in the spring and wear our coziest sweaters when it turns 60º in the fall. It’s not that we don’t enjoy the seasons while we’re in them - it’s that we know they never last too long! (Except winter, that is.)
- You’ll become a Wegmans snob
Wegmans - Facebook Is there any better way to spend an afternoon than meandering the aisles of Wegmans? Free samples, fresh flowers, and everything your heart (and stomach) desires! Even their coffee and lattes are delicious. Grocery shopping at Wegmans is more than just an errand. It’s an event!
- You’ll be able to tell whether it’s Frank’s or generic
Frank’s RedHot - Facebook If you grow up in Buffalo, Frank’s Hot Sauce is a staple. Thus, your tastebuds will become very good at picking out the imposters. If it’s not Frank’s, is it really hot sauce at all?
- You’ll become a pro at meandering around potholes
Flickr/Caribb Bob and weave! Buffalo is infamous for our bumpy roads - but after a while, we don’t even seem to notice them. Getting through a pothole-covered road is like our own version of a real-life video game.
- You’ll carry your snow scraper in your car year-round
Ravi Shah - Flickr Water, blankets, and snacks, too - if you’re a seasoned Buffalonian! This is one of the side effects of living in Buffalo that tends to come in handy, especially during that not-so-rare late April snow fall. Better safe than sorry!
- You’ll get a tough skin for insults
Justin Lincoln - Flickr Whether it’s dissing our sports teams or mocking our people, Buffalonians get toughened up pretty quick to the “witty” remarks of others. You’ll learn to shrug it off eventually - or at least perfect the eye roll!
- You’ll get an even tougher skin for cold weather
Bill Aldredge - Flickr Forgot your gloves? No problem - that’s what pockets are for! Need to get the mail but there’s a dusting of snow on the ground? You don’t need shoes - just run faster! Harsh, long winters basically prime our skin to become resistant to the cold.
- You’ll always catch yourself smiling at strangers
David Shankbone - Flickr Giving strangers a friendly grin doesn’t seem like an odd thing to do - until you leave Buffalo, that is. If one of the side effects of living here is being nice, I’ll take it! Even if people do look at us like we’re crazy when we make eye contact and smile at them in public.
- You’ll always want to make your way back home
Michel G. - Flickr If you’ve grown up in Buffalo, you probably fall into one of two camps: you can’t wait to leave, or you want to stay forever. Even if you think you’re in the former group, most everyone realizes pretty fast that moving away doesn’t always meet their expectations. Buffalo is home - and no matter how far you roam, the 716 will always have a strong pull on your heartstrings!
Do you suffer from any of these Buffalo side effects? No need to call the doctor! Just drop a comment below telling us the most lasting effects the Queen City has had on you.
evilgirl - Flickr
In Buffalo, we break out the flip flops when the temps break 40º in the spring and wear our coziest sweaters when it turns 60º in the fall. It’s not that we don’t enjoy the seasons while we’re in them - it’s that we know they never last too long! (Except winter, that is.)
Wegmans - Facebook
Is there any better way to spend an afternoon than meandering the aisles of Wegmans? Free samples, fresh flowers, and everything your heart (and stomach) desires! Even their coffee and lattes are delicious. Grocery shopping at Wegmans is more than just an errand. It’s an event!
Frank’s RedHot - Facebook
If you grow up in Buffalo, Frank’s Hot Sauce is a staple. Thus, your tastebuds will become very good at picking out the imposters. If it’s not Frank’s, is it really hot sauce at all?
Flickr/Caribb
Bob and weave! Buffalo is infamous for our bumpy roads - but after a while, we don’t even seem to notice them. Getting through a pothole-covered road is like our own version of a real-life video game.
Ravi Shah - Flickr
Water, blankets, and snacks, too - if you’re a seasoned Buffalonian! This is one of the side effects of living in Buffalo that tends to come in handy, especially during that not-so-rare late April snow fall. Better safe than sorry!
Justin Lincoln - Flickr
Whether it’s dissing our sports teams or mocking our people, Buffalonians get toughened up pretty quick to the “witty” remarks of others. You’ll learn to shrug it off eventually - or at least perfect the eye roll!
Bill Aldredge - Flickr
Forgot your gloves? No problem - that’s what pockets are for! Need to get the mail but there’s a dusting of snow on the ground? You don’t need shoes - just run faster! Harsh, long winters basically prime our skin to become resistant to the cold.
David Shankbone - Flickr
Giving strangers a friendly grin doesn’t seem like an odd thing to do - until you leave Buffalo, that is. If one of the side effects of living here is being nice, I’ll take it! Even if people do look at us like we’re crazy when we make eye contact and smile at them in public.
Michel G. - Flickr
If you’ve grown up in Buffalo, you probably fall into one of two camps: you can’t wait to leave, or you want to stay forever. Even if you think you’re in the former group, most everyone realizes pretty fast that moving away doesn’t always meet their expectations. Buffalo is home - and no matter how far you roam, the 716 will always have a strong pull on your heartstrings!
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