1. Being WNY
Buffalo is Upstate, sure. But do you know how big Upstate New York is? It’s basically 90 percent of New York. The folks in Buffalo are Western. They’re not Central New York, they’re not the Finger Lakes. They’re WNY and proud. And yes, there is a difference.
2. Wings. Simply Wings.
You wouldn’t order French toast in France, would you? So don’t order Buffalo wings in Buffalo. Here they’re just wings. Chicken wings is fine, but Buffalo wings is just silly. But whatever you call them, they’re damn good anytime you want 'em. Birthday parties, reunions, watching the Sabres dominate on the ice—anytime.
3. And Knowing How To Pack ‘Em Down
You’ve never really witnessed true gluttony until you’ve been to a Buffalo Wings Festival. This massive event is a virtually a landmark of the city and brings out thousands of visitors as well as some of the most unlikely competitors you’d never suspect.
4. Having The Only NFL Team In New York… Despite Those Other Two
Just because The Giants and The Jets claim to be from New York doesn’t make it true. They play in Jersey, therefore they’re Jersey teams. The Bills are the one and only true New York NFL team. Deal with it.
5. And That’s What Makes The Fans So Insane
Buffalo Bills fans are no joke. As some of the most loyal fans in the country, they show up in full colors –and sometimes half nude- in the freezing cold to support their team, whether they’re killing it on the field or breaking their hearts.
6. Having O.J. Before He Was… Well… O.J.
Once upon a time, back when he was “Juice,” O.J. Simpson was the stuff that legendary sports figures are made of and was the hero of countless Buffalo fans. He went on to become the stuff that legendary villains are made of, but Buffalo fans will never forget the original O.J.
7. And Hating This Guy
All that Bills love comes from passion. When it was revealed that Bon Jovi has plans to try to buy the Bills and move the team to Toronto, fans put an unofficial city-wide ban on the 80s hairband singer turned sports team owner. If he ever has the guts to show up, he really will be livin’ on a prayer. (Sorry. I couldn’t resist.)
8. The World’s Winningest Weiners
If you don’t know what could possibly be so special about a hot dog to make it to the top of a list, then you’ve never been a Buffalo college kid downing U-Hots in the middle of the night or had a foot-long from Ted’s with a side of fries and washed it all down with a Loganberry. You poor thing.
9. ALL The Hot Sauce
It’s not just for wings. They really do put that...stuff...on everything.
10. Admiring Frank Lloyd Wright Before It Was Cool
Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most famous and innovative architects in modern history which is why it’s so cool that so much of his early work can be found in Buffalo. Wright spent a lot of time in Buffalo through his friendship with Darwin D. Martin whose house he designed along with numerous others that can be easily viewed and toured, making Buffalo the hipsters of architecture.
11. Climbing Silos
It’s not cool to let things go to waste these days. So the people in Buffalo decided to turn all of the giant silos they’ve got just lying around and turn them into an adventure. Silo City Rocks has turned some of them into the tallest rock climbing structure in the world that also doubles as a yoga and Pilates studio.
12. The Local Talent That Got Big
When Buffalo native Ani DiFranco couldn’t get a record deal, she took matters into her own hands by starting her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, in the city and selling her tapes from the trunk of her car. The Goo Goo Dolls, Brian McKnight and Rick James are all success stories of Buffalo, too.
13. And The Local Talent That Is Still Climbing
Bet you didn’t know that Buffalo has a crazy good local music scene, did you? From the blues to punk and everything in between, the city is brimming with a lot of talent and can be easily found and heard by touring through the many bars and live music venues in Buffalo.
14. Smelling Like Sweet, Sweet Breakfast All Day Long
You can’t really see it, but you sure can smell it. You’ll know you’re near the General Mills plant when you’re overcome with the unmistakable smell of Cheerios.
15. Being Canadian For A Day
Canada is just a short drive away from Buffalo. So while you were driving to the same old beach for your vacation, the folks in Buffalo were hanging out in another country having fun. Sometimes maybe a little too much fun. The legal drinking age over there is 19, which means a lot of barely-legal teens are crossing back into the U.S. bleary eyed and hung over on Sundays.
16. Chillin’ Canalside
Some cities have riverfronts. Buffalo has Canalside, 21 acres of fun and events along Lake Erie that draws in close to a million visitors every year. Come out for a festival, run a race, or bring the kids for some family-friendly fun to one of Buffalo’s most popular spots.
17. Lookin’ For That Elusive Pot O’ Gold
It doesn’t really matter how Irish you are, or if you are at all. St. Patrick’s Day in Buffalo is for everybody, with what is considered one of the top St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country. Green beers and gaudy embellishments takeover the city for the day as thousands come out to enjoy the Irish festivities.
18. A “SPoT” Of Tea Or A Bowl Of Coffee
When the locals are looking for a pick-me-up or a pick-me-up-even-more or just one of the best scones in the city, they steer far away from those java chains and head straight for SPoT. There’s one on the Elmwood Strip, there’s one downtown, and one in north Buffalo, each one just as quaint, intimate and as high quality as the last.
19. Some Beef On Weck
Not all roast beef sandwiches are created equal. A beef on weck comes rare, sliced super thin with a bit of au jus and a dab of horseradish. But it’s the kummelweck roll that sets it apart and makes this sandwich a staple of Buffalo lunches.
20. Free Concerts On Thursdays
Lafayette Square hosted free concerts for Buffalo for nearly 30 years, bringing acts like Pat Benatar, Blues Travelers and Seether to the city. The Canalside Concert series now keeps the tradition of live bands against a sunset waterfront, making the summer that much more fun.
21. Making Toast A Delicacy
There are plenty of great bakeries in Buffalo, but Five Points is the only one that serves up the world’s best toast. No, really. It’s famous among the locals for its toast. Sweet, savory and perfectly toasted, thick slices of bread that are topped with magnificent local toppings that you have to try to believe.
22. Pierce-Arrow Pride
In the early 20th century, the Pierce-Arrow automobile defined sophistication, class and luxury and were manufactured in Buffalo. If Gatsby lived in the city, he’d have a Pierce-Arrow. The city has the Pierce-Arrow museum which houses a collection of these and other classics which are virtually untouchable, but still highly revered in throughout the city.
23. Mounds Of Perry’s Sponge Candy Ice Cream
Sponge candy is a local delicacy but doesn’t get nearly the attention elsewhere that it deserves. It’s made of sugar and not, luckily, from sponge. But Perry’s Sponge Candy Ice Cream is the true temptation that is impossible to resist with flavors like Caramel Sugar loaded with chocolate-covered sponge candy bits and swirls of caramel and sugar.
24. Reveling In Winter
Sure, winters are cold and snowy. But no one in Buffalo loses their minds over snow like they do in other places around the country. Work and school both go on as does Buffalo Pond Hockey tournaments, epic sledding down Shakespeare Hill, snowball fights and Buffalo’s Powder Keg Festival. Besides, if the snow means they don’t have to deal with other weather emergencies like hurricanes, tornadoes and wild fires? They’ll take it.
25. A Mighty, Mighty Taco
Mighty Taco is Buffalo’s answer to Taco Bell. And sometimes it might even be the answer to all of life’s questions. Because really, what can’t a really good burrito cure?
26. An Ice Cold Bottle Of Labatt Blue
With all this food on the list, it wouldn’t be right not to give a proper nod to a bottle of Labatts for you to wash it all down. The headquarters for Labatt moved from Buffalo to Rochester years back, but the Buffalo love for a cold bottle of Labatt Blue remains.
27. Having Niagara Falls In Their Backyard
With a sight like that, there’s really no explanation needed in why Buffalo is so easy to love.
Feature Image Source: National Buffalo Wings Festival Facebook 
