Inside the City of Light

Meet Patrick, one of Buffalo’s biggest ambassadors, and step inside his Buffalo state of mind.

The best resources for learning about Buffalo:

Block Club magazine, Buffalo Rising, and conversations with people in the know at Five Points Bakery, Caffe Aroma, Sweetness 7 [and] SPoT Coffee on Delaware.

Your go-to locale for...

• Coffee: Caffe Aroma: Americano or Cappuccino.

• A sandwich: Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile: Selection changes regularly, [you] can't go wrong!

• A night out with friends: If it's a late night out: any beer will do at the Old Pink; late night food from Lloyd Taco Truck, Black Market Food Truck, or, if you’re really asking for trouble the next day, a chicken finger sub from Jim’s Steakout.

• Date night: Bistro Europa: Chef's recommendation from [the] seasonal menu.

• A glass of wine or cocktail: Vera Pizzeria: The Duke [cocktail].

• Dessert: Lexington Co-op: Chocolate chip cookies ([eat] while taking a walk down Elmwood Avenue).

The hotel you always book or recommend to friends, and why:

The Mansion on Delaware Avenue: [the] best service and [a] good location on the edge of Downtown and Allentown.

The ONE thing visitors must see or do, and why:

Explore the city by bike, making sure that the route includes Silo City, Downtown, Allentown, the Elmwood Village and West Side, and of course, all of the Olmsted parks and architectural gems.

Your favorite hidden (or not so anymore) gem, and why:

The Allentown and Elmwood Village neighborhoods are my favorite neighborhoods in Buffalo. Beautiful homes and buildings, great parks, world-class museums, wonderful food and great people. You could walk around for a weekend, eating, strolling, touring, shopping, napping or playing in a park. There's a very high quality of life, and a cozy, homey feeling whether you live there or are just visiting.

Number of hours or days required in town for the "full" experience:

With three or four days and the right tour guide, you can have a great Buffalo experience! Bars close at 4am, so you'll need to factor in some nap time.

The town is great for what type of visitor:

• CURATE (the artsy intelligentsia)
• EPICURATE (the foodie)
• RECREATE (the adventure-seekers and fitness gurus)

The town is best explored by:

Bike.

The town is best explored in:

Summer.