Buffalo/Downtown

Downtown has been the nucleus of Buffalo since its foundation; over two centuries later, it retains its central importance in the Niagara Frontier both geographically and commercially. Though its bygone era of bustling streets and fancy department stores along Main Street has not been completely reclaimed, visitors to downtown today will be greeted with a lot more than the boarded-up storefronts and eerie desolation that they would have seen a quarter-century ago.

For the purposes of this article, the Medical Corridor — located north of what has traditionally been called downtown, where the University at Buffalo Medical School has helped cultivate a complex of medical research institutions that are a new and growing sector of the area's economy — falls under the umbrella of downtown due to its abundance of tall buildings and white-collar workers.

Understand
Downtown Buffalo has come a long way in the past decade or two, and now contains a number of distinct attractions for tourists. Main Street's Theater District is centered around the grand old silent movie palace-turned-performing arts venue, Shea's Buffalo Theatre, and boasts a range of restaurants, bars, shops, music venues, and of course, theatres, that is astonishingly wide for a city Buffalo's size. Nearby, though the club kids and rowdies of old are largely gone these days, there's still a healthy (and now much more chilled-out) bar scene along West Chippewa Street. The ongoing revitalization of the Canalside area is a paradise for history buffs, families with children, and those who just enjoy the simple pleasure of a stroll along the lakefront on a warm summer day. Fans of architecture will also be enraptured by the many well-preserved examples of turn-of-the-century buildings found all over the business district, many of which have been lovingly restored and have been repurposed with new identities amid the modest but growing renaissance that Buffalo is enjoying.

History
Not surprisingly, downtown Buffalo is the oldest section of the city. Though the official incorporation of Buffalo dates to 1804, it is known that there was a tiny trading post, a few cabins, and perhaps a half-dozen settlers located here before that date — and perhaps even before the Holland Land Company's purchase eleven years earlier of all of what is today New York State west of the Genesee River. However, it was in 1798 when Joseph Ellicott, a land agent and surveyor for the Holland Land Company, arrived at the junction of the Buffalo River and Lake Erie. Soon afterward, he began to lay out streets and lots for a village he called New Amsterdam, but which the residents insisted on calling Buffalo (a name change that was made official in 1808). Joseph Ellicott was the brother of Andrew Ellicott, who was responsible for surveying the streets of Washington, D.C.; the radial streets that Joseph Ellicott laid out in Buffalo, centered on Niagara Square and largely intact today, certainly bear a great deal of similarity to the street plan of Washington and also testify to the greatness that Ellicott envisioned for Buffalo — though it was well beyond the frontier of settlement at that time, Ellicott predicted that Buffalo would someday be a huge city and an important inland port. Ellicott's vision came to fruition in 1825 with the completion of the Erie Canal from the Hudson River at Albany to Buffalo Harbor, kickstarting a century of meteoric growth for Buffalo.

It is important to note that for all of Buffalo's importance during those early years as an inland port and manufacturing center, commerce played a much smaller role in its economy than industry. Buffalo's commercial district at that time was quite small, hugging the north side of the harbor and extending no further north than Church Street. By contrast, the northern reaches of today's downtown, i.e. the Theater District, were residential; even Niagara Square was a cluster of elegant and spacious mansions with an appearance much more akin to a village green in New England than the center of an urban business district. It was not until after the Civil War that commerce truly began to take a place in Buffalo's economy; by the turn of the century, Lafayette Square, two blocks north of Church Street, was the home of large office buildings such as the Buffalo German Insurance Company and the Mooney & Brisbane Building. The business district's boundary continued to creep further north during the first part of the 20th century; at the onset of the Depression, Niagara Square was an odd mishmash, with the remaining mansions standing side by side with tall skyscrapers like the twelve-story Buffalo Athletic Club, the 19-story Hotel Statler, and the then brand-new City Hall, which, at a height of 398 feet (121 m), is still the second-tallest building in Buffalo.

However, things were slowly beginning to change. Though World War II saw Buffalo's steel mills and automotive plants working at full force, a number of factors converged after the war that stymied, and finally reversed, Buffalo's growth. In downtown specifically, the Main Street retail corridor began to grow less and less crowded each year as shoppers began to pass up grand old department stores like Adam, Meldrum and Anderson, Hengerer's, and L. L. Berger in favor of suburban plazas and malls. Sadly, the response of Buffalo's civic leaders to the decline of downtown was the same as their response to the deterioration in other neighborhoods: "urban renewal", for the most part poorly thought out and incredibly destructive. Among the many examples of the devastation of downtown's urban fabric was the demolition of the stunning, castlelike Erie County Savings Bank building to make way for the Main Place Tower, a bland modernist office tower with an attached suburban-style shopping mall, the razing of Cyrus Eidlitz's Buffalo Public Library, a beautiful Romanesque edifice in red sandstone at the east end of Lafayette Square, to be replaced by the drab monolith that houses the Central Library today, and the replacement of the beautiful French Second Empire-style Buffalo German Insurance Company with the minimalist, boxlike Tishman Building, which stood abandoned for nearly a decade before a belated redevelopment as a combination Hilton Garden Inn and headquarters to local development company, the Hamister Group.

By 2000, signs of hope had begun to emerge. Buffalo's preservationist movement, which was kickstarted in 1950 with the city's shortsighted demolition of Frank Lloyd Wright's glorious Larkin Administration Building, had gained strength all through this time as their list of successes in preventing future disasters of that type grew. Thanks to their efforts, downtown Buffalo retains many splendid old buildings that would otherwise have been demolished. More importantly, the failure of Robert Moses-style urban renewal to address Buffalo's decline has inspired the city's leaders to adopt a new strategy for development, favoring a more broad-based approach that has already borne fruit in similar Rust Belt cities like Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Without this epiphany, West Chippewa Street would likely still be overrun with seedy flophouses, prostitutes, and other unsavory characters, Canalside would likely still be a desolate patchwork of parking lots and moribund warehouses, and downtown in general would likely still be replete with boarded-up storefronts and a virtual ghost town after the end of the workday and on weekends. The most recent phase in downtown's renaissance has been the conversion of disused office space into high-end downtown apartments and condominiums — a commodity for which many Buffalonians have been surprised to discover there is considerable pent-up demand.

Climate
Because of its proximity to Lake Erie, downtown Buffalo is noticeably cooler and windier than other areas of the city and region. This has the effect of making the Erie Basin Marina and other waterfront areas popular places for Buffalonians to escape oppressive summer heat, but also makes nighttime baseball games at Sahlen Field early in the season fairly uncomfortable.

On foot
Although a car is probably necessary for most visitors to Buffalo, the small size of Buffalo's downtown, coupled with issues such as traffic, the proliferation of one-way streets, and the hassle and expense of parking, make walking a far more sensible method of transportation for those who only need to travel from one downtown location to another. In fact, it could be said that walking is the only way to fully experience the best of what downtown Buffalo has to offer — its magnificent architecture, the proliferation of unexpected things to see, and the bustle of the streets are often missed by those who merely pass through in a car. It's really quite a pleasant experience.

By car
Due to its central location and the famously light traffic on area roads, downtown Buffalo is easily accessible by car. (Parking, however, is another story!) Niagara Square was designed as the central node of Buffalo's network of streets, a status it retains, and thus it is a good point of reference for visitors in navigating the streets of downtown. Niagara Square is where many of Buffalo's most important thoroughfares converge: Niagara Street, Elmwood Avenue, Delaware Avenue, Genesee Street, and Court Street (which splits three blocks east of here, at Lafayette Square, into William Street and Clinton Street). Downtown's other major thoroughfares include Main, Church, Pearl, Tupper, Washington, Chippewa, Ellicott, Oak, and Elm Streets.

In addition, downtown Buffalo is also served by three urban expressways: the Kensington Expressway (NY 33), which begins at the airport and passes through the suburb of Cheektowaga and the East Side before ending at Oak Street at the northeast corner of downtown; Interstate 190, Exits 6 and 7 of which serve downtown via Elm and Church Streets, respectively; and the Buffalo Skyway (NY 5), which parallels the lake shore along the Outer Harbor before ending at its junction with I-190 downtown.

Although Main Street has been closed to automobile traffic between Mohawk and Scott Streets since 1985 to accommodate the above-ground portion of the Metro Rail, the "Cars Sharing Main Street" project allowing for the gradual return of cars to that thoroughfare has been ongoing for some time. The segment between Tupper and Chippewa Streets and Chippewa and Mohawk Streets reopened in January and December 2015, respectively, with cars and trains sharing the tracks; the next segment to reopen (with a target date of 2020) is the block between Exchange and Scott Streets, just north of Canalside. However, it will likely be many years before all of Main Street is accessible to autos.

On-street parking in the downtown core can be hard to come by, though the scenario is certainly not as dire as in larger cities like New York or Toronto. This is especially true on weekdays during business hours and, in and around the Chippewa Street entertainment district, also at night and on weekends. Parking meters generally charge $1 per hour; parking is free after 5PM on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. Parking is much more easily available, but also more expensive, at downtown's many paid parking lots and ramps. Rates at parking ramps average about $1.50 per hour up to a daily maximum of about $6; surface lots range from $4 to $5 per hour up to a daily maximum of between $8 and $10. During special events at the KeyBank Center, Sahlen Field, or the Convention Center, rates at parking ramps and (particularly) surface lots rise steeply.

Car sharing
Members of Zipcar have access to a Nissan Frontier crew-cab pickup truck stationed in the parking lot on the east side of Washington Street between High and Carlton Streets in the Medical Corridor, behind the. The vehicle is available for a price of $10/hour or $80/day M-Th; $11/hour or $87/day F-Su. This price includes fuel, insurance, and 180 free miles (about 290 free kilometers) per day.

By public transportation
Public transit in Buffalo and the surrounding area is provided by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA). The NFTA Metro system encompasses a single-line light-rail rapid transit (LRRT) system and an extensive network of buses. The fare for a single trip on a bus or train is $2.00 regardless of length, with the sole exception of the Enhanced Express service described below. No transfers are provided between buses or trains; travelers who will need to make multiple trips per day on public transit should consider purchasing an all-day pass for $5.00.

By bus
Downtown Buffalo is served by virtually all of the NFTA's bus routes, either directly or via the Metro Rail, and thus is easily accessible from the majority of the metropolitan area by public transportation. The, at Ellicott and North Division Streets, is the central node of the bus network and serves as a stop on most if not all bus routes that access downtown directly. Individual routes and schedules are available at the NFTA Metro System's website.

In addition to regular routes, the NFTA operates thirteen express buses that directly connect downtown Buffalo with more far-flung suburbs, with few if any intermediate stops. Of particular interest to tourists will be NFTA MetroLink Bus #204 — Airport-Downtown Express, which makes 12 runs in each direction Monday through Friday between the Buffalo Niagara International Airport and the Buffalo Metropolitan Transportation Center. Because these buses are primarily intended for residents of the suburbs who need to commute to jobs downtown, all express buses (with the exception of Bus #204) make inbound trips on weekday mornings only, and outbound trips on weekday evenings only. Thus, travelers who are staying in the suburbs but would like to visit downtown may find express buses convenient. Visitors should also note that some express buses fall under the Enhanced Express service that was introduced by the NFTA in September 2012. In addition to the usual one-way fare of $2.00, an additional 50¢ surcharge per trip applies on Enhanced Express buses. These routes are enumerated on the NFTA Metro System's website.

By Metro Rail


The Metro Rail is an LRRT line that extends along Main Street from the University at Buffalo's South Campus in North Buffalo southward to downtown. The northern portion of the system is a subway, but as it enters downtown it emerges from its tunnel and runs at street level. Riding on the above-ground portion of the Metro Rail — from Fountain Plaza Station near Genesee Street southward to Erie Canal Harbor Station — is free, and is a pleasant and efficient way to travel from one end of downtown to the other. It's important to note, though, that travelers who continue northward past the Fountain Plaza Station without having paid a fare ($2 one-way/$4 round trip) may incur a substantial fine.

There are six Metro Rail stations in downtown. From north to south, they are:


 * — Main Street at Huron Street.
 * — Main Street at Court Street.
 * — Main Street at Church Street.
 * — Main Street at Seneca Street.
 * — Main Street at Scott Street.
 * — Main Street at Perry Street, adjacent to the KeyBank Center. This station is only open immediately before and after certain events at the KeyBank Center, otherwise Erie Canal Harbor Station serves as the last stop on the Metro Rail.

Additionally, the, the next stop north of Fountain Plaza, is at the corner of Main and Allen Streets, adjacent to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Corridor. Though most Buffalonians would argue that this area is not part of "downtown" per se, the fact that the Medical Corridor is covered in this article makes the Allen-Medical Campus Station the most convenient one for several of the attractions listed below. Also keep in mind that the Allen-Medical Campus Station is not part of the free-fare zone.

The Metro Rail is the backbone of Buffalo's public transit system — the line intersects with most NFTA bus routes, including many crosstown routes that do not access downtown directly. In particular, the University Station, at the outer end of the line, is serviced by many suburban bus routes that traverse the towns north of Buffalo, making for easy access to downtown.

By bike
Buffalo has made great strides in accommodating bicycling as a mode of transportation, with recognition from the League of American Bicyclists as a Bronze-Level "Bicycle-Friendly Community" to show for its efforts. There are "sharrows" (pavement markings on roads too narrow to accommodate dedicated bike lanes, indicating that drivers should be aware of bicyclists on the road) on West Chippewa Street between Main Street and South Elmwood Avenue, on West Huron Street between the same two streets, and in the Medical Corridor along Ellicott Street between Goodell and Best Streets and along High Street east from Main Street into the Fruit Belt. As well, there are bike lanes along Delaware Avenue from Niagara Square northward through downtown (and as far as North Street in Allentown), along Genesee Street between Elm Street and Roosevelt Plaza, along Broadway from the corner of Ellicott and William Streets outward into the East Side, along Pearl Street between Exchange and West Tupper Streets, along North and South Division Streets (one on each of those parallel one-way streets, oriented in the same direction as car traffic) between Main and Elm Streets, and along Marine Drive and its eastern extension, Scott Street, between Erie and Washington Streets.

This trend is slated to continue, as the aforementioned Cars on Main Street program will see Main Street progressively transformed from a failed attempt at a pedestrian mall lined with moribund businesses to what will be almost inarguably the most "complete" street in Buffalo's "Complete Streets" program, whose aim is to redesign streets so as to promote alternative methods of transportation. At its completion, Main Street will see cars and trains sharing the Metro Rail tracks in the middle of the roadway, flanked by ample sidewalks and — yes — a bike lane on each side of the road as far south as Chippewa Street.

This is not to say that cyclists should throw caution to the wind: downtown Buffalo is still a place of heavy automobile traffic and crowded sidewalks. In particular, despite the pavement markings, West Chippewa is still an extremely busy road in terms of both automobile and foot traffic.

As well, Canalside serves as a main nexus of the Shoreline Trail, a multi-use trail 22.6 miles (36.4 km) in length that runs north along the Niagara River to Gratwick Park in North Tonawanda as well as south past the Outer Harbor and into Lackawanna. Originally called the Riverwalk, this was one of the first purpose-built bike trails in the area, dating to the 1980s, and it's still a perennial favorite especially on warm summer days, boasting scenic views over the water. Particularly avid bicyclists will note that the Shoreline Trail also links up directly to the Scajaquada Creekside Trail to Delaware Park, as well as the Erie Canalway Trail through Tonawanda and Amherst. If you're headed south to the Outer Harbor instead, the Queen City Bike Ferry (fare $1, operates late May-mid Oct) is a nice shortcut for those who don't want to deal with the on-street bike lanes along Marine Drive, Main Street, etc.

Bike sharing and rental
You'll find Reddy Bikeshare racks at the following locations downtown:


 * on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, on the east side of Main Street at the corner of Allen Street, in front of the UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
 * on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, on the north side of North Oak Street at the corner of Ellicott Street, across the street diagonally from Ulrich's Tavern
 * the east side of Main Street between Tupper and Chippewa Streets, in front of the Andrews Theatre
 * the west side of Delaware Avenue between Johnson Park and West Chippewa Street, at the entrance to the Westin Buffalo hotel
 * the north side of West Chippewa Street between South Elmwood and Delaware Avenues, across the street from Ted's Hot Dogs
 * at Roosevelt Plaza, at the corner of Genesee and East Huron Streets
 * the east side of Lafayette Square, on the side of the Central Library
 * at Niagara Square directly in front of City Hall
 * the east side of Ellicott Street at the corner of East Eagle Street, at the side entrance to the Metropolitan Transportation Center
 * the east side of Main Street at the corner of North Division Street, in front of One M&T Plaza
 * the south side of Swan Street at the corner of Washington Street, in front of Sahlen Field
 * at Canalside, on the south side of Marine Drive just past the corner of Pearl Street, in front of Liberty Hound

Additionally, the stretch of Main Street from Edward Street south to Church Street is a free parking zone, wherein you can return your Reddy bike when you're done to any public bike rack without incurring the $2 fee for parking outside of a hub.

If you're in town between May and October and are keen to take a two-wheeled spin around the harbor, is another option. Made possible by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Blue Bikes' fleet of 46 includes adult- and child-sized bikes and even a few tricycles for the littlest riders, which are rented from a kiosk on the west side of Main Street across from the Courtyard by Marriott, near the paddleboat station. In theory you can ride wherever you like, but the fairly steep prices — $15 per hour, $20 for two hours, $25 for three hours, and $35 for four or more hours (BlueCross BlueShield members can show their card for a $5 discount) — make this a less practical option if you're planning to venture outside of the immediate Canalside area.

By train
The (BFX) in downtown is at 75 Exchange St., and is directly accessed by a number of NFTA Metro Bus routes. See the main Buffalo article for more information on arriving via Amtrak.

Architecture
More and more, Buffalo's exquisite and well-preserved architecture has grabbed the attention of locals and tourists alike. As of March 2020, there are 23 historic neighborhoods in Buffalo that have been recognized by either the National Register of Historic Places or the Buffalo Preservation Board, at least partly for reasons of architectural importance. Four of those are in downtown:


 * The
 * The
 * The
 * The

In addition to these historic districts, among the many individual buildings in downtown Buffalo of architectural significance is the...



Art
There is a vibrant arts community in downtown Buffalo, centered in the Theater District as well as the emerging 500 block of Main Street immediately south of there. For more art galleries in downtown Buffalo — specifically, ones where art is sold as well as displayed — see the Buy section.



Outdoors




Festivals and events
Buffalo's calendar of annual festivals, parades and events is huge and growing, and its central location makes downtown a popular location for these events. In particular, Niagara Square and Canalside are among Buffalo's preeminent venues, each hosting a multitude of festivals per year.

Sports


Downtown is home to four of Buffalo's six professional sports teams.



Pro sports aside, HarborCenter is also home to the Canisius College Golden Griffins men's ice hockey team, playing Division I hockey in the Atlantic Hockey Conference.

Theater
For a city its size, Buffalo has a surprisingly large, active, and diverse theater scene. The Theater District, bounded roughly by Washington, Tupper, Pearl, and Chippewa Streets, is especially vibrant, with Curtain Up!, the gala event that marks the opening of the theater season, drawing larger-than-ever crowds downtown each September.

For further information on many of the theaters listed here, and on the shows that are running, please visit the Theatre Alliance of Buffalo's website.







Live music


In summer, downtown plays host to a number of regularly scheduled outdoor concert series, too.



Buy
Downtown Buffalo is not the retail draw that it was in the mid-20th century, before suburbanization took its toll. However, as Buffalo continues its renaissance, specialty shops are beginning to creep back in to some parts of the business district — namely the Theater District, which is close enough to the densely-populated and well-heeled neighborhoods of Allentown and the Elmwood Village to draw in their clientele. Elsewhere downtown, shopping opportunities are few and far between, but look for that to change as more and more former office buildings are converted to apartments and hotels, slowly creating a "critical mass" of residents and tourists in the area.

Eat
Downtown's dining scene is flourishing, with great new restaurants opening on a constant basis. The scene has taken a turn for the luxurious of late, but affordable options are plentiful too — especially for those who are in the neighborhood at breakfast or lunch time on weekdays.

Budget

 * E-Café has two locations, both on Main Street and both with the same opening hours and menu:
 * E-Café has two locations, both on Main Street and both with the same opening hours and menu:
 * E-Café has two locations, both on Main Street and both with the same opening hours and menu:
 * E-Café has two locations, both on Main Street and both with the same opening hours and menu:
 * E-Café has two locations, both on Main Street and both with the same opening hours and menu:
 * E-Café has two locations, both on Main Street and both with the same opening hours and menu:

Local chains
The following local chain restaurants have locations downtown. Descriptions of these restaurants can be found on the main Buffalo page.



Pizza
The following pizzerias are in downtown. Those who are interested in pizza delivery (as opposed to pickup) might want to also check listings in adjacent districts; local pizzerias will often deliver to several different neighborhoods of the city.



Groceries
In 2021, the parking lot behind the Central Library will become the location of downtown Buffalo's first proper supermarket. For self-caterers of the here and now, however, the nearest ones are the Tops on Niagara Street on the Lower West Side and the Towne Gardens Supermarket on William Street on the Near East Side.

Chippewa Street
Though it's "grown up" a great deal since its glory days, there are still a few lively party bars and thumping dance clubs on Chippewa, generally clustered near the corner of Franklin Street...



...but nowadays the Chippewa strip — especially its western half, closer to Delaware and Elmwood Avenues — has come to be dominated by more laid-back, upscale bars and fine restaurants that cater to an older clientele than the club kids who frequented the district in the 1990s and 2000s.



Theater District
These more upscale establishments have traditionally been busiest before and after shows during theater season, but that's changing — with new life coming to Main Street thanks to the Cars Sharing Main Street program and the downtown revival in general, the Theater District's bars now attract their share of the Friday and Saturday night crowd too.



Coffee shops and miscellaneous
Downtown's coffee shop scene trends heavily toward "grab and go"-style establishments for white-collar workers on their way to the office — perfect for those who just want to squeeze a quick caffeinated pick-me-up into a busy day of sightseeing, but if you're looking for somewhere to stay and linger, you'll have to choose carefully.

One coffee shop downtown that emphatically should be avoided is the Tim Hortons at Lafayette Square, which is notorious as a hangout for panhandlers, drug dealers, addicts, and other transients. If you've got to have your box of Timbits or your double-double, either hop on the train to Canalside and get your fix at the one in the HarborCenter or else head north to the Allentown location on Delaware Avenue.


 * SPoT Coffee has one full-sized location downtown as well as two smaller SPoT Express counters:
 * SPoT Coffee has one full-sized location downtown as well as two smaller SPoT Express counters:
 * SPoT Coffee has one full-sized location downtown as well as two smaller SPoT Express counters:
 * SPoT Coffee has one full-sized location downtown as well as two smaller SPoT Express counters:
 * SPoT Coffee has one full-sized location downtown as well as two smaller SPoT Express counters:

If coffee isn't your drink of choice, check out...



Sleep
Downtown Buffalo has many quality hotel, such as the Westin in the Delaware North Building, the Hyatt Regency and the Hotel Lafayette.

All of the establishments listed below offer wireless Internet to guests (free unless otherwise noted).

Mid-range




Connect
There are two post offices in downtown:
 * at 229 W. Genesee St.
 * at 701 Washington St.

Free wireless Internet is available through BuffaloConnect, whose hotspots run along the Main Street corridor from North Street through the KeyBank Center and also cover all of Canalside. In addition, free Wi-Fi is offered at Starbucks and SPoT Coffee on Chippewa Street, and the Market Arcade and EXPO Market on Main Street.

For wired computer terminals, the on Lafayette Square is the place to go: their media room has several dozen Internet-enabled computers available for a nominal charge, as well as Wi-Fi if you've brought your own laptop.

Stay safe
Despite the fact that Buffalo's crime rate has fallen steadily since the 1990s, it is still higher than the national average for cities its size. Downtown Buffalo registers more crimes than other areas of the city, but this probably has to do with the fact that it has a far denser concentration of people and businesses than other neighborhoods. Though the usual precautions should obviously be taken — locking your car doors, keeping valuables out of sight, being aware of your surroundings — the central business district is patrolled vigilantly by police officers, and generally speaking, it doesn't "feel" especially unsafe by Buffalo standards.

The pickpocketing, drunken brawls, and assaults that were once common in the Chippewa Street entertainment district have decreased sharply in number over the past five years or so, thanks to the Buffalo Police's vigilant patrols and stepped-up enforcement of drinking laws (not to mention the resultant decrease in the number of nightspots operating there). Still, if you're planning a night out at one of Chippewa's remaining clubs, it never hurts to be aware of your surroundings and to make yourself scarce if you find yourself in a heated situation.

Panhandling is an increasingly common phenomenon in many neighborhoods of Buffalo, including downtown. Panhandlers can be found all over downtown but seem to be especially fond of the Theater District and the 500 block of Main Street, with the Tim Hortons at Lafayette Square particularly notorious in that regard. They can be a nuisance, but they are rarely aggressive. A polite but firm "no" almost always suffices.

Hospitals
Buffalo has a remarkably large number of hospitals and medical facilities for a city its size. Just north of the business district is the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, a complex of health care centers, research institutes, and educational facilities that is the epicenter of Buffalo's growing medical technology and bioinformatics industry, was established in 2001 by the University at Buffalo Medical School, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and others.



Places of worship
Downtown Buffalo is the site of some of Buffalo's most historic and imposing church buildings, including the seats of both the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York. Attending services at many of these locations is a truly magnificent experience.

Roman Catholic
For a part of Buffalo that is not primarily residential, and especially given the decline of population in the inner city and the rash of closures and mergers of Catholic parishes, a surprising number of older Catholic churches remain open and active downtown in neighborhoods that have long since transitioned from residential to commercial.



Go next
The Elmwood Village boasts all the hip boutiques, trendy restaurants, and engaging cultural attractions a visitor to Buffalo could want, not to mention a bar scene that is a lot more laid-back than Chippewa.

The Delaware District — particularly Millionaire's Row, along Delaware Avenue between North and Utica Streets — is the place for architecture buffs to be bowled over by the opulent mansions that were once the home of Buffalo's élite of yesteryear, most of which have been given new leases on life since the late 20th century as the headquarters of local businesses and not-for-profits.

For those who want Delaware District-style history and architecture and Elmwood Village-style culture and nightlife in the same compact, thoroughly charming neighborhood, Allentown is the place to Go Next.