If what I am about to show you does not convince you that this city is coming alive, then walk away right now. Cuz' I never thought in a million years that I could ever be as inspired by a 'plant swap' as I was today. I know, it sounds totally lame. Unless you were there.
I was standing at the corner of Rhode Island and Utica this morning watching a neighborhood unfold before my eyes. There were kids learning how to garden, people showing up in droves dropping off plants to support the swap, artists making planters out of recycled car tires, windows of houses being replaced, and neighbors/business owners turning a gutted space into a vibrant corner pub.
While all this was happening, I was thanking god that I had not packed my bags and left this city when it seemed that everyone else was. Believe me, I thought about it. I was trying to imagine myself standing on a golf course in Miami. Or sitting in a cab in NYC. Or living in a new build in Atlanta. I thought about The Buffalo News' daily instruction manual on why (and how) to leave this city. If you asked them nicely, I bet you they would even come over and help you pack your bags.
I thought about all the people that were buzzing around me at that moment. These were the folks that were re-creating Buffalo. One planter at a time, one window at time, one neighborhood at a time. These people gave 'the bird' to local politicians a long time ago. They bought when others sold. They don't give a crap that some naive jackass in North Carolina thinks that it snows in Buffalo year 'round. Let 'em think that for now. There is a renaissance taking place here. It's not the 'McRenaissance' that has happened in other cities, it's a unique grassroots rennaissance that is taking over this city. And if you don't see it, then you're not looking. And that's ok. There are a lot of folks out there that are looking out for you.
Still don't get it? Here's a slideshow.
