From the Editor Even those of us fortunate enough not to be directly affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, who had just finished pounding the Gulf Coast area as we went to press, feel a sense of personal trauma and loss when viewing the destruction these storms left in their wake. In this movable culture, any city in America has the potential to be a future home or at least a temporary destination. This is particularly true of New Orleans; like the Grand Canyon, Greenwich Village, or San Francisco’s Chinatown, it is a beloved icon for all of us, a symbol of the natural beauty and rich cultural diversity we can still find in an all-too-homogeneous world. I don’t think too many people would put Buffalo on that list of icons. But perhaps they should. In addition to its architectural landmarks, charming neighborhoods, and down-to-earth pragmatism, Buffalo offers stability and comfort in a unique environment. Artists and writers can afford to live here as well as doctors and lawyers. And unlike other areas we sometimes envy for their warmer climates, we are rarely threatened by hurricanes, tornados, floods, or earthquakes. We can get away with a restaurant called Tsunami. As we do all we can to help our fellow citizens on the Gulf Coast, we should feel grateful for all that Western New York is—and isn’t. And look forward to a beautiful winter. Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top