FROM THE EDITOR When you’re traveling and a cabbie/waiter/hotel clerk/new acquaintance finds out you’re from Buffalo, what’s the first thing they say? Here’s some of what I’ve heard, most recently during a weekend trip to Austin, Texas at the beginning of April: “Wow, it’s cooo-oold up there!” “Is there still snow on the ground?” “How can you stand it?” “You must be glad to get away from all that snow!” And so on. We don’t even have to travel to hear the snow jokes. We can just stay here, and pay to hear insults about our climate from almost any speaker/comedian/musician who comes in from out of town. During his appearance in late March, Comedy Central star Stephen Colbert wondered aloud during his sold-out speaking engagement at UB’s Alumni Arena if Buffalo’s early settlers arrived during the summer, saw how beautiful the area was, and decided, “Burn the wagons!” Then, when October came around, well ... But he was quick to point out that weather isn’t everything. After all, he added, “Buffalo is the farthest city in New York State from Albany.” It’s all in good fun; none of these comments are meant to hurtful. Yet, much like a constant chafing from a too-tight shoe, a lifetime of hearing this kind of talk can become quite tiresome. We hear these comments so often that we almost begin to believe in it. And it gets boring to repeat all the responses: how we really don’t get all that much snow (especially recently), how other places are much colder, how nice our summers and falls are. Oddly, my trip to Austin, though enjoyable, did a lot to convince me that I’d rather live here than in a hot climate. It was a trip for garden enthusiasts, so we spent a lot of time outside, touring such highlights as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and some beautiful private gardens and unique nurseries. As I walked though the butterfly garden of Austin’s Natural Gardener, it was pleasant to see vari-colored butterflies hovering over the milkweed and blue bonnets—I don’t expect to see butterflies in my yard for at least a month—but after a few minutes, it was less pleasant, and more … hot, even a bit uncomfortable. On April 5. “If it’s like this in April,” I’m thinking, “what must it be like in July?” I think the word would be unbearable. Yes, it does get cold here, but there is no season where it is unbearable to step outside. Even in the coldest weather, if you’re properly dressed, you can enjoy many outdoor activities. As I left the butterfly garden, I decided that I’d rather have to wait longer for my butterflies than deal with a season when I’d have to do most of my living in a hermetically-sealed air-conditioned room. Do you need convincing about our Western New York climate? Spree is here to help you, and not only in this Outside issue. Our June, July/August, September, and October issues will list and describe even more fantastic ways to enjoy the outdoors during Buffalo’s most glorious seasons: late spring, summer, and fall. It’s time to go outside and play! Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top