Wanakah Country Clubhouse

When the West Side Goes to Wanakah

Every summer, when we packed up the old station wagon and made our annual trek to our summer cottage near Point Breeze, we would pass by a very large property on Route 5 that had a magnificent view of Lake Erie. There are two stone pillars near the entrance of the estate with the words, […]

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Boys playing in west side backyard

Change is Gonna Come

When I go home to Buffalo, I never pass up an opportunity to visit my old neighborhood on the Upper West Side. Photo courtesy of Maria Eley.

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Empty swing sets

Empty Playgrounds

Friday was one of those beautiful June days, when the sun kisses the skin with just the right amount of warmth and gives the landscape sharp edges. When I was young, it was the kind of day that flung me out of the house and into the street as if I was attached to the […]

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Gardens That Heal

Last summer I visited an old friend: the Botanical Gardens in the south of Buffalo. I’d had a tough year, with multiple loved ones suffering a variety of serious illnesses, and I needed a respite from the stress. My son and his girlfriend, knowing I’m a Master Gardener, suggested we visit the Botanical Gardens and […]

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Chestnut Time at the Armory

One of my favorite memories growing up in Buffalo was the annual trip my brothers and I would take each fall to collect chestnuts at the Connecticut Street Armory. At least, we thought they were chestnuts.

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