Have you ever hated your living situation? Right now I do. I made the mistake of moving out here to California with a "friend" from a former workplace. Sure this guy is a little bit older....but from working with him I never saw his miserable side. He is so bitter, and has so much hate, that you can't even watch tv with him because he bitches at it like it's his job. Nothing is good enough for him.

He is leaving in 2 months, and I cannot wait! I really think that I will like this area better as a whole when I don't have to deal with him.

I see that it's starting to get cold in Buffalo. Out here, it's still sunny and warm, with the nights cool. It's perfect weather to say the least.

Paul, great work with the restaurant guide. I really like the format, and the idea as a whole. One of my favorite things to do in Buffalo was to try out all the good restaurants. I kind of moved away from going out and getting wasted at bars, to going out and having some good wine and awesome food...and remembering it the next day ;) Guess it's just another sign of growing up.

I am really missing Buffalo these days. I don't feel at home here in Hollywood. I know that if I got a job that I really loved in film then it would make the homesickness irrelavant, but I have yet to find that job. I have found that you have to grunt it out in an internship before you can get into something you like. Or, if you have a contact out here that always helps.

I miss the fall...and the color of the leaves. Out here it's all palm trees and other misc. trees that don't need any water to survive. Since I have been out here it has rained 2 times.....that is in 10 months. I know you all must think that I'm crazy to miss the fall, and rain......but growing up in that environment is what makes me that way. Granted, having it 80 and sunny everyday (including today) is great, but it makes time feel all meshed together. And when it doesn't rain for 9 months, it makes everything feel dirty. Add that to the smog problem out here and the result is a layer of filth on your car after about 3-4 days. One that you can clearly see, and even write in (clean me!!!)

Boulderexile is right....this website makes me miss buffalo every time I visit. Where are you now Boulderexile?...and what made you leave? I left to pursue a job in the film industry. Movies are my passion....and they always will be. However, it sucks that the movie capitol of the world is out here in hollyweird!

I think it would be great to get a movie production studio off the ground in the Buffalo area. It is very close to Toronto, and NYC....which are very successful locations to shoot movies. Granted, Buffalo doesn't have the skyline to compete, but the talented individuals in and around Buffalo would make up for it.

Maybe some day....

another sunday...and for that matter....week, ruined by the bills.

uhhhhhhhh

LETS GO BILLS!

Hey Sqb, glad to have you back. I really do enjoy your photographs whenever you put them up, so I'm glad that you are still around and will continue to put up pics!

I am stressing out over here regarding my living situation, money, and going home for the holidays. My lease is going to expire in january of this year, and after holiday-expenses I don't know if I'm going to have the money to find another place and put down a security deposit. There is one possibility which I hope works out. There is a couple that lives down the hall. They have 2 kids and they all live in a 1 bedroom apartment. They are looking for a 2 bedroom, (which I have) and I will be looking for a 1 bedroom, once my roommate leaves! :)

So I just have to try and set it up so that we can make a switch. That would be a very convienient move, right down the hall.....no uhaul :)

Adios.steve

So the weather out here in LA is still very nice, but to be honest with you, I am very much missing the fall season. I never thought I would say that I am sick of having beautiful weather all the time. Fall, for me is the best time of the year. It's the time where it's still nice out, and so much to do. I love the changing of the leaves, and the brisk smell in the air every morning when you wake up.

It was also the time of soccer in high school. I really do miss soccer. I wish that I could still play it, but physical injuries to my back have made that impossible. I can still remember the games, played in the fall night air...ahh...I wish I could go back.

On a side note....there has been a women sunbathing topless at my pool for the past week or two. I haven't met her, until today. I was outside laying in the sun, getting some rays, and her and her boyfriend came out. I can't remember their names, because they were very french, and had thick accents. None the less, I wish that Americans had more of an open policy on nudity. We seem to freak out whenever there is skin exposed that isn't "correct" ex. janet jackson

Chill out !

peace,
Steve

On a side note....this is the biggest amount of clouds I have seen here in months. Laying by the pool today I was confused when the sun went away for a moment. Low and behold....it was a cloud! I haven't seen them in so long!

Matthew....your illustrations look amazing!...keep up the good work.

Paul, I thought the same exact thing when I was looking at the artvoice recently. Of course, not the physical copy...being out here in California forces me to download the copy each week. I'm not complaining, I love the fact that I can get artvoice out here the day it comes out, but I'd much rather be looking at it while sipping some joe at caffe aroma.

Peace,
Steve

In regards to smoking, I have always been the biggest anti-smoking person I have ever encountered. A lot of my post-high school friends are big smokers, and I just got used to it after a while of being around them all the time. But then I just got sick of my clothes smelling like crap all the time.....and more importantly, I was getting worried because I actually liked the smell of them after a while. Even to this day when I smell a cigerette I sometimes like the smell, and it's just from being around them.

It is sad to see businesses closing down because of the ban, but they should have adapated to it before they started losing money. That is harder to do in Buffalo though, without having an open air capability year round (like out here in Cali) There are many bars out here with open air places built into them so people can smoke, and still be outside. California has had the no smoking rule for about 7 years now.

Either way, I think cigerettes are horrible, and do nothing good for anyone.

peace,
Steve

things out here in sunny LA aren't what I thought they would be. I am enjoying my time for the most part, but am missing the elmwood area more and more. I really enjoy coming to this site, and getting read what others have to say about the area, it brings a smile to my face.

I would love to see any pictures from the elmwood area, whenever it's easy for someone to post them...I appreciate it.

peace,
Steve

“… Pano of Pano’s Restaurant applied for a demolition permit to destroy 1089 Elmwood, the former Carriage Trade bakery, for a surface parking lot. The house, a magnificent Queen Anne, was built circa 1894 for Edward Atwater and is also called the Atwater House. It is the oldest house on the block.�

“… downtown Buffalo, which has sacrificed about 50% of its real estate to parking, is, well, dead compared to Elmwood Avenue, which has largely resisted civic AIDS (Architectural Integrity Deficiency Syndrome). Elmwood has an intact streetscape, almost no parking lots, and is the healthiest neighborhood in Buffalo.�

The case comes before the Preservation Board on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 3:00 pm in Room 920 of City Hall. There is an online petition at www.petitiononline.com/1089elm/petition.html

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I love Pano's don't get me wrong, but I would be very pissed if they continued the trend of knocking down beautiful buildings to make parking lots. I know that the city of Buffalo is a pro at doing that, but the Elmwood area is different, for a reason!

Please sign the petition.

Peace,
Steve