Julie & Tony

The pull of live music – and a budding “Buffalo crush” – brought massage therapist Julie O’Connor to the third annual Cobblestone Live event from her hometown of Toronto. Walking along Mississippi Street and sipping a BlackBird Cider Works cider (“Delicious!”), Julie shared details of her music-packed weekend in the Queen City with In the BUF.“I love Buffalo. Buffalo has this eclectic energy, people are very sociable and some of the bars we’ve gone to have a gritty vibe.”

Julie and friend Tony made it to Gabriel’s Gate Restaurant, Nine29 and Misuta Chow’sbefore hitting the Cobblestone District.

“We went to the Elmwood Village Farmers Market this morning, and I shopped for clothes on Elmwood at Red Siren. Last night we saw a concert at Darien Lake,” she said, before adding, “Buffalo is not what I expected. This city is really lovely, there is something very special about it here, an openness. Toronto people are not as friendly, and it’s more rushed. I love looking at all the colorful homes here and the porches are great. I am enjoying Buffalo!”