Chris

Joke of the day: "Why was it windy in the football stadium? Because it was filled with fans!"I start out my day with granola cereal of some kind, Yoplait raspberry yogurt, and Diet Coke with Lime. In this regard I am a creature of habit. I have strayed from this breakfast routine sparingly. The rest of the day is spontaneous. I love good local restaurants. Thanks to a few wino friends, I love to try new wines and mixed drinks, though I've been known to enjoy the "classics," like a Jack Daniels whiskey sour -- but only with freshly squeezed lemon juice, which makes all the difference. You could say I'm a "gourmet," but in reality I make no money and am somehow able to live well. I guess I'm a pauper with panache. An inexpensive apartment and the fact that I don't drive probably make this lifestyle attainable.If you asked me what the two most important things in my life are, one of them is Buffalo, my hometown. The other I will have to reveal to you later. I'm a recent graduate of an urban planning program in New York, and I'm gradually making my in-roads back in Buffalo where I've always wanted to return. I've lived in many places since my departure there (my roots are in the Irish Old First Ward), including Prague, New York, South Carolina, and Leipzig, Germany. Buffalo was always my first love. I'm active in the historic preservation and citizens planning movement in Buffalo, which is a role that easily becomes full-time. The fight never ends, but it keeps me motivated, far better than caffeine. If you ask me about grain elevators or factory architecture, be sure to brace yourself for a four hour one-way conversation.If you live in Buffalo proper, you've probably seen me riding by on my bicycle, a trusty English three-speed with character-besotted rust marks and a loud squeek. Biking is my primary form of exercise (ten miles a day minimum) and it's also how I enjoy getting around, even in the winter! I'm a downtown guy. I used to work in a great cafe in downtown Buffalo, where everyone knew me as the guy who said "thanks a latte"... constantly. It never stopped amusing me.