Buffalo, New York with a long-time friend leading the way

It's always wonderful to see a new place through the eyes of the local folks who love it dearly. That's exactly how we got to see and fall "dead in love" with Buffalo, New York. Our first tour guide was Patty Ann Corcoran Hayes, better known as Officer Pat Hayes of the New York State Police. Seven years ago I was completing an 8-week stint as Camp Store Manager for my sister's family business Offense-Defense Football Camps. The last week of camp for me was to be held at the Buffalo State College campus. I had lived and breathed football with the men and boys long enough and I was determined to have a girl's moment or two at an art gallery or a museum. Since I had arrived early from the last camp up on a mountain top in West Virginia, I struck out that evening to get the lay of the land. [Enter Officer Pat, assigned to the college campus.] She spotted me, the lone woman, hiking around the edges of campus unchaperoned and red flags went up in her mind. She would do nothing less than escort me in her State Police SUV safely back to my dorm, but not before she had treated me to an hour-long tour of the highlights of her city of Buffalo. Before the week was over, we had eaten Buffalo-made Sahlen's hotdogs, Weber's mustard, freshly picked corn-on-the-cob and potato salad together at the State Police barracks on campus. I also had a jug of Chiavetta's Marianade, famous at all Buffalo area chicken barbeques, tucked in my travel bag. Needless to say, we two kindred spirits had become best friends. The next year Wally joined me on the football camp trail, and Pat introduced us to her husband Micheal and son Brian during a supper visit at her home. Since then we have kept in touch with our family news...we are both grand-mothers now! A few weeks ago we received an e-mail from Pat asking if we were getting close to Buffalo. She not only had us park our riglet on her property, but she showed off "her city" in grand style. We ate fish and chips that featured the best haddock ever, foot-long hot dogs from the Red Top Stand that's been serving delighted locals forever. As the day came to a close, we squeezed out every bit of daylight driving past the astounding architectural delights of downtown. Among them was the Buffalo's Roman Catholic Basilica, one of the elaborate churches that has been granted ceremonial rights and privileges by the Pope. Inside and outside, it was a spiritual event. Pat's Irish upbringing has made her a strong supporter of all things Buffalo and we dearly love her for that fierce spirit.