I’ve had a lot of support from my hometown of Buffalo, NY, and that includes another wonderful Rebagz mention in Buffalo Spree magazine. Just check out their “Skin Counsel” article. Buffalo Spree’s a beautiful and well-written magazine, which is no wonder given that it has an amazing editor in Elizabeth Licata.

Now I know you’re all envisioning snow and sleet, but Buffalo’s summers are as hot and humid as Miami’s. Another thing most people don’t know is that Buffalo was the premiere city of this hemisphere during the late 1800′s and early 1900′s. The city’s wisely preserved the architecture from that time and it’s now used – recycled? – as elegant homes and office space. There are some elegant Frank Lloyd Wright buildings to visit and one of the finest modern art galleries in the country, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. I visited the Albright-Knox for the first time in years last December and it has (in my admittedly humble opinion) a finer collection by far than the Musem of Contemporary Art here in Los Angeles.

Albright Knox Art Gallery

I’m not sure why I’m waxing nostalgic here, but it seems a lot of the old steel cities have been forgotten and cast aside. Buffalo deserves a renaissance! It’s been called the “Queen City of the Lakes” and “The City of Good Neighbors” with good reason, and it’s not just aluminum cans and paper that deserve a second life.

Back when I was doing human rights work, it always made me nuts when someone would bring up a project we ought to do and then expect the rest of us to do all the work. I firmly believe that if you put an idea out in the ether and want any kind of action regarding it, you better be prepared to chip in, big-time.

So, having just talked about a second life for my hometown, I suppose I should put my work ethic where my proverbial mouth is. My company, however, is here in California – not exactly in the same neighborhood. However, I also believe in long-term planning.

And I’m thinkin’ my next five- or ten-year plan needs to include something for the “Queen City.” How’s your hometown doing, by the way?

XOXO Marty


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