I can’t help you beat the heat. Or the humidity. So please stop complaining about it on my Twitter feed and turn your attention back to more pressing issues, like coffee, cat pictures, and hot Ryan Miller rumors.
Thank you.
1. Helicopters, Ratrods, and Burnouts on the Skyway
OK, so maybe we shouldn’t tear down the Skyway after all. From The Buffalo News:
“Three amphibious vehicles – a red Dodge ‘Turboat,’ a white-and-green canopied Volk-swagen boat car and a jeep-like vehicle with a large fan in back – spun their wheels and did 180-degree turns on the southbound Skyway for several hours Tuesday.
All the while, a low-flying helicopter filmed the movements for ‘Top Gear,’ a cable television show known for interesting automobiles and adrenaline-charged stunts.”
RAD.
Full disclosure: I may be kind of a car nut, but this… this is awesome. I’m pretty sure we’ll all tune in to check out these insane vehicles doing stupid but wildly entertaining stuff up on our iconic land bridge. Who’s up for a watching party?
The shoot also sheds light on the attention Buffalo has been receiving lately from film crews, a topic I’ve touched on before (here and here) on Smart Things. This was not a trend that I expected to see when I started this column, but then again, Buffalo sure hasn’t been short of cool surprises lately.
2. Roswell Park Receives Top 50 Ranking
Congratulations to Roswell Park for getting in US News & World Report’s top 50 National Rankings for “Adult Specialties:”
“This hospital was among 147 facilities—roughly 3 percent of the 4,806 analyzed for the latest Best Hospitals rankings—to be ranked in even one of the 16 specialties.”
If you or anyone you know have been touched by cancer, make sure to share this good news. No one can say when the war on cancer will be won, but it sure feels good to be leading the front lines.
3. Heart of the City Neighborhoods
I discovered Heart of the City Neighborhood’s website this week. Now, so have you. HoCN is a “not-for-profit corporation dedicated to creating programs that improve the quality of residential housing and developing sustainable projects to support Buffalo’s Lower West Side.”
The photos on their homepage really showcase their hard work, and their testimonials tell some really good stories. Go ahead and peruse the website, and then feel free to make a donation here.
You can also find HoCN on Twitter at @HOCN_Buffalo.
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Note: “3 Smartest Things” is being produced to go along with the “5 Dumbest Things” series here on TB. “Why three,” you ask? Well – far be it from me to break our time honored tradition of berating each other on the progress of our fair Queen City. Tell you what, when the new Peace Bridge goes up, we’ll go up to five. And of course, feel free to follow me on Twitter to discuss all things trending in Buffalo, and check out my blog “Buffalo Sabres Nation” when you’re bored at work. Your boss will appreciate your increased productivity afterwards.
