Western New York is a Haven for Hipsters

When you think of Hipsters, cities like Brooklyn or Austin, Texas come to mind.  But, when it comes to the cities in America where those that love vintage clothing, vinyl records, and beards, would feel most at home, there are a few cities here in Western New York that rank much higher on the list than one might think.

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To clarify things a bit, let's start with the definition of a Hipster.  According to the Oxford Dictionary, a Hipster is:

"A person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream"

The website LawnStarter recently ranked America's best cities for hipsters.  They looked at the 150 largest cities in America and then ranked them based on 23 different factors, including access to thrift stores, farmers' markets, number of record stores, urban gardening, biking-friendliness, and number of craft breweries.

Just from looking at those few factors, you can see why some cities in WNY would rank fairly high.  The number of Record Shops here in the greater Buffalo area has nearly tripled over the last few years.  There seem to be more and more bike trails popping up.  And there is no shortage of thrift shops across the region.

As for the rankings, Rochester checked in at #25 on the list.  Buffalo landed at #48.  Where is the Hipster Capital of the US currently?  The Answer: San Fransisco.

The top 10 looks like this:

1. San Francisco, California

2. Portland, Oregon

3. Oakland, California

4. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

5. Jersey City, New Jersey

6. Tempe, Arizona

7. Huntington Beach, California

8. Honolulu, Hawaii

9. Providence, Rhode Island

10. New Orleans, Louisianna

For all of the Hipsters in the room, check out some of the best of what Buffalo has to offer below.  Street Art, Dive Bars, and Craft Beer