Well, we took one month off because of life, but we’re BACK with our August Blogger of the Month…introducing Emily Malkowski! Make sure to follow her on Instagram, and keep reading below to learn more about her!!

How long have you been blogging?
I’ve been blogging since April 2018 – just under a year and a half!

What made you want to start blogging?
Honestly, I felt stuck in a job that I hated after I graduated from college. I’ve always been a strong writer, so I decided to start writing as a creative outlet. I’d write about Buffalo, my travel experiences, how I was feeling while I navigated through my ambiguous early twenties- anything that struck me with inspiration. It kind of just grew from there- I was able to figure out what really interested me over time and eventually discovered my niche.

What’s your favorite thing about being a blogger?
I really love storytelling and writing about obscure, “off the beaten path” things. Tourist attractions can be cool in any city, but I’m always more interested in finding the stuff that makes different places unique, sharing that, and sparking curiosity. Since I started blogging, a lot of people have mentioned to me that they either checked something out or visited a certain place because I wrote about it or recommended it, and that’s so cool to me.

How did you decide on your blog name?
It’s just my name for right now. I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to take my blog when I was in the beginning stages, so I figured that was the easiest place to start. I have flirted with the idea of rebranding, but we’ll see what happens!

What do you love most about living in Buffalo?
I love that there’s literally always something going on, and how incredibly accessible we are to basically anything you could want. We’ve got nature, hiking trails, beaches, breweries, a cool local music scene, Canalside, fun bars, amazing food, less-than-amazing sports teams (but we love them anyway)- and way more. There’s truly something for everyone in Buffalo.

What are your favorite local restaurants?
Allen Burger Venture is my go-to, for sure. I order their peanut butter burger literally every time I go.

I also love Lloyd Taco Factory (duh), Allentown Pizza (the vegan slices are amazing), and The Wellington Pub on Hertel (my absolute favorite chicken wings).

What are your favorite seasonal activities?
Ice skating and hot chocolate at Canalside is an absolute must in the colder months. As for summer, nothing beats heading to a brewery (the new Thin Man on Chandler St. is my current favorite) and having a patio beer, IMO.

What is your favorite neighborhood in the city?
I’d have to say the North Buffalo/Hertel area. It’s the perfect mix of everything- cute coffee shops, great restaurants, colorful murals around every corner, and fun bars to hit up at night.

What are are a few of your favorite Instagram accounts that you follow?

As far as local Buffalo accounts go, I’d recommend:

@stepoutbuffalo: For obvious reasons!

Katharine of @theroamingbuffalo: She’s just a really great, genuine person (that I actually met on Instagram!). She is truly a boss babe with so many amazing business & freelancing tips, and all of her photos are #goals.

Julia of @sugarlumps.illustrations: I’m so obsessed with her art that I sent her a DM one day asking if I could buy some, lol! It’s so cute and colorful, I want it all.

What advice would you give to people who would like to start a blog?
START, even if you suck at first. It’s so scary to put yourself out there, especially in the beginning, but remember that everybody who’s anybody had to start somewhere. Growth won’t happen overnight, but it WILL happen with hard work and resilience.