If you start in Buffalo New York, the local professor would be found at the Buffalo Zoo, located at these coordinates ([b]42.93695, -78.85233[/b]).

The three starting Pokemon at this lab are: Bulbasaur, Totodile, and Fenniken. 

Pokemon families in and around the city include:
Pidgey, Rattatta, Psyduck, Murkrow, Misdreveus, Wubbuffet, Snubble, Smeargle, Frillish, Zigzagoon, Solrock, Shuppet, Carnavine, Rotom, Gulpin, Lunatone, Drilbur, Scraggy, Deerline, Litwick, Frillish, Rufflet, Swirlix, Pumpkaboo, Helioptile, Minior, Togedemaru

I suggest you start with an IC post where you choose a starter pokemon at the lab. Starter Pokemon start at level 5. Then, you can start catching Pokemon, one per post.