Current Classes

Staying safe online is not as hard as you might think - During this presentation, we'll go over 4 key behaviors that are easy to adopt. With these habits, you can lock down your online accounts and keep your data safe.

Many wonder what the difference is between a therapy, support, or service animal; some think they're all the same.This class discusses the differences between the three areas, what training and requirements look like, and the benefits of animal companionship. Disclaimer: presentation may contain dogs.

The NHL's Buffalo Sabres could be the team of destiny this year!!?? Want to learn more about hockey? We will cover the rules (beginners version), player positions, the basics of "Hockey Player Lingo": "The Faceoff", "Offsides", and more.

This talk revives the exciting history of the entertainment community in Buffalo. Are you a movie buff? We will talk about the variety of theatres that would have shown everyone from Charlie Chaplin to Cary Grant to the original Star Wars. Is music more your speed? We will help you imagine where you would have sat to listen to the likes of Sinatra, Elvis, the Stones, and the Goo Goo Dolls. From vaudeville to live stage productions, Buffalo has been home to wondrous theatres and other venues which are no longer physically with us but, through this talk, can once again be part of our collective memory.

The history of cobblestone houses from the glacier age to present. Take a step back in time and discover the fascinating story behind cobblestone houses, from their origins in the age of glaciers to the charming homes we see today. This class will explore how ancient ice movements helped shape the stones themselves, and how early settlers turned those stones into beautiful, lasting buildings. It's a fun mix of natural history and local architecture that brings the past right to your doorstep.

Go back in time to experience the 101-year history of Crystal Beach Park from 1888 to 1989, featuring the Cyclone and Comet roller coasters, Laff in The Dark, and Magic Carpet.

This talk will focus on the military, geopolitical and economic consequences of the recent war the United States and Israel had with Iran. Ample comparisons of the war will be made with earlier Middle Eastern crises from the 1973-74 Oil Embargo onwards.

If you are the executor of a will, the trustee of a trust, or someone's power of attorney agent, you are taking on a very serious responsibility. This presentation introduces these roles and helps participants anticipate and avoid the common mistakes that people make when handling financial transactions on behalf of their loved ones.

Buffalo's East Side Industry reviews 141 businesses that were or are still located on the East Side. The images included represent an immensely diverse industrial base when the East Side was the ethnic, cultural, and manufacturing center for Buffalo and Western New York. The author will discuss some of these businesses in detail, talk about the growth of industry in Buffalo and the process used to write industry review book. Instructor: Shane E. Stephenson, Director of Museum Collections, Buffalo Naval Park

Learn about one of the activities becoming increasingly popular with seniors. I will talk about rules, scoring, and things to focus on when you are starting to learn the game. I will go over different strategies in pickleball, the scale for rating a player's skill level, and some drills for improving your game.

Cindy Solly is back to guide us through a watercolor adventure! Learn the basics, play with color, and create your own project in this beginner-friendly class. (Class size is limited to 25 people, 90 minute class.Two classes will be offered this semester on a first come-first served basis. Thank you for your understanding!)

This class examines how best to prepare for future care decisions and changes, including respite care,residential care and end-of-life care.

This class introduces seniors of all income levels to programs that can meaningfully reduce household energy costs. An Energy Affordability Specialist will explain federal, state, and local programs including HEAP, EAP, EEAP, ECLIPSE, and EmPower+. These programs can collectively provide hundreds to thousands of dollars in heating assistance, electric bill discounts, and home energy-efficiency improvements at little or no cost. After the class, attend an Erie County Energy Affordability Outreach event for personalized assistance completing and submitting applications for multiple programs in one visit. Check your senior center or local library schedule for an upcoming Energy Affordability Outreach event.

Describes how to access Family Court without a lawyer, and how it functions for people. Examples of Grandparents and Senior Citizens issues will be used

Experienced Docents will take you on a journey through time with the Martin Family, the Piarist Fathers, and the Graycliff Conservancy. The focus of this program will be on revision, restoration, and preservation accomplishments throughout the buildings and grounds over the past 100 years.

Let's talk about ways to ensure your identity is protected, how to avoid identity theft and why it is important to review your credit report on a regular basis. Have you reviewed your credit report recently? Should you freeze your credit?

Situational awareness is a concise safety program that teaches participants how to recognize potential threats, stay alert to their surroundings, and make rapid decisions to protect themselves and others during a violent incident. (Disclaimer: This class topic is of a sensitive nature, and while we believe it is an important topic to offer, please note it could be upsetting to attendees.)

This class introduces seniors of all income levels to programs that can meaningfully reduce household energy costs. An Energy Affordability Specialist will explain federal, state, and local programs including HEAP, EAP, EEAP, ECLIPSE, and EmPower+. These programs can collectively provide hundreds to thousands of dollars in heating assistance, electric bill discounts, and home energy-efficiency improvements at little or no cost. After the class, attend an Erie County Energy Affordability Outreach event for personalized assistance completing and submitting applications for multiple programs in one visit. Check your senior center or local library schedule for an upcoming Energy Affordability Outreach event.

The American Women quarters program is a series of commemorative quarters released by the United States Mint from 2022 through 2025. They feature designs of notable women in U.S. history, commemorating the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Learn about these 20 amazing women who worked for women's suffrage, civil rights, government, humanities, science, space, and arts.

History is back in the ring! Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and Erie County Historian Lindsey Lauren Visser return to the ring for a lively, laugh-filled historical battle featuring two soon-to-be-announced iconic characters. Hear the arguments, uncover the drama, cheer for your favorite, and help decide who deserves the crown!
Expect sharp arguments, surprising stories, playful rivalry, and plenty of audience energy as our contenders battle it out over leadership, legacy, influence, and their place in history. You will learn the real stories behind two larger-than-life figures, cheer for your favorite, and help decide: who wins the rumble?
Come celebrate the official start of University Express's Fall semester with a class that is part history lesson, part live performance, and all fun!

Location: Burchfield Penney Art Center Auditorium, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, at Buffalo State University (Parking in lot R-3, on Burchfield Campus). Registration limited to 140 guests. FREE PARKING!

This class is a lecture on 72 Sycamore, a former 1848 Brothel owned by Irish Immigrant Eliza Quirk. This lecture will focus on the history from Eliza to the current status as Preservation Buffalo Niagara's future home. Dark undertones include sex work and homicides.

Birth and death used to occur in our homes. It was intimate, but all too familiar. Today, much of the dying process is considered part of health care, and less personal. Most of us will have days, weeks or months to manage the end of our life. We can do things the way we want them done. This seminar will provide a practical guide to death's patterns and expectations, though it won't stop our yearning for visiting hours in heaven. Dr. Cyrenius Chapin (1769-1838) purchased the first lot sold in downtown Buffalo (then New Amsterdam) in 1803. His home was the sixteenth frame house in the village, and he was Buffalo's first doctor. During the war of 1812 he led a New York Militia in a desperate effort to prevent the British army from burning Buffalo. After the war, he helped found the area's first almshouse, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, County Medical Society, and the Erie County Agricultural Society. Forever certain in his belief that Canada wanted to join with the United States, he fought hard, drank hard, told bawdy tales, and rode his horse forty miles a day to care for his WNY neighbors.

Exploring what unwanted loneliness is and suggesting courses of action to avoid it. Though it can affect anybody in their life cycle, older adults and adolescents are more prone to suffer from it.

This downtown walking tour is a chronological walk-through architectural time from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century. We'll see excellent examples of all the major architectural styles prevalent in commercial and government office construction during this period, from Beaux Arts to Art Deco to Modern. This tour focuses in particular on the evolution of the tall office building that was enabled by modern technology such as steel frame construction. Some of the buildings featured on this tour include the Guaranty Building, City Hall, One M&T Plaza, and Seneca One. (This tour is approximately 90 minutes in length and about 1.5 miles of walking with a portion of slightly uphill walking from Niagara Square to Main Street.) 2:00 PM This is an exterior-only tour. This tour meets at the northeast corner of Pearl & Seneca Streets in downtown Buffalo, across from Pearl Street Grill and Brewery. Use 75 Pearl Street, Buffalo NY 14202 for GPS. Metered parking is available on surrounding streets. Please note that nearby parking lots always require payment. The Seneca Station of the Metro Rail is one block away on Main Street. Instructor: Ed Howard, Explore Buffalo Docent This tour is limited to 25 people.

Learn how to navigate the Audacy app to stream your favorite live radio stations, sports, and podcasts and even National TV broadcasts like MSNBS and Fox. This class guides you through finding content, creating custom stations, and saving your top shows for easy listening.