Current Classes

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.

Join the Center for Elder Law and Justice for a tasty treat while we explore practical strategies for creating, adjusting, and maintaining a budget on a fixed income. We'll also discuss ways to save money, stretch your resources, and protect yourself when using person-to-person cash transfer apps. Participants will learn about the free services offered by the Center for Elder Law & Justice and leave with a budget template, helpful resources, and connections to community services that can support their financial well-being.

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.

Haitians today live in a violent, gang-ruled society. They find some comfort in their national religion, Vodou. This complex religious system has been widely misunderstood and sensationalized, largely due to false popular beliefs created about it during its suppression under the terrible century-long Code Noir of King Louis XIV, issued in 1685. In fact, Vodou is the premiere Afro-Caribbean religious system, offering comfort and protection to believers, which likely began among the African slaves transported to Hispaniola as early as 1505. It developed as a blending of various African beliefs with French Catholic and indigenous Taino beliefs. The port of New Orleans had been closed by its own code noir; the need for labor generated by the Louisiana Purchase of 1804 re-opened the port to the importation of slaves, and Vodou morphed into "Voodoo." This is the story of Haitian Vodou, and its role in that nation's exemplary and tragic history.

Do you want to enjoy the foods you love, but believe eating healthier means boring or yucky? If so, this class is for you! Tell the instructor your favorite dish and she will tell you what to do to keep the taste, but with less carbs and fat. Learn great substitutes and how to eat within the macronutrient limits you need so you can enjoy your meals and still be lean, strong, and healthy.

Every day, Americans are losing millions of dollars to scammers. Older adults are particularly targeted, and the effects of scams can be catastrophic, both financially and emotionally. Technology is making it easier for scammers to target more people and it makes their schemes harder to detect. But there are things we can do to stay safe. This course will focus on identity theft, but techniques covered can be used against any type of scam. It will examine how scammers select their targets, the techniques they use to manipulate us, and what we can do to protect ourselves. The interactive format allows participants to practice protective behaviors and begin to develop habits that will keep them safe from scams. Participants will also have access to supplemental online resources to continue to refine their scam-safety skills.

California, 1975. 17 days apart. Two women. Each with a gun. Both tried to assassinate President Gerald Ford. One was a disgruntled housewife who only recently passed away. The other was a follower of Charles Manson. This is the fascinating story of Ford's brief presidency, the fallout from the attempted assassinations, and how the president got lucky - twice.

From a horror author's perspective, this class will review both written and cinematic horror stories. We will read scenes from books and watch clips of movies analyzing what makes them so scary! This is the perfect class to set the atmosphere for Halloween!

Learn about the chakras of the body and how to recognize your own energy field. Learn how to create a chi-ball and learn techniques to enhance your own energy for a healthy life!

Keeping our children, family and community safe is of the utmost importance for everyone. This class will review unthinkable catastrophes of the past, from the Titanic to the Oklahoma Bombing and from Len Bias to Adam Walsh. The lessons learned from such tragedies created positive changes in our communities as well as stronger laws to keep us all safer.

Enjoy the rare sounds of yesteryear from a dozen fascinating, self-playing mechanical musical instruments including street organs, organettes and music boxes, many over 100 years old.

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.

Thousands of planets have been discovered orbiting stars beyond our solar system, revealing a universe filled with remarkable and unexpected worlds. In this engaging class, we will explore how astronomers find these distant planets, what they are like, and what they can teach us about the formation of planetary systems-including our own.

The White House is an enduring symbol of the United States. For more than 225 years, it has served U.S. presidents as a home, office, and stage. Learn about the history and roles of the White House and explore how the building has changed over time.

What are the 7 key decisions that will allow for the lowest stress and greatest net return when planning a move from a house to an apartment or condo? Repair and maintenance decisions that make sense; what upgrades make the most money for you; how can I reduce accumulation without a lot of work; how to create a slow and manageable timeline for planning a move and lastly, how to orchestrate every aspect of the process in an efficient, no non-sense way.

Amazing discoveries don't require an expensive subscription. Come explore free genealogy websites that can help you find ancestors, break through brick walls, and save money.

Our mission is simple: we read books that move us, challenge our thinking, and spark great conversations. The UE Book Club is for anyone who loves reading, talking about books, or just wants to read more. Join us to share your thoughts or simply listen and learn from others. Along the way, you'll discover new perspectives, make friends, and reconnect with the joy of reading.

Indigenous plants, trees and bushes are critical to ecological resilience and biodiversity. Historically, plants have an additional value as they have been used for a wide variety of ways to support indigenous populations for centuries. This presentation will discuss some of those plants and their many historical uses while also touching upon some important herbs. Many of these plants are also important food sources or host plants for pollinators and critical to the environment.

Join the staff of the Jewish Museum of Buffalo for a 90 minute tour of the museum collections, with a focus on Jewish immigration to Buffalo and Western New York. The Museum illuminates the stories of Jewish life in Buffalo while exploring the richness of Jewish art, culture, history, and architecture across time and place. This tour is limited to 30 guests. Free parking.

The Museum is located behind Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo

This evening can be explained according to different themes, each with widespread cultural parallels: as a seasonal/calendrical event; as a "ritual of reversal;" as Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival; as All Hallows Eve, a Christian observance; as a witches' sabbath; as a modern pagan holiday; and, in America, a special festival for children

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.

Step right up and join us for a fun and interactive Spin the Wheel game where you can test your knowledge, win prizes, and learn valuable services available to our older adults in our community! Whether you're a senior or a caregiver this is a great chance to explore services that are meant to keep you or a loved one healthy, safe and independent. Come spin, learn and WIN!

An examination of the origins and traditions of this internationally celebrated holiday. From its earliest foundations to the present day, it provides mystery and enjoyment to the world.

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.