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1:00 PM |
Rumble 2: History's biggest personalities. One epic showdown for UE's Fall Semester Kick-off! |
History is back in the ring! Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and City of Buffalo 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!
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Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and City of Buffalo Historian Lindsey Lauren Visser |
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10:00 AM |
Explore Buffalo: "Reaching For the Skies: The Tall Buildings Tour" |
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.
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Ed Howard, Explore Buffalo Docent |
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10:00 AM |
Birdwatching at Knox Farm State Park |
Join University Express and New York State Parks for a guided birdwatching walk at beautiful Knox Farm State Park! Explore the park's scenic fields and woodlands while learning to identify birds by sight, sound, and habitat. Led by Environmental Educator Michael Adriaansen, this relaxed outdoor program offers the chance to look for bobolinks, eastern meadowlarks, and other grassland birds. High-tech binoculars will be available to share-no birdwatching experience required! Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. The program will last about 90 minutes and may be adjusted for weather and the group's comfort level. (25 person limit - free parking)
Address: Knox Farm State Park, Main Parking Lot, 437 Buffalo Rd, East Aurora, NY 14052
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Environmental Educator Michael Adriaansen |
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10:00 AM |
University Express Team Hike at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve |
Fall fun starts here! Join Eric and the University Express team for a cheerful, easygoing walk through the beautiful trails of Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve. This relaxed saunter is perfect for everyone-no hiking experience needed-just come ready to enjoy crisp autumn air, brilliant foliage, and plenty of smiles along the way. It's a great chance to unwind, connect, and soak in the beauty of the season together. All are welcome, so grab a friend and come wander with us!
Address: 93 Honorine Dr, Depew, NY 14043 (We will meet in the lot)
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UE Team |
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11:00 AM |
History Comes Alive: Student-Led Veterans of Foreign Wars Museum Tour & Lunch |
Step into local history and experience the stories of service, sacrifice, and community at the VFW Post 1419 Museum in Hamburg. This special intergenerational program pairs seniors with enthusiastic 7th Grade students from Hamburg Middle School, who will lead the tour and share the stories behind the museum's fascinating artifacts and exhibits.
Explore memorabilia honoring local heroes who served during 20th-century conflicts, while encouraging a new generation of historians as they build confidence, presentation skills, and a connection to the community's past. The VFW Post is located in Hamburg, making this a meaningful opportunity to discover a local treasure and the people it remembers.
Following the tour, stay for a free lunch with the students, generously provided by Hamburg's own Butera's Restaurant. Come learn, connect across generations, and help preserve the stories that should never be forgotten.Space limited to 35 guests. Free Parking.
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Enthusiastic 7th Grade Tour Guides! |
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12:00 PM |
Longshed Tour/Waterway of Change Exhibit Canalside |
The Erie Canal opened over 200 years ago! The 363 mile long canal connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. The Canal made Buffalo the Queen City of the Lakes as grain flowed east and immigrants moved west along the canalway. Join Erie County Historian Doug Kohler for a tour of the new hands-on canal experience in the Longshed at Canalside. This tour is limited to 40 people.
Address: 44 Prime St, Buffalo NY, Meet at the front doors of the Longshed near the foot bridge.
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Douglas Kohler |
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1:00 PM |
Football Tailgate with Bucket Hat Chef Robb! |
Get ready for game day like never before with Bucket Hat Chef Robb Poloncarz! In this high-energy tailgate experience, Chef Robb will share crowd-winning favorites that are perfect for any football gathering-from bold, flavorful bites to classic comfort foods with a chef-inspired twist. Whether you are hosting at home, cheering from a watch party, or heading to the stadium, you'll leave with fresh recipes, helpful techniques, and plenty of inspiration to elevate your next tailgate spread. A tailgate recipe card featuring Chef Robb's recipes will be available for participants to take home.
Then, keep the fun going with a Bills Bracelet Craft! Join Cindy Solly, University Express's own Master Crafter, along with Jennifer Chowdhury, Health & Wellness Coordinator for the Department for the Aging, to create a spirited Buffalo Bills-inspired bracelet. Show off your team colors, make something fun to wear on game day, and enjoy a little extra time with fellow fans (and your favorite UE team!) Please wear your favorite football gear-jerseys, hats, team colors, or anything that shows your football spirit (A prize will be given for the fan that shows the most team spirit!) This event is limited to 100 guests.
Location: Como Lake Park James Depczynski Casino Pavilion, Quincy Ave, Lancaster, NY 14086, located inside Como Lake Park.
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Robb Poloncarz, ACF Certified Professional Chef / Office for the Aging Erie County |
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1:00 PM |
Buffalo Jewish Museum at Temple Beth Zion |
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
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Museum Liasion |
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11:00 AM |
Stepping Back in Time: The Hull Family Home & Farmstead |
Travel back more than 200 years for a guided tour of the Hull Family Home & Farmstead, the oldest fully restored stone dwelling in Erie County. Built around 1810 by Revolutionary War veteran Warren Hull for his wife, Polly, and their family, the Federal-style stone house tells the story of one of Western New York's earliest pioneer families and the world they helped build. This 90-minute tour will take you through the beautifully restored historic house and across the farmstead, including the reconstructed early-19th-century threshing barn and Hull family cemetery. Discover how the Hull family lived and worked, and learn about life on a Western New York farm before the Erie Canal transformed the region. * This facility is not fully handicapped accessible, esp. the bathrooms. The tour is limited to 50 guests and will last 90 minutes. Free parking.
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Hull Family Home & Farmstead |
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10:30 AM |
Niagara Air and Space Museum - (formerly the Niagara Aerospace Museum) |
Bell Aircraft's Rosie the Riveter invites you to explore Western New York's rich aviation and space heritage with a field trip to the Niagara Aerospace Museum, located next to the terminal at the Niagara Falls Airport. The museum, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, highlights the region's important contributions to flight and space exploration, from the rocket engine that lifted all twelve Apollo astronauts off to the moon to the Bell X-1 aircraft that Chuck Yeager piloted to break the sound barrier. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with exhibits that bring this remarkable history to life and to deepen their understanding of the local innovations that helped shape modern aerospace technology.
Instructor: David Faix, Education Coordinator & Docent. Please allow 90 minutes for the tour. This tour is limited to 35 guests.
Address: Niagara Falls International Airport/Old Terminal, 9990 Porter Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. - FREE Parking
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David Faix, Education Coordinator & Docent |
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10:15 AM |
Discover Burchfield with University Express!
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UE is going on location to celebrate & explore the work of an American master. Join us for a docent-led tour at The Burchfield Penney Art Center, home to the largest public collection of works by Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), as well as an archive of more than 10,000 pages of handwritten journals, 25,000 drawings, and other ephemera-including a scale re-creation of the artist's studio. Join us to experience the genius of one of America's most original artists! A GIANT thanks to the Burchfield team!! They were our very first partner for UE events and we want to sincerely thank them for continuing to offer these wonderful opportunities!
Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, at Buffalo State University (Parking in lot R-3, on Burchfield Campus. Registration limited to 140 guests. FREE PARKING! Wheelchairs available & can be reserved in advance by calling 716-878-6011.)
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Burchfield Penney Liasion |
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10:00 AM |
An Exclusive Look Inside Buffalo's Historic Knox Mansion (Currently Home to Cellino Law) |
Join University Express and Dr. Michael Cellino for a special 90-minute private tour of Buffalo's historic Cellino/Knox Mansion at 10 am on December 5, graciously hosted by Cellino Law Firm and Dr. Cellino. This rare opportunity offers an inside look at one of Buffalo's most storied homes, where history, architecture, and local legacy come together in an unforgettable experience. The tour is limited to 25 participants, includes free on-site parking, and is not suitable for individuals with mobility concerns due to multiple stairways throughout the mansion.
Address: Cellino Law: 800 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209
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Knox Mansion Liasion |
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