“The Afterlife” and “A Grave Discussion” are topics to be discussed at Explore Buffalo’s Fall Speaker Series event from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle, Buffalo.

The Afterlife
While visiting a cemetery, have you ever wondered what the draped urn on a headstone means or what a broken column symbolizes? The next Fall Speakers series of Explore Buffalo will provide you with some answers. Cemeteries offer a variety of monuments and headstones, which convey an impression or memory of the person who has departed. However, when we look closer, we find deeper messages to be read. In this talk we will look at a variety of symbols found on headstones and memorials and learn their meanings – some of which date back to ancient Egyptian times. As we will see, beyond the simple flowers and crosses, the details of a person’s life lurk hidden beneath the symbols.

Fall is in the air and it’s the perfect time to take a walk! Stroll down Delaware Avenue, visit the Parkside and Lincoln Parkway areas, discover the hidden gems of the Delaware District or walk the Old First Ward of South Buffalo, all with knowledgeable Explore Buffalo guides! If you’ve been putting off taking a tour of Silo City and the grain elevators, do it now! If mob stories and scandals pique your interest, there’s a tour for that, too.

See up close and personal buildings by American master architects such as Louis Sullivan (Guaranty Building), Daniel Burnham (Ellicott Square Building) and Richard Upjohn (St. Paul’s Cathedral). Interested in beaux art or art deco architecture? Explore Buffalo has a tour to fit your interests. Pressed for time? The Best of Buffalo is an excellent introduction to Buffalo’s architectural heritage for visitors and Buffalonians alike.

A variety of fun and slightly scary events are on the autumn schedule at Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village during the month of October. Heritage Village is located at 3755 Tonawanda Creek Road in Amherst.