In 1868, when Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux designed Buffalo’s park and parkways system, they conceptualized the construction of the largest coordinated parks system in the nation to date, right in the heart of the city. Sharing greenspace with urban citizens was of major concern to this famous Central Park landscaper, and his design—which created major parkways like Richmond Avenue punctuated by hubs like Symphony Circle—greatly impacted the formation of the affluent parkside neighborhoods, including Allentown. Kleinhans Music Hall was designed in the late 1930s by acclaimed father-son architectural team Eliel and Eero Saarinen. This Finnish duo, inspired by Olmsted’s work, made Kleinhans a beautiful centerpiece along Symphony Circle and Plymouth Avenue, at the heart of an already architecturally rich neighborhood. This weekend, the Kleinhans Community Association invites both residents and tourists to come discover one of Buffalo’s best-kept secrets, and its growth from a pastoral lane to the culturally diverse neighborhood it is today. Tours begin at 10am at the bust of Chopin in front of Kleinhans; information will be available from 9am to 5:30pm at Heart of the City Neighborhoods (42 Plymouth Ave) for those interested in apartments and housing, architecture, renovation and development, and a greater understanding of Buffalo’s history.

saturday, august 19 at 10 am. Kleinhans Music Hall, Symphony Circle. Free.