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.

Filmed thirty-two years ago, Grey Gardens told the extraordinary story of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edie, who lived in seclusion within the decaying walls of their 28-room East Hampton mansion (called “Grey Gardens”). The two eccentric women had been living there for most of their adult lives, entertaining one another with oddball theatrics and over-the-top camp. For instance, Edie was famous for her exaggerated costumes, particularly her “revolutionary costume” of a sweater wrapped around her head, tacked in place by an ornate broach. Filmmakers Albert and David Maysles scored a hit with Grey Gardens, and it became an overnight cult classic.

“Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face/Great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race!” So begins the poem “Address to a Haggis” an homage to the traditional Scottish dish by Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Never has mere language bestowed such honor and dignity upon a food that traditionally consists of a sheep’s heart, liver and lungs combined with oatmeal, suet, spices and salt mixed with stock—then stuffed and boiled in the sheep’s stomach. Aye, laddie! The poem will be read as part of the Scottish Festival & Highland Games, which will also include heavy athletics such as the Weight Throw (pictured). Other rousing events will include five different bagpipe bands—guaranteed to get your Scottish up, and Celtic and Scottish music by Glengarry Bhoys, Hobson’s Choice, Penny Whiskey, Stone Row, Tom Callahan Trio and Cairde. Harpists Carol Farrar and Mary Lester will also add to the Celtic airs—and Nancy Lang will sing anthems. A variety of Scottish food will be available along with goods from Scottish vendors, while representatives from various clans will be available for those inclined to research their Scottish ancestry. There will also be cooking presentations, and displays by blacksmiths, weavers and Scottish dancers. Even the wee smallest in attendance are sure to enjoy the children’s games and sheep herding demonstrations where Scottish Terriers will race at breakneck speed to corral the wooly little keepers of the Haggis. No pets, please—service animals only.

Part of Chairman Mao’s 1958 “Great Leap Forward” plan for the People’s Republic of China called upon villagers to wipe out the country’s “four greatest evils,” namely rats, mosquitoes, flies and sparrows. The prescription for sparrow eradication called for peasants to scream and bang on pots and pans to frighten the birds and keep them aloft, thereby provoking exhaustion and heart seizures. Unbelievably, the solution is said to have worked. Problem is, this left no natural predator for the country’s locust population. In the next three years, 43 million Chinese would die of starvation due to the decimated crops and some would resort to cannibalism. This is the pretext for Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun (Neurot Recordings), the current release by Los Angeles ambient rock ensemble Red Sparowes. Comprised of drummer Dave Clifford (Pleasure Forever and the VSS), guitarist Andy Arahood (Angel Hair), guitarist Cliff Meyer (ISIS), bassist/pedal steel guitarist Greg Burns (Halifax Pier), and guitarist Josh Graham (Battle of Mice and Neurosis), the band skillfully weaves an instrumental narrative inspired by this monumental failure of Communist Chinese propaganda. Also on the bill are Philadelphia post-punk band Versoma who are touring in support of their current release Life During Wartime (Robotic Empire) and mathcore band Daughters, from Providence, Rhode Island, who will be featuring music from this year’s Hell Songs (Hydra Head).