By GirlFriday:
Forest Lawn Cemetery has always been known for its picturesque beauty, as well as its inhabitants, some still with us and others not. Yet, there is another defining characteristic that this beloved landmark is becoming known for, and that is its programming. Whether its The Cemetery Chapel Concert & Lecture Series taking place throughout the winter and spring months, or the Walking and Trolley Tours once the weather breaks, Forest Lawn always seems to be serving up some interesting topics and enjoyable activities for the community.
Speaking of which, there is an notable series which recently caught my attention, that is being offered at the end of every month, as a part of the their current programming. Each Sunday of the month a different topic is explored, ranging from Genealogy Sundays on the first, Concert & Lecture on the second, Salute to Veterans on the third, and finally Restaurants Remembered on the last Sunday of the month.
March 24th, Buffalo’s Best Restaurants will continue to be remembered with the focus on the much adored, and missed, The Cloister (472 Delaware Avenue). The Cloister was one of the city’s most infamous restaurants, for myriad reasons, though it will always be best known as the former residence of Mark Twain. The restaurant was known to have some of the best food in town, served up in a lavish setting. Today the site is set to be the home of a three-storey mixed use building that is currently being erected (link). Back in the day, when James D. DiLapo Jr. opened The Cloister, it was one of the hottest spots in town (see more).
*Join Forest Lawn for at its historic chapel as Marla Bujnicki, master docent for Buffalo Tours, goes back in time to an era of restaurant elegance, complete with a display of memorabilia including old menus and advertising. Guests will enjoy a sample of a signature dish from The Cloister. 2:00 p.m. in our historic chapel. Cost is $25 per person. Seating is limited; reservations are required. Call 716-885.1600 for more information or to order tickets.