Rob Rauchwerger Fine Art & Architectural Photography: Blog https://www.robrauchwerger.com/blog en-us (C) Rob Rauchwerger (Rob Rauchwerger Fine Art & Architectural Photography) Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:11:00 GMT Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:11:00 GMT https://www.robrauchwerger.com/img/s/v-12/u122538190-o221731929-50.jpg Rob Rauchwerger Fine Art & Architectural Photography: Blog https://www.robrauchwerger.com/blog 80 120 Cordoba 15CM Ukulele review https://www.robrauchwerger.com/blog/2016/12/cordoba-15cm-ukulele-review  

There are many choices out there when you are looking for your first ukulele.  Do you want a small soprano model or do you want a large baritone sized ukulele that looks more like a guitar than what you imagine when you think of a ukulele.  Mahogany, cedar and spruce are the most popular among the dozens of types of woods you’d want to consider when looking to buy your first ukulele.  Each wood offers a different type of sound and build quality.  Are you interested in playing live at venues?  You might want to consider an acoustic-electric ukulele that you could plug into an amp then.

 

The Cordoba 15CM is a concert-sized ukulele that fits right in the middle of the various sizes of ukuleles.  It is constructed of a mahogany wood top, back and sides and offers a Rosewood bridge and Ivoroid binding.  It comes with nylon strings that will be easier on your fingertips as you learn how to play.  However, you’ll have to buy your own tuner and case for your ukulele because the Cordoba 15CM doesn’t come with any extra accessories.

 

Some common problems with ukuleles in this price range are issues with tuning, intonation and action.  Fortunately, the only problem I’ve run into with this ukulele is with its tuning.  Initially you’ll find yourself having to retune this ukulele fairly often but this isn’t uncommon especially with nylon strings.  After a week or so you’ll notice the Cordoba 15CM holding it’s tune much better!

 

At its price point of $100 it offers unbeatable value for both beginners and experts alike.  You’ll find yourself grabbing the instrument from the side of your couch and playing it often throughout the day.  The build and rich sound that comes out of this instrument makes it worthy of a price point of twice its listed MSRP. 

Sources:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Cordoba/15CM-Concert-Ukulele.gc#pr-header-back-to-top-link

http://sixinsixty.tumblr.com/post/120137146059/cordoba-15cm-review

http://www.theukulelesite.com/cordoba-15cm-mahogany-concert.html

http://www.theukulelereview.com/2013/05/27/6-concert-ukulele-around-100/

 

]]>
(Rob Rauchwerger Fine Art & Architectural Photography) cordoba cordoba 15cm instrument music review song ukulele https://www.robrauchwerger.com/blog/2016/12/cordoba-15cm-ukulele-review Thu, 08 Dec 2016 01:15:24 GMT
Fire at The Apple Farm https://www.robrauchwerger.com/blog/2016/12/fire-at-the-apple-farm Fire crews are investigating what caused the fire that burned down a popular family destination early Friday morning on November 4th

            The Apple farm is located on Route 444 in Victor between County Road 41 and Cherry street.  A passerby reported the fire to 911 around 3:30 a.m. Friday.  Shortly after a second call came in confirming the fire from the owners of the farm.

            Firefighters from nine different towns were called in to battle the early morning fire.  In addition to Victor, firefighters from Egypt and Farmington were battling the fire and tanker trucks from Mendon, Manchester, East Bloomfield and Ionia were called in to assist.

            Fire authorities said that the fire started in the back room of the farm store but the cause is still unknown.  10 minutes after the first firefighters entered the building they were called out due to unsafe conditions.  A few minutes after they were called out the roof collapsed.  Fire crews fought the fire for over two hours until it was under control.

            “What can you do?  You run down and call 911 and that’s all you can do because there’s gas in the building,” said Muhir Bahai, the owner of the farm. 

His daughter, Gloria Thomas, was unable to sleep and was folding laundry when she saw smoke outside her window.  “It’s a little surreal.  It’s like a bad movie – a bad dream – it’s weird to turn around and see that,” said Thomas.

            The family said that a lot of memories perished in the fire that destroyed the family owned farm.  “The walls were covered with blown up sized photos of the family of my dad and uncles when they were younger and starting the farm,” said Thomas.  Muhir Bahair planted the first tree on the property 50 years ago.  “Now it’s gone,” he said.

The farm was best known for their apples, cider and pie.  “When I heard about it I felt sick,” said Mary Ann Stedman, who’s been shopping there for decades.

            Fortunately, no one was hurt in the fire and it was contained to the building.  The 30,000 fruit trees on the property were unharmed by the fire.  The farm also has goats, chickens and a pig in a petting zoo on the property.  The animals were all rescued safely by firefighters.  Bejan Bahai, the second generation owner of The Apple Farm, says that their first priority is finding a new home for the animals they had living on the farm.

            The Bahai’s hope to rebuild the farm.  The family has insurance for the farm but they aren’t sure it’s enough to rebuild.  “(It) depends on the deal with the insurance,” said Muhir Bahai.  The building is a total loss.

            The family said they are humbled by the support they have received from neighbors, friends and even people they don’t know.  “Our homes are OK.  Our families are OK.  Our animals are OK,” said Munir Bahai.  “It’s just a matter of figuring out how to solve this puzzle. 

Several GoFundMe pages have been set up to support the farm.  Thomas wants to thank everyone that has reached out to them in support.  “We hope to be back bigger and better,” she said.

            The cause of the fire is still unknown.

]]>
(Rob Rauchwerger Fine Art & Architectural Photography) apple farm fire new york ny the apple farm victor victor, ny https://www.robrauchwerger.com/blog/2016/12/fire-at-the-apple-farm Thu, 08 Dec 2016 01:10:17 GMT
Rochester Food Trucks https://www.robrauchwerger.com/blog/2016/12/rochester-food-trucks Rochester Food Trucks!

It’s Friday night in Rochester and you’re all dressed up and ready to go out to visit some art galleries downtown on First Friday.  You’ve been anxiously awaiting this day for three weeks and there’s no time to spare for sitting down at a restaurant with so many galleries waiting for you.  Luckily Rochester has your back.

            Since 2011, Rochester has a rapidly expanding array of food trucks.  “It gives people another option to what they want to eat,” said Matt Petrillo, owner and head chef of The Meatball Truck Company.  “I’m not gonna wake up one morning and say ‘Tonight babe lets go find the poutine truck and eat dinner there.’  Usually it’s, ‘Hey babe, we’re already going to the art gallery show and I heard they got a food truck.  Let’s eat dinner there.’” 

Petrillo is no stranger to the restaurant and food business.  He has some formal culinary training but most of his experience comes from working under many different chefs in several cities.  “I’m Italian.  My last name is Petrillo and Petrillo Bakery is down on Lyell and it’s been here for 100 years,” he said.  “My grandpa owned Helluva Good Cheese and he started Yancy’s Fancy cheese.”  His family also owns an Italian restaurant downtown called Antonetta’s where he works as a chef during the food truck offseason over the winter.

“I felt like a sellout.  I was leaving my passion which was high end dining and plating dishes,” Petrillo said.  “I liked to smoke my own meats, cure my own meats, everything from scratch and I was going to start a food truck and I obviously couldn’t do all that on the truck.”  However, food trucks today aren’t the same as the food trucks of yesteryear.  “20 years ago they were like New York City vendors.  It wasn’t a whole kitchen with a hood and work services and you couldn’t produce as much or store as much,” he says.  “Some of the food I’ve seen and I personally make on the truck is just as good as any fancy restaurant like Good Luck.”

The quality of food isn’t the only reason why the food truck business is booming.  Social media has had a huge impact on the success of food trucks.  “Before social media.  Before Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare.  How are you supposed to tell people where your food truck is?” Petrillo asks.  “You put up a flyer and run around and tell people ‘I’m here! I’m here! I’m here!”

Another food truck favorite is Le Petit Poutine.  Le Petit Poutine was started in 2011 and was the first food truck in Rochester.  But why poutine?  “My father is Canadian so that’s why poutine,” says Elizabeth Clapp, one of the owners of Le Petit Poutine.  At first, poutine wasn’t an easy sell.  “We started at the public market with our first truck and we sold a lot of French fries and I gave away a lot of poutine,” says Clapp.  “Thankfully nobody asked for their money back.”  One of those happy customers is Claire Fleming, a fourth year student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), who says, “I never tried poutine before I came here and I’ve never seen a cheese curd on food but it’s pretty delicious.”

Poutine is fries covered with hot gravy and cheese curds.  “It’s kind of a trifecta of comfort food,” Clapp says.   There are few better places than a city like Rochester with so many colleges and young professionals.  “I definitely think there is a huge interest in food trucks and I think the college age is the peak of that,” Clapp notes. 

RIT is a popular stop for them and Clapp says they love it and are always thankful when they are able to come to RIT the few times each semester.  “Food trucks are exciting to students on any college campus because not only is it a new, exciting food option but also an opportunity to experience something off campus without having to leave the grounds,” says Rebekah Geller, a 4th year student at RIT.  “Being able to go to our customers and to participate in events on college campuses and the like is very fun,” Clapp says.  “We really get to be part of the party and we like to bring the poutine party with us wherever we go.”

Le Petit Poutine and The Meatball Truck Company are just two of 24 food trucks that are a part of the Rochester Food Truck Alliance.  The Rochester Food Truck Alliance is an advocacy group fighting for better regulations for food trucks.  “We were the first food truck in Rochester and there were no vending laws at the time so we started a group called the Rochester Food Truck Alliance which is a business association to lobby for better laws,” Clapp says.  Since they started the group the number of approved locations for food truck vendors in downtown Rochester jumped from two to 10 and they are still fighting for more. 

Beyond advocating for food trucks, they are also the official business association for the food trucks of Rochester.  They will plan your event for you and help you with getting the permits for them.  “The food trucks can cater anything and everything under the sun.  I’m talking about Christmas parties, graduation parties, christenings, bar mitzvah’s.  I’ve done hundreds of weddings,” says Petrillo.

            If you’re having trouble finding food trucks you can see where they are at www.wherethatfoodtruck.com.  So next time you’re running low on time and heading out in Rochester, keep a look out for one of the 24 food trucks currently on the road!

]]>
(Rob Rauchwerger Fine Art & Architectural Photography) food food truck food trucks meatballs new york poutine rit rochester rochester institute of technology rochester, ny truck https://www.robrauchwerger.com/blog/2016/12/rochester-food-trucks Thu, 08 Dec 2016 00:48:29 GMT