(Second of two articles.) The growth of vineyards and wineries here, on the shores of the Finger Lakes, is not about the great views, but about the lakes and rolling hills. Paraphrasing from the book Culture in a Glass, by upstate vintner Richard Figiel, the lakes act as radiators. They emit temperatures cooler than the […]
Rich Gardner
Posted inNews & Opinion
Lake effect
If you stand alone in the quiet of winter among the naked vines of a vineyard, you might understand the story of the New York grape better than from savoring a glass of its best wine, or watching experienced hands pluck grapes more beautifully than a machine could. The dark-reddish woody vines are leafless, […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Walking scorched earth
On the 225th anniversary of the Scorched Earth Campaign, a punitive expedition against the Iroquois, City Newspaper writer Rich Gardner walked the long path of destruction over seven days and documented his experiences. Part two of a two-part series.
Posted inNews & Opinion
Walking scorched earth
August and September mark the 225th anniversary of a campaign of destruction and death that came through Upstate New York. The year was 1779 and our newly declared independent country was at war with England. Colonists were fighting the British Army and British Loyalists on many fronts. Added to these two foes, in the […]
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Seeking Son House…
When the Beatles first visited America and were met at the airport by the media hordes, they were asked what their plans were. Paul McCartney’s answer included, “I’d like to see Muddy Waters.” A reporter asked, “Where’s that?” McCartney responded, “Don’t you even know who your own famous people are?” This apparent […]
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Cobbs Hill diaries
I hit the snooze button on an early spring morning, prop
myself up on one elbow, and dial 974-1616 on the bedside phone: “The time
is… five… forty… nine… A…. M. The local temperature is… forty…
five… degrees.”
As I rise, it’s still dark. I’m on
my way to keep an appointment with Rochester’s hilltop oasis: Cobbs Hill
reservoir.
