Tag Archives: Rochester New York

ISO - fish fry, Karen Tashkovski

ISO Fish Fry: Rabbit Hole Tavern

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There’s nothing better than a beautiful summer Friday afternoon road trip.  I drove to Rochester, New York to deliver my painting, Mustang Dance.  It will be included in a juried group exhibition at Rochester Contemporary Art Center.  The show is titled Fire & Form and it celebrates encaustic art.

Karen Tashkovski, MUSTANG DANCE, 2012, encaustic & collage, 12” x 48”

The opening reception is scheduled for August 28, 2026 from 6:00-9:00 pm with a closing party on September 19, 2026.  Hope to see you there!

Janine found us a great restaurant for a fish lunch – Rabbit Hole Tavern – and they only have it as a special on Fridays.

Presentation:  I had the broiled fish with butter.  Janine had the beer battered version of the haddock.  Both were served with golden delicious french fries as well as coleslaw, and both were generous portions.

I loved the presentation!  The white platters with separate containers for the slaw.  So nice.  We chose to eat on the back deck overlooking the Genesee River.  We sat at this pretty turquoise table with enough shade for comfort.  It was just so beautiful.  And I was hungry!

We ordered drinks plus we each had a glass of water delivered to our table.  There was a condiment box complete with ketchup and mustard, salt and pepper, napkins and even wet naps!  They thought of everything.

Taste:  Everything was great.  I mean – I ate everything so I can’t really criticize.  The fish was a bit dry but not bad – it was probably healthier that way.  You could order the broiled haddock with toppings such as lemon pepper and Cajun flavoring but I chose just butter, although, as I am looking at the pictures, I don’t see any butter.  Oh, well.  The fries were so thin – I imagined them as diet fries.  Coleslaw cabbage was cut in thick chunks and had a lot of crunch, which was nice.

Restaurant Experience:  We were there around 2:00 pm, which is kind of like after lunch, so it was not crowded.  There were only two other tables occupied by guests out on the deck.  More people were inside.  I loved everything about this calm and serene place.  The wait staff were exceptionally nice – shout out to Reg (I think that was his name).  The view – lovely, as I mentioned.  The only thing I didn’t love was the price.  It was twice as much as any of the restaurants I’ve been to since I started this ISO Fish Fry series.

Location: Rabbit Hole Tavern is located at 284 Exchange Blvd., Rochester, New York 14608

Parking:  There is a parking lot out front.  This is a riverside experience so there are other restaurants sharing the lot.  There were plenty of spots available when we got there but I’m not sure what it looks like in the evenings for the happy hour and dinner crowd.

 

 

ISO - fish fry, Karen Tashkovski

ISO Fish Fry: The Old Stone Tavern

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Yesterday I had a late lunch (with three companions) at The Old Stone Tavern in Rochester, New York.  We missed the brunch menu by fifteen minutes, but clearly, as you know, it was Friday and I was in search of a good fish fry.

Presentation:  I give this platter presentation high marks.  I love the aluminum tray with red checkered wax paper – how fun!  I ordered the beer battered haddock dinner, which comes with coleslaw and fries but I substituted regular fries in favor of sweet potato fries.  They did not have a broiled option for the fish because they’d preprepared the coating in advance.

Taste:  I enjoyed my meal – everyone in my party commented that the fries appeared overcooked.  They were served with a maple syrupy condiment that I couldn’t use after tasting how spicy it was.  I had to cut the fish with the provided steak knife because it was rather crusty on the outside – still tender on the inside and delicious.  It is amazing to me how different places prepare the same meal.  I liked the coleslaw – it was traditional and the perfect amount.

I was very hungry, as we had a late lunch (was it really an early dinner?  What do you call eating at 3:45 PM?) after driving the ninety minutes to Rochester, New York (from Syracuse) then hiking around Highland Park.

So, everything was very yummy.

Restaurant Experience:  The Old Stone Tavern is a pub experience.  The restaurant and bar area are combined with booth/chair tables, as well as those bar tables with the high chairs à la Regis & Kathie Lee.

Location:  The Old Stone Tavern is located at 758 South Ave., Rochester, New York 14620.

Parking:  There is a parking lot with plenty of spaces behind the building accessible from South Ave. and the adjacent side street.

 

antiques, architectural salvage, Karen Tashkovski

ReHouse

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I am considering switching out my front door for this one (above).

ReHouse Architectural Salvage is located at 469 W. Ridge Road, Rochester, New York 14615.  I follow them on Facebook and am one of their top fans.  Today was finally the day that I took the ninety minute road trip to visit this fabulous shop.

Architectural salvage is just such a beautiful thing.  I live in a 126-year-old bungalow with plaster walls, hardwood floors throughout and lots of mahogany details.  I prefer to update my house with period craftsman furnishings.

I’m not ready to pull the trigger on this door situation yet – there are other things that are pressing, like paying my taxes and getting a plumber to fix my bathroom sink.

So happy that this store exists, though, and I will be back in the spring.

***From their web-site

ReHouse Architectural Salvage Store

Our Architectural Salvage store features over 16,000 square feet of display space filled with quality items both modern and historical. And we get new items every day!  Stop in and browse. Whether you want to get a great buy, find a unique item, or save the planet, there is bound to be something for you!

Location:
469 W Ridge Rd. (map)
Rochester, NY
(We are just West of Dewey Ave. on the South side of the road.
Parking behind the store, drive in on either side of the building.)

Hours:
9 to 5 Mon – Tue
9 to 5 Thu – Sat
(closed on Sunday and Wednesday)

art, art exhibition, art for sale, art gallery, art group, art venue, ceramics, clay, collage, color, design, drawing, encaustic, encaustic & collage, facces, fiberarts, jewelry, landscapes, mixed media, oil painting, painting, watercolor

Me & My Membership

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I am a member of the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (137 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14604.  My encaustic & collage painting, “Girl”, is there (above).  It is from my Fan-Girl series.

The Rochester Contemporary Art Center’s thirty-fourth Member Exhibition is in full swing through February 14, 2026.  There are over five hundred pieces of art in this show and it is AMAZING!

All artwork is for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to the gallery.  This exhibition is a must see!  I think what happens is you will be drawn to a few things at eye level then you’ll step back and see that there is so much more.  Sculpture, ceramics, paintings, photographs, abstracts, realism – it is the most eclectic mix of talent.

To the volunteers who erected this art show- I commend you!  It must have been a giant puzzle to solve to place everything in such a way that each piece gets the respect it deserves.  It is a glorious achievement.

The gallery hours –

Wed. – Sun. 12-5pm
Fri. 12-9pm

  • It is $2 per visit and free for members.

From their web-site:

RoCo was founded as the Pyramid Gallery

In 1977, a small group of artists led by Tony Petracca, John Kavanaugh and Albert Robbins joined together to exhibit their artwork, present an alternative to museums and commercial galleries, and expand the cultural offerings in the region.

Early on, the crew faced considerable obstacles. Only days after the grand opening there was a significant fire that left the small Monroe Ave. storefront and many artworks damaged. Fundraisers were held and walls were rebuilt. Thanks to the perseverance of the founders and their fellow artists, the Rochester art community has been the beneficiary ever since. After formalizing the organization began to receive New York State and foundation funding and soon began to play a significant role in the artist-run space movement of the era. Still there was uncertainty and challenges. The Culture Wars and shifting foundation priorities altered the funding landscape. Through the decades and several different locations, RoCo’s individual members have provided a stable base for the organization. This significant community support has enabled RoCo to survive and thrive when other small art centers have struggled and even closed their doors. In recent years RoCo’s membership and stature has grown significantly. Now as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary, we’ve achieved outright ownership of our facility and are approaching 1,000 members for the first time in the organization’s history.