Did you know that, on average, Americans argue about 19 times a month? If the stress of life and work is starting to take a toll on your relationship, consider grabbing your partner and taking a relaxing walk around Rochester, New York to bond and reconnect outdoors. The city provides beautiful historical and natural walking paths, as well as one-of-a-kind experiences, and this list will provide you with unique ideas of where to walk and what to see in the city. Make sure you wear comfy shoes!
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4 Reasons to Consider Taking a Walk Around Rochester With Your Partner
Wednesday, July 5th, 2023Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester News | No Comments »
Highlights from the Fringe
Wednesday, December 30th, 2015![Highlights from Rochester's Fringe festival. [PHOTO: jasonwilder.org / wilderstreet.tumblr.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-fringe-festival-recap-02.jpg)
Temperatures are falling and the Fringe Fest is a distant memory. Well, technically it’s only a few days in the past, but given the rapid change in temperature it feels like a season ago.
This was the fourth year for the First Niagara Fringe Festival, but it was the first time I’d ever attended. I love Rochester and I love going downtown. But to be honest, I generally avoid events where there are lots of people or the potential for traffic congestion. Since I had a press pass, though, I decided to take full advantage of it, and for 10 days I immersed myself in the fun.
And I do mean fun. Here are a few of the highlights from my week at the Fringe…
Tags: First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival, Fringe Festival, Joanne Brokaw, Rochester, Rochester Fringe Festival, Rochester NY, Spiegelgarden, Spiegeltent
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Highlights from the Fringe
A History of the Charlotte Lighthouse
Tuesday, December 8th, 2015![The Charlotte lighthouse in summer, 2014. [PHOTO: Joanne Brokaw]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-charlotte-lighthouse-01.jpg)
If there’s a cemetery tour happening in Rochester, you can be sure I’m there. For anyone interested in local history, there’s no better place to find unusual stories and bits of trivia, and I’m fascinated by the history buried all around us.
A few weeks ago, the City of Rochester hosted the annual Genesee River Romance weekend 
celebrating the Genesee River and its surrounding trail and gorge system. In 2014, I took full advantage of the weekend of events that include tours of the old subway and aqueducts, the Rundel Library, the Falls, and cemeteries. Somehow, I missed the adverts for this year’s event, so I only had time to catch one thing: the tour of Charlotte Cemetery…
Tags: Charlotte, Charlotte Beach, Charlotte Cemetery, Charlotte Coast Guard, Charlotte Lighthouse, Cuyler Cook, David Denman, first child born in Rochester NY, Genesee River, Giles Holden, history of Rochester, Holden Street, Jack Kemp, James Stoddard Stone, Joanne Brokaw, Lake Avenue, Lake Ontario, Latta family, Luther Jeffords, Mehitabel Hincher, Oak Orchard, River Romance, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Sam Patch, Sam Phillips, Shay's Rebellion, Sodus Bay, the Lighthouse Act, Thomas Jefferson, U.S. Coast Guard, William Hincher
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on A History of the Charlotte Lighthouse
Amazing! Virtual Tour of Rochester Subway on Google Street View
Friday, November 7th, 2014![A local photographer has begun capturing the abandoned Rochester subway for viewing on Google Street View. [PHOTO: Mark Goho]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-subway-virtual-tour-01.jpg)
Okay urban explorers and subway fans, lay down some newspaper and get ready to have your minds blown. A local photographer, Mark Goho, has made it his mission to capture 360º panoramas of Rochester parks to share with the world on Google Views. Mark’s latest project took him deep underground and, with a few clicks of a camera and mouse, he has given the general public unfettered access into the abandoned Rochester subway…
Tags: abandoned places, abandoned subway, Broad Street, Google, Graffiti, Mark Goho, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester panorama, rochester photos, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway photos, Rochester Subway tunnel, street art, subway tunnel, urban exploration
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 14 Comments »
Rochester Subway Tunnel To Be Sealed Off By Luxury Apartments
Monday, September 8th, 2014![This proposed luxury apartment complex by Morgan Management could permanently close off one of the last remaining entry points to Rochester's old subway tunnel. [IMAGE: Morgan Management]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-court-street-apartments-by-morgan-01.jpg)
Several years ago the west end of Rochester’s abandoned subway tunnel was filled as part of the Broad Street Improvement Project. Now a planned downtown development could permanently close off one of the last remaining entry points to Rochester’s old subway tunnel. Morgan Management is waiting for approvals to build a five-story luxury apartment complex at Court Street and South Avenue, right smack on top of the subway’s east entrance and the former site of the Court Street subway platform…
Tags: Court Street, Court Street Bridge, development, development plans, Dinosaur Bar B Que, downtown Rochester, infill, Morgan Development, Morgan Management, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway tunnel, Rundel Library, South Avenue, urban development
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 30 Comments »
Reimagining Rochester’s Underground
Sunday, August 31st, 2014![Kenneth Martin chose to focus on Rochester's abandoned subway tunnel for his Master of Architecture Thesis. This is his concept for breathing new life into the space. [IMAGE: Kenneth Martin]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/ken-martin-aqueduct-concept.jpg)
The abandoned subway tunnel beneath Rochester’s Broad Street has become one of the most popular sites for students of architecture and design to test their creative chops. You may remember the ROC Low Line; an underground park designed by a team of RIT students. Soon after that we reviewed a more serious plan to install an underground shopping mall and entertainment venue called Broad Street Underground.
Yet another thought-provoking concept and set of renderings have been shared with us. This one elaborates on the idea of using the interior space as a nightclub, with various (wet and wild) public spaces…
Tags: abandoned subway, adaptive reuse, aqueduct, Aqueduct Bridge, architecture, Broad Street Corridor Master Plan, Broad Street Underground, development plans, downtown Rochester, Lewis Childs, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway tunnel, underground mall, underground shopping, urban planning
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 15 Comments »
Rochester’s Mercury Statue, Up Close and Personal
Thursday, May 29th, 2014![Statue of Mercury. Rochester, NY. [PHOTO: Wes Plant]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-mercury-statue-renovation-2011-40.jpg)
On Facebook last week I shared an old photo of Rochester’s iconic Mercury statue as it was being removed from its original perch atop the Kimball Tobacco Factory in 1951. The factory was demolished to make way for the War Memorial and the statue sat in storage until the Lawyers Cooperative (Aqueduct Building) became his new home in 1973.
Fast forward to June 2011; the 21 foot tall, 700 pound statue gets a thorough inspection for signs of wear and a good restoration. The following photos were taken by Wes Plant during that checkup. And they show Mercury in detail you’ve probably never seen before…
Tags: aerial photography, Aqueduct Building, Blue Cross Arena, Cluett-Peabody & Company, downtown Rochester, J. Guernsey Mitchell, John Siddons Co., Kimball Tobacco Factory, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company, Mercury statue, public art, Rochester, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Statue of Mercury, War Memorial, War Memorial Arena, William Kimball
Posted in Art + Culture, Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Images, Urban Exploration | 22 Comments »
Rochester’s Great Flood(s)
Monday, May 19th, 2014![A large crowd is gathered on Front Street to look at the flood at the other end of the street. Varlan's Hotel, Rosenberg's Pawnshop, Charles Adam's Sons Grinding, J.G. Zweigle's Sons, W.T. Bridle Furniture, William Pigeon Shoes, Hyman Davis Shoes, Genesee Provision Company, Myers Department Store, and the F.H. Loeffler Company are visible in the photo. March, 1913. [IMAGE: Albert R. Stone]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-ny-flood-march-1913-01.jpg)
With all of the recent flooding in our area, RocSubway reader Michael Delaney wrote in and suggested, “a great idea for an article would be about the history of flooding in Rochester and the civil engineering that has gone into solving the issue. Beyond the dams, I’ve heard that there are huge storm sewer tunnels underneath the city. It would be very interesting to know more about it.”
Situated at the intersection of the Genesee River and Erie Canal, Rochester’s geography has blessed—or cursed—us with a long long history of great floods. Before the construction of the Mount Morris Dam (1948-1952) records indicate the City of Rochester had experienced severe flooding about every seven years between 1865 and 1950. Talk about a pesky problem.
Digging into all of the engineering marvels that have spared modern Rochesterians from most of these high waters could easily span many pages. And I promise to dedicate future posts on the subject. But for now, I want to show just how bad this problem was by highlighting just one flooding disaster that occurred in late March, 1913…
Tags: Aqueduct Bridge, Atlantic Supply House, Bartholomay Beer, Black Creek, Brown Street, C.P. Ford & Company, Central Avenue, Charles Adam's Sons Grinding, Court Street, Dave Solomon, downtown Rochester, Erie Canal, Erie Canal Aqueduct, F.A. Sherwood Company, F.H. Loeffler Company, F.P. Van Hoesen Company, Fahy Market, Fifth Avenue Clothes Shop, flood, Front Street, Genesee Aqueduct, Genesee Provision Company, Genesee River, Gorsline Building, history of Rochester, Hotel Richmond, Hyman Davis Shoes, J.C. Vine's Columbia Hotel, J.C. Wilson Company, J.G. Zweigle's, J.G. Zweigle's Sons, Jacob Goldstein's Lodging House, John M. Forster Company, local history, Market Streets, Mill Street, Mount Morris Dam, Myer's Department Store, old photos, old photos of Rochester, old photos of Rochester NY, People's Rescue Mission, Plymouth Avenue, Postal Telegraph Cable Company, Powers Building, Rienzi, Rochester, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester Poultry & Commission Company, Rochester Thread Company, Rosenberg's Pawnshop, Scottsville, South Avenue, Varlan's Hotel, W.T. Bridle Furniture, Weis & Fisher Company, West Shore railroad bridge, William H. Larkin Hotel, William Pigeon Shoes, Zweigle's
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | 12 Comments »
1920’s Photo of Rochester Subway Construction
Friday, December 6th, 2013![Rochester Subway, Broad Street tunnel construction. c.1925. [IMAGE: Rochester Municipal Archives]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-subway-broad-street-construction-01.jpg)
Today’s Fun Foto Friday is this 1920’s view of the Erie Canal aqueduct looking east. You’re looking at the covering over the old canal which would soon become Broad Street and the Rochester Subway beneath. In the background (center) is the Osburn House hotel. Eventually Broad Street would be extended eastward, right through that hotel. The stairwell to the City Hall subway station can be seen at the street corner. And next to the stairs, notice the construction site…
Tags: Broad Street, Exchange Boulevard, Exchange Street, Fun Foto Friday, Genesee Valley Trust, history of Rochester, James Field Company, Osburn House, Rochester history, Rochester Subway, Times Square Building
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 2 Comments »
Sculpey House Ornaments
Friday, November 8th, 2013
Are you looking for gift ideas this holiday season? Here’s one that’s sure to fill any proud homeowner with good cheer. Local artist Kimberly Kllc DiPietro makes awesome little house ornaments out of Sculpey®! There can’t possibly be a better way to commemorate one’s home than with America’s favorite oven-baked clay…
Tags: 19th Ward, 19th Ward neighborhood, Aberdeen Street, architecture, art, Christmas, gift idea, Kimberly Kllc DiPietro, Sculpey house ornaments
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Gifts | No Comments »
Bike Rochester: Genesee Valley Greenway, Lehigh Valley Trail Loop
Monday, October 7th, 2013![The fourth part of the Bike Rochester Series... let's hit the Genesee Greenway and Lehigh Valley Trails! [PHOTO: Ryan Green]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rgbike-rochester-genesee-valley-greenway-lehigh-valley-trail-LV101.jpg)
The following is a guest post submitted by Ryan Green.
Submit your story today.
The fourth part of the Bike Rochester Series differs quite a bit from the previous ones. We will be venturing on old railroad rights of way (train tracks converted to trails via Rails to Trails Programs). The biggest difference here is that these trails are not paved; they are packed dirt/grass and crushed stone (similar to parts of the unpaved canal trail). So a road bike is not recommended, however a hybrid bike will be more than comfortable and safe. This is the perfect ride to do during the Fall!
Tags: bicycle path, bike path, downtown Rochester, Erie Canal, Genesee Greenway Trail, Genesee River, Genesee Riverway Trail, Genesee Valley Park, Lehigh Valley Trail, Ryan Green
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 8 Comments »
Rochester Subway Tours This Weekend
Friday, October 4th, 2013![A tour of Rochester's abandoned subway tunnel. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/abandoned_rochester_subway_05.jpg)
I often get asked if there are tours of the Rochester subway. The short answer is no. The longer answer is while there is no official tour of the “subway,” every October there is usually a tour of the “historic Erie Canal aqueduct.” And it’s coming up this weekend…
Tags: abandoned subway, abandoned subway tunnel, abandoned tunnel, Aqueduct Bridge, Broad Street Underground, Canal Society of New York State, downtown Rochester, Erie Canal Aqueduct, River Romance, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway tunnel, subway tour, urban exploration
Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Subway, Train/Railroad Stuff, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Exploration | 5 Comments »
Broad St. Underground: ANOTHER Proposal for the Abandoned Subway!
Monday, September 23rd, 2013![Lewis Childs, co-founder of Broad Street Underground, explains how Rochester's abandoned subway tunnel could be converted into commercial and retail space. [PHOTO: RochesterSubway.com]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-broad-street-underground-01.jpg)
Rochester’s old subway tunnel hasn’t seen a passenger car come through here in nearly sixty years. But lately, redevelopment ideas are arriving with unbelievable frequency. A few weeks ago we were talking about the ROC Low Line; an underground park designed by a team of RIT students. This week, another local group has come forward with a different plan. And these guys want to take theirs beyond just an academic study. Stand clear of the yellow line folks – here comes the “Broad Street Underground” concept…
Tags: abandoned subway, adaptive reuse, aqueduct, Aqueduct Bridge, architecture, Broad Street Corridor Master Plan, Broad Street Underground, development plans, downtown Rochester, Lewis Childs, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway tunnel, underground mall, underground shopping, urban planning
Posted in Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development, Video | 44 Comments »
The Rochester Landmarks Poster, by Richard Margolis
Monday, March 4th, 2013![Rochester Landmarks Poster [IMAGE: Richard Margolis]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-landmarks-poster-richard-margolis.jpg)
When I first moved to Rochester’s Swillburg neighborhood thirteen years ago, my favorite place to eat was Highland Park Diner. I remember this Rochester Landmarks poster, by Richard Margolis, hung over one of the booths there. I used to stare and study those landmarks all the while shoveling Aunt Bee’s Homestyle Meatloaf into my face. Ah, my first taste of Rochester. Today I own that poster, and I’ve now been to all but one of the 38 landmarks on it. It’s a great feeling!
Now you can get your hands on a copy of this Landmark poster from the RochesterSubway.com Gift Shop, and start checking them off your list too. Can you name all 38 landmarks? No peeking! The answers are after the jump…
Tags: Aqueduct Bridge, ARTwalk, Browns Race, Bust of Goethe, Center at High Falls, Charlotte Lighthouse, Colgate Divinity School, Cutler Union, Don’s Original, Driving Park Bridge, Eastman Theater, Erie Canal, First Universalist Church of Rochester, Genesee Brewery, Genesee River, George Eastman House, Geva Theatre, gift idea, Gift Shop, High Falls, Highland Park, Highland Park Diner, Hojack Swing Bridge, House of Guitars, Hoyt-Potter house, Jack Rabbit, Jines, Kodak World Headquarters, Lamberton Conservatory, Landmark Society, Let’s Have Tea, Little Theatre, Lower Falls, Main Street Armory, Memorial Art Gallery, Naval Armory, Nick Tahou's, Ontario Beach, Oxford Street Magnolias, Park Avenue, photo, photographer, Poet’s Garden, poster, Richard Margolis, Robach Community Center, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester Landmarks poster, Rochester NY, rochester photos, Rochester Public Market, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sam Patch, Schoen Place, Seabreeze Amusement Park, Seneca Park, Seneca Park Zoo, Stone Tolan House, Susan B. Anthony Square, The Powers Building, Writers & Books
Posted in Art + Culture, Rochester Destinations, Rochester History, Rochester Images | 2 Comments »
Rochester’s Adventure in Optimism
Monday, January 14th, 2013![Cover of Rochester City Newspaper. June 2, 1983. [COURTESY: CITY Newspaper]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/city-newspaper-rochester-subway-story.jpg)
Sean Kirst began his career as a writer for City Newspaper (he’s now a columnist at Syracuse’s Post Standard ). He says he fell in love with the haunting feel of Rochester’s subway tunnels and was intrigued to learn the subway began taking off just after World War II. But at a critical moment, the system was basically dismantled by community leaders who were already thinking “interstates.” Sean dug into the story and wrote a fairly in-depth story entitled “Rochester’s Adventure in Optimism.” It was published in City Newspaper on June 2, 1983. Thirty years later, City Newspaper has graciously allowed RocSubway to share the story with you again, here…
Tags: City Newspaper, Harold McFarlin, history of Rochester, Jim Dierks, John Thomas, Mary Anna Towler, Mike Dow, National Railway Historical Society (NRHS), New York Museum of Transportation, NYMT, Richard Sale, Rochester, Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum, Rochester City Newspaper, Rochester history, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, Rochester subway car 60, Rochester Subway photos, Rochester Subway tunnel, Sean Kirst
Posted in Reader Submitted Stories, Rochester History, Rochester Images, Rochester Subway, Rochester Subway Stories, Transit + Infrastructure, Urban Development | 7 Comments »
Rochester’s Rundel Library on Ghost Hunters: ‘Due Date with Death’
Monday, November 26th, 2012
This Wednesday night, SyFy Channel will air a new episode of Ghost Hunters featuring Rochester’s Rundel Library (and possibly the subway tunnel). Sally Snow, Assistant Director at Monroe County Library, says the show approached them initially about the abandoned Rochester subway. “As scary as the subway is, the library is where the real haunting action is,” Snow said. “All I can say is that they found stuff, for sure. I can’t say what until the show airs.”
The Ghost Hunters team spent two full nights investigating the tunnels and the Rundel building. Sally says she’s never experienced paranormal activity in the library first hand, but she has seen security camera footage of a door opening and closing by itself. “This is a door that usually requires a really good tug to get it open. It’s very strange.”
Now personally, I’m not saying I believe in this stuff, but here’s the story of one mysterious death which occurred on this very spot in 1902…
Tags: Court Street, Democrat & Chronicle, Democrat and Chronicle, Erie Canal, Erie Canal Aqueduct, Erie Canal Path, Erie Canal towpath, Ghost Hunters, ghost subway, haunted subway tunnel, Johnson Seymour Mill Race, Laura Young, Monroe Avenue, murder, mystery, O.W. Stanley Cafe, old photos of Rochester, old photos of Rochester NY, Rochester Public Library, Rundel Library, Sally Snow, spirits, SyFy Channel
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester News | 5 Comments »
New Gallery Exhibit: Revisiting Rochester
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012![High Falls, c.1900 [IMAGE: Part of 'Revisiting Rochester' exhibit]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/revisiting-rochester-high-falls.jpg)
A new exhibition celebrating Rochester’s heritage encourages us to honor and preserve our past as we seek to revive our city for the future. Beginning February 3, a collection of digitally-enhanced images of Rochester during the Progressive Era will be on display at Joe Bean Coffee Roasters [map ] throughout the entire month of February.
Tags: Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, Kind of the Hill, Mike Battle, old photos, old photos of Rochester, Rochester, rochester images, Rochester NY, The Simpsons, vintage views
Posted in Events, Rochester Destinations, Rochester Images, Rochester News | 5 Comments »
ROC Digital Makeover Contest… 1 Week to Go!
Wednesday, May 25th, 2011Post Your Photos to
Facebook Before June 1.
![The Great ROC Digital Makeover! Submit a photo of a Rochester scene to RocSubway on Facebook. If chosen, we'll unleash the power of Photoshop and give your scene a digital facelift. You'll also win a FREE 16x10 print of Old Rochester City Hall. [Flickr Photo: globochem3x1minus1]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/the-great-roc-digital-makeover.jpg)
Given Rochester’s status as the “Image City” and our surplus of neglected real estate, I figured photos of Rochester would be raining down on the RocSubway Facebook page by now.
Here’s an opportunity to see what your city, town, or neighborhood could look like if given a little time and attention. And all you have to do is post a snapshot and get your Facebook pals to “like” it. RocSubway and Photoshop will do the rest.
Tags: bus-stop, Conkey Avenue, contest, Facebook, Kodak Tower, makeover, Photoshop, Rochester, Rochester City Hall, Rochester NY, rochester photos, vintage postcard of Rochester City Hall and Subway entrance
Posted in Freebies, Rochester Images | No Comments »
Struggle in Smugtown: A History of Rochester’s Working Class
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010Shawn Wilkinson, a friend and member of Reconnect Rochester
, recently tipped me off to this documentary; Struggle in Smugtown. “Smugtown” is the not-so-flattering nickname given to Rochester by newspaper writer G. Curtis Gerling and also the title of his book Smugtown, USA. The “Struggle” refers to that of the working man and woman. I think you’ll find this to be a fascinating look into the social and economic history of our little town.
Watch all 15 segments of this film
(including this one on Transportation in Rochester).
Tags: Flour City, Flower City, history of Rochester, movie, Rochester history, Ronald G. Pettengill Labor Education Fund, Struggle in Smugtown, video
Posted in Rochester History, Rochester Images | No Comments »
River Romance and the Subway. Saturday 10/9
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010![The Canal Society of New York State will be hosting tours of the Broad Street Aqueduct and subway tunnel this weekend. [PHOTO: Dag Lindquist]](https://www.rochestersubway.com/images/photos/rochester-subway-dag-lindquist.jpg)
Two weeks ago the World Canals Conference took Rochester by storm and offered the public a glimpse inside the Broad Street Aqueduct Bridge and abandoned subway tunnel. Thousands attended and many tour-goers shared their great photos on our Facebook page . Did you miss all the fun? Well I’ve got good news for you. This Saturday, October 9th, you’ll have another chance to explore Rochester’s historic underbelly…
Tags: aqueduct, Broad Street, Erie Canal Aqueduct, Facebook, Genesee Aqueduct, photo, River Romance, Rochester, Rochester NY, Rochester Subway, subway tour, World Canal Conference
Posted in Events, Rochester News, Rochester Subway, Urban Exploration | 1 Comment »
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