Category Archives: local business

Fun at the Antiques Mall

Posted on October 4, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I made another visit to Mohawk Antiques Mall today with my sister, Cheryl. We had a wonderful time wandering around looking at things and chatting. I foolishly did not take any pictures. I wonder if I could find any in my Media Library or Tablet, because I do like to use pictures.

I just loves me some rhinestones.

Of course antique, second hand and thrift stores are my favorite places to look for costumes and props. I have no theatrical endeavors pending, unfortunately, but it does not hurt to keep an eye out for future possibilities.

Accessories are always fun, too.

I already have quite a few fancy bags, but there may be room for one more sometime.

I have a few dishes like these.

I love seeing things I remember from my childhood, especially when it is something I remember from Grandma’s house. These everyday items seem very meaningful to me, but I do not want to wax philosophical.

It was a fun visit. Another good thing about antique stores is that merchandise changes often. So I may make another fun visit soon!

Mohawk Antiques Mall is located at 100 E. Main St., Mohawk, NY, phone number 315-219-5044. They are open Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;, Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesday.

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Another Halloween Decoration Update

Posted on October 1, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I needed something to cheer myself up today.  My first thought was to go to a dollar store and get some cheap Halloween decorations.   Then I thought, don’t be silly!  Go to Pumpkin Junction in Sauquoit and get some good stuff!  For one reason, in addition to being good quality,  it is quite reasonably priced.  Also, I thought it would make a good blog post.

It is a beautiful drive to Pumpkin Junction.  I take Higby Road out of Frankfort to Graffenburg Road.  I saw lots of color in the trees, and a few Halloween decorations in people’s yards.

Just walking around Pumpkin Junction is like exploring a haunted house.  I took a few pictures of some ghouls upstairs.

A couple of charming fellows.

There are also a lot of costumes upstairs.  Do I need something new to wear this year?  Could be.

I may have a hat like that.

I was more interested in taking pictures of the ghouls than the costumes.

Another sweet pumpkin head and friend.

I stopped taking pictures when I went downstairs, because I was busy shopping.  I hope to convince my friend, Kim, to return with me this weekend.  I’ll take more pictures then.  In the meantime,  here are a couple shots of the new decorations I purchased today.

I have always wanted one of those skeletons coming out of the ground!

The skeleton and gravestone are new;  the dead plant is from my container garden.

I’ll try to get one of her lighted up.

We got Witchy at Pumpkin Junction a few years ago,

The other side of the porch.

You can’t quite see the new ghoul hanging on the side of the porch roof.  I suppose I had better go out and get another picture.

Well, that didn’t turn out very well.

At least you can see some nice clouds.  A cloudy night is Halloweeny, I always think.

Pumpkin Junction is located at 2188 Graffenburg Road, Sauquoit,  NY, phone number 315-794-4604.  They are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

 

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Don’t Be Blank! Plug a Local Business!

Posted on September 23, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I guess my brain is still on Planet Arous,  because last night I had a terrible case of Writer’s Blank.  I don’t think I have mentioned this affliction in a while.  I stare at a blank computer screen or page (I tried both yesterday) and feel that my mind is similarly blank.  It is all very well to say, “Just write something, anything!”  Sometimes I can, and sometimes I can, that’s all.

It seems that this morning I can.  Let us not dwell on last night’s failure and complete a late post now.

Perhaps not the best angle, but you get the idea.

One help is that my lovely husband, Steven, brought me a cup of hot coffee.  Aaaaaahhhhh!  I took a picture, because he put it in a local mug.  We have not been to Dyn’s Cider Mill yet this year.  It is a charming place, with yummy cider and delicious donuts.  Additionally, they sell the BEST popcorn.  I wonder if I could persuade Steven to take a drive out there on Saturday.

Another good reason for heading in that direction:  we can go through Richfield Springs and stop at the Community Food Cooperative.  Just to plug another local business, and include another picture.

One of my new favorite places.

 

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Errands and Beer on Non-Sequitur Thursday

Posted on August 21, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today I went for a walk with a few stops to make.  I carried my Tablet thinking to take a few pictures to make a blog post.  We’ll see how well I did.

I hoped to get the hanging flowers in the shot.

My first stop was to pay our water bill.  I also took a picture of the memorial to K-9 Ape, who sadly died in the line of duty.

A very sad day in Herkimer history.

From there I walked down Main Street to Renewed and Rescued, a consignment shop which has expanded recently.  I was particularly interested in a vendor shot  occupieed by a friend.

I did not know how to get the picture without my reflection opin the mirror.

I mean to make a longer blog post about the various new vendors.  For today, I merely took some pictures and repaired to the End Zone Pub and Grub for a refreshing beverage.

This is a shot from a previous summer.

After enjoying a draft there, I decided to stop at Pete’s Tavern for one.  He has been doing some renovations and I wanted to check them out.

I did not get to sit at the bar today.

Another view showing the woodwork.

In the second shot, you really cannot see the neon signs.  In the meantime,  this is a few shots sharing with you my Thursday.   We shall see what I decide to share on Friday. As always, I hope you’ll all stay tuned.

It was an enjoyable afternoon.  I would now like to get on with enjoying my evening. I hope to see you all again on Lame Post Friday.

 

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Schulz and Dooley, Can You Help Me Now?

Posted on August 20, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

This is shaping up to be a bad blogging week.  Never mind why; explanations are so tiresome.  As regular readers know, I like to post every day. So let us get in with the post.

Give a cheer! Have a beer!

This is one of the pictures I took at Showcase Antiques of CNY in Little Falls last Friday.  It has nothing to do with the article I was working on for Mohawk Valley Living magazine.  However, Schultz and Dooley, there could be no possible objection.

Pretty impressive pottery, I say.

And here they are in person.  Debbie Guile, one of Showcase’s owners, told me that these steins were originally produced only for merchants.  However, they were so popular, they soon were made for anybody to purchase.

After talking about these, Debbie speculated that I would soon be ready for a beer.  You bet I was!  Perhaps I should go on a brewery tour at Saranac.  I went on it years and years ago, when it was known as the Utica Club Brewery.  But as Shakespeare said, what’s in a name?

Home of many interesting antiques.

Here is an outside view of Showcase Antiques of CNY.  Lots of fun stuff!

So I give another shout-out to a local business.  And I mention beer.  Not bad for a Wuss-out Wednesday,  I say.

 

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Back to Zeina’s!

Posted on August 13, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went to lunch today at Zeina’s Cafe in Utica.  Regular readers may remember that I went there on Saturday to participate in their fundraiser for the Lebanon Red Cross, in support of relief for that horrible blast.  I LOVE Middle Eastern food, so I decided to treat myself to a little more.

Yum!

Utica is challenging these days, due to all the construction.  I got lost both coming and going.  Full disclosure: I may not have gotten lost on the way there if I had not tried to be on the right side of the street to park.  Quite unexpectedly,  I succeeded.

Again I say, yum!

I ordered a falafel gyro and unsweetened tea.  I was surprised at the size of the sandwich.  I was even more surprised by my ability to eat the whole thing! Usually I bring half my lunch home, but this was so good, I just kept eating.

There was a lot more on the menu I’d like to try.  I brought home a take out menu, so I can plan ahead.  They also offer catering, so I could have some wonderful food at my next gathering.

Zeina’s is located at  607 Varick St., Utica, NY, phone number 315-738-0279.  They are open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday,  11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

 

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Past Places, Future Plans

Posted on August 7, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about another Throwback Thursday Post (even though I am posting large enough that my timestamp probably says Friday)?  Last week was a Theatre Throwback, so let me search my Media Library for something different.

Cool place to eat and shop.

Here is a picture from August of 2019.  Was it really a whole year ago I went to the Main Street Ristorante in Newport, NY?  Time for another trip there, I think.

Regular readers know I love all things cheesy!

Another local business I need to get back to: Original Herkimer Cheese in Ilion, NY,  home of Chudder:  tastes like cheese, spreads like butter!  I Like them on Facebook, so I am always seeing their specials.  They currently offer curbside pick-up, so what’s not to like?

Regular readers also know I love wine.

Here’s another great place I’d love to revisit: Prospect Falls Winery.   I’ll have to check if they’re open for tastings again.  Then again, if they are at least open to sell, I can remember a couple of their wines I really like.  Don’t worry: I’ll imbibe responsibly.

Beer is good too.

Here is a place I went to once and would like to revisit: Ommengang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY.  Steven and I went there once and tasted beer but did not take the tour.

There are all kinds of places I need to go to again.  As they slowly reopen, with proper distancing restrictions,  perhaps I shall.

 

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Weight Loss Goals? What Weight Loss Goals?

Posted on July 29, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

The day after making a yummy salad with locally grown produce, we sent out for pizza, wings AND cookies from Salvatore’s Pizzeria in Herkimer. On the brighter side, I can give another shout-out to a local business.  On the darker side, my weight loss goals become merely weight loss daydreams.

It was Steven’s idea.  No, it really was!  I did not try very hard to dissuade him.  In my defense, Steven’s appetite is so capricious these days, when he actually gets a yen to eat something, I feel I ought to encourage it.  Additionally, we like to support a local business.  Stop laughing at me for rationalizing!  As if YOU never eat pizza (you know who you are).

Where was I?  Ah yes, feeling full and happy.  We got a small garlic pizza with sausage and black olives, chicken wings Siciliano, and two large chocolate chip cookies.  I had one slice of pizza and three wings, and, yes, I ate a cookie.  I make no promises regarding the leftovers.

We got delivery, which is always prompt and friendly.  Many of us have been sending out for food more often since the pandemic.  You can get that little frisson of virtue from supporting the local economy.  We are not sending out as often as we did in previous months, so I felt happy to do so today.

I am planning an extra long run tomorrow.  Additionally,  I still have a salad and other vegetables in my refrigerator.  I will get back on the path to my weight loss goals!  In the meantime,  I confess to having enjoyed this evening’s little detour.

Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant is located at 650 1/2 W. German St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-2600.  You can Like them on Facebook.  I certainly did!

 

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Produce-tive Sunday

Posted on July 27, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been wanting to up my salad intake to help meet my weight loss goals.  Naturally I wanted to boost a local business as well.  With that in mind, I headed to Jiuliano Farms on Rt. 5 in Schuyler, NY.

I wasn’t sure this would be a good picture, but I guess it turned out OK.

I got some peppers, blueberries, grape tomatoes, milk and cheese.

Loves me some blueberries.

They have tables to sit down at, to enjoy some coffee and a danish.  Yes, I got a couple of turnovers for good measure.

Yum!

I also left my Tablet and notebook at the cash register and had to hurry back in to get it.  They had nicely set it aside for me.  I am such a ninny!

A few more goodies I had to pick from.

I also drove to Little Falls to AW Greenhouse Garden.  I purchased some Johnny Jump-ups from them earlier in the year.  Now they are selling produce, along with the cheeses, sauces and dips they also offer.

 

I did not need onions, but those were some nice looking red ones!

I got some Roma tomatoes, banana peppers, and pickling cucumbers.  Full disclosure:  I plan to eat the cucumbers un-pickled.

I was also tempted by the great big tomatoes.

At the last minute I grabbed some cheese curds, of which I ate a few on my way home.  I am really looking forward to the salads I plan to make!

Juliano Farms is located at  2357 State Rte. 5 in Schuyler, NY.   AW Greenhouse Garden is at 463 W. Main St. in Little Falls.  You can Like them both on Facebook.

 

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My Beautiful Bouquet

Posted on July 16, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I love flowers.  To me they are a never-failing source of beauty and joy.  I found a lovely source of such beauty and joy at House Flower Farm in Little Falls.

I can’t remember if it was I Spy CNY or My Little Falls who shared Houle Flower Farm on Facebook, but right away I said, “Ooh!”  Pro tip:  Facebook is a great source for finding local businesses to try.

So rustic!

Houle offers bouquets at a self-serve hut outside their farm on the corner of Rt. 170 and Davis Road.  Driving from Herkimer, Google sent me out Rt. 28 and West End Road, which is a lovely rural drive.  I pulled in to find one bouquet left to purchase.  Phew!

Pro tip: go early for the best selection!

I loved that the bouquet was in a mason jar.  I was especially happy when it fit right into my cup holder for the return drive.  This time I took Rt. 170 into Little Falls.  Being me, I was soon wondering if I had chosen the right direction.  I confess to yelling, “Yes!” and making a fist pump when I realized I had.

My lovely bouquet was soon gracing my mantle.  Different flowers will be available, depending on what is in season, so I look forward to treating myself to more beauty and joy.  Houle also offers flowers by the bucket for special occasions and events.  You can contact them at houleflowerfarm@gmail.com.

So pretty!

The hut is located at 2115 Davis Rd., in Little Falls.  They are open Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. till Sold Out.  You can check their Facebook page to see if they are sold out.  You can also see some lovely photos there, so I highly recommend Liking their page!  For more information, you can visit their website at http://www.houleflowerfarm.com/

 

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