Category Archives: local business

Fun at the Waterfront

Posted on July 5, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I believe I mentioned Steven and I were visited by our good friend Tracy in the last few days.  We began our delightful visit with a trip to the Waterfront Grille at Gems Along the Mohawk  in Herkimer, NY.  It is one of my favorite Sunday afternoon things to do (and one I rarely get to indulge in), to sit at the bar and order drinks and appetizers.  We were happy to find seats at the bar.  Steven and I ordered some Chardonnay, but Tracy needed to put a little more thought into her drink order.  She is not as huge a wine-o-phile (oenophile, but I mispronounce that word) as I am.

Two of my favorite people, yes.

Here is a shot of Steven and Tracy enjoying themselves.  I was enjoying myself, too.  For one reason, the bartender, Meghan, asked me how my blog was going.  She remembered me and that I wrote a blog!  I felt famous.

Our delightful bartender, with a shot of the bar (no pun intended).

Meghan was making a joke with another patron as I took this picture.  I also wanted to include the slogan, “Life’s too short to drink the house wine.”  Actually, I find many house wines are perfectly potable as well as being within my price range.  I think life is too short not to drink wine.  That is, if you like wine.  To each his own, as the old lady said when she kissed the cow.

We ordered bacon wrapped scallops and steamed clams.  We split two appetizers among the three of us in order to save room for dessert.  Steven and I do not always order dessert, but Tracy is something of a bad influence on us.  That is another reason we like it when she comes to visit.

Steven enjoys being out with two beautiful women.

Steven insisted on taking a picture of Tracy and me.  I confess, I do not always enjoy looking at pictures of myself.  However, some people seem to think I am somewhat good-looking.  Why should I call them liars?

I thought I ought to get at least one shot of the brown water. It is still showing the effects of the recent flooding the area has experienced.

 

Another outdoor shot.

After eating and drinking, we wandered into the Retail Stores.  I especially like looking at the Herkimer Diamond jewelry.  I also picked up a few postcards to send to the folks I send postcards to.

Gems Along the Mohawk is located at 800 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY.  The Waterfront Grille’s phone number is 315-717-0700. The number for the retail stores  is 315-717-0077.

 

 

 

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That Hit the (Knight) Spot

Posted on June 21, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Tonight my husband Steven suggested we get some dinner at The Knight Spot in Frankfort, NY.  Since I felt I needed a further excuse than, “Good idea!” I said, “I’ll write a blog post about it!”  Score!

I’ve written about The Knight Spot.  It is a coffee shop, restaurant and ice cream parlor with a comfortable family atmosphere.  We’ve been there on many occasions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon ice cream sundaes (guess which one’s my favorite).   When we decided to go tonight for dinner, my first thought was patty melt and chocolate shake.  Yum!

Then I thought that might not be the best choice for my weight-loss goals.  I looked over the whole menu twice and decided a salad was just not going to cut it for me (although I have enjoyed their antipasto on occasion).  I liked the Tuesday special of two Hoffman hot dogs. Steven suggested we get that and split it.  We both decided to get a macaroni salad on the side.  Ignoring my weight loss goals, I also ordered a small Yuengling draft.  Hey, at least I got a small one!  Steven had coffee.

The food was delicious.  I had asked for provolone cheese and onions on my hot dog and added mustard, while Steven had mustard and relish.  The buns were perfectly toasted.  The macaroni salad was so good, it didn’t even need salt.

We were delighted with our dinner, which was also very reasonably priced.  The Knight Spot is located at 264 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-4054.  You can Like them on Facebook.

 

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Getting a Line on Some Beer

Posted on June 20, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did one traditional Father’s Day thing on Sunday:  I bought my Dad beer.  This gave me the opportunity to go to a new business in Ilion, Route 51 Beer Belly Bob’s Discount Beverage Center.  I think Beer Belly Bob is cool.

One reason I went is, I knew Beer Belly Bob carries Labatt’s Ice, which I know my Dad likes, and I like too.  I know, being Mohawk Valley Girl, as I am, it would have been nice to bring Dad something brewed locally, but I don’t know of anything Dad likes of that nature.  We’ll have to go tasting together sometime and see if we can’t find something.

I found the Labatt’s Ice in the cooler, apparently only available in a 30-pack.  Well, I could help Dad drink it.  I’m helpful that way.  It was a little heavy for me to carry, but this was a Father’s Day present. I persevered.

There was a line at the register. It was not a long one, but seemed so because I was carrying a 30-pack.  I set it on the floor.  Waiting in line also gave me a chance to look at the signs advertising upcoming beer tastings.  They have a very nice tasting room.  Regular readers know I love to taste.   Sam Adams on June 22, Founders Brewing and Ithaca Brewery on June 23, both 5 to 7 p.m.  Yay, I love Sam Adams!  I feel so patriotic when I drink it.

While moving my beer as the line moved, I dropped my car keys and didn’t even notice (and I had NOT had any beer yet!). The lady in line ahead of me nicely picked them up for me.  She asked me if they sold ice.

“I don’t know, ” I said, looking around for a machine.  Then I saw a sign in the window.  It was facing out, but I can read backwards.  “Oh, yes, there’s a sign: ‘We sell ice.'”

As they checked out, I remarked on how much beer the lady and her husband had and said I might follow them home, which is what I often say to people I see carrying beer (full disclosure:  I have never actually followed anybody home).  They said they had some very thirsty people at their house.  When the clerk handed the man the key to the ice machine, he said, “Oh, you’re giving me the keys to the car!”

I said, “Sure, you can take the car, because you haven’t drunk all this beer yet.”

I like to get into conversations with people in check-out lines.  It adds interest to my shopping expeditions.

Beer Belly Bob’s is located at 70 Otsego St., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-895-0936. They are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.  You can Like them on Facebook, which also lists their beer tastings.  See you there!

 

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Not Wuss-out, Shout-out!

Posted on June 15, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

So after work today I put in laundry, folded laundry, went running, took a shower, put on a cute outfit, and waited for Steven to get home. When he did, I suggested we go out for dinner.  I suppose it was irresponsible of me, because we are supposed to be watching our pennies, but, well, sometimes you just gotta. We ended up in Jamo’s in Herkimer.

We sat at the bar, which we like to do.  A musician was in the dining room, playing piano and guitar (not both at once) and singing.  He was covering some great mellow ’70’s music by John Denver, Dan Fogelberg and others.  We sang a couple of the songs to each other.  Luckily for our fellow diners, we were not within earshot of anybody.

I ordered a salad called Artichoke Panzanella while Steven got the B. L.T.  His sandwich came with fries, which he graciously shared with me. Yum!  We had an excellent Pinot Grigio with our dinner.

After settling our bill, I wanted to put a tip in the musician’s tip jar. I had to wait till he was in between songs, because there was not one right out, clearly labelled.  That was OK, because I got to chat with him a little.  His name was Lauren Quail, and he is from Frankfort.  He said he was a Valley boy, so I told him I was Mohawk Valley Girl, although I was transplanted here.  We talked about how much we love the area.  He plays at Jamo’s every Wednesday, so that is something for me to remember when I feel like a mid-week night out.

So, you see, instead of Wuss-put Wednesday, I give a shout-out to a local business.  Jamo’s is located at 123 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-1746.

 

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Still Posting Lame on Saturday

Posted on April 30, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I came up with a new expression yesterday:  I Meatloafed it home, meaning I drove like a Bat out of Hell.  Not everybody will get this.  You see, there was a singer called Meatloaf, and he had an album (it was the 1970’s) called “Bat out of Hell.”   Well, it amused me, anyways.

So here it is Saturday and I guess I’m making another lame post.  Never mind why.  It’s been a long day and I’ve done very little of any interest.  I took a drive on the New York State Thruway, but since I was driving, I could not really enjoy any views.  Incidentally, despite my grandiose claims of speed, I did not go considerably above the posted limits for any considerable length of time.  After all, safety first.  Also, I do not want to get a speeding ticket.  Still, the speed limit is 65 m.p.h.  That is faster than a mile a minute, so I don’t think I was pokey-poking along too slowly.

And that is really all I have for today.  I felt so pleased about the Meatloaf pun, I thought I could get a whole post out of it.  I guess it turns out, not so much.  Oh, I know what, like yesterday’s post, I can give a shout-out to a local business.

When I arrived home, tired and hungry, Steven called Salvatore’s in Herkimer and ordered a garlic pizza and antipasto salad.  Yum!  Prompt delivery of delicious food as always.

Also as always, I’ll try for a better blog post tomorrow.

 

 

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Beer over Exercise

Posted on April 26, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yum!

When I was running on Friday afternoon, I ran by the Endzone Pub & Grub on Main Street in Herkimer.  Two guys were sitting at a table on the sidewalk out front, sipping beer.

“That’s where I want to be!”  I said.   Yesterday, I was.

Steven and I had meant to walk to the post office, which we did, then take a long(ish) way home, so it would be good exercise.  Our steps took us by the Endzone and I suggested, not very seriously, that we go in and have a beer.  Much to my surprise, Steven agreed.  I guess when it comes to a choice between beer and exercise, beer wins.  We went in and sat at the bar.

When I asked what was on draft, the bartender told us they had just tapped the Sam Adams Seasonal Ale.  That sounded good to us.  It was!  Very light and flavorful, an excellent summer drink.  Yesterday was such a lovely sunny day, we enjoyed the brew quite a bit.  Towards the end of the beer, Steven said he was hungry.  Obviously the sensible thing to do would be to go home and cook supper, but I said I thought they served food at the Endzone.

“Yes, they have food here,” said a young lady who had just entered and was about to take her drink to one of the tables outside.

We got hot dogs and macaroni salad, with another draft.  Yum!  After we finished eating, we went and sat outside to finish our beers.  A young man went jogging by, and I shared my story of running by and envying the beer drinkers on Friday.  The lady who had told us they had food applauded my better decision to sit and drink beer.  It was a very enjoyable interlude.

The Endzone Pub & Grub is located at 129 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-219-5796.  They are open Monday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 2 a.m., and Sunday from noon to midnight.  You can Like them on Facebook.  I did.

 

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Hotties at the Tavern

Posted on April 9, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had been wanting to go to Gerber’s 1933 Tavern for the longest time.  When I heard they were having a Prohibition Party, I made immediate plans to go with my friend Kim.  I think I mentioned my problem getting an outfit together.  I think I didn’t do too badly.

I’m the hottie on the right, in the tiara.

The Tavern is a beautiful place.  It looks as if it hasn’t changed much since the ’30’s.  Um, not that I was around in the 1930’s.   I’m not that old.  We sat at the bar and ordered drinks.  The service was awesome. We ordered a hummus appetizer, which came with pita chips, vegetables and olives.  Yum!

We were there early and the only ones dressed up at first.  The staff and other patrons admired our outfits.   Later on, more costumes showed up.  They  were going to have a trivia contest at eight, but we left before that.  Most of my knowledge is quite trivial, but for some reason I never do well at trivia contests.

I plan to return to Gerber’s 1933 Tavern soon, possibly for lunch, because there were a couple of sandwiches on the menu that’s I’d love to try.  They are located at 16 Liberty St., Utica, NY.  They are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to midnight, closed Sunday and Monday.  You can Like them on Facebook.  I did.

 

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He’ll Never Even Miss the Duck

Posted on February 19, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

What I day I’ve had and it’s not over yet!  We got to sleep in, because Steven did not work till 10:30 this morning.  After a fairly leisurely first part of the day, I got to moving and shaking when Steven left for work.

I first buzzed by the post office, where once again I needed post card stamps. I sent some people post cards of Utica, NY, which I purchased at the Oneida County Historical Society last Saturday.

From there I went to the Hot Spot Salon and Spa in Herkimer, where I had scheduled a pedicure.  I haven’t had a pedicure in months!  I was early, so I worked on the character sheets for the murder mystery I’m writing to be presented by Ilion Little Theatre at Morning Star Methodist Church April 1.  The title is He Laughed Himself to Death.  Soon, however, I was soaking my feet and chatting with the stylist.  I got my toes painted red, in honor of my character, Ruby, in Rubbed Out at Ruby’s, to be presented by LiFT Theatre Company at the Overlook Mansion in Little Falls Feb. 25.

With my toes all pretty (and a little cold, since I insisted on wearing my faux-birkenstock sandals (isn’t that a more elegant term for them than Fakenstocks?), I went to Ilion Little Theatre, where I met a couple of cast-mates from Steel Magnolias, to be presented the first two weekends in March, one of whom is also in Ruby’s.  We were going to shop a few thrift stores.

First we went to the Cornerstone Shop on Morgan Street.  We found purses for our characters in Ruby’s, and they found  a few good shirts for Magnolias.  I found a black evening purse with rhinestones on the clasp.  I did not need it for any play, or indeed at all, since I have many evening bags (I kind of collect them).  I bought it anyways.  It was beautiful!

Next we went to the New 2 You Shop in Central Plaza.  My friends had never been there, a scandalous omission.  We spent a lot of time looking at all kinds of things.  I found two pair of earrings, one for Ruby, one for me.  I tried not to look at the books but failed.  I actually refrained from buying any; aren’t you proud of me?  I found a jacket that will work for Claree, if I can put the right skirt with it. It was only a buck!

Then I saw a little duck that was only a dollar.  Wouldn’t Steven like a little duck?  However, we have many, many stuffed toys and are constantly giving each other more.  I refrained.  My friend Kim thought Steven might be disappointed.

“I will fix him something wonderful for dinner,” I said.  “He’ll never even miss the duck.”

“He never even has to know about it,” Kim suggested.

“Well, he will when he reads my blog and the title is, ‘He’ll Never Even Miss the Duck.'”

Kim agreed that was a good title, so I used it.  We had thought to go to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, but I was quite shopped out by that time.  I went home and had something to eat.

Now I have to get my rear in gear again and figure out something wonderful for Steven’s dinner.  Otherwise, I guess I’ll be going back to New 2 You on Monday and buying that duck.

 

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Why I’m Fat

Posted on January 24, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

In lieu of my usual Middle-aged Musings Monday (or Monday Mental Meanderings, I guess), I would like to give a brief shout-out to a local business.  Yesterday, Steven, our friend Kim and I had a good meal at Asteroga Ale House in Herkimer, NY.

We had just left Little Falls, where we met with other members of LiFT Theatre Company to brainstorm about the interactive murder mystery we are doing at the Overlook Mansion in February.  I’ll write more about that later!  Theatre stuff always makes me work up an appetite.  OK, any little thing, including the mere passage of time, works up an appetite for me.  Be that as it may, I wanted to eat and dragged Steven and Kim along with me.

It was shortly before five p.m. when we walked in and easily found seats at the bar.  I like to sit at the bar.  We ordered drinks and perused the menu.  I got the special of 1/4 pound cheeseburger with curly fries.  Steven got a BLT sandwich with chips.  Kim, who generally eats light, ordered sweet potato fries.  While we waited for the food, we looked at a football game on the television and chatted about our upcoming theatre projects.

The food tasted really good.  I shared my fries with Steven but still chowed down on a lot of them myself.   This is why I have such trouble meeting my weight-loss goals.

The Asteroga Ale house is located at 122 W. Albany Street, Herkimer, New York, phone number (315) 219-5578.  You can Like them on Facebook.

 

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I Brought the Donuts!

Posted on January 8, 2017 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a brief shout-out to a local business instead of my usual Scattered Saturday post?  For one reason, I get to talk about donuts.  Mmmmm… donuts.

The director and a few others were going to begin building the set for Steel Magnolias at Ilion Little Theatre  (ILT) this morning.  I sometimes show up for these sessions in hopes that I can be useful, but I rarely am.  I know how to use a few tools, but I am no hand at carpentry.  However, we all offer our contributions according to our talent.  I thought I would offer moral support by bringing donuts.

Being, as I am, Mohawk Valley Girl, I naturally wanted to go to one of those unique local businesses I treasure.  For set-building donuts, I like the Friendly Bake Shop in Frankfort, NY.  I have several times stopped there for donuts before heading out to ILT.

The first thing I grabbed before the lady waited on me was a loaf of their good Italian bread.  Yum!  I looked at the donuts in the display case while I waited my turn, pondering.   Some might call the decision I reached radical.

“I’m going to make this easy,” I said.  “I’ll take a dozen plain.”  They just looked really good, and they can be less messy than the powdered or filled ones (not to mention the ones that are powdered AND filled) (the frosted ones can get a little messy, too).

The donuts were a big hit at the set-building.  I ate two myself.  The guys appreciated the old-fashioned, crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside cakes.  I brought three home for Steven.

The Friendly Bake Shop is located at  122 E Main St., Frankfort, New York, phone number (315) 894-8861.  they are open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, closed Monday.  You can Like them on Facebook.

 

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