Category Archives: local business

It Was a Sauvignon Kind of Day

Posted on February 6, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have not done a wine tasting post in a while.  In fact, I go to fewer wine tastings these days, but Valley Wine and Liquor in Herkimer has them almost every weekend.  In fact, many area liquor stores do, but Valley is the closest one for me.  When I still worked it was oh so handy to stop by on my way home on a Friday.  When I would go adventuring with my friend Kim on Saturdays, we often stopped in to taste, if something was going on.  I have a lot less wine in my house since I stopped being so faithful!

This weekend, Valley Wine and Liquor has tastings Thursday through Sunday.  I speculate that they are helping people get stocked up for Super Bowl parties.  I have not been invited to a Super Bowl party, but one never knows when a last minute invite may come along.  I needed exercise, so I walked down to the store Thursday afternoon.  I questioned my ability to carry multiple bottles of wine home but hoped for the best.  Sasha, one of the regular pourers, was sampling Bonterra Organic Wines from California.

We love wine!

We started out with Cabernet Sauvignon, which I declared very tasty.  Regular readers know I do not have a sophisticated palate and rarely taste notes of anything, but I liked this.  I liked the Red Blend, too, but not as much.  Alas, I neglected to ask what it was a blend of so cannot tell you.

For whites, I was quite taken with the Sauvignon Blanc.  I told Sasha I found I liked California Sauvignon Blancs best.  She said she liked all California wines.  Indeed, there are great wines coming from CA.  I liked the Chardonnay a lot, finding it not the least bit buttery.  I know some people like buttery chardonnays but I prefer the crispy, unoaked ones.

I purchased the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Sauvignon Blanc.  I confess I did not enjoy my walk home.  Two bottles of wine are heavy for an old, un-muscular broad like me!  It reminded me of a blog post I made years ago, when I walked home from the much missed Ramar’s Liquors with my even more missed dog Tabby and a box of wine.  I could have made a whole post about yesterday’s walk home but prefer to give a shout-out to a local business instead.

Valley Wine and Liquor is located at 326 S. Caroline St., Herkimer, NY.  You can check their website at shopvalleywine.com for the tastings schedule.

 

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What’s a Good Name for a Bat?

Posted on February 1, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here at last is my shout-out to To Niche Their Own, a lovely shop on Mohawk Street in Herkimer, NY.  I have been there several times, finding some beautiful Christmas gifts and once saving myself from my own carelessness when I left the house NOT wearing earrings.

Extra points for a punny name!

The shop features the works of several local crafters.  Crochet items, stuffed toys, jewelry and more.  It is fun just to walk around and look.  The last time I was there (about two days ago), I fell in love with some Valentine bears.  I don’t have a Valentine any more, but maybe I could think of somebody to give one of these adorable bears to.

So cute!

I did make a purchase when I saw a lone bat left over from Halloween.  I told Ashley, the proprietress, about Mookie Wilson, the bat my late husband Steve won from a claw machine many years ago and which has hung from various light fixtures in our house ever since.  My sister Diane suggested the name.

Me and Mookie Wilson.

I wondered what I should name my new bat.  I don’t think I can do much better than Mookie Wilson as a name for a bat.  Ashley suggested I ask my blog readers.  Accordingly, I took a picture of the bat:

He is a two-sided bat.

Or maybe it is a she-bat. Oh dear.

Maybe it is a trans bat.  In any case, I was quite delighted with my purchase and happy to mention a fun new business in my blog.

To Niche Their Own is located at 127 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY.

 

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Return to my New Favorite Bookstore

Posted on January 30, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I made it to Athenix Books and Brews yesterday, so I can make a real blog post today!  I am still anxiously awaiting the Brews part of the equation.  Nick, the owner, told me to watch his Facebook page, because the public will be invited to a tasting to decide which roast will be the Chosen Brew.  He said he sought out the best of the best: local, ethically sourced, etc.  That will certainly be worth another blog post.

Speaking of local…

I naturally asked where my sister’s books were.  I found Soulmates and Wednesday Wine Club by Diane E. Young on the Local Authors table.  I browsed the whole store, of course, and found another Fanny Flagg book as well as a self-help book I had previously gotten out of the library at a doctor’s recommendation:  Atomic Habits by James Clear.  I thought if I actually had my own copy of the book I might actually change some of my habits for the better.  No promises, of course.

Owner Nick Bennett designs and makes all his merch.

While there I got my free monthly t-shirt, because I am a member of The Keep.  I got a discount on the books too.

Other goodies for a future visit.

As I said, I browsed the entire store, including some lovely jewelry and tempting hats.  Shouldn’t everybody have a witch’s hat?  OK, I already have two or three, but there are different!  And I will never have enough earrings.

Athenix Books and Brews is located at 624 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY.  They are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.  And you should totally follow them on Facebook, because Nick is often posting something interesting about a specific book or progress he is making on the store.  Check it out!

 

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After the Snow, Adventures?

Posted on January 27, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had meant to make a post yesterday (Monday) about my adventures in snow shoveling (yes, I did try to PUSH the snow when possible, don’t judge me), but I neglected to take before or after pictures, and then, well, time got away from me.  I managed to NOT give myself a heart attack.  Note to self:  do not watch Reels on Facebook that explain with illustrations just how easy it is for a woman of my age to do that.

Where was I?  Ah yes, on Tuesday morning, hoping to make some semblance of a blog post.  Quick, throw in a picture to pep things up.

Random snow shot from a couple of years ago.

Most things have been shut down around here since Sunday.  I think they are back open today, so it would be a good idea if I got out and gave a local business some, you know, business.  I can’t keep the local economy going all by myself, but I can spend a few dollars here and there and give some local places a shout out.

Maybe I could buy myself a Valentine.

This is a decoration from Home Town Diner on Main Street in Mohawk, NY.  I’ve already eaten breakfast, but I will be hungry for lunch before I know it.  I could also stop by To Niche Their Own in Herkimer.  I don’t think I have ever taken decent pictures there nor given them a proper shout-out, but I did purchase some excellent Christmas presents there last month.

Will I make it to Little Falls?

And there is my new favorite bookstore, Athenix Books and Brews.  There are a number of good places in Little Falls: Venture Fourth, Chickweed Boutique, the Mustard Seed… I’m sure to leave somebody out.  Oh dear.

So now I have cheered myself up to the tune of 300 words of blog post and plans.  I hope everybody has their parking lot plowed out by now!

 

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A Breakfast Bribe

Posted on January 11, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have been putting off going grocery shopping for too long.  This is something I have been prone to for the last couple of years (yes, since my widowhood).  This morning I had the bright idea to go out to breakfast (because there was little food in the house and no breakfast food) then shopping.  Sort of a bribe in advance.  Accordingly, I headed to the Hometown Diner in Mohawk, NY.

I have been there several times and enjoyed it quite a bit.  Today I went for one of my favorites: a breakfast sandwich on an English muffin with sausage, egg and cheese.  I worked on a letter to my friend Kim while I waited for it.  I did not have long to wait, which was just as well, because I did not have much to say in the letter.

As I got up to go to the rest room, I noticed the Valentine’s Day decorations.  Nice!  I had noticed some sparkly red earlier but thought it was left from Christmas. I congratulated the staff for being so up to date.

Not the ones I thought were left over from Christmas.

Naturally I took a couple of pictures for blog post purposes.  It was a delicious breakfast, but it kind of backfired on me.  When I got to the supermarket, I was still full, so none of the food looked particularly appetizing.  The usual advice of  “Don’t shop on an empty stomach” does not work for me.  However, I did manage to purchase a few things, including some toaster waffles and a dozen eggs.  At least breakfast is set!  Then again, breakfast out is always nice.

Had to get a close-up of this cute guy!

The Hometown Diner is located at 150 W. Main St., Mohawk, NY, phone number 315-927-4149.

 

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Return to Athenix

Posted on January 5, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I got to thinking about Athenix Books and Brews and The Keep and decided I wanted to join.  Also, I had not purchased anything on Jan 2 , and that is no way to support a business.  I am not extravagantly well off, but I can afford a purchase or two.  Accordingly, I drove to Little Falls, NY.

Cool sign!

This time I remembered to take a couple of outside pictures.  I went in and greeted the owner.  He pointed out his two daughters, after whom the store is named, he was holding one and the other was relaxing on a nearby couch.  I looked around to decide what to purchase.  A number of people were browsing, so it was difficult to see everything.  What a good problem for a store to have!  Alas, no books caught my eye.

My purchases.

I had said yesterday that I did NOT need another coffee mug.  Unfortunately, when I was doing dishes the morning, my Dyn’s Cider Mill mug broke.  I don’t know when I will get to Dyn’s again (they are probably closed for the season).  In the meantime, another Little Falls mug can fill in the gap.  Um, yes, I did already have a Little Falls coffee mug.  But this one is purple!  When I went to pay for it, I fell in love with an adorable ghost pen holder (full disclosure:  at first I thought it was just a ghost and had to be told it was a pen holder).

It took a little while, since I was joining The Keep and because, well, I always talk too much.  I apologized to the woman behind me.  She said that was fine, she was enjoying looking around.  She asked the owner what if somebody wanted to buy one of the books hanging from the ceiling.  He said there would be a $100 surcharge for hauling out the ladder.

The outside is decorated with books, too.

We are all looking forward to the opening of the cafe.  I want to sit there and sip coffee and write.  Maybe I can finally finish that novel.

 

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No Brews Yet But Books!

Posted on January 4, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

Athenix Books and Brews in Little Falls is a great addition to the Mohawk Valley.  I went to their soft opening yesterday and was enchanted.  Alas, I did not get any pictures of the outside of the store or the logo.  That is another reason I must return.

Brews refers to brewed coffee, not beer, and they intend to open a whole cafe.  I have been following Athenix on Facebook, as they chronicle their progress, fixing up the space and getting ready. Only the book section opened Jan. 2, but for book lovers and lovers of local like me (oh, how alliterative, “lovers of local like me), that is enough.

SO going to buy a shirt!

In addition to new and used books, local jewelry, candles and other merchandise is available.  When I was there, a lot of people were browsing the stacks and making purchases.

I spoke to the owner, who my sister Diane Young had previously contacted.  A couple of stores in Liverpool carry her books, and she would love to expand her reach to Little Falls.  She had meant to come to the opening with me but was not feeling well (these colds that hang on and on, ugh!).  He said she should come see him when she is in town, and bring copies of her books.  My sister the author.  I really must up my writing game.

Who me? Buy another coffee mug?

For a monthly fee, you can join The Keep.  You get 10% off most purchases plus additional member sales, and you get a free monthly t-shirt.  Wow!  I want in!  I stupidly did not join yesterday.  However, since I plan to make it a regular stop, I’m sure I will have the chance.

Athenix Books and Brews is located at 624 E. Main St., Little Falls, NY.  They are open daily from 9 to 6.  I encourage you to follow them on Facebook.

 

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It Was Yummy at Yetty’s

Posted on December 23, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was sorry to see a For Sale sign on Yetty’s in Herkimer, one of my go-to restaurants.  However, they are still open currently, so I stopped by for an early dinner the other day.  I enjoyed the Christmas decor.

Nutcrackers! Like my husband used to collect!

I got a Muffuletta sandwich.  Do you need to say “sandwich” or is that implied by muffuletta? Fine foodie I am!  But I know it is yummy!  I had leftovers, which did not last long.

Everybody has the Christmas spirit!

My picture of the fish with the Santa hat came out blurry, but I am unlikely to get down there again and take a better one before the New Year.  Then again, one never knows.  I also have a craving for pizza, and Yetty’s pizza is delicious.  If you get it with sausage, the sausage is a whole layer on top of the crust.  I get hungry just thinking about it.  Then there is pasta, salads, subs, appetizers, and more.  So much food.  So little time.

I do not know how long Yetty’s will remain open.  It could be somebody will purchase the restaurant and keep it going.  In the meantime, I hope to eat there again.  Of course now that I think about “so much food, so little time,” I am thinking of all the other great restaurants in the Mohawk Valley.  Oh dear.  What a dilemma.

Yetty’s Pizza and Pasta is located at 109 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-4201.

 

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Must… Shop… More…

Posted on December 19, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

OK, I missed another day!  (Hey, that rhymes!)  It is Friday morning, not particularly early so I do not feel I can make my Thursday post now and my Friday post later. Then again, why not?  It’s my blog, and I make the rules (and usually break them, but let us not go there at this time) (I could have made another rhyme with make/break, but I refrained).

I always think these are so cool.

Here is a Throwback Thursday AND a Preview of Coming Attractions.  The picture is from 2022 and it is the Rose Quartz Stand in Herkimer, NY, where I might do a little Christmas shopping later.  It is one of my favorite little shops.  They have all kinds of gems, rocks, gifts, incense, smudges, and more.  I like to just walk up and down the aisles and look, but I often find stuff I want for me as well as presents for others.

I confess that my Christmas shopping is not progressing well.  I do not rule out stopping at any point and keeping what little I have so far for myself.  However, I have a few days left to make another effort.  I’ll let you know how I do.

The Rose Quartz Stand is located at 101 Mohawk St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-868-5199.

 

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Just a Couple of Christmas Stops

Posted on December 18, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

I pause in my Christmas shopping to make a blog post.  Then I am out to tackle the season once again.  How brave that sounds.  In fact, I paused for lunch, to read a book for a while, take a Facebook break, and do an  anacrostic puzzle (my computer thinks “anacrostic” is not a word, and in fact PennyPress calls them “crostics”) (which the computer also does not like).  Where was I?

Ah yes, beginning my Christmas shopping.  In fact, I think most members of my family would not notice or care if I did not give them presents, except for the great nephew and niece, and OF COURSE I am going to get them something nice!  But I like to give presents, at least small tokens of my affection. Additionally, as Mohawk Valley Girl, this is a golden opportunity to shop at many of the little stores I love and with which the Mohawk Valley is blessed.

Accordingly, I drove to Little Falls this morning.  My first stop was at Chickweed Boutique on Main Street.  There was a wonderful handmade sled on the front porch.

Beautiful!

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, there is no space in my house for such a thing.  Chickweed has a lot of great stuff for Christmas, though:  jewelry, clothes, books, art, and more.  I found… well, I can’t tell you what I found, can I?  Some members of my family read this blog.  I continued down Main Street to Venture Fourth, a fairly new business in Little Falls but one I had not visited till today.

As I came in I confessed to the man behind the counter that most of the people on my list were not super outdoorsy.  Still, he did have some things that looked nice for anybody.  Candles, coffee mugs, and clothing.

I may need to buy some of this stuff for me!

I further confessed that I did not plan to spend a whole lot per present.

“After all, I’m just the crazy old aunt,”  I said.  He said I didn’t seem that crazy to him, but then again, he had just met me.  I found a couple of items to purchase, and we had a lovely conversation about the area and small businesses, etc.  It really is one of my favorite things about shopping small:  the interaction with the shop keepers.

Anyone can use clothes!

As I left Venture Fourth, I felt tired and hungry, and remembered I had to go grocery shopping. That led to the pause I alluded to in the first paragraph.  Now I have a blog post of over 400 words.  Score!  I think I’ll hit a couple places in Herkimer next.

 

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