Tag Archives: Athenix Books and Brews

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!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Scattered Tuesday?

Posted on January 14, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I just went adventuring with my mother and my sisters Cheryl and Diane.  Did I take any pictures?  Um, ‘fraid not, but perhaps my Media Library can help.

Our first stop was Athenix Books and Brews (only books so far) in Little Falls, NY.  They are going to carry some of Diane’s books.  Yes, she is a published author, and I must up my writing game.

A regular stop for me now!

Mom, Cheryl and I browsed around while Diane talked with the owner.  I found a book by Fannie Flagg, one of my favorite authors.  Cheryl and I were looking at the shirts when she pointed out me one with a ghost.  It was 50% off.  How could I resist?  She took a picture of me holding it before I decided to buy it; maybe I can get it from her for blogging purposes.

After that stop we pondered where else to go.  So many shops are not open on Tuesday!  When we drove back to Herkimer, looking for lunch, we saw Mohawk Valley Community Market.  How did I not think of that?  It is a great place to shop!  We spent a goodly amount of time browsing.

I have one of those bags!

Renewed and Rescued is the anchor store of the Market, the people that started it all.

At last we went to lunch.  Many places are not open for lunch on Tuesday, but one my favorites, Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant is!

There was snow on the ground today.

We had a delicious lunch.  I’m still full!  And after all those adventures, I have plenty of time left to do something useful around the house.  As soon as I read some of that Fannie Flagg book.

 

2 Comments

Posted in humor, Mohawk Valley adventures, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Messy House, Many Adventures

Posted on January 10, 2026 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had an adventure filled day yesterday but foolishly did not take any pictures along the way.  Well, I will recount my activities and trust to my Media Library to provide some illustration.

I started with breakfast with friends at Top of the Morning Cafe in North Utica, NY.  I had never been there before and wish I had taken pictures.  However, the parking lot was quite icy so I did not want to pause and try to aim my camera at their sign.  It was a very good breakfast, though.  I am sure we will return.

Back home, I was planning the best way to go about cleaning my messy house when my sister Cheryl called and asked did I want to go out to lunch.  She needed to get a calendar as well.  I told her I knew a place where she could get a swell calendar free: Basloe Library in Herkimer had a stack of canal calendars.  I told her to take her time coming over, since I was still full from breakfast.

We went first to the library where Cheryl got the calendar and found a couple of books at the book sale.  From there we went to Little Falls and Athenix Books and Brews, where I found a book. I introduced Cheryl to the owner as my sister that did not write novels.  I don’t know if he recognized me as the person who said her sister wrote novels, but it amused me.

A very welcoming sign.

Next we walked up Main Street to Chickweed Boutique, where Cheryl found a couple of things she wanted.  I noticed that the sleigh out front was gone.  The owner told me it had been sold to a man with three kids, so it would get a lot of use.

The sleigh.

I told Cheryl about the sleigh that had been there in December, handmade and beautiful.  I would have loved to buy it myself!

By then I was hungry too, so we went back to Herkimer for lunch at Paradise Eatery.  I had gotten appetizers there but never lunch.  The waitress remembered me, which was flattering.  The food was yummy.  We will certainly go there again.  For one reason, I need to take a better picture.

From a post titled, “Bad Pictures, Good Eatery.”

It was a delightful day.  I was glad I had met my friends, and that Cheryl had called me.  My messy house was waiting for me when I got home.  Full disclosure:  I did not clean it today either.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, Mohawk Valley adventures, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.