Last Monday I received an unexpected invitation to join my friends Jim and Kelly at the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown. Since it is walking distance from my house, I gladly took a walk down. It was a beautiful evening, sunny with a little bit of a breeze. Meyers Park, where the Chowdown is held, has plenty of shade. Kelly and Jim had brought chairs. I must do that next time. Kelly volunteered to get a blanket out of their car and sit on the ground so I could have a chair. Since I had my Monday backache, I was very grateful for that (I don’t know if I ever mentioned it, but I get a backache most Mondays. After relaxing all weekend, my back has a “What the hell?” attitude when I go back to work).
Kelly and I walked among the food trucks, pondering our choices. We finally went to The Corner Office where I got a hamburger and Kelly got chicken tenders. We went back and sat down while Jim went and got some loaded nachos. I foolishly neglected to ask which truck he got them from; they looked really good. We settled down to eat (chow down?) and listen to the band.
They really rocked.
It was an ’80’s band called Remedy. ’80’s music is near and dear to my heart. I often observe that it may not have been the best decade, but, man, what a soundtrack! I say the same thing about the ’60’s and ’70’s. Of course all decades have their good and bad points; music was definitely one of the good points about the ’80’s.
The lead singer called a guitarist named Marco out of the crowd to join them for a song or two. He was very good too. Apparently there was some controversy, because the lead guy said he had cleared it with somebody named Anthony but expressed concern that some people were videotaping. Yes, I had to choose that moment to take a couple pictures for the blog post. Herkimer’s mayor was making a video, no doubt destined for their Facebook page.
Don’t tell Anthony! Whoever he is.
I had a really great time, but had to leave early, because I remembered I needed to put out my trash and recyclables (Tuesday is trash day in my neighborhood). Jim, Kelly, and I made plans to get together to watch the next play at Ilion Little Theatre (preview of coming attractions).
I will just mention that Jim and Kelly are father and daughter. Jim’s wife and Kelly’s mother is Phyllis, my late dearly missed friend, who I have mentioned many times in this space.
For more information about The New Herkimer Downtown Chowdown, you can visit their Facebook page.
Mohawk Valley Girl 