Tag Archives: local musician

Wednesday, What Else?

Posted on August 24, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I really thought about not going to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort for music and food this Wednesday night (tonight).  I was going to stay home, behave myself, maybe get a few things done.   Then of course I talked myself into going out.  For one reason, Matt Grainger was playing.  At least I tried to behave myself while I was there.

Picture from a previous night.

None of the pictures I took came out, so I resort to my Media Library.   I took the obligatory shot with my phone to post on Facebook inviting others to come out.  My current phone takes terrible pictures.  That is what I get for cheaping out.

My friend Kathy joined me.  We enjoyed garlic bread with mozzarella cheese.  We chatted and enjoyed the music.  We both also ordered Buffalo Chicken Salads, which we intend to enjoy for lunch tomorrow.

He is fine, yes!

I searched my Media Library for another picture, because I do not have a whole lot else to tell about the evening.  I did not make notes about any of the songs he played, and nothing of note really happened.

However, it was an enjoyable evening.  I was glad I went, and I will enjoy having salad for my lunch tomorrow and Friday.  I also have a little leftover garlic bread to enjoy!

 

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And Wednesday Is Still A Thing

Posted on July 20, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort for music and food again on Wednesday even after I went on Monday.  In my defemse, Phil Arcuri!  In my further defense, a work friend has been wanting to join me on a Wednesday at Fratello’s.  I ran into her this morning at work (we do not always see each other).  It seemed a propitious concantenation of circumstances.

Unfortunately I did not take many pictures while I was there.  I took the obligatory shot with my phone to post on Facebook to invite others out to the scene.  My new phone does not take very good pictures.  I feel a blurry picture is fine for a Facebook invite but not so good for a blog post.

Different night, same great Phil.

I searched my Media Library for a picture of Phil Arcuri and found this one. I was happy to introduce my friend Kathy to one of my favorite local musicians.  She was soon a fan.

I often mention how much fun it is to watch Phil play because he is clearly having so much fun.  Today he had a couple of background singers.  A little boy got up and asked for “Sha la la.”  Phil was happy to sing “Brown Eyed Girl.” The boy was soon joined by a friend, and they danced and sang along.  So cute!  I wish I had gotten a picture.

So I had another great time at Fratello’s.  I may stay quietly home tonight, but no promises.

 

 

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Monday Music

Posted on July 18, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I mixed things up a little and went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort for music and food tonight instead of Wednesday (of course I could still go on Wednesday; no promises there).  Tom Maneen was playing acoustic guitar.  I have only heard him once before.  He is excellent!

I enjoyed his tunes a lot!

I sat at the bar as usual.  Kayla, the bartender, took good care of me.  I had Buffalo Chicken Salad with Mozarella Garlic Bread.  Yum!  Full disclosure:  I mostly ordered the salad so I could bring leftovers for my lunch tomorrow.

A couple sat down next to me.  They were very friendly.  First they asked if the seats were taken.  They were not.  I said they could certainly sit down.

“We’ll be your new acquaintances,” said Michael, as I later found out was his name.  His wife was Alysha. Michael decided to order a bucket of Utica Club, because it would be more economical, even if he didn’t drink one.

“You might as well,” I said.  “It’s on your bucket list.”  He appreciated that.  We chatted quite a bit.  Alysha tried a piece of my garlic bread.  Michael gave me a Utica Club from his bucket.  Eventually I asked if I could take a picture for my blog post.  They graciously agreed.

Nice folks.

I had a really nice time.  It was a pleasant start to my week.

OK, one more picture of Tom.

 

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At Fratello’s Once Again!

Posted on July 13, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is Wednesday,  and we all know my usual destination on a Wednesday is Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort. My friend Kim and I originally started for the Food Truck Frenzy in Ilion to hear The Posers,  but unfortunately the heat and lack of parking drove us to Frankfort where we knew we could sit in air conditioned comfort.  Well, technically, I guess Kim drove us, if you want to be that way about it (and I know some of you do) (you know who you are).

He is fine, yes!

We sat at the bar and ordered wine (Moscato for Kim, Chardonnay for me).  We did not have to wait long for the music.  Justin Smithson plays a nice mix.  Kim especially enjoyed “Tequila Sunrise.”  I confessed to liking boozy songs myself.

I could not make up my mind what food I wanted but finally ordered a basket of calamari and fries, which we shared.  I asked for ranch dressing to dip the fries in.  Yum!  Gino, the bartender, took good care of us.

Kim and Gino.

I did not have my Tablet with me so took pictures with my phone.  It is a new phone, not very expensive, and as you can see, does not take the best pictures.  However, one makes do with what one has.

I kept the best few.

We had a lovely time.  I was only sorry I missed The Posers at the Food Truck thing.

 

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Wednesday Once Again

Posted on June 29, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was pretty sure I would go to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort for music and food tonight, but I pretended to myself that I was debating.  At last I agreed with myself that if I did the dishes I could go to Fratello’s as a reward.  Judge me if you choose for neglecting the dishes (never mind how long it has been);  I have to take my motivations where I find them.

The real lure to Fratello’s was that Mark Nanni was playing.  He is the virtuoso who plays keyboard, guitar, and accordion.  Another listener once dubbed him Billy Bad-Ass (I may have mentioned that in another blog post).  It is certainly the truth.

He is da man!

 

Nanni puts a bluesy-jazzy sound on many of the tunes he plays.  I greatly enjoyed it.

Here’s the thing:  while I listened and enjoyed my food,  I was taking notes on the music and my interactions with other patrons.  Right now,  I do not have the motivmotivation or mental wherewithal to include these things in the blog post. Is that not typical for a Wednesday?  I find the energy to do something blogworthy but lack enough energy to make it a blog.

Go figure.  However, I see I am over 200 words. Perfectly fine for a Wuss-out Wednesday Post.  Happy Mid-week, everyone!

 

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More Phil, Yes!

Posted on June 22, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Every week I say I am not going out, and every week I find a very good reason to change my mind.  This week the reason was that Phil Arcuri would be at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort.  How could I resist?

Phil is so much fun when he plays!  He adds things to many songs.  For example, he mentioned Chicken Riggies at Fratello’s in “Under the Boardwalk.”   But what really cracked me up was, “on a blanket with my Geno.”  Geno is the excellent bartender.

There was some confusion during “Margaritaville” as to whose fault it was.  Phil blamed Geno, Kira, and Brian.  What none of them seemed to know was that everything is my fault on Wednesday.  It has been that way for a number of years.

Great musicians!

At one point, Geno, the bartender, decided he would add to the vocal entertainment.   He was excellent.

I took a couple of pictures.

They tried to get the waitress, Kira, to sing.  She said that although people had told her she had a good voice, she could not.  I said that was where she and I differed.  I could easily get up in front of people,  but nobody ever told me that I had a good voice.

I was very happy I had gone out.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St. In Frankfort,  NY.  You can follow their Facebook page for musical entertainment.

 

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Love that Matt Grainger

Posted on June 8, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I decided to go back to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort on a Wednesday night and I was so glad I did!

I was undecided to leave the house at all, with the creepily hazy skies from the Canadian wildfires.  Stay inside, all the advice said.  But I felt strangely disinclined to do so.  I thought, driving in the car with the windows up to a place with windows closed must be OK.  So I did.

When I walked into Fratello’s and saw Matt Grainger was playing,  I said yay!

He is fine, yes!

I ordered the Grilled Chicken Salad and Garlic Bread with Mozzarella.  I mostly wanted leftover salad for my lunches for the rest of the week.  This is part of the beauty of Wednesday nights at Fratello’s.

Still fine.

I guess my pictures of Matt are kind of similar, but I like them both so could not bear to delete one of them.  This is how I overload my camera app on my Tablet.   These things happen, I suppose.

I had a very enjoyable evening, eating food, listening to music, and visiting with other patrons.  I even had an opportunity to tell Matt Grainger how excited I had been to see he was playing and how much I enjoyed his music.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.

 

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Yet More Music

Posted on May 18, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Are posts about music at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY getting a bit tiresome?  I hope not, because here comes one more.

I had made up my mind not to go out for a while.  Stay home, I told myself.  Be frugal of money and calories.  On Wednesday I was regretting that decision.  I mentioned my dilemma to a co-worker.

“I think you should do what you enjoy,” she said.

When I talked to my mother on the phone, she echoed the sentiment.  I had in fact already decided to do so.  After all, I got home from work, I put in laundry, went on a two mile run, and did the dishes.  I could reward myself and not dirty any more dishes.

It turned out to be a great reward, because Phil Arcuri was playing.

He is so fun!

I have said this many times, but it bears repeating: I love watching Phil play because he is clearly having such a good time.  I sang along with all the songs I knew and chair danced when I wasn’t eating.  It was great.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.  They have music other nights than Wednesday.  Check it out!

 

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Back Out on Wednesday!

Posted on May 11, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I had planned on going to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort this Wednesday since last Friday, when Geno (the bartender) told me Matt Grainger would be playing.  Regular readers may recall that on Friday I went to the Saalty Dawg Saloon hoping to hear him but was too early.  Today I was right on time!

It was actually a little before six when I arrived at Fratello’s.  Music was to start at six.  I saw Matt Grainger in his car.  We smiled and waved at each other, which made me feel pretty good.  I have spoken to him a couple of times; he knows I am a fan.

Walking into Fratello’s,  I encountered another Matt, my niece Kimi’s boyfriend.  Kimi was there too.  I sat on the opposite side of the bar from my usual preference, just to be sociable.

This is from a different visit.

I put in a picture of them from my Media Library, because I did not take any tonight and only one I took of Matt Grainger came put.

Kimi and her Matt were sharing Chicken Riggies.  It looked good, but after much debate with myself I ordered Garlic  Parmesan Wings and Garlic Bread with Mozzarella.  The food was delicious, and the music was excellent.

He is fine, yes.

I took notes in my adventure book about the different songs he played, but I see I am over 200 words and I am tired.  Let me just say that I had a wonderful time and greatly enjoyed Matt Grainger’s music.

I think this is better than a Wuss-out Wednesday Post,  don’t you?

 

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Are Wednesdays a Thing Again?

Posted on May 4, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

After deciding last week that I was going to stay home every night this week, I  decided to go to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY for food and music, as I used to do almost every Wednesday.  A quick check of their Facebook page told me Justin Smithson was playing acoustic guitar.

He is an excellent musician.

As I walked in, I was greeted by Geno the bartender and Justin Smithson himself.  I ordered a garlic pizza with sausage and mushrooms.  It was one of Steven’s favorite things to order.  I was sipping some Chardonnay, also a favorite of his.  The music started shortly.

I was loving it right away.  Justin started with a beautiful James Taylor song.  Then I dissolved into embarrassing tears as he got to the chorus:  “But I always thought that I’d see you again.”  This is what happens.  Every day I realize I will never see my husband Steve again.  However, I must try not to make a spectacle of myself.

This one turned out a little dark.

Justin moved on to play a variety of tunes.  At one point he asked for requests, and a man said, “Cat Stevens!”  Justin played “Wild World,” which is a song that plays in my head when I am running and go by a WildWood camper.

“Made my night!” said the requestor when the song was done.

I greatly enjoyed hearing the music.  I will be back at Fratello’s again soon!

 

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