One might feel Wednesday is onerous, because it is only half-way through the week. Or one can go to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, listen to a talented local musician, and feel better about the whole thing.
Tonight my husband Steven and I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort and enjoyed food and music. I hope to write a longer post about it later. For right now, I feel tired. I hope this can count for my Wuss-out Wednesday Post.
Yesterday, Steven got sprung from the pen, and by pen, I mean nursing home. In celebration, and since it was Wednesday, we went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort to enjoy food and music.
We got there before the music actually started. I introduced Steve to my favorite bartender, Toni. We pored over the menus, pondering.
I finally decided on a burger, which was a recent addition to the Fratello’s menu. Yum! Steven opted for a shrimp basket.
Music was by Matt Migliore. We had not heard him before. We enjoyed him very much.
I did not make notes on what songs he played. Steven especially enjoyed a Beatles tune. We danced our way out to Billy Joel’s “My Life.” Matt waved us a friendly good-bye.
We enjoyed our food and the music, and I was delighted to introduce Steve to my Wednesday night thing.
I did not do my favorite Wednesday thing of going to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort for food and music, but that is OK, because I never made a blog post about last Wednesday, when I heard Max Scialdone. I shall now attempt to remedy the omission.
Full disclosure: one reason I wanted to eat out was so I could have leftovers for my lunch on Thursday and possibly Friday. Additionally, I needed a treat. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay and perused the menu. When I chose the grilled chicken salad, my favorite bartender, Toni, suggested I add cucumbers. Genius!
When Max Scialdone started to play, he said how happy he was to be back “at the Frat House.” Why didn’t I think of calling it that? A number of his fans were in the house. We all greatly enjoyed the tunes.
The music and food were just the treats I needed, and I ended up with enough leftover salad for both Thursday and Friday’s lunches.
Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484. They are open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. You can follow their Facebook page to find out when you can enjoy some great local music.
I have been enjoying a lot of good local music at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort. Last Friday (Holy Cow, that was a week ago and I haven’t written about it yet!) I went there specifically to hear the Playin’ Again Band.
I first heard them two weeks before, when I impulsively joined my sister Cheryl, her daughter Kimberly, and Kimberly’s boyfriend Matt for pizza and beer (perhaps you read my blog post about it) (Which I would link to, but I can’t remember it’s title). Cheryl found out the band was playing again (see what I did there?) July 2. I made a mental note.
Matt couldn’t make it, but Kimi, Cheryl and I sat at the bar and enjoyed good food and music. They both had fish fry. Huge pieces of fish! I have to get that next time. I ordered a more modest clam basket, substituting a salad for fries. Yum!
When we heard these guys before, we did not know the name. Cheryl cleverly found out and let me know after the fact. This time they had a lovely sign.
When I went in the other room to get the pictures, I danced my way in and out as usual. A table with three couples sitting at seemed to enjoy watching me. A short time later, they all got up to dance to a romantic tune.
It was another enjoyable evening. Thanks, Fratello’s!
I am thinking of making Wednesdays at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort a regular thing. Last Wednesday I discovered another talented local musician: Gary Johnson.
I was sitting at my favorite spot at the bar. I ordered a large antipasto salad, so I would have something for lunch for the next couple of days. A gentleman sat a couple seats down from me and ordered a calzone.
“Rome Calzone!” I said, quoting a local commercial. This guy is auditioning to be a spokesman for Rome Pre-Owned and can’t quite get it right. “Oh, sorry,” I said to the gentleman at the bar, hoping he knew the commercial.
“You’re fine,” he said.
Not many people were there when Gary Johnson started playing.
“That’s OK,” he said. “I’ll take quality over quantity!” I felt flattered.
He kept asking what we wanted to hear. Being unfamiliar with his repertoire, I told him to play his favorite. He responded with one of his favorites: “Tiny Dancer.” I love that song!
I enjoyed the music very much. When I left, I gave him a little wave and called, “Thank you!” I enjoyed my antipasto as well. Good Music, good food, why wouldn’t I make this my usual Wednesday thing?
Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484. They are open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. They don’t only have music on Wednesdays. You can follow their Facebook page to find out more.
Friday I had another great evening at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort! Once again it was unplanned. I got back to my house from running errands to find a message from my sister Cheryl on the machine, inviting me to join her, her daughter Kim and Kim’s boyfriend Matt at Fratello’s.
I had already eaten. As a matter of fact, I heated up some chicken Riggies leftover from Wednesday’s visit to Fratello’s. My intention when I got home was to have a beer, because I had the Pride Stride 5K the next day. A long time ago, I heard that a drill sergeant had recommended one beer as a way to carb up before PT (Physical Training) test. Who am I to argue with a drill sergeant?
When I got there Matt immediately jumped up to give me a hug and get me a beer. I did not make a note of what kind of beer it was, but he told me there were notes of banana.
“Oh yeah, I can taste it. Potassium!” Also good for my projected run. They had ordered upside down pizza, which I had never had. Even though I had already eaten, I tried a piece. Then I had another.
A great band started to play. I later learned they were the Playin’ Again Band. We chair danced (actually booth danced). I also danced when I got up to take a picture, when I went to the bathroom, and when I left. Musicians like it when you do that.
Cheryl later found out they are playing again in July. We might just have to go!
Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St. in Frankfort, phone number 315-894-8484. They are open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. You can follow them on Facebook to find out about all the great musicians they host. Don’t forget to try the upside down pizza!
I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria tonight and I was so happy I did. There I was in Ilion, thinking of the more sensible route of going home (what was I going to eat there anyways?) and then the idea of going to Fratello’s and sitting at the bar occurred to me. The first person I saw when I walked in was Phil Arcuri.
“Hey!” I said, “I impulsively decided to eat here and I thought, ‘Maybe Phil Arcuri will be playing. Nah, I couldn’t get that lucky. I got that lucky!”
I ordered a Pinot Noir and asked if there were any specials. Chicken Riggies! At first I thought, red wine with chicken? Then I thought chicken riggies could stand up to red wine, especially a light one like Pinot Noir. Not that I am anybody’s expert on wine and food pairings. I like wine and I like food. That is the extent of it.
Oh, I enjoyed the music! Phil always looks like he is having such a good time as he plays. A couple of boys seated at a table were enjoying him as much as I was. When I got up to take a picture and danced my way back to my seat, one of the boys danced too.
To add to the festivities, Toni, the bartender, was celebrating her 21st birthday. I asked if I could take her picture for my blog post. She graciously agreed.
I was delighted with my riggies. For one reason, as I pointed out to Toni, I can eat some leftovers on Friday, for carbs before the Pride Stride 5K on Saturday. She had to laugh at that, because there will certainly will be more than one night’s worth of leftovers. But she wished me luck on my 5K.
I had a great night. Thank you, Fratello’s, Toni, and Phil!
I have been interested in the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown for a while but did not make my way down till tonight. I had a letter I wanted to mail, so that worked out: I go right through Meyer’s Park on my way to the post office. I brought my Tablet to take some pictures, and made sure I had a mask.
I could smell tantalizing aromas as I got to the park. I had my purse with me but knew it would be far more sensible to go home and heat up leftovers. I mailed the letter first, then went back through the park, Tablet on Camera mode.
I wanted to get a picture of all the trucks, but I purposely tried not to get any people. Sad to admit, but I did not feel like talking to anybody, asking permission, taking names, etc.
I think I’ve heard about Brewvey Bites being other places locally. In any case, I like the punny name.
A big draw for me was live music by local musician Max Scialdone. I have heard him before and liked him. I stood by a tree and listened to a few songs. I especially liked Margaritaville. He substituted Herkimer for one of the Margaritavilles, and his whistling was awesome.
I was wishing I had brought a lawn chair, as some people had. However it was a little chilly for the way I was dressed (I had been misled by a hot flash before I left home). I enjoyed what I heard.
I don’t know how long the Chowdown will go on. The Facebook event says they are the second and fourth Monday from July to September. I’m glad they went at least one Monday in October, so I got a blog post in. I’ll have to watch to see if it happens again. If not, I shall look forward to next year.
Yesterday at work, I noticed a co-worker’s t-shirt read, “Support local music.” I thought that was definitely something Mohawk Valley Girl should do. What I didn’t know was that opportunity awaited me that very night!
I had suggested another shop and dine evening, with the dinner part at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY. When I got home from work, Steven told me Phil Arcuri was playing there from 6 to 8 p.m. Perfect!
We sat at the bar, right across from where Phil was going to play, and ordered wine and food. I got angel hair pasta with a meatball. Steven got the shrimp basket with fries. Yum! We both brought leftovers home, and I am really looking forward to eating mine!
He is a great musician!
Arcuri plays great tunes from the ’60’s and ’70’s. I chair danced to most of them and sang along with the ones I knew the words to. I was not the only one singing along.
Another angle.
I took a few pictures of Arcuri, but I did not manage to catch his smile. It is a pleasure to watch such a talented musician who is so obviously enjoying himself. I’m sure everyone there was having fun.
My delightful date for the evening.
I took a picture of Steven. He tried to take one of me, but the Tablet would not cooperate. I finally managed to take an ussie (I’m better at ussies than selfies, but not really good at either).
I guess we don’t look too bad.
We had a wonderful time. I look forward to the next time we hear Phil Arcuri, and to our next great meal at Fratello’s.
Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484. They are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. You can follow them on Facebook to find out when Phil Arcuri is going to be there again!
I’ve given a shout-out to the Rick Short Band before (I think my exact words were, “They rock!”). Thursday night, we were excited to attend their CD Release Party on the Utica College campus.
The party was in the Pioneer Pub in the Strebel Center. Steven and I felt fortunate to catch a ride with our friends Phyllis and Jim. They are also fans of the band, and quite familiar with the Utica area.
We arrived right around five. We had marked “going” on the Facebook event, so they had name badges for us. We also got wrist bands. That way any time I left and came back (say to utilize the Ladies Room), I could show my wrist band and say, “I’m in the club.” It’s the sort of thing I do.
Shaye Jennings played an acoustic set to start things off. She was very good, very mellow. Then when the Rick Short Band took the stage, we were ready to rock. So were they.
We got drinks and something to eat and enjoyed the sounds. When I had to cross in front of the band, I danced my way across, to let them know I was enjoying the music. I was happy to see two lovely ladies get up and start dancing. I asked Steven to dance with me. Later when Steven didn’t feel like dancing again, I danced with the two ladies. I love to dance.
My antics on the dance floor won me a copy of the CD. Later I purchased a t-shirt. I felt since I had gotten something for free, I should also buy something. Also, I wanted a t-shirt.
It was so much fun. We were all very glad we went. I can’t wait till the next time I can catch the Rick Short Band. For more information on the band, visit their website at www.rickshort.com, or you can Like them on Facebook. If you do that, you can easily find out when you can go hear them play.
Mohawk Valley Girl 