Tag Archives: music

Return to Fratello’s

Posted on November 15, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Wednesday I did something I haven’t in a while:  went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY for music an food.  Long-time readers may recall that used to be a regular thing with me.  Why wouldn’t it be? I love music, and I love food!  Additionally, I love supporting local, both restaurants and musicians.  But for one reason and another I have not made it to Fratello’s in a while.  When I saw that Gridley Paige Naked and Scared with Justin Smithson was going to be there, I made plans!

Unfortunately, only one of my pictures turned out.

I keep saying that I will never get over my disappointment that Gridley Paige is not actually naked.  That is the dirty old woman in me.  I question, too, how scared they are, but I do no purport to know anybody else’s emotional state.  I had never heard Justin Smithson play with them before but have heard him solo and like him quite a bit.  He is, as you may know, the Rock’n Roll Mayor of Frankfort.  I should see if the Sentinel wants me to start covering Frankfort Village Board meetings.  I already do the Town ones.

After quite a bit of debate, I decided on a steak and cheese wrap.  Yum!  There are so many excellent choices.  I may have to start going every week again, so I can work my way down the menu.

When I left, the band was bantering with some customers.  I listened for a minute then said, “You guys have to play another song so I can dance my way out!”  They were happy to oblige.  I took my time leaving, dancing back and forth a few times, looking like the crazy old lady I am.  Such a fun time!

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

 

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Apples and Music, Yes Please!

Posted on September 29, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Before my dog rescue adventure yesterday, I had a lovely time at Windy Hill Orchard in Cassville, NY.  I had thought about going as soon I heard that my favorite band The Posers was going to be there.  Then my friend Jerry posted on Facebook that he was going and was looking for people to join him.  Naturally I volunteered for that.  Turns out, Jerry wanted to go to get apples, being a long time  patron of Windy Hill, and only after he thought of going found out about the Posers.  Needless to say, we both greatly enjoyed both music and apples.

We should have had either Jerry or me standing next to the sign.

We got there while the band was doing their sound check.  Food was available, so I got a hot dog while Jerry got sausage and peppers.  Soon the band was playing.  I had to get up and dance.  Nobody took a picture, which was probably been just as well.

They Rock!

We ate and listened till Jerry’s daughter and son-in-law joined us.  Then we got bags and walked into the orchards to gather some apples.

I got some good walking in at the time.

Jerry had told me there was a beautiful view at the end of the orchard, and it did not disappoint.

I’m afraid my camera does not do as good a job as a fancy camera.

There was a photo op area, so I asked to get a picture of my friends.

Every adventure is better with friends!

Full disclosure:  I did not get any apples, but the others filled two bags. This was conservative.  Jerry said he went a little crazy last year and got almost 40 pounds of apples.  He made apple pie, apple sauce, apple crisp, and he still had too many apples!  I must say he behaved himself on Saturday. While they went to pay for them, I went back to hear more music.

This is the shot where you can kind of sort of see the bass player.

I took a couple more pictures.  I always feel bad that I can see the three front men pretty good but rarely get a good shot of the bass player and drummer, who are also awesome.

This one almost shows the drummer.

Jerry danced with me for the last song we were there for.  It was a lovely time, and a lovely drive there and back.  And if Jerry makes any apple pie with the apples he gets, maybe he’ll save me a piece.

 

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A Little Local Music for Me

Posted on August 26, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier tonight I made a short top at the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown, the weekly food truck festival in Meyers Park, to hear a little bit of K.O. Grainger.  It could only be a short stop, since I had to attend the Ilion Village Board meeting, but it was worth it.  For one reason, I got a hot dog from The Corner Office.  Yum!

They rock!

 

I first heard Matt Grainger playing acoustic guitar at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort (you may have seen a couple of my blog posts mentioning him).  K.O. Grainger is a two-man band with him and his brother, and they are awesome!

A closer view.

I sat at a picnic table and ate my hot dog, tapping my feet. I had to get up and dance to one song.  Nobody joined me, but at the Chowdown, people don’t judge (that I can see).  The audience was enjoying the tunes, clapping and singing along.

There are not many weeks left of the Downtown Chowdown, which runs Mondays in Meyers Park, starting at 4 p.m.  According to their Facebook page, September 1 and 8 are the last two this year.  If you like food truck food and live music, I suggest you check it out!

 

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A Little Posers Is Always Nice

Posted on July 31, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Tuesday I was a little bummed to hear that my favorite band, The Posers was playing in Mohawk, NY, because I had a Town Board meeting to cover in Frankfort.  However, I was able to stop by and hear a couple of songs after the meeting.

My pictures are not the best, but they will have to do.

The concert was sponsored by The Village of Mohawk Recreational Committee and took place at Tutty Field, which I had never heard of.  I was easily able to find it, though, thanks to directions on The Posers’ Facebook page.  They even put a sign on the Fishing Access Site post to help (I wish I had taken a picture of that!).

Turn around, Rick!

This was the first picture I took, and my good friend, Rick, the bass player abruptly turned his back!  Not on me, of course; I think he was fiddling with something technical.  I don’t know from band equipment.  I was happy to dance and sing along to the classic rock.

I might as well use all the pictures I took.

I did not stay long, although I could have gotten something to eat from one of the food trucks there.  I bet some of those people on the picnic tables would have been nice enough to let me sit with them.  However, I wanted to get home and start writing my story on the meeting I had been to.  Rick saw me as I was leaving and waved.  I waved back and blew a kiss.  I hope The Posers play soon at a time when I can be there for longer.

As a matter of fact, I heard they were going to be at the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown on Monday, Aug. 11.  Unfortunately I will have an Ilion Village Board meeting to attend.  Perhaps I can stop by again for a short time.  At least enough for a blog post!

 

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I Bounced Over to the Block Party

Posted on July 30, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last Saturday after the second performance of Four Old Broads on the High Seas (you knew I wasn’t done mentioning that play, didn’t you?), I went home to Herkimer and caught part of the block party on Main Street.  Other events had been going on earlier in the day, but of course I missed them due to my drama fixation.  Still, I walked down, took a couple of pictures, and thought I would just mention it in a post.

I bet he’d like to meet Bonita!

The first thing that caught my eye was the skeleton hanging out behind the band.  Every band should have such a cool groupie!  Or was he a roadie?

I didn’t catch their name, unfortunately.

Here is a shot of the band.  They were playing some pretty dance-able country music, but nobody was dancing at the time. I busted a move or two as I moved in for the photo.

The next step after Bounce House.

I checked out a few of the vendors, then noticed the Bounce Obstacle Course.  It looked fun.  I asked a couple people, and they said yes, some grown-ups had gone through it.  Brock was in front of the End Zone (he is the proprietor) and agreed to watch my bags.  I kicked off my sandals and went for it!

It was fun!

It was not beyond my meager athletic prowess!  But I did end up going down the final slide head first.  I had a good laugh at myself, and I hope other people saw me and had a laugh as well.  Since Brock was nice enough to watch my bags, I went into the End Zone for a glass of wine.  Sitting on a bar stool is really more my speed!

 

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A Little Music is Always Nice

Posted on June 20, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY used to be a regular stop for me, but not so much lately.  However, tonight, after attending the Frankfort Town Board Meeting to cover it for Sentinel Media, it was right on my way to stop as I drove home.  I did not know if there would be music, but I thought I could use a little food.  I decided if there was a parking space readily available, I would stop.  There was!  And there was music!

He is very talented.

Ryan Quinn was playing a James Taylor song as I walked in, “Fire and Rain.”  It is kind of an emotional song for me, because of the line, “But I always thought that I’d see you again.”  It makes me think of Steve, my late beloved husband.  I’m not the only one.  At the time of Steve’s passing, at least one friend referenced the song, talking about how hard Steve’s death hit him.  But I don’t mean to bring everybody down.  It is a beautiful song, and Ryan did a great job with it.  However, I was happy when he went on to “Benny and the Jets.”

I ordered a mixed sub as a wrap and a glass of wine.  It was delicious.  I chatted up Tony, who was my favorite Wednesday bartender a few years ago. She was waitressing tonight.  She still has the alpaca pen Steve and I got her at Paca Gardens.  How fun is that?

No keyboard pictures tonight, but he did play it.

Before I left I danced my way into the room where Ryan was playing to take a picture and leave a tip.  “Thank you,” he said, “for your interpretive dance and your tip.”  I thanked him instead for the music.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.  You can follow them on Facebook to keep updated on their musical entertainment.

 

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A Satisfying Sound Indeed

Posted on April 26, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night after I attended a Frankfort Town Board Meeting (regular readers may remember I have a side hustle covering Valley meetings for Sentinel Media), I stopped by Fratello’s Pizzeria to enjoy some music with Ryan Quinn.  Oh dear, that sounds like he was my date.  No, no, he was making the music, I was enjoying it.

A very nice young man.

He was playing guitar when I showed up, and he smiled nicely when I went to take a picture.  I told him it was for my blog post.  Later he switched to keyboard, so I tried to get a shot of that, too.

And he is as talented as he is nice.

At first I thought I screwed up, because I couldn’t make the picture come up as I walked back to my seat at the bar (I like to sit at the bar), so I went back and tried again.  This time I took two.  My phone made that little “blb.”

“I’m sure I got it that time,” I said.

“It even made a satisfying sound,” he agreed.

I went to see Phil Arcuri at Fratello’s on a recent Wednesday but neglected to make a blog post about it.  How remiss of me.  In fact, I have not been catching the local music scene as much as I like to lately.  I’ll have to do something about that.

 

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What Can I Say on a Wednesday?

Posted on April 3, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is either a Waste Not Want Not Wednesday or a Wuss-out Wednesday.  Earlier tonight I had the pick-up rehearsal for Prescription: Murder, the play I am in at Ilion Little Theatre (as I believe I have mentioned).  Then I went to hear the music of Phil Arcuri at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY.  I did not take any pictures of either activity, although I suppose I could make a blog post about either without new pictures. Perhaps tomorrow.

The eyes have it!

This is a picture I took backstage at Prescription: Murder.  It is Samantha, the woman who plays the chippy my husband murders me for.  She worked hard to make her eye make-up just right, with excellent results.

St. Francis is all inclusive.

This is a picture I took on a recent walk.  I was quite delighted to see a rainbow sign reading, “All Are Welcome Here,” at St. Francis Church down the street from my house.  I am all about loving and welcoming everybody.

Looks fishy to me.

The other picture I have is from Fat Cat’s Fish Fry in Herkimer, NY.  I went there today for a fish sandwich, and it was delicious!  I must do a full blog post on Fat Cat’s, but I did not get a picture of their sign, because it was hailing when I left the place this afternoon.  Maybe it was not actual hail, but it was colder and harder than rain, and it was not snow.  In any case, I hurried to my car.

Once again, this is my blog post.  I hope at least some of you have enjoyed it.

 

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Belated Shout-out to Great Music

Posted on June 16, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I neglected to write a blog post about my visit to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY, the Wednesday before last.  I went purposely to hear Phil Arcuri, one of my favorite local musicians.  I also had the idea that if I ordered a salad, I would have leftovers to bring for my lunch at work.  Both purposes were fulfilled to admiration.  I texted my friend Kathy to join me.  We sat at the bar as usual and had a wonderful evening.

From my Media Library.

I neglected to take my usual shot on my phone, which I share to Facebook urging others to come enjoy the music.  How remiss of me!  Those who were there heard some great music.  Phil was soon joined by a guest artist.

“That guy used to be mayor of Herkimer,” I told Kathy.  Kathy lives in Ilion, so I thought it was likely she did not know.

Never mind politics; this guy should go into entertainment!

The ex-mayor has a really good voice!  I was reminded his name is Tony Brindisi.  I am not so good at remembering names, unfortunately.

They had fun singing together.

I enjoyed my salad (and had enough left over for lunch), the music, and conversation with my friend.  Altogether a lovely evening.

 

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Good Music at the Chowdown

Posted on June 11, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

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.

 

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