Tag Archives: music

A Little Art, A Little Music…

Posted on April 18, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have just returned from the Renaissance Pub in Little Falls, NY, where I attended a Meet the Artist event with Oscar Stivala.

Oscar Stivala is a jazz trumpeter as well as an artist.  The Renaissance is displaying some of his works, and he was playing music tonight.  Some friends joined him.

They were awesome!

I sat at the bar and ordered a glass of wine.  Oscar was already playing with a guy on guitar.  He was soon joined by a man on bongos and then a woman on trumpet.  The music was wonderful.  As I sipped, I looked at his paintings, which I foolishly did not get any pictures of.  It took me long enough to get pictures of the musicians, because different ones played at different times.

Here were two without Oscar.

I was joined by my friend Angela Harris, who wrote Strike Story, a play I had the honor of being in a few years ago.  She also wrote the cheese plays that were part of Little Falls Cheese Festival.  She is working on one for the next festival.  If there is a part for me, I assured her of my willingness to participate. We were soon joined by a couple other friends, and it was a very nice evening.

Here are Oscar and another musician whose name I did not ask.

I did not get the names of the other musicians playing.  My bad.  I hope to go to the Renaissance Pub again and write more blog posts about it.  I would also like to blog more about Oscar Stivala’s music and art.  However, for today, this will have to do.  Once again, I thank you for tuning in.

 

Leave a comment

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

Music, Food and Friendship

Posted on February 3, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

When I picked up my Chromebook to make my Wednesday blog post early Thursday morning, my internet suddenly and mysteriously vanished.  Long story short, the problem was solved last night (Friday), I hope, and here I am  ten finger typing on my couch Saturday morning, no coffee yet, surprisingly enough.

What I had meant to blog about two days ago was a trip to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY for music, food and good company.  My friend Kathy texted me to see if I was going out.  I had wanted to but felt undecided about it.  Her text decided me and soon we were sitting at the bar, waiting for the music of Max Scialdone.

A little blurry, but it will have to do.

I took my usual photo with my phone to post on Facebook, encouraging others to join us.  I do that almost every time, and nobody has ever accepted my invitation. However, some of my Facebook friends like to know I am out enjoying local music.

I ordered a steak and cheese wrap.  Cabernet Sauvignon went well with it.  Kathy drank beer but was not hungry.  She was there for the music and the company.  We had a nice visit.

It really does say Max Scialdone.

A couple other patrons remarked about Max’s name in lights. I had noticed the sign unlit when we walked in.  I tried to get a picture of it with my Tablet.  Alas, it did not turn out well, but I figured I could just tell my blog readers that it said Max Schialdone.  I will try to get a better picture at a future time.

Kathy and I were both glad we had gone out.  No doubt we will do so again.

 

Leave a comment

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

Frattello’s Helps

Posted on December 28, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Here I am, trying to make a Wuss-out Wednesday Post on Wednesday.  I have been having a very enjoyable evening at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort.  Alas, there was no musician tonight.  However, I sat at the bar with my friend Kathy, drank some Chardonnay,  ate a wrap sandwich, and had a very nice time.

Who doesn’t love nutcrackers?

This is a picture from a previous December at Fratello’s.  The nutcrackers are still there,  but I did not take a picture this evening.

Always there to see.

Looking in my Media Library, I found a photo of the sign out front.  Nice!

I see that I plug Fratello’s a lot.  It is a great place to eat as well as a great music venue.  But now I am thinking I might find some other places to plug.

He is great!

Of course I plug musicians too.  For example, Phil Arcuri, pictured above, plays other places as well as Fratello’s.  I might like to go to a few of those.

A summer visit to Fratello’s.

In the meantime,  I will continue to enjoy a favorite stop in the Mohawk Valley.

 

 

Leave a comment

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

I Felt Like Some Music!

Posted on September 21, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

So I celebrated my return to blogging by missing my Wednesday blog post.  Go figure.  You see, I was feeling better enough to return to my usual Wednesday night thing of going to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort for music and food.  I was glad I went but so tired afterwards.  I guess I’m still on the mend, as they say (does anybody still say that any more?).

They were great.

The musical talent was Gridley Paige Naked and Scared.  Of course, they were not actually naked, which was a great disappointment for me and my friend Kathy, who joined me.

However, they played some great ’80’s music.  I danced a little when I went up to take the picture.  I tried to post it on Facebook inviting others out, as I like to do, but my phone of Facebook would not cooperate.   I do not know that anybody has ever actually come out as a result of my postings, but some of my friends like to see that I am getting out and supporting local musicians.

Kathy and I shared some garlic bread with mozzarella, and I ordered angel hair pasta with a meatball.  Quite tasty, and now I have leftovers for at least two more meals.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.  You can follow them on Facebook to find out who’s playing next.

 

2 Comments

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

Fun at Brookwood Market

Posted on September 4, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought I might have a Scattered Sunday Post when I took a walk to Brookwood Summer Market in Herkimer, NY.  I had taken another walk earlier and thought to get together with my friend Kim later for further shenanigans.

Tom Maneen, he is fine, yes!

I walked around the vendors and enjoyed music by Tom Maneen.  However, I was hoping to return later with Kim and with more money to spend.

You can’t see their wares from here.

I wandered around and took a couple of pictures.

Still, you can see the tents.

There were a number of vendors with tempting wares.  I needed to get myself to an ATM and get some cash.

I got some extra exercise strolling by the market.  Spoiler alert:  I did return later with Kim and bought a few things, Kim nicely driving me to an ATM first.  We adjourned to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort where we took a couple of pictures of our purchases.  I will let that form the substance of tomorrow’s blog post.

Brookwood Summer Market runs on alternate Sundays in Brookwood Park in Herkimer, NY through October.   You can catch them September 17, October 1 and 15.  You can follow them on Facebook for more information.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in area attractions, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Don’t Blame The Posers!

Posted on September 1, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I know what some of you are going to think: I partied too hearty listening to The Posers last night.  I did not think I did!  Yes, I had some Chardonnay.  I figured I went to the Legion to hear a band, I should give them a little business, right?  Unfortunately, I had a dreadful headache all day and am taking a Blogger’s Sick Day now.

 

Different summer, different band.

I threw in a picture to make this a Throwback Thursday Post as well as a Blogger’s Sick Day.  Wow.  I almost said Wayback Wednesday.  See how a headache can mess me up?  Anyways, this is the Playin’ Again band, who I enjoyed hearing at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort a couple of times two summers ago. Regular readers know I usually go to Fratello’s on Wednesday night.  Last night I guess I mixed it up a little.

And here are The Posers again.

I close with a shot of The Posers last February at Ilion Elks Lodge.  Now I will take my headache to bed.  I’m sure I will feel better in the morning.

 

2 Comments

Posted in bloggers sick day, humor, personal, Throwback Thursday and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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!

 

Leave a comment

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

Friends at Fratello’s

Posted on August 10, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I feel sure regular readers expected me to go to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY for music and food as I often do on a Wednesday.  Indeed I did and I had a wonderful time.

They were still setting up when I made my obligatory Facebook post inviting others to join us.

Perhaps not as good a picture as I had hoped, but one must make do.

My work friend Kathy joined me.  We sat at the bar and ordered food and drinks.  These things are always more fun with a friend.  I introduced her to my nephew-in-law, Matt, who was there with some of his family.

Speaking of friends, musician Justin Smithson, who I have heard and enjoyed before, was joined by two friends, Dave Hawthorn and Steve Webb.  They were excellent.

They were great!

The first picture was taken with my phone.  Later I took a couple with my Tablet.

A different angle.

I bumped into another patron while taking the second picture.  She was very nice about it.

Fratello’s Pizzeria is located at 158 E. Main St., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-894-8484.  They have music other days as well.  I may have to eat out more often.  For one reason, it makes a good blog post.  Or do I flatter myself?

 

Leave a comment

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

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.

 

 

Leave a comment

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

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.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →