Tag Archives: Phil Arcuri

I Do Run On

Posted on June 11, 2025 by mohawkvalleygirl

How did it get to be Tuesday already?  I thought it was still the weekend.  No, no, I remember that yesterday was Monday, because I thought I could take a half hour or so to listen to Phil Arcuri at the Herkimer Downtown Chowdown.  I had to cover a Village Board Meeting in Ilion at 5:30 so couldn’t stay longer, but at least a little Phil would be great, and I could make a blog post after the meeting.

Well, um, no.  Apparently they cancelled the Chowdown.  They posted it on Facebook, but I missed it.  Rats!  And I had done very little else during the rest of the day. Now Tuesday afternoon is waning and I have again done very little.  I did run on Monday.  It was not much of a run, but any run is a good run to have done.  Today it was raining in the morning, and I was busy writing up the meeting I went to yesterday.

Feet don’t fail me now!

This is about the time my blog should be turning to All Pride Stride 5K All The Time.  I have three days before the big day!  Ideally I will go for a long run tomorrow, at least three miles.  However, I think it is supposed to rain.  I ran three miles in the rain at least once.  I can do it again.  No promises if there is thunder.

In the meantime, I have at least babbled on for over 200 words of another placeholder post.  I shall feel free to continue to call myself a blogger.  The Pride Stride 5K, incidentally, is part of the Little Falls Pride Celebration.  Many activities are planned for Saturday, June 14 in Little Falls, NY. For more information, you can check out their Facebook page.

 

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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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Post Music Post

Posted on November 14, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I knew it; I knew this would happen.  I knew if I went to Fratello’s before making my blog post I would not want to make my blog post when I got home.  Here I am, too beat to blog.  Yet here I am, ten finger typing on my Chromebook.  Perhaps I could manage a Wuss-out Wednesday post.

This was a really good episode.

I was watching Columbo earlier this afternoon while crocheting a baby afghan I want to give at a shower in another week or so.  While at Fratello’s, Phil Arcuri sang the Johnny Cash song about a Burning Ring of Fire.  I told my friend Kathy, who was there with me, how Johnny Cash was a great murderer on Columbo (this does not need a spoiler alert, as Columbo aficionados know).  So the picture above is appropriate.

And here is Phil!

This is a picture I took a while ago of Phil at Fratello’s. Tonight I took my obligatory picture to share on Facebook, inviting others out to hear good music, but it did not turn out very well.  Still, I shared it, so any of my local Facebook friends could come out and hear the music.

I see I have managed 200 words.  I say not bad for a Wuss-out Wednesday. Note to self:  next time post before going out to enjoy local music.

 

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Late Shout-Out to Phil

Posted on August 18, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have done it again:  posted then missed several days.  How can I make it up to my readers (if any remain)?  One thing I could do is tell you about a recent Mohawk Valley Adventure.

One of my favorites!

Last Saturday I walked down to Meyers Park in Herkimer, NY for the Elks Club Car Show.  I love old cars, but my primary reason for stopping by at that time was that Phil Arcuri would be playing music.  Regular readers know he is one of my favorite local musicians.  I have seen him many times at different venues and enjoyed him very much. He always has such a good time when he plays.  I love his big smile.  His daughters come up and  sang the Baby Shark Song.  I am not really familiar with that song, although I know it was very popular among a certain segment of the population.  When they were singing about Grandpa Shark and Grandma Shark, I wished they had a verse about Aunt Cindy Shark.  Of course, I am not their Aunt Cindy, but couldn’t we stretch a point?

It is pure joy when he plays.

Of course he noticed me, standing as I was right in front of the pavilion and dancing to every tune.  He added my name to “Under the Boardwalk,” singing
“under the blanket with my Cynthia…”  I remember one time at Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort,  he sang the song that way and added that we would let Steve (my husband, for anyone just tuning int)  get in on it, too.

I had had a headache earlier that day, and after standing (and dancing) around in the sun it started to come back. After chatting for a little time with Phil, I took my leave.

I feel bad that it has taken me this long to write even this brief shout-out to such a good musician.  I encourage everybody to hear him play if possible; he plays at several area venues.  The area is so blessed to have such talented musicians!

 

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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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More Phil at Fratello’s!

Posted on March 21, 2024 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think it has been a while since I blogged about a visit to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort, NY, one of my favorite places to go for music, food and company.   As a matter of fact, I had not intended to go last night.  My stomach has been bothering me, I’ve been in a poopy mood, I have chores to do at home, etc etc, blah blah woof woof.  However, when I saw that Phil Arcuri was playing, I wavered.  Then I drove home through a snow squall and thought, “Oh no, staying home.”  Once home, I did a couple of chores and noticed it had stopped snowing.  A sign?  Did I deserve a reward for doing a few things?  I texted my friend Kathy and she said she would join me.  I was going to hear Phil!

Oh dear, I think this was Christmastime.

This is a picture of Phil from my Media Library  the only ones I took last night were a couple of blurry ones from my phone.  Why does my phone take such lousy pictures?  Probably operator error, because it doesn’t always.

I guess this one is a little blurry, too.

Phil was happy to see us.  I am a regular fan of his.  He has many regular fans, of course.  As I always mention, he is a great musician and obviously takes such joy in performing, it is a pleasure to watch and listen.  When he sang “Margaritaville,” I said it was my fault during the first chorus (you know:  “Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame, but I know, it’s my own fault”).  He ended the the song with, “It’s Cynthia’s fault.”

When I got up to use the ladies room, I danced my way there, much to the amusement of everybody.  How could I help it when he was playing, “Brown-Eyed Girl”?  When we left, I danced my way out.  I usually do that.  I told Kathy is it kind of expected of me.

We both had a great time and were glad we went.  There are, of course, many chores still waiting for me at home.  But I think music and friends are more important.

 

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Friends, Music, Why Not on a Wednesday?

Posted on September 7, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yes, I went to Fratello’s Pizzeria in Frankfort again tonight.  For one reason, it was beastly hot out and I wanted some AC.  For another reason,  one of my favorite local musicians, Phil Arcuri,  was playing.

I still think my phone does not take good pictures.

Of course I took my obligatory shot of Phil playing and posted it in Facebook, inviting all to come down and hear.  I guess this does not reach so many people, since my Facebook privacy settings are high (at least so I think they are). Still, one does what one can,

My work friend, Kathy, joined me.  We had a nice visit and shared some garlic bread with Mozzarella cheese.  Yum!

Recent photo that is still apropos.

Bartender Gino took very good care of us.  The picture is from Sunday,  but I suppose nobody will mind me stretching a point.

We had a wonderful time, eating, listening to music, and visiting.  Sometimes I wonder if I really ought to be running around so many nights, but then I think to myself, “Why not?” What is the point of life if not to have fun time with friends?   I suppose some people can cone up with a better point.  If so, please make a comment.  I will address it in a future blog post.

 

 

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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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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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