What a great week we’ve had appreciating the art and talent throughout the Mohawk Valley.
Mohawk Valley Through The Lens
Mohawk Valley Through The Lens Opening had its opening reception in the Cogar Gallery at Herkimer College. It was wonderful to meet Gabe, Cliff and Todd. All of the artists have a talent for capturing the beauty of the Mohawk Valley in their own unique way, showing us all how fortunate we are to be in this place we call home!
Mohawk Valley Through The Lens at the Cogar Gallery, Herkimer College
Oscar Stivala’s “Evolving”
In Little Falls, Oscar Stivala’s “Evolving” opened a gallery exhibit at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. As a local artist, he works in a variety of media including acrylics, mixed media, wood, and more. There’s so much that we loved about Stivala’s work including the wonderfully creative use of media and color. What a treat!
Arkell Museum
On Thursday, we visited the Arkell Museum which was a perfect way to slow down on an otherwise busy day. The Arkell Museum‘s galleries are home to a wonderful collection including John Singer Sargent, Windslow Homer, Edward Gay, Edmund Tarbell, and so much more.
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Recently, we had an opportunity to sit with Chef Aaron and learn more about The Table at Fort Plain and how he got started.
Chef Aaron graduated high school in Fort Plain and went on to study culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, before moving on to restaurant operations at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
Whenever Aaron came back to the area, he found himself traveling to either Albany or Utica for dinners. He also visited a lot of the Amish auctions and found great produce. Out of that, he saw an opportunity to create a casual dining experience midway between Albany and Utica. Aaron then went to work creating a destination in the Mohawk Valley.
A dining destination from Albany to Utica and everywhere in between
The Table at Fort Plain offers a menu that draws dinner guests from Albany, Schenectady, Cooperstown, Utica and beyond. Using the best locally sourced ingredients in the Mohawk Valley, The Table has a reputation for a wonderfully varied menu in a casual dining experience.
“We only buy choice meat and have a lot of interesting fish, especially in the summer. People come back to The Table as a destination, which has worked out really well for us.”
“It’s a nice drive for a lot of people it’s just beautiful when you come down. Another thing, is about once or twice a month we’ll get, ‘I’m from Albany and my sister or friend is from Utica and The Table is the perfect location for us to meet,’ which is great.”
Each time we have visited The Table at Fort Plain, our dining experience has exceeded expectations.
The menu is always creative and offers opportunities for us to enjoy produce from throughout the Mohawk Valley. The Table’s staff are friendly, experienced and absolutely excellent at what they do. Each menu item offers a chance to experience the food of the valley in a very comfortable setting. Chef Aaron and his team create a menu and place for you so that you can enjoy your dining experience every time you sit down at The Table. Read more about The Table in The Daily Gazette’s recently published article highlighting this great Mohawk Valley restaurant.
Sautéed Chicken, parrpadelle pasta with Grilled ramp and Beer Battered Haddock over Pommes Gaufrette
Make your Mother’s Day reservations at The Table at Fort Plain.
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This sign was created and hung on a tree in preparation for a reunion we were hosting. I made it just for a bit of fun to encourage family to enjoy a walk in the woods, and it worked! Download the SVG file and create your own or make a variation that will work for you. To make the sign
Paint the board with black chalkboard paint. Let the paint dry.
Print the downloaded file to match the size of the board you want to use and secure the printed paper to the board using painter’s tape.
Trace the letters (outline the thicker font) by using a dull point on the paper to leave an indentation to follow on the pine board. I used a small hex point screwdriver. The trick is to choose something that’s not too sharp (you don’t want to rip the paper) but that’s strong enough to leave a good indentation in the wood. The small hex screwdriver worked for me.
Once I traced all of the letters, I pulled up one end of the paper and checked to make sure I could see all of the letters. Satisfied with the results, I painted the letters in with an iridescent white paint; you could also use white chalk paint.
The trees on the sign below look a little different than the printable because I added them freehand with the paint. I included trees in the printable to make it easier. Happy trails!
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After the long winter chill it is so nice to be out and about in the Mohawk Valley. You can see the neighborhoods, towns and villages shaking off the chill of winter and stepping out into the community. People going out for walks, village spring clean ups planned, and people looking forward to being outside and active here in the Mohawk Valley.
We attended the Think Local Little Falls and Main Street First bi-weekly meetings. These volunteer groups work together making a difference in Little Falls. With the month-long event, “One City One Book – The One and Only Ivan” wrapping up with a party, plans are underway for the May Wellness Walkabout and the Art Walk in June.
Little Falls Historical Society Museum works hard to preserve the past and educate us all on the rich history of Little Falls. On Friday, we spent some time with the volunteers at the museum working on the new Sports Wing, Camp Jolly, Prohibition, and Suffragettes exhibits for the upcoming season opening.
We were able to catch both of the owners of Picture Perfect Fine Art Gallery, Dorine and Phyllis, in the gallery in Canajoharie, NY. We took the opportunity to learn more about their story and recorded a video interview that we hope to share soon. They shared their story of their past 28 years in business and their joy and passion for the arts.
Be sure to check out the Mohawk Valley Today Events Page. As you and your family get out and enjoy the warmer days you can find activities and events all across this great place we call the Mohawk Valley.
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We had a great week beginning with photos at the The Café at Stone Mill and Canal Side Inn both located in Canal Place in Little Falls. Also on our list was taking photos at Retro Ruby’s Photography on N. Main Street in Herkimer. Taking photos here was a ton of fun as there are some really awesome sets and photo props that just made our time there a blast.
A Biologist, English Professor, & Psychologist Walk Into a Bar…
This One City, One Book event, was one that we didn’t want to miss! We arrived early and enjoyed a very nice meal at Ruggiero’s Trattoria. Once the event started, everyone knew they were in for a treat. Ruggiero’s hosted a great crowd and we were happy to gather with friends while discovering more about the book and each other.
Out and About in St. Johnsville, Canajoharie, & Fort Plain
Starting on Route 5, we headed to St. Johnsville for Parkside Drive Inn. We were so happy about Parkside’s season opening and couldn’t pass up their signature salad. On to Canajoharie, we had an opportunity to talk with Dorine about Picture Perfect Fine Art Gallery and how they do on-site framing at their location on Erie Blvd.
On Canal Street in Fort Plain
Chef Aaron’s garlic and cheddar grits with sautéed mushroom and spinach. The mushrooms include shiitake, oyster and beech mushrooms, for a delicious vegetarian dish.
In Fort Plain, we stopped in to say “Hi!” to Rebecca at Highwheeler Coffee and were thrilled to be able to chat over the best freshly ground coffee that just hit the spot. While there, we had a chance to talk with Chef Aaron at The Table at Fort Plain. Chef Aaron and his team are already planning for Mother’s Day. Chef Aaron shared with us about how people throughout the Mohawk Valley go to The Table as a destination. Because Fort Plain is midway between Albany and Utica, many travel to The Table at Fort Plain to meet with friends and family while enjoying a delicious meal made from the best locally sourced ingredients.
We’re out and about every week and look forward to meeting you in our travels through the Mohawk Valley.
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For five years now, Tara, Gary, Marshall and Taylar, have created “that little place” where local folks and visitors alike enjoy breakfast, lunch, pies, and so much more. When you walk in the door, you’re welcomed into the heart of their family-run diner where they provide the best food, made from the best ingredients in the area. You’ll hear the sizzling on the grill, smell the coffee brewing, and while you listen to the old time music, you’ll be in the middle of an experience they’ve created to make you feel right at home. You know that when you walk in the door, you’re in the right place at the right time.
Tara and Gary
This year marks their fifth anniversary at That Little Place on Main and they have so much to celebrate.
With Marshall at his side, Gary has perfected the process of letting the flavor of the food he prepares really come through. He wants the locally sourced ingredients he uses to speak for themselves. From the moment produce and ingredients are sourced, special attention is given to freshness for optimum flavor.
Not only are the meals delicious, the service is friendly and warm.
Notes on tables in the booths left by customers share the many thanks and and great times had by all. After five years, Gary’s favorite thing about the diner is “the community that is created here, the stories told over the counter, and the people…the people.”
Five years is a milestone of success for any business, and That Little Place on Main has achieved this with plenty of momentum. Their focus on home-cooked meals, served in a friendly atmosphere, has proved to be a winning formula for Tara, Gary, Marshall and Talyar, as well as anyone who walks in the door.
Be sure to stop by That Little Place on Main and congratulate Gary and Tara, and Taylar and Marshall, too, on their fifth year of serving Little Falls.
Always ask about the day’s specials as you are sure to be in for a treat. Check out the pies on the counter and grab the carrot cake when you can. Their cinnamon swirl pancakes are always a hit.
John Krasinski and Emily Blunt at That Little Place on Main for breakfast!
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It was our first visit to a Sugar House, and to be honest, we didn’t know what to expect. One thing for sure, a lot of time, energy and effort goes into making one of the most wonderfully natural food products available.
This past weekend, we met the folks at Mud Road Sugar House in Ephratah, NY, who have been making maple syrup for over 30 years. This family business has grown and improved over the years with upgrades to the process including more efficient evaporators, reverse osmosis systems, improved filtering equipment, and more efficient sap collection and storage.
The traditional image of collecting sap from maple trees uses metal buckets that hang on the sides of the trees. Stepping back in time, wagons pulled by horses used to transport the sap to the sugar house. Once there, boiling off the water in the sap was an around the clock operation in order to produce the syrup.
Modern improvements today offer the ability to collect larger quantities of sap, faster boiling times, and increased production. Mud Road Sugar House has been through the evolution of maple syrup production and continues to improve their processes. Their focus is on quality syrup, available in a variety of grades, yielding an exceptional maple syrup and maple syrup products.
We really enjoyed the tour of the sugar house, listened intently as the process was explained and we sampled freshly produced maple syrup on pancakes, as well as specialty products like maple mustard, and maple syrup that has been stored in oak whiskey barrels for a wonderfully unique flavor.
Visiting an operating sugar house during New York State’s Annual Maple Weekend is just another reason why we love living in the Mohawk Valley. We recommend going out to see the process for yourself during the upcoming Maple Weekend. We think you will enjoy visiting any one of these wonderful locations while they’re producing the local maple syrup we all love.
Here are the maple producers participating in NYS Maple Weekend in the Mohawk Valley:
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This photo offers a sneak peak of the the museum’s new 2019 exhibit on the Prohibition Era.
Rusty Nail Grill & BBQ
Our next stop was the Rusty Nail Grill & BBQ just 5 minutes up SR 169 outside of Little Falls. It was such a nice visit and we were happy to see all of the work they’ve done on the dining areas to make folks feel right at home.
Ruggiero’s Trattoria
In preparation for Restaurant Week in Little Falls, we were happy to stop by Ruggiero’s Trattoria and welcome them to Mohawk Valley Today. We’re so looking forward to the city-wide event and all of the great food being offered by local restaurants.
Joyfuls Vintage Designs
While driving down Main Street we passed Joyfuls Vintage Designs and wound up circling around to find a parking spot so we could stop in. Inside is a wonderful selection of shabby chic designs creatively done by Joy. We had a great time and were so glad we stopped by.
Meeples Mug House
There’s been a lot of talk about Meeples Mug House in Little Falls for the past few weeks. We were delighted to stop by and meet Matt who was hard at work getting ready for their opening day. We love their idea of bringing friends and community together while having fun playing games, drinking coffee, and having a bite to eat.
Thanks so much for a great week! We love when folks let us know what businesses we need to go to and meet, so if your favorite locally owned business needs to be on Mohawk Valley Today, let us know!
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This past week we started getting out and about in Little Falls, NY, going to Il Caffé on Main Street, where we had something warm to drink along with other folks enjoying the sunny day.
Renewed and Rescued
We were so glad to have met the owner of Renewed and Rescued at 142 N. Main Street in Herkimer, located in what was a department store. We got to look around in all of the wonderful spaces featuring small furniture, home decor, Prima transfers, Dixie Belle paint, vintage glass, collectibles, and so much more. We were happy to take photos and to find something for our own home.
Wakefield Furniture
Our next stop was Wakefield Furniture where we were greeted warmly as they were getting ready for their Grand Opening. Wakefield Furniture is also located in a renovated department store right next store at 138 North Main Street. We love that Wakefield Furniture is locally owned and offers free delivery to many locations throughout the Mohawk Valley.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
We headed back to Little Falls where we met with Adam at Emmanuel Episcopal Church to find out more about the church and the many services it offers the local community. Everyone was so gracious and we loved learning so much about the church, ongoing renovations at the Rectory, and the church’s history in Little Falls.
That Little Place on Main
While driving through Little Falls on the way to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, we were thrilled to see That Little Place on Main’s sandwich board announcing Friday night baked or fried haddock dinners were being served.
All of this to say, we ended our day with a delicious Haddock Dinner where lots of folks had the same idea. We were quite content to be in the midst of this diner’s happy atmosphere and finished the day with Carrot Cake to take home. (We were admittedly full from the delicious dinner, but couldn’t pass up Gary’s Carrot Cake!)
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