Mohawk Valley Through the Lens Exhibit at Herkimer College | Mohawk Valley Today

This week has been all about the arts

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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 Evolving Exhibit Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts | Mohawk Valley Today

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!

Mohawk Valley at Canajoharie by Edward Gay 1876, Oil on Canvas (Detail) Arkell Museum Canajoharie NY | Mohawk Valley Today

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.

Retro Ruby's Photography Herkimer NY | Mohawk Valley Today

From Herkimer to Canajoharie and plenty of places in between

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Canal Side Inn Little Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today

Mohawk Valley Today places to go

We had a great week beginning with photos at the The Cafรฉ 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.

Dr. Bob Albrect as the English Professor in A Biologist, English Professor, and Psychologist Walk Into a Bar...

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 sautรฉed 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.

Cover photo was taken by G. Rogers at Retro Ruby’s Photography in Herkimer, NY.

That Little Place on Main 5th Year Anniversary | Mohawk Valley Today

Happy 5th Anniversary
to That Little Place on Main!

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For five years now, Tara, Gary, Marshall and Taylar, have created โ€œthat little placeโ€ where local folks and visitors alike enjoy breakfast, lunch, pies, and so much more. When you walk in the door, youโ€™re welcomed into the heart of their family-run diner where they provide the best food, made from the best ingredients in the area. Youโ€™ll hear the sizzling on the grill, smell the coffee brewing, and while you listen to the old time music, youโ€™ll be in the middle of an experience theyโ€™ve created to make you feel right at home. You know that when you walk in the door, youโ€™re in the right place at the right time.

That Little Place on Main 5th Year Anniversary | Mohawk Valley Today
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, Garyโ€™s favorite thing about the diner is โ€œthe community that is created here, the stories told over the counter, and the peopleโ€ฆthe people.โ€

That Little Place on Main 5th Year Anniversary | Mohawk Valley Today

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 dayโ€™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 and Emily at That Little Place on Main
John Krasinski and Emily Blunt at That Little Place on Main for breakfast!
Maple Weekends Mud Road Sugar House

Visit Maple Weekend Sugar House

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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.

Maple Weekends Mud Road Sugar House

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. 

Maple Weekends Mud Road Sugar House

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:

Mud Road Sugar House

Frasier’s Sugar Shack,

Brower Road Sugar House,

Millers Mills Maple,

Buck Hill Maple Farm,

Two Saps Syrup and

Maple Hill Farm

Be sure to visit a Maple Weekend Sugar House events happening at locations throughout the Mohawk Valley during NYS Maple Weekends!

You may also like Is it too soon to make Maple Syrup?, and How to identify maple trees to make your own maple syrup.

Joyfuls Vintage Designs Little Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today

A wonderfully busy week in Little Falls

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This past Friday, we found ourselves having a busy day–which was great!

Little Falls Historical Society Museum Little Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today

Little Falls Historical Society Museum

At the Little Falls Historical Society Museum, we met with folks to talk about their website at littlefallshistoricalsociety.org. This busy group of local historians are truly a joy to work with.

This photo offers a sneak peak of the the museum’s new 2019 exhibit on the Prohibition Era.

Rusty Nail Grill and BBQ Little Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today

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 Little Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today

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 Little Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today

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 Sprinkles | Little Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today

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!

Our week in Little Falls and Herkimer

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This past week we started getting out and about in Little Falls, NY, going to Il Caffรฉ on Main Street, where we had something warm to drink along with other folks enjoying the sunny day.

Renewed and Rescued Herkimer NY | Mohawk Valley Today

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 Herkimer NY | Mohawk Valley Today

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 LIttle Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today

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 LIttle Falls NY | Mohawk Valley Today-3

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!)

The Table at Fort Plain | Mohawk Valley Today

Places to go and people to see in the Mohawk Valley

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Think Local Little Falls and Main Street First

This past week we attended the Think Local Little Falls and Main Street First meetings which included meeting visitors from the Friends of St. Johnsville. Both meetings were great with an emphasis on the year’s upcoming activities and events. Think Local Little Falls has lots planned for February’s Third Thursday, so be sure to check out the events page.

While in Little Falls…

We also visited That Little Place on Main where folks were enjoying lunches and we were savoring the sausage soup that really hit the spot. While at Rochette in the 410 Collective we checked out new items and displays while Huckleberry Letterpress was busy making pencils.

Little Falls Historical Society Museum

We also spent some time at the Little Falls Historical Society Museum where members were busy working on new exhibits, archiving and so much more. Together, we added new events and news items to their website. A lot is planned for the upcoming season including new exhibits and an expanded Sports Wing. We’re really looking forward to the museum’s opening in May.

In Fort Plain…

On Valentines Day, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner complete with a delicious dessert at The Table at Fort Plain. We really enjoyed the evening and seeing everyone at The Table.

Yesterday, we stopped in at Highwheeler Coffee for a couple of Chai Lattes and enjoyed chatting with folks on our way to Amsterdam.

New additions to Mohawk Valley Today

On Mohawk Valley Today, we’ve added a number of new events as well as full-page listings for Preserve Our Past and the Little Falls Public Library. If you’d like to see a Mohawk Valley locally owned business or event on our site, let us know!

Fall Hill Bead and Gem | Mohawk Valley Today 6938

A visit to West Main Street in Little Falls, NY

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Out and about in the Mohawk Valley: A visit to West Main Street in Little Falls, NY

With the holidays fast approaching we had several errands to run and gifts to get for friends and family. Like most busy folks, we wanted to consolidate and try to accomplish several things in one stop. A visit to West Main Street in Little Falls, NY was just what we needed.

Our first stop was to Fall Hill Bead and Gem.

This truly is a special gem here in the Mohawk Valley. Fall Hill Bead and Gem is packed with specially crafted jewelry along with many gems and stones for your own creations. With that, wander in and explore all the wonders they have inside. Kimย and Adam not only helped us re-size a ring, they also showed us some of their newest items.

Next, we visited with Terry and Andy at Paca Gardens.

Our goal was to take some photos to list Paca Gardens in Mohawk Valley Today. Terry showed us some of the lovely Alpaca Sweaters, jackets, scarfs and more – inviting us to โ€œtouch everything.โ€ย ย New to knowing anything about Alpaca, Terry showed us some pictures her Alpacas, and taught us about the unique qualities and benefits and Alpaca products. With all of the beautiful Alpaca items they carry, we found some great gifts for family members. Their stock of products are just beautiful, soft and oh so tempting!ย 

An introduction to Tang Soo Do of Central New York.

While at Paca Gardens, Andy introduced us to his friend,Mike Molinaro, of Tang Soo Do of Central New York. Master Michael A. Molinaro is founder, owner, and chief instructor of Tang Soo Do of Central New York. Mike invited us to his training studio to learn more about the classes offered and take some pics to add to Mohawk Valley Today!

Time for Lunch – That Little Place On Main

After all this activity, we needed to refuel. We already love going to That Little Place On Main. As always, Tara and Gary provided the perfect meal along with some great conversation. We wish we could have stayed longer! If you stop by That Little Place on Main, be sure to ask about their delicious pies.