Last night I found a fried haddock dinner at Harpoon Eddie’s in Sylvan Beach, New York. We were there to listen to the harmonies of SAMMY nominated Syracuse band Master Thieves. They do great versions of classic rock songs interspersed with originals.
They played indoors due to the inclement weather.
Presentation: This massive fried haddock dinner came served with lager fries, char-grilled Brussels sprout and homemade tartar sauce presented on an adorable aluminum fish plate.
I love how every time I go in search of fish fry I am delighted by the variety in presentation. This one is so fun!
There are several haddock choices on the menu – sandwich, bites, dinner – and several side items. Crinkle cut fries were available too or garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli in place of the sprouts. But no coleslaw.
Taste: I enjoyed the meal, especially the fries – they’d been recommended by the bartender. I liked the Brussels spout but flavor-wise I felt they competed with the fish and it seemed an odd choice. The fish tasted great – flaky and airy. I split the dinner with my friend. Half was really plenty meal. It was $23.00.
Restaurant Experience: I’m not going to lie – Harpoon Eddie’s is so much better on a beautiful summer night, as depicted in photographs on their web-site. My hair would agree with that assessment. It transforms into full gremlin when wet. But, you know, despite that – still fun. Sparsely attended yet everyone there was enjoying the band and their respective meals. The waitstaff appear to love their jobs. They are very helpful and friendly, and smiley.
Location: Harpoon Eddie’s is on the beach overlooking Oneida Lake, located at 611 Park Street, Sylvan Beach, New York 13157.
OPEN MON-TUE 4-10 PM, WED-THU 12-10 PM, FRI-SAT 12-1130 PM AND SUN 12-9 PM
Parking: Parking is tight in the small parking lot. There are more spaces across the street, as well as a larger parking lot within walking distance that services other businesses and the amusement park.
CITI Boces sponsors a gala for Arts In Education. I went to the first one last year and attended the second, in what appears to be an annual celebration, at the Everson Museum of Art last night.
It’s basically an opportunity to view the art galleries then participate in a brief reception with mocktails and crudite followed by a sit down presentation in the auditorium, which includes student art, theatrical and dance performances and some art awards.
It is a formal occasion and it’s free, two of my favorite Fs.
I can’t remember the last time I wrote a book synopsis. I’m going to guess around 1975. I have never joined a book club, so that doesn’t help. Three months ago, a friend let me borrow a couple of books that I neglected to finish. When people recommend things to me, I often wonder if they know me at all.
Okay, with that disclaimer over with, let’s move on to my new blog category – Book Report. This may or may not be a monthly gig, as I haven’t been reading a lot. But I went to the eye doctor to establish that I still have 20/20 vision yet paid the extra money to get two pairs of designer progressives (readers to make the font bigger, lol). I need a reason to wear them, so no excuses. And, this book, The Big Door Prizeby M.O. Walsh is worth sharing.
I have Apple TV + . I got it to watch Palm Royale and found their other series to be pretty great. The Big Door Prize just finished a second season and as I was scrolling the credits, I noticed it was based on a novel.
The premise is that a mystery machine appears in the grocery store. Called DNAMIX in the book and MORPHO in the show, it offers the customers a card listing their life potentials. This causes many individuals to quit their jobs and follow the instructed path – that is, if they resonate with the result.
The main character is a teacher and since I am about to retire after thirty years of teaching, I was thinking about this chosen profession – was it the right one? Will I now seek my true heart’s desire and what exactly is it? It isn’t/wasn’t teaching, right? Is that machine real? Do I even know myself? Why don’t you just tell me what it is….
Not sure if this is a spoiler, but the teacher gets…teacher. This made me cry. It just sucked. For me, not necessarily for the character. Well, the television show didn’t answer my questions about this mysterious machine. Was it indeed magical and where were they going with it? I decided to read the book and found the answer to that question.
Not sure how they will work back to that result in the show because the characters are not quite the same. Funny how they relocated the Trina character. She is the priest’s niece in the book and the teacher’s daughter in the series. Others have different professions in the book versus the show, and some characters in the Apple + incarnation don’t even exist in the book. The gist of the characters is similar though. The way you end up caring about them in both is top-notch.
The author dives inside the characters’ heads. Exposition more than dialogue here and it works because it really packs an emotional punch. I grew to love each one with every page turn because I learned their motivations for action based on their past experiences.
I love a good depth of character, I really do!
The novel is filled with humor and I am impressed by the differences in each character’s inner and outer voices, mannerisms, senses of humor and ability versus inability to edit themselves verbally. So good.
The Louisiana town is fictional. The author is from Louisiana so these bits of information regarding life in that neck of the woods, that write-what-you-know thing gives the story that fleshed out vibe. Are they parts of real people? One likes Pokemon card games, another plays the trombone, and two others have medical issues. There is a lot of relatable stuff – like, perhaps you know people like this or you think, does Milton Walsh know me?
All the story lines unite at the end of the novel. It’s so good!
I can’t get enough – meaning I love that the TV series takes everything a step further, uncovering new plots and new connections. I think when these producers purchase the rights to novels they pay the author one price then take their liberties. I watched a YouTube video with him and he said he was incredibly grateful for that turn of events. At some point the author must let go of the desire to control his own characters and allow them to morph(o).
I took a trip to The Yard in Manlius, New York and discovered Cafe Jarosz. Fried haddock was on the menu!
Presentation: I received my order from the food truck and it was presented as a tower of fish – I think there were three pieces in the bun propped on a bed of crinkle cut fries. Coleslaw had been placed in a small container. The meal came with tartar sauce and ketchup. It was $15.
Taste: The fish batter had a Kentucky Fried Chicken flavor. Crispy and tender and so fun to eat. The coleslaw tasted traditional and the fries too. Everything felt very much, like, familiar.
I’m not a huge fan of food trucks – that whole temporary thing weirds me out or maybe it is because it’s a road vehicle that combines moving around the region with cooking that doesn’t seem sanitary. But, with that said, this meal is probably up there in the Karen Tash local fish fry Hall of Fame, which has not yet been established but sounds like high praise so I will allow it and thank my past self when the time comes to reveal it. Yes, it was really that good!
Restaurant Experience: I guess The Yard had that fun “let’s explore this place” factor, which lead from the bar to the cafe to the food truck and the outdoor seating area, and that adventure was lovely. It was a beautiful day and I wondered how the businesses faired in poorer climate conditions.
I imagined becoming a vendor to sell my art and jewelry but in that daydream, it would always need to be a gorgeous seventy-eight degree weather day and I would need more variety in the menu choices of Cafe Jarosz, because haddock is a Friday only special (and very if-fy on Saturdays)
Location: The Yard is located at 604 E Seneca St, Manlius, NY 13104. Cafe Jarosz is a small eat-in restaurant with a food truck parked in the rear that exists within The Yard compound, which includes a mall style shopping experience paired with artisan shops housed in old shipping containers and an outdoor space with a fully stocked bar/brewery.
Parking: There is a long row of parking spaces to the left of the property with handicapped parking in the middle. It wasn’t that busy at 3;30 PM on Saturday because they didn’t have any live music scheduled at that time, but I believe it gets more traffic in the evenings.
Yesterday Amanda Clifford took us on a free walking tour of the neighborhood surrounding the Fayetteville Free Library, former home of the Stickley furniture factory and current home of the Stickley Museum, of which she is the Director.
Patri, Janine and I were joined by Mae and Joe, a lovely couple from Ohio for this adventure, which took us past several small waterfalls that make up the Ledyard Canal (the water that powers it initiates from Beard park pond), and Leopold Stickley’s former residence. The latter is a grand Victorian-style home on Clinton. He and his employees could walk to work back then.
In fact, the entire neighborhood was built around this waterway because it had the ability to power a flour mill and helped establish a knife factory and other businesses that, although no longer there, maintain a spirited presence in the area.
Stickley’s presence is still very much alive thanks to the Audi family. The factory has since moved a few miles down the road and, a few miles in the opposite direction one can find the Stickley showroom.
I loved learning about the history of the Stickley family – how the parents, German immigrants who’d settled in Wisconsin had eleven children. Their dad abandoned the family and the boys learned masonry and carpentry from their uncle. Gustav, Albert, John George and Leopold all established businesses. The Stickley company we know today was purchased from Leopold’s widow. Gustav’s furniture plans came with that sale because he’d sold them to his brother before his own company went bankrupt. So nothing is a reproduction, rather, they are simply re-issuing or re-launching furniture that comes from the original L & JG Stickley business.
It’s such an amazing American success story, really. Gustav launched the Arts & Crafts movement right here in Syracuse, New York, and that is just so cool! I have always loved the clean lines and sturdy quality of the quarter-sawn oak pieces. It is just so classic.
Amanda Clifford is available to answer questions at the Stickley Museum. Just go inside the library and take the elevator to the second floor on Tuesdays, Fridays or Saturdays. She welcomes school groups of all ages. To schedule a group tour call her at (315) 682-5500 extension 2257.
Yesterday, we held our final Chittenango Art department faculty meeting for the year (my final ever meeting) at Yards Grille (at Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville, New York). I was the only one in search of fish fry. There’s a variety of sandwiches, salads and other entrees on the menu. We all chose different meals.
Presentation: This is their fish sandwich. It comes with french fries or potato chips but no coleslaw. Instead the fish is served tartared and laden with pickles on a brioche bun.
Taste: It was delish! I loved every bite. The fries had an air fryer look to them – very seasoned, which made me covet them. I don’t eat like this every day – it probably seems like it, lol, but I mainly eat a very bland plant based diet – so when I have something salty I think it tricks my mind into wanting more times infinity. And that it not to say that I regret eating them. Because I don’t regret a thing.
Restaurant Experience: The restaurant overlooks the golf course and the lake at Green Lakes State Park. If you’ve never been there, you must make a plan to go because the view is spectacular!
We had planned this excursion a week in advance. On Thursday night when I checked the weather report, it declared Friday a rainy day. I thought we were going to end up eating inside – well…it turned out to be a magnificent weather day. Perfect, in fact. Seventy-eight degrees and sunny. We were able to dine on the outdoor deck. We sat in the shade and enjoyed the view while reminiscing, evaluating the school year and sharing plans for summer vacation and beyond.
Katy and I arrived together. We approached the hostess and she brought us to our table. Madison had already arrived. Allison and Gina appeared quickly after. The waitress and the manager asked us how everything was – they really pampered us.
If you have never been to this restaurant, I highly recommend you head there on a beautiful day to enjoy the ambiance. Yards Grille is only open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, I believe, and is open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day during that period.
Location:
Green Lakes State Park 5648 Green Lakes Park Dr Fayetteville, NY 13066
Parking: There is a huge parking lot in front of the restaurant. When we arrived at noon yesterday, the parking lot was full of cars but the restaurant was not filled to capacity because the parking lot doubles as parking for golfers. There is plenty of space.
If you drive into Green Lakes from Route 5, you do not have to pay to go through the park – the entrance gate to the park does not include the restaurant.
Last night my friend and I decided to go in search of fish fry. I had a list of places in the area. We decided to investigate The Craftsman Wood Grille & Tap House. There is an open grill kitchen with four chefs working together. They are known for their meats and their pizzas, mainly, and a fun bacon flight thing with bacon cured in a variety of flavors. Still, fish and chips is on the menu – not sure if it is a Friday only thing or not.
Presentation: The plate – OMG, such a beautiful presentation. The fish looked like a giant corn dog laying in a bed of the tiniest sweet potato fries with parchment paper underneath to absorb lingering oils from the fryer. Four stainless steel condiment cups held ketchup, maple butter, coleslaw and tartar sauce. The chef included a grilled lemon.
I do love when the waiter delivers a lovely looking meal.
Taste: I tasted a bit of mustard in the coleslaw or maybe I thought I did because it appeared yellow. The combination of maple butter with sweet potato fries is always a yes! So delish. This was a substitution and we both went for it in lieu of regular french fries.
I didn’t love the fish but, you know, I certainly didn’t hate it. I had to “fish” for it under all that batter – I didn’t eat that part because it tasted soft, not crunchy – basically pancake batter-y. Overall, I think the portions were just right and it left room for us to share a slice of cake for dessert, since this was a pre-birthday meal for me. (Thank you, Bobbi!)
Restaurant Experience: I love this restaurant. It has a gorgeous ambiance. We arrived before 5:00 PM without a reservation. No one was eating yet and we were seated in a booth by the window – I believe it was referred to as table 1. The other tables filled quickly after, and by the time we were ready to leave, the restaurant was at full capacity including the bar area.
Stickley furniture prevails. The whole place is a Stickley-gasm. There was a party going on in the conference room that I wanted to crash, maybe a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception with people dressed in suits and gowns.
It’s all so pretty – I didn’t really want to leave.
They also have an outdoor space – a roof, a bar area, seating, heat lamps and a fireplace. On Thursdays they do live music in that space – so fun!
Location: The Craftsman is located at 7300 East Genesee Street (Route 5), Fayetteville, New York 13066
Or visit their website, which includes a menu with prices.
Parking: They have an ample parking lot for the restaurant and the adjacent hotel – The Craftsman Inn. If you haven’t been, it is a mission-style lover’s paradise – filled with Stickley furniture.
Find Paul Schantz at the Madison-Bouckville Antique weekend (Route 20 in Bouckville, New York). The mini festival will be open today, June 2, 2024, from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
Schantz creates these whimsical bird houses using wood, found objects and even beer kegs. All that and a can of chips!
He is from Kirkville, New York. For more information contact him at pschantz47@gmail.com.
