Efforts Rewarded

So much to tell today. First I’ll begin with an event for which I was able to provide the celebration cake, “An Interview with War Veterans” at New Hartford Junior High School.  Click the second link to read the full story.  When I delivered the graduation cake yesterday to Caroline, she was so proud to have their story told in the paper. Great job! 

Members of the Veterans’ History Club, advised by Perry Jr. High English teacher Sue Ruhmel and Perry Jr. High social studies teacher Caroline Wiegand, interviewed veterans about their experiences during war.

Teddy was at the house when I returned from work Friday.  As I opened the garage door, there was a beautiful red and shiny chrome Harley sitting in our garage.  Teddy’s new bike.  He is thrilled with it and hopes to save on A LOT of gas from what his truck uses.  Be safe, Teddy.

A DVD review:  “Crossing Over” with Harrison Ford, Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd.  Not my type of movie. It was several stories about people living in the US illegally.  It skipped around a lot and wasn’t a “cheerful” movie.  We did stay awake for all 113 minutes, but can’t really explain why. 

The featured restaurant-pub today is The Celtic Harp on Varick Street in Utica. 

Newly opened, offering beers, wines, liquors, and a Irish-American style cuisine.

This newly renovated establishment has very high ceilings, upstairs dining (away from the bar area) and fine wood work. The crowd at 7pm was older but come 11 pm, all young Uticans who enjoy the variety of Varick Street will crowd The Celtic Harp.

The full scale menu, offering something for everyone, even childrens specials, will be available Monday, June 29th.

There is even an outside section for dining and socializing with a separate bar facility to accommodate for those busy Saranac Thursdays.

Did we try the food at the Celtic Harp last night? No.  Since the full menu wasn’t yet available, Ted decided we should try the Route 69 Steakhouse. 

Teddy joined us and we all enjoyed the fresh warm bread with warm peppered garlic dipping oil.  We shared a plate of Route 69 Greens which they served to us less the ham.  The greens were just the right heat and filled with red sweet peppers along with escarole, onions and baked to perfection. They weren’t dry nor too wet. 

We had tossed salads. Standard iceburg, red onions, cherry tomatoes with oil and balsamic vinegar.

For entrees, Teddy had the Chicken Teryiaki served with a grilled pineapple slice, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. Ted had the fish fry with coleslaw and french fries.  I had baked haddock topped with sauteed spinach, covered in mozzarella cheese with mixed vegetables. 

It was a tasty meal. Not gourmet and the restaurant didn’t pretend to be elegant. It was clean, the service was good, the prices were standard for Utica dining. I believe my baked haddock with spinach was about $14.00. 

If you’re interested in a casual experience with a lot of variety on the menu, reasonable prices, give Route 69 Steakhouse a try.  It has been there for several years now and they have done a great job of fixing it up. 

 

 

 

Saturday exercise.

It was a rainy Saturday morning in Utica. Ted didn’t play golf so Shane and I switched our running days. We will go for a run tomorrow but today, all three of us went for a fast paced 4.5 mile walk past MVCC, down Tilden to ….almost Broad Street – can’t remember where we turned?   We came out on Culver and pretty much raced home because Ted needed “facilities”.  We even jogged a little bit – yay Ted! 

It was a nice walk and now Ted is having coffee with the guys, Shane is sleeping and I’m heading up to shower and grocery shop. 

Have a super Saturday!