Brewery Ommegang outside Cooperstwown. The oldest of the craft breweries in the region, I’be been going there for at least 20 years. Brewer of Belgian beers and co-owned by Duvel, the brewery was built in the style of a Belgian farmstead .
December 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Brewery Ommegang outside Cooperstwown. The oldest of the craft breweries in the region, I’be been going there for at least 20 years. Brewer of Belgian beers and co-owned by Duvel, the brewery was built in the style of a Belgian farmstead .
A Christmas landscape taken out the back window from my table at La Maison Blanche in Norwich while having coffee and a croque madame.
December 21, 2025 at 2:41 AM
A Christmas landscape taken out the back window from my table at La Maison Blanche in Norwich while having coffee and a croque madame.
This weekend’s laundromat reading: Provenance by Ann Leckie @annleckie.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:26 PM
This weekend’s laundromat reading: Provenance by Ann Leckie @annleckie.com
Another thing I bought at Jewett's. Jewett's sells lots of non-cheese products. Local charcuterie, meat, and dairy, honey, and jams, maple syrup and maple products, bulk spices, beans, and baking goods, bulk snacks and candies. Many samples of cheeses, meats, snacks, and candies are put out daily.
December 14, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Another thing I bought at Jewett's. Jewett's sells lots of non-cheese products. Local charcuterie, meat, and dairy, honey, and jams, maple syrup and maple products, bulk spices, beans, and baking goods, bulk snacks and candies. Many samples of cheeses, meats, snacks, and candies are put out daily.
The cheese counter inside Jewett's. Jewett's makes and ages their own cheddars, but of course they sell a lot of other cheeses including local, national, and imported. I bought Wensleydale with cranberries, 14 year-old cheddar, halloumi, and Irish porter cheddar.
December 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM
The cheese counter inside Jewett's. Jewett's makes and ages their own cheddars, but of course they sell a lot of other cheeses including local, national, and imported. I bought Wensleydale with cranberries, 14 year-old cheddar, halloumi, and Irish porter cheddar.
Another thread to highlight more of my favorite area businesses, as my previous thread got bollixed up.
This is Jewett's Cheese House in Earlville. It's miles out of town down a back road and remember not to go on Saturdays, because that's when they're closed.
This is Jewett's Cheese House in Earlville. It's miles out of town down a back road and remember not to go on Saturdays, because that's when they're closed.
December 13, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Another thread to highlight more of my favorite area businesses, as my previous thread got bollixed up.
This is Jewett's Cheese House in Earlville. It's miles out of town down a back road and remember not to go on Saturdays, because that's when they're closed.
This is Jewett's Cheese House in Earlville. It's miles out of town down a back road and remember not to go on Saturdays, because that's when they're closed.
Just inside the entrance of the Shoppes at Johnny Appleseed. Just a sprawling series of rooms with loosely separated vendor areas. A lot of artists and crafters, with some antiques and collectibles. I've never been to the restaurant because it's small and always full. Thus ended our trip.
December 10, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Just inside the entrance of the Shoppes at Johnny Appleseed. Just a sprawling series of rooms with loosely separated vendor areas. A lot of artists and crafters, with some antiques and collectibles. I've never been to the restaurant because it's small and always full. Thus ended our trip.
Our final stop was in off-the-beaten-path Erieville to the Shoppes at Johnny Appleseed. A former furniture manufacturer/store in the middle of nowhere, the owners turned the place into a sprawling multi-vendor artisan marketplace
December 9, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Our final stop was in off-the-beaten-path Erieville to the Shoppes at Johnny Appleseed. A former furniture manufacturer/store in the middle of nowhere, the owners turned the place into a sprawling multi-vendor artisan marketplace
Ray Brothers Barbeque. Not a big menu, but the do everything right. Some platters, such as the brisket, only come up as weekly specials. One thing they have that others don't is their smoked meatloaf sauced with one of their sauces.
December 8, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Ray Brothers Barbeque. Not a big menu, but the do everything right. Some platters, such as the brisket, only come up as weekly specials. One thing they have that others don't is their smoked meatloaf sauced with one of their sauces.
Then we went to our consensus choice for lunch: Ray Brothers Barbeque on State Highway 20 in Bouckville. In my opinion, the best barbecue place in CNY east of Syracuse.
December 8, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Then we went to our consensus choice for lunch: Ray Brothers Barbeque on State Highway 20 in Bouckville. In my opinion, the best barbecue place in CNY east of Syracuse.
This weekend’s laundromat reading: Heaven by Mieko Kawakami.
December 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
This weekend’s laundromat reading: Heaven by Mieko Kawakami.
Then we went to Parry's General Store, just outside Hamilton. Parry is mostly a large hardware and home improvement store, but with staff that is actually helpful and knowledgeable. However, we were there for their good stock of local foods and products.
December 7, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Then we went to Parry's General Store, just outside Hamilton. Parry is mostly a large hardware and home improvement store, but with staff that is actually helpful and knowledgeable. However, we were there for their good stock of local foods and products.
Another interior shot of the Colgate Bookstore. We went to some other neighboring stores, but I didn't take pics. SWANK/NOSH is a design and home goods store with a gourmet food annex. Shol's Boutique. Maxwell's Chocolates & Ice Cream, with its ice cream and soda fountain counter.
December 6, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Another interior shot of the Colgate Bookstore. We went to some other neighboring stores, but I didn't take pics. SWANK/NOSH is a design and home goods store with a gourmet food annex. Shol's Boutique. Maxwell's Chocolates & Ice Cream, with its ice cream and soda fountain counter.
Then on to the Village of Hamilton itself, starting with the Colgate Bookstore. Perhaps because it's in town and not on campus, it feels more like a community bookstore than a college bookstore. Plus the textbook department and all the Colgate gear is up on the second floor.
December 4, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Then on to the Village of Hamilton itself, starting with the Colgate Bookstore. Perhaps because it's in town and not on campus, it feels more like a community bookstore than a college bookstore. Plus the textbook department and all the Colgate gear is up on the second floor.
Tonight's laundromat reading: The Case of the Spellbound Child by Mercedes Lackey. One of her Elemental Masters Series books. @johannadc.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Tonight's laundromat reading: The Case of the Spellbound Child by Mercedes Lackey. One of her Elemental Masters Series books. @johannadc.bsky.social
An unwanted reflection selfie of the refrigerated case at the shop shed. You can see milk, buttermilk, chocolate milk, roll butter, tubs of butter, yogurt, ice cream, meat, cheeses, and sauerkrauts.
December 1, 2025 at 3:43 AM
An unwanted reflection selfie of the refrigerated case at the shop shed. You can see milk, buttermilk, chocolate milk, roll butter, tubs of butter, yogurt, ice cream, meat, cheeses, and sauerkrauts.
Reading my recently obtained Elfquest: The Original Quest, Book 4 while drinking coffee at Stewart’s in Sherburne before heading off to finish my Christmas shopping.
November 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reading my recently obtained Elfquest: The Original Quest, Book 4 while drinking coffee at Stewart’s in Sherburne before heading off to finish my Christmas shopping.
Today’s laundromat reading: Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe @praddenkeefe.bsky.social .
November 28, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Today’s laundromat reading: Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe @praddenkeefe.bsky.social .
Taken from the back porch of La Maison Blanche in Norwich. I get the same view as my seat, but I was getting reflections in the window when I tried taking pics.
November 28, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Taken from the back porch of La Maison Blanche in Norwich. I get the same view as my seat, but I was getting reflections in the window when I tried taking pics.
First stop was at Kriemhild Creamery and their little unstaffed mini-shop in a wooden shed. You pay on the honor system. Kriemhild makes and sells butters, milks, and creams, but the store sells dairy (cheese, ice cream) and non-dairy products from other farms and producers.
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
First stop was at Kriemhild Creamery and their little unstaffed mini-shop in a wooden shed. You pay on the honor system. Kriemhild makes and sells butters, milks, and creams, but the store sells dairy (cheese, ice cream) and non-dairy products from other farms and producers.
The roadside signs for Pires. Not a lot of produce this late in the season, but they did have everything on the signs. Also have salt potatoes, riggie sauce, and spiedie sauce among other area delicacies.
November 22, 2025 at 5:10 AM
The roadside signs for Pires. Not a lot of produce this late in the season, but they did have everything on the signs. Also have salt potatoes, riggie sauce, and spiedie sauce among other area delicacies.
Pires Farmer's Market in Norwich, which just closed up for the season.
Part local produce market and part area products, Pires is not in the same league as Weaver's, but it is right here in Norwich.
Part local produce market and part area products, Pires is not in the same league as Weaver's, but it is right here in Norwich.
November 22, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Pires Farmer's Market in Norwich, which just closed up for the season.
Part local produce market and part area products, Pires is not in the same league as Weaver's, but it is right here in Norwich.
Part local produce market and part area products, Pires is not in the same league as Weaver's, but it is right here in Norwich.
You know you're in Central New York when they bring out the five pound bags of salt potatoes!
November 18, 2025 at 10:55 PM
You know you're in Central New York when they bring out the five pound bags of salt potatoes!
This is how you know you're in Central New York: Bags of Salt Potatoes. (Yes, there is a big salt packet included in the bag to boil the potatoes with.)
November 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
This is how you know you're in Central New York: Bags of Salt Potatoes. (Yes, there is a big salt packet included in the bag to boil the potatoes with.)
This weekend’s laundromat reading: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee @minjinlee.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 7:33 PM
This weekend’s laundromat reading: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee @minjinlee.bsky.social