Dear Readers,
One of the things I love most about living in the Mohawk Valley is that almost every great memory seems to start around a table.
Maybe it’s dinner with friends after a long week. Maybe it’s a business lunch that turns into a friendship. Maybe it’s celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, or simply gathering with family on a summer evening. Restaurants are where we connect, where we celebrate, and where life happens.
That’s why I’m especially excited about this year’s Restaurant Issue.
Throughout these pages, you’ll meet some of the chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality professionals who help make our region such a vibrant place to live. While we often think about restaurants in terms of food, they contribute so much more to our communities. They create jobs, support local causes, welcome visitors, host celebrations, and help bring our downtowns and neighborhoods to life.
It’s also fitting that this issue arrives during Oneida County Restaurant Week. There has never been a better time to get out, try something new, revisit an old favorite, and support the local businesses that invest so much back into our communities.
This month, we’re also taking a look back as our region begins commemorating America 250 and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Mohawk Valley played a remarkable role in the story of our nation’s founding, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities throughout the summer to explore the people, places, and events that helped shape American history.
And because no Mohawk Valley summer would be complete without ice cream, RoAnn Destito and I hit the road once again for another MV Eats Food Tour. July is Ice Cream Month in New York State, which gave us the perfect excuse to visit some incredible local destinations, sample a few favorite treats, and share a few laughs along the way. I think you’ll enjoy this year’s tour as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
July has always been one of my favorite months in the Mohawk Valley, and this year it will be especially memorable for our family. My husband will be running the Boilermaker 15K for the eighth time, while my daughter will be tackling the 15K for the very first time. Seeing one family member continue a tradition while another begins it feels especially meaningful and reminds me how deeply the Boilermaker has been woven into the fabric of the Mohawk Valley since 1978. From its humble beginnings, the race has grown into one of the region’s most beloved traditions, bringing together runners, volunteers, spectators, and visitors in a celebration of community. It’s one more reminder of what makes the Mohawk Valley such a special place.
That very same weekend, our son will be moving into his apartment as he prepares to begin medical school. Like many parents, I find myself wondering where the time went. It feels like just yesterday we were attending school events, sporting events, and community activities together, and now he’s beginning the next chapter of his life as he prepares to become a physician. While we’ll certainly miss having him close to home, we’re incredibly proud of the hard work, determination, and commitment that brought him to this moment.
As I write this, summer is just getting started. County fairs are around the corner, patios are filling up, families are gathering, and communities throughout the Mohawk Valley are celebrating everything that makes this region special. It’s a season filled with milestones, traditions, and opportunities to create new memories with the people we care about most.
Thank you for picking up this issue, supporting local businesses, and continuing to celebrate the people, places, and stories that make the Mohawk Valley such a special place to call home.
Here’s to great food, summer traditions, and making memories with the people we care about most. I hope to see you somewhere around the Mohawk Valley, and if our paths happen to cross, please don’t hesitate to say hello.
See you out there,
Carrie
