Around Town: J & K North Main Bakery – In Photos

Here are some photos from a recent trip to the new bakery located on North Main Street across from Ross Industries (323 N Main St, Liberty, NY 12754 – (845) 292-0680). J&K Bakery opened about a month ago and they offer a variety of baked goods. Enjoy the pics.

J&K North Main Bakery
323 N Main St, Liberty, NY 12754
(845) 292-0680

Around Town: Lost and Found Treasures – in photos

I pass by Lost and Found Treasures all the time and never had a chance to stop in. Last week after picking up vegetables from Agway for our garden we decided to check it out. What we found was a thrift/second hand store filled with an eclectic mix of everything from bath tubs, TV’s, and clothes to VHS tapes, records, and more. My kids appreciated their collection of old and used video games.

Here are some photos we took from inside Lost and Found Treasures:

If you get a chance – stop in and take a look around. They are located at 50 Lake Street (The Old Killian Transfer Building, you can Bike there – it’s on the Rail Trail!) and are open Mon – Sun: 11:00 am -7:00 pm.

Around Town: Liberty Diner and Restaurant

Who hasn’t been to the Liberty Diner? The Liberty Diner is a Liberty institution. Others have come and gone but we’ll always have the Liberty Diner.

I am not a regular at the diner but I have been going there since – well, since I can remember. My first egg cream was at the Liberty Diner when I was kid and now I take my children there on occasion.

The food at the Diner is always top notch. It is really good diner fare. The menu at the diner is immense and almost everything on the menu is offered 24 hours a day. Everything is always very fresh and tastes delightful (mmmm diner food).

We usually have the omelets from the breakfast menu – the western omelette to be exact. You’ll get a huge portion including hash browns and your choice of toast. But the breakfast menu doesn’t stop there – theres pancakes, waffles, bagels, fruit, sausages, bacon, and more.

There is a large lunch menu including Gyro’s, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more! Check out some of the pics in the post to see some of our favorite choices. Again – everything is always spot on.

Again – LARGE menu for dinner. Everything from pasta dishes to steaks.

Nick and his staff at the diner do a great job serving some of the best dishes in Liberty. At a recent visit we were served by Alex, probably one of the best waiters we’ve had at the diner.

The inside of the diner is getting a little worn, but it’s easily overlooked because of the great food that is served.

So if you’ve never been there (doubt it!) or if you are passing through Liberty – you have to stop at the Liberty Diner. There are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Liberty Diner and Restaurant
30 Sullivan Avenue
Liberty, NY 12754-2206
(845) 292-8973

Around Town: Thunder 102

When I was a kid radio was king in Liberty. Everyone listened to WSUL or WVOS every morning for announcements, contests, school closings, etc… Then came the internet, satellite, and most devastating of them all – the iPod. But – radio is back in Sullivan County! And most importantly it’s based right here in Liberty!

Thunder 102 has been in Liberty since 2005. It’s a Country music station, but even if you don’t like country there is enough variety in their shows and on air personalities to keep you interested. Thunder 102 can be found on 102.1 on the FM ‘dial’, they also stream live over the internet and via mobile apps (we love that – go technology!). They cover everything local and people notice that because every morning you’ll hear everyone from politicians to businessmen on air.

We were given a chance to cover the Ciliberto and Friends morning show. The morning show consists of Paul Ciliberto, Michelle Semerano, and Dr Michelle Koury. The show’s witty banter, local ‘celebrity’ guests, live performances, and the occasional song or two give listeners a variety to keep you interested for the show’s 3 hours of air time. Ciliberto and friends is on from 6am-9am every weekday.

Paul is very involved in the local community. Most recently he was an actor in the Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerces murder mystery dinner show: The Hilarious Hillbilly Massacre. He’s the perfect radio personality – “People tell me I should get in shape” he says, “but I am a shape – round” – it’s this kind of humor that just breaks the ice and makes Paul approachable.

The two Michelle’s round out the morning show with news and local happenings. Dr Michelle Koury is from Crystal Run Healthcare and has a health advice segment on the show. (Dr Koury is a special guest co-host).

They do a great job of keeping the audience involved, especially over twitter and facebook.

I was fortunate enough to be there for a Live performance by local artist Erin Slaver (www.erinslaver.com). She’s a violinist and country pop singer. She’s performed all over locally – but is gleaming because on March 10th she’ll be performing at the Bitter End on New York City’s Bleeker Street. The same club that such greats as Bob Dylan performed at.

Thunder102 is so much more than a radio station – they are a part of our community. Make sure you check them out on air and online. Don’t forget to tune in this coming week to find out who is headlining their Thunderbash event!

Thank you for having us!

Around Town: Liberty Farm Stand

Looking for some fresh produce, sushi, cut flowers, or some hard to find specialty foods? The Liberty Farm Stand / Oriental Grocery located in front of Shoprite on Route 52 is your place. The market is family owned and they are always happy to see you come in.

There is wide selection of produce, the prices are fair. It’s not a supermarket so don’t expect Shoprite produce prices (most items are cheaper than Shoprite) – but you can feel good that you are shopping at a truly local business.

The Sushi is very good and there is usually a Sushi chef on hand to make you something fresh from lunch to early dinner. The California rolls are very good. There’s also soups available.

Every time we come into the farm stand we find something we weren’t expecting to find. There is a wide selection of dry goods, sauces, chocolates, beverages, and more that you wouldn’t find in a major retailer. Again the prices may be a bit higher – but you are usually paying for high-quality organic or imported products.

If you’re a guy that needs a last minute bouquet for your loved one – they have a small selection of cut flower bouquets and roses. The flowers are usually in good/fresh condition, but if you are really picky call first to find out when they are getting new product in.

The Farm Stand is located at: 105 East Rt 52 (In front of Shoprite) . You can call them: (914)295-0118. They do accept major credit cards ($10 minimum purchase).

Around Town: Panda’s Parlor

 If you want ice cream in the Town of Liberty – there’s no better choice than Panda’s Parlor. They serve up everything at Panda’s including hard & soft serve ice cream, beverages, burgers, chicken, hot dogs, sweet potato wedges, and many, many more choices. Located just pass the ShopRite shopping center on Rt 52, Panda’s Parlor is one place in Liberty you can’t miss. 

The first thing that this reviewer noticed when visiting Panda’s is the cleanliness of the establishment. Inside and out – the staff at Panda’s keeps the place immaculate. The place is so clean it looks like it just opened yesterday. Behind the counter it looks like their machines are well kept and cleaned regularly.

Their ice-cream is the best in Liberty. The soft serve always tastes fresh with no ice particles. There is a wide variety of dips and toppings for your soft serve cone or cup. For soft serve they feature the classics: vanilla, chocolate, or chocolate vanilla twist. You can get it in cones or cups all at a reasonable price.

They offer a wide variety of hard ice cream, even special flavors every week. From cheesecake to cotton candy there is flavor for every palette. Even the hard ice cream always tastes fresh!

Panda’s does offer a wide array of food items made to order. Whether you are looking for lunch, dinner, or just a snack they have a wide variety of items on their menu. Items include the ice cream stand classics like burgers and hot dogs, but they also offer lighter fare including salads and veggie burgers.

There is air conditioned seating inside, or you can sit at a umbrella covered picnic table outside. Both seating areas are clean and offer plenty of space for you to site and enjoy. Panda’s also has the classic outdoor ordering windows that give the place some of that old-time ice cream stand charm.

The help at Panda’s is always nice and always ready to serve the customer. Service with a smile is an understatement. They make sure you get what you want and there is always an employee coming out to clean tables.

When it comes to being the best all around Ice Cream stand in Liberty, Panda’s Parlor takes the prize. The quality of their food and the cleanliness of their establishment go a long way. Panda’s has raised the bar and it would be tough for any other establishment to match what they are doing. We highly recommend Panda’s Parlor and see them being part of everyone’s summer memories for generations.

Around Town: Floyd and Bobo’s Bakery

Floyd and Bobo’s can be summed up in one sentence: A small town Bakery at it’s best. As soon as you step inside Floyd & Bobo’s you feel welcomed and at home. Proprietors Ellen Marino and Louie Petraglia always have a smile – it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time in there, you are treated like you’ve been a customer for years.

They have a wide selection of baked goods, some varying depending on the day or holiday, but all of great quality. They have really raised the bar in the quality of their goods since first opening in 2007. The selection offers everything including custom cakes, breads, cookies, pastries, and more. Even my kids favorite - the classic Black and White cookies.

They also offer sandwiches at lunch time, a cooler with bottled drinks, several flavors of hot coffee, and even the best frozen yogurt in Liberty.

The atmosphere is great, it may be a little tight inside during busy periods (morning, lunch) but Ellen and Louie’s attitude is just contagious. Sometimes you’ll even find someone strumming a guitar while you eat (Blues man Slam Allen stops in sometimes..).

You can also enjoy your bakery treat out in front of their immaculate store front at one of their outdoor tables.

Floyd & Bobo’s is Liberty at it’s best. If you are going through Liberty you MUST stop here. They really understand that small things like a smile can go a long way. Floyd and Bobo’s is a shining example of what downtown businesses in Liberty can be.

Look for them on Facebook for their latest offerings. They are open Tuesday – Saturday’s from 7AM to 5PM, Sunday’s 8am to 3pm, and are closed on Mondays.

Around Town: Angelina’s Pizzeria & Wings

Angelina’s Pizzeria & Wings claims they are the best in town… We went there to find out if they are.

Angelina’s is located in the Liberty Square Mall, this strip mall has seen it’s better days when it had anchor tenant Eckerd – but don’t let the appearance fool you, in this aging strip mall lies one of the best Pizza joints in town. We tried several menu items from Angelina’s – but we’re mainly focusing on what their name states – Pizza and Wings.

We tried a few different Pizza Pies from Angelina’s spread across different days over 2 months. Some local pizzeria’s have difficulty serving the same quality of pizza during slow periods and busy weekend nights. This was not the case at Angelina’s. The Pizza was always consistent. Never burned on the bottom, always cooked evenly. Their ingredients must be good because every pie we had always tasted consistent and delicious.

Their wings are good but not great. This is where the consistency slips a bit. Some days the wings were the best in town, crispy, spicy, and cooked perfectly. Some days they seem to be a bit over cooked, and the hot sauce on certain days is not as good as others. Why the inconsistency? We can only guess that different employees on different days… Overall the wings are good.

We did try some of their sandwiches. Their Italian combo’s are top notch. It may not be swelling with meats but the taste is authentic and the sandwich is well put together. We also tried a chicken parm hero – again, top notch. Plenty of cheese and not loaded with sauce, and perfectly toasted.

Other items we tried were – onion rings, mozzarella sticks (get these), and garlic knots. All were high quality.

The dining area is an ok size for a small Pizzeria. It is kept very clean and neat. There are several tables, each has a table cloth, and the decoration of the dining area is not bad at all. We would definitely eat in there on Lunch break.

We highly suggest Angelina’s – their food is great. They also offer free delivery within the Village of Liberty. Stop by and try them sometime – you won’t be disappointed.

Around Town: Napoli’s Pizzeria

Napoli’s has been part of Liberty for many years, located on Route 52 just pass the Sullivan County Golf Course this small Pizza Parlor offers some of the best pizza in Liberty but skip the wings.

Come to Napoli’s on a Friday night and you can see that it’s one of the busiest Pizza joints in town. It’s easy to get to, parking is generally easy, the employees are always happy to see you, and it offers a real good pizza pie. We’ve tried everything from plain to white pizza, and even a veggie pizza – all were top notch. The crust is thin and crispy (although on busy nights it seems like they don’t cook it as long), the sauce has a good flavor, and the cheese & other toppings are fresh.

Pizza is definitely their specialty. While the hot subs are ok the other menu items are not up to par with the pizza. The cold subs are gas station deli quality and the wings… The wings seem to be… boiled? With some greasy hot sauce that doesn’t really resemble hot sauce at all. Napoli’s can be one of the best if they reinvent their chicken wings.

Don’t expect a dining experience at Napoli’s, the dining area is small and can be crowded. The tables and chairs need replacing, and some better decorating wouldn’t hurt. But it is good if you are just stopping in for a slice with a friend.

But given these few negatives – the quality of the pizza and the friendliness of the employees makes up for it! Overall we gave Napoli’s a 3. If the chicken wings are improved they could easily be a 4 or 5 in food quality & menu.