Went to the fair today - great fun! The only downers were the raised prices on almost everything - parking now $15, beer 9 coupons ($4.50) most places, and the biggest disappointment was the fried beer. What a rip-off! $5 for 5 little ravioli things with just a little squirt of beer in them (well, they said it was beer, but I couldn't taste anything that reminded me of beer). Basically tasted just like salty undercooked dough with Cheese-Whiz on top. You can safely pass this one by.
On the up side, the auto show was huge, the Marine Corps band was great, as always - I especially like the flag lowering ceremony at 5:00 PM (don't stand too close to the cannon - that thing is LOUD), the IMAX show on prehistoric sea monsters, while not the best one I've seen was still pretty cool, and the Killdares Celtic Rock band gave a great performance as they do every year. The butter sculpture was amazing, but I've seen better ones in the past. Corny dogs for lunch and German food for dinner at the Hans Mueller tent while we watched the end of day parade. The closing fireworks show was about the same as the last few years, IMO not as good as they used to do, but still worth watching. Pretty much avoided the midway and the animal shows this year (been there, done that). One tip - the beer inside the Food Building is the cheapest - unfortunately only BMC and Shiner Bock on tap, but a cup of Shiner is "only" 7 coupons ($3.50) vs typically 9 coupons outside.
On the up side, the auto show was huge, the Marine Corps band was great, as always - I especially like the flag lowering ceremony at 5:00 PM (don't stand too close to the cannon - that thing is LOUD), the IMAX show on prehistoric sea monsters, while not the best one I've seen was still pretty cool, and the Killdares Celtic Rock band gave a great performance as they do every year. The butter sculpture was amazing, but I've seen better ones in the past. Corny dogs for lunch and German food for dinner at the Hans Mueller tent while we watched the end of day parade. The closing fireworks show was about the same as the last few years, IMO not as good as they used to do, but still worth watching. Pretty much avoided the midway and the animal shows this year (been there, done that). One tip - the beer inside the Food Building is the cheapest - unfortunately only BMC and Shiner Bock on tap, but a cup of Shiner is "only" 7 coupons ($3.50) vs typically 9 coupons outside.
