G.R.i.D. (Get Rich in Dallas)

The absolute best deal at the Fair is the Dollar Dog over by the Old Mill Inn. It ain’t nothing fancy but it’s a buck! And it’s fairly fresh save for the not yet stale buns that never seem to be freshly soft. Plus, they take cash which saves on coupon usage for later. Next year, remember to start your day off with that to get something in your tummy that’s yummy, cheap and sets the tone.

My only venture outside of Fletcher’s corny dogs and roasted corn was the chicken fried bacon and the whole time I ate it, I kept thinking, “I think I like this.” My hopes were a little high on this because I figured it would have been a thicker slab of bacon. Instead, they were literal bacon strips from the store fried up in batter. The batter overpowered the bacon but at times I could taste that crispiness I love in overdone strips. However, the flavoring of the batter AND the strip, I see now, was way too salty and I’ve mentioned before that is was pretty much a fried saltlick. If the meat was thicker, then it would have made sense. Also, if they had provided a sauce, it would have enhanced the treat in a positive fashion. Simple ranch would have made it more delectable but dried out strips of fried meat ended up on the unattractive and boring side of Fair dining. Plus, the rudeness of the lady serving them up didn’t help. That carnie bitch should have been happy to get my money to pay her way home in these economic hard times!

Despite the chicken fried bacon being on the new set of treats, my old standby did not fail to impress. The cinnamon roll in the food court is divine sugar heaven. The mere presence of its aroma is like a romance novel between it and my nostrils. There could perhaps be nothing better on this earth at that time that could provoke my nose to run off with one of the cinnamon rolls to have a torrid affair in nighttime Paris while leaving me tortured to only look at the other rolls dripping with sweet cream and adorned with perfect pecan bits. Yes, the smell is that good and it can only be topped by the deliciousness of the taste. Mine was just out of the oven so when topped by cream, it melted immediately. The bread was perfectly moist and gooey but soft and fresh. While so big it needed to be eaten with a fork, I longed to just be in private where I could hold it with my hands to eat. Oh trust me, it is THAT good. Cinnabon? No way but close! This is a more homemade (even if it’s not) slice of heaven on earth.

As for the rest of the Fair, my pizza disappointed. The little stand between the Midway and the market area by the Cotton Bowl had declined in their tasty goodness. Their yeasty crust was no more nor was their taste. Plus, once again, a carnie bitch could have cared less that I was forking over some four bucks for a barely slice of pizza that need to be reheated.

Tornado taters weren’t that good but I did not go to my usual stand. The Nutty Bar lived up as always. However, I did take a bottle of water that I nursed on for hours and refilled where I could. At the end of the day I had so many tickets left over and then I realized it was because I wasn’t spending any on drinks! It’s probably no secret but I had always figured I needed my sodas for the whole Fair experience. I didn’t save for one at the end of the day. Saved me about twenty bucks! Or coupons rather.

Until next year…

Maybe you haven’t been there in a while. Maybe you played your first gig there.
For 21 years, Charlie Gilder has provided a venue for artists, a place to do our laundry when the lofts in Deep Ellum didn’t exactly come with a lot of amenities,and a place to hang out whether or not you fit in anywhere else. Sometimes especially if you didn’t fit in anywhere else.

This year the State Fair almost sunk the place. Carnival workers usually offset the loss of business when regulars can’t find a park, but this year they were confined by contract to an encampment at the fair. Traffic was routed around the neighborhood during TX-OU, and of course the landlords once again took the parking to sell to fairgoers, a move which has driven businesses like Millenium away.

Don’t assume that the old place is always going to be there. BOS needs every one of you to come in and have a drink this weekend. That’s all. No big party or specials, just come. I’m only going to post this once, so please help spread the word. Thanks, BOS

That’s right but only if you get it right with Woofus. He/She/It? is giving away four passes to the State Fair to whoever predicts the right score of Saturday’s Texas/OU game. Personally, I hate college football so you can have at it.

Lots of TX/OU festivities going on this weekend too - duh? My picks? Maybe these:

Adair’s has all this going on -

Thursday 10/4–The Beginning–KING CONE–UT grad bringing it to the stage, so we can start it right

Friday 10/5–The Middle–Macon Greyson–the fifth time Huffman and the boys have played TX/OU weekend, not sure who is opening, but should be righteous…those boys have pretty good taste.

Saturday 10/6–The End–Macon Greyson Pt. II–a lil band from KC called Pendergast is opening…never seen ‘em, but the boys tell me they are badass, and I cannot wait!

The Bone offers up this -

Bar of Soap answers with -

Or you can go here and see lots more stuff going on.

OK, so it’ s a crappy photo but I hope this kind of captures the reason of why everyone needs to ride the Skyway at night. Purely magical.

And for more blurry shots, go here. 

Guys, I’m so tired from the Fair that I can’t write it up the right way. So I’ll do it tomorrow but in bulleted form, here’s how it played out:

• Fried Cookie Dough - tastes just like warm cookie dough. Heat it in yer oven and eat. Quite delicious but save the 12 coupons and don’t pollute the earth with the unnecessary car carrying case.

• Texas Skyway - Ride it at night and see the truest beauty of the Fair. Pics coming soon.
• Midway Lights - Fun musically activated lights are embarrassingly hypnotic.
• Human Cannonball - Hilarious and cool at the same time. He has wacky eyes though. Shot out too many times?

Don’t ferget the DMN’s State Fair blog. Good stuff but this? Are they serious? OK, that’s it fer now. Go! Better recap manana. Possibly.

And that would be the State Fair of Texas! fletcher’s corny dogs here I come!!!

UPDATE: Today’s State Fair goings-on.  But if you can’t see it all, get it here. See you on the Midway!

Friday, September 28, 2007 DAILY HIGHLIGHT: Opening Day Parade Show Time: 12n Location: Downtown Dallas Opening Day Ceremony Show Time: 7p Location: Hall of State Steps SHOWS: Lone Star Cougar Club Show Time: 10a Location: Classic Corral Bryan Berg - Cardstacker Show Time: 10a - 6p Location: African American Museum Top Flight K9s Show Time: 11a, *12, *1, 2p Location: TXU Energy Arena African Acrobats Show Time: 12n, 1, 2 & 3p Location: 1st Ave & Truck Zone Bufford Buzzard Show Show Time: 12n, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7p Location: Kidway Pee Wee Stampede Show Time: 12n, 1:30, 4p Location: Ranch Arena World on a String Show Time: 12n, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5p Location: Showplace Theatre Chef Sergio the Italian Juggler Show Time: 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30p Location: Lagoon Midway Barker Show Time: 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30p Location: Midway @ Cotton Bowl Plaza Human Cannonball Show Time: 1, 3p Location: Gateway Plaza Kroger Birds of the World Show Time: 1, *2:30, 4:30, 6p Location: Band Shell Schepps Backyard Circus Show Time: 1, 3, 4:30, 6:30p Location: Hall of State Lawn BMX Bike Stunt Show Show Time: 2, 4, 6p Location: Thrillway Texas Lottery Show Show Time: 2, 4, 6, 8p Location: Texas Lottery Exhibit Dancing with the Dogs Show Time: 3, 4, 5p Location: TXU Energy Arena Pig Races Show Time: 6, 6:45, 7:30p Location: TXU Energy Arena Midway Lights Show Time: 7, 8, 9, 10p Location: Midway Kitchen Craft Starlight Parade Show Time: 7:15p Location: Parade Route LIVE MUSIC: Shelley Laine and Random Act Show Time: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8p Location: Bud Light True Music Stage BENTLI Show Time: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7p Location: Dreyer’s Entertainment Stage Brave Combo Show Time: 3p Location: Toyota Truck Stage USMC Drum & Bugle Corps Show Time: 4p Location: Marine Corps Square Joanna y su Mariachi Show Time: 6p Location: Automobile Bldg/Dodge Grupo Fantasma Show Time: 8p Location: Chevrolet Main Stage SPECIAL EVENTS: Jeep Climbing Wall Show Time: 10a - 9p Location: Jeep Show/Automobile Building Sand Sculpture Demo Show Time: 10a - 6p Location: Coliseum Texas SkyWay® Grand Opening Show Time: 10:15a Location: Big Tex Circle Sleight of Hand Artist David Magee Show Time: 11a, 12n, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6p Location: Centennial Bldg/Chrysler Dodge Rodeo Western Special Show Time: 2, 4p Location: Dodge Rodeo Truck Zone Landscape Awards Show Time: 2p Location: Big Tex Circle Wine 101 Show Time: 3, 5p Location: Wine Garden Dodge Durango Tango Dance Finals Show Time: 10a Location: Dodge Rodeo Truck Zone CREATIVE ARTS: Glue a Shoe Contest Show Time: 10:30a Location: Contest Kitchen Chef Janice Provost/Parigi Restaurant Show Time: 12:30p Location: IKEA Celebrity Kitchen Greg Gonzales/Blue Goose Cantina Show Time: 2:30p Location: IKEA Celebrity Kitchen Chef Sharon Van Meter/Milestone CAC Show Time: 4:30p Location: IKEA Celebrity Kitchen Chef Dale Johnson/Romance for Two Show Time: 6p Location: IKEA Celebrity Kitchen LIVESTOCK: Moo U Guided Livestock Tour Show Time: 10a - 5p (departs every 15 min) Location: MLK & Nimitz PanAm Llama Show Show Time: 10a Location: East Pavilion Cattle Fitter Show Time: 11a, 1, 3, 5p Location: Bovine Beauty Parlor Milking Parlor Demo Show Time: 11a, 12n, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6p Location: Cattle Barn I Spirit of the Horse Show Time: 1, 2, 3, 5p Location: Ranch Arena PanAm Mini Zebu Cattle Local Club Show Show Time: 2p Location: West Pavilion PanAm/Youth Dairy Goat Milk Out Show Time: 6p Location: West Pavilion FOOD & FIBER PAVILION: GO TEXAN Sampling Show Time: 10 - 11:45a, 2 - 3:45p Location: Burleson’s Sampling Kiosks Chef Harry, Melon Carving & Sampling Show Time: 10a - 3p Location: Dr Pepper Gazebo Stage TDA Birthday Celebration w/ Free Cake Show Time: 4p Location: Dr Pepper Gazebo Stage MUNDO LATINO: Navarro College @ Go Center Show Time: 10a Location: Hall of State Jacobo Dominguez, Ballad Singer Show Time: 5p Location: Hall of State Marta Salazar, Recording Artist Show Time: 6p Location: Hall of State MUSEUMS: Texas Girls’ State Fair Performance Show Time: 10a, 12n, 4p Location: Women’s Museum Family Garden Walk Show Time: 11a, 4p Location: Texas Discovery Gardens George Washington Video Show Time: 11:30a Location: DAR Patriotic Piano Show Time: 12:30, 2:30p Location: DAR Dallas Puppet Theater String Variety Show Show Time: 1, 3, 6p Location: Women’s Museum American Revolution Video Show Time: 1:30p Location: DAR Boston’s Freedom Trail Video Show Time: 3:30p Location: DAR ExxonMobil Let’s Go Science Show Show Time: 11a, 2, 5p Location: Women’s Museum PAID ATTRACTIONS: Alligator Feeding Show Time: 11:30a Location: Dallas Aquarium Wine Tasting/Frascone & Purple Possum Show Time: 12n - 5p Location: Wine Garden Wine Tasting/Texoma & St. Rose Show Time: 5 - 10p Location: Wine Garden The Lion King Show Time: 8p Location: Music Hall *Interpreted for the hearing impaired.