In the Poultry Building the Red Golden-Cock. Day 2 of the New York State Fair in Geddes N.Y.
2024. The weather was much better after yesterday’s cool temperatures and rainDennis Nett | [email protected] dennis nett | dnett@syracuse.
com Charlie Miller | [email protected] Geddes, N.Y.
— In the state fair business, vendors can always count on suffering through at least one day where crummy weather dampens everything. As these business owners unlocked their stands Thursday morning, an unencumbered sun rose, and they agreed that they had lucked out having that one dud of a day land on this year’s opening. “We were able to ease into this year’s Fair yesterday, and now it’s going to just keep getting better,” Aaron Horan said during breakfast service at his stand on Restaurant Row.
“It’s beautiful today. Just look at it. And summer comes back tomorrow.
I’m happy.” The Fair’s second day did lure 53,707 patrons through the gate, a 40% increase over Wednesday’s lidlifter. And today’s another day with an even better outlook.
I’m at the Fair every day and night, and hey, a guy’s gotta eat (and drink). I write about food and drinks for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard , so I might as well as pass suggestions onto you while I’m working here.
That said, I’m no expert. I rely on readers to tell me what’s good. If you find something that makes your tummy happy, text me at 315-382-1984 and I’ll give it a shot.
I might join you for a meal or drink and pick up the tab. Breakfast: If you’re going to eat and drink all day at the Fair, you should prepare your body. Start with a long walk, with a big breakfast waiting for you at the end to energize your body batteries.
One of the best early-morning meals here can be found Alivero’s, oddly placed at the westernmost end of the fairgrounds. If you’re walking from Chevy Court, head to Restaurant Row, go past the Expo Center and keep going until your reach the Gate 9. There you’ll finally land at Alivero’s.
They pack a full breakfast in a soft tortilla and toast it on a grill. The breakfast wrap ($13) is filled with crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, diced potatoes and American cheese. You’ll be adding 634 calories to your stomach, but you’ll walk nearly 2 miles getting there and back, so it’s pretty much a wash.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself and my cardiologist. A breakfast wrap and coffee at Alivero's, at the far end of the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.
com) (Charlie Miller | [email protected]) Lunch: This came out of nowhere. A co-worker, Sunny Hernandez, was out working on a story and ended up buying the Hog & Heifer burger from Tommy C’s stand in the Colonnade.
She couldn’t eat it all, so she invited me along for the ride. It’s your basic 80-20 lean burger with mac & cheese and barbecued pulled pork. Very simple, but oh-so satisfying.
This one cost me nothing because Sunny picked up the tab this time, but it cost her $10. Sometimes the best things in life are free. The Hog & Heifer burger from Tommy C's stand in the Colonnade at the New York State Fair.
(Charlie Miller | [email protected]) (Charlie Miller | [email protected]) Beer of the day : There are two types of fairgoers: those who believe the Fair is a celebration of summer’s best, and those who believe it is the intro to fall.
The Montauk Watermelon Ale is for Team Summer. “This tasty watermelon ale was a massive hit last year so we had to bring it back,” said Erinn McDowell, the ale expert who runs the Beer Garden. “This time we jacked it up with a watermelon slice covered in lime and tajin.
” No surfboard needed. I sampled it on Thursday, so I can pretty much guarantee that I’ll return today when it goes on sale for $1 off the retail price. » Detailed Fair schedule for Friday, Aug.
23 » Sophie B. Hawkins , 1 p.m.
at Chevy Court » Sister Sledge , 6 p.m. at Chevy Court » TLC , 8 p.
m. at Suburban Park Today’s forecast: It’s time to break out the sunscreen Hours: The Fair is open 9 a.m.
to 11 p.m. each day.
Buildings are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.
m. The Midway is open 11 a.m.
to 11 p.m., but it closes at 9 p.
m. on Labor Day. Tickets : Entry to the fair is $8 for an adult.
Seniors 65 and older get in free. So do kids 12 and under. You can buy tickets online in advance .
You won’t be able to pay cash for tickets at the gate — you’ll need to purchase them on your phone, or using a kiosk at the gate. Parking: Parking will run you $12 per car this year, up from $10 last year. You can pay with EZ Pass Plus or with a credit card at entrance to the parking lot.
You can also buy parking passes in advance online. Other rules: Smoking is only allowed outside the gates in designated area. You can bring coolers with food and non-alcoholic drinks.
No pets are allowed, unless they are working dogs or in a competition. Visitors must wear a shirt and footwear. Last call for booze is 10:30 p.
m. each day. State Fair newsletter: Stay up-to-date on all New York State Fair news, food, music, schedules and more with our free newsletter.
It’s emailed to you each morning. Click here to sign up . **** Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drinks and fun across Central New York.
Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at [email protected] . (AND he pays for what he and his guests eat and drink, just so you know.
) You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram . Sign up for his weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here . More NYS Fair News Warren Zeiders headlines Day 2 of the NYS Fair (photos) Clearer skies bring 15,000 more people to Day 2 of NYS Fair NY State Fair forecast for day 3: It’s time to break out the sunscreen This NYS Fair lobster roll costs a whopping $95.
What else could you get for that money? 2 pop singers just raised the bar for NYS Fair concerts (review, photos, set list).
