Geddes, NY — In the trade show business, vendors always have to expect to endure at least one day of bad weather spoiling everything. As these business owners set up their booths Thursday morning, the sun was shining brightly, and they agreed they were lucky that this year’s bad day coincided with the opening.
“We were able to start this year’s fair yesterday with a relaxed start, and now it’s just getting better and better,” said Aaron Horan, serving breakfast at his booth on Restaurant Row. “Today it’s beautiful. Just look at it. And tomorrow summer is coming back. I’m happy.”
The second day of the fair attracted 53,707 visitors, a 40% increase from the last day of the fair on Wednesday. And today is another day with even better prospects.
Today’s menu
I’m at the fair every day and night, and hey, a man’s got to eat (and drink). I write about food and drink for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard, so I might as well give you suggestions while I’m working here. But I’m no expert. I rely on readers to tell me what’s good. If you find something that makes your belly happy, text me at 315-382-1984 and I’ll try. Maybe I’ll eat or drink with you and pay the bill.
Breakfast: If you’re going to be eating and drinking all day at the trade fair, you should prepare your body for it. Start with a long walk, and at the end there’s a hearty breakfast waiting for you to recharge your batteries.
One of the best early meals is at Alivero’s, which is oddly located at the westernmost end of the fairgrounds. If you walk from Chevy Court, head to Restaurant Row, past the Expo Center, and continue until you reach Gate 9. There you’ll eventually end up at Alivero’s. They’ll wrap 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’re consuming 634 calories but running almost two miles round trip, so it’s pretty much a zero-sum game. At least that’s what I tell myself and my cardiologist.
A breakfast wrap and coffee at Alivero’s, at the other end of the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
Lunch: This came out of nowhere. A coworker, Sunny Hernandez, had bought a Hog & Heifer burger at the Tommy C’s stand in the Colonnade. She couldn’t finish it all and invited me to come along.
It’s your basic 80-20 lean burger with mac & cheese and grilled pulled pork. Very simple but so delicious. This burger didn’t cost me anything because Sunny picked up the tab this time, but it was $10. Sometimes the best things in life are free.
The Hog & Heifer burger from Tommy C’s booth in the Colonnade at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected])(Charlie Miller | [email protected])
Beer of the day: There are two kinds of fairgoers: those who believe the fair is a celebration of summer’s best experiences, and those who believe it’s the introduction to fall. Montauk Watermelon Ale is for Team Summer.
“This delicious watermelon beer was a huge hit last year, so we had to bring it back,” said Erinn McDowell, the beer expert who runs the beer garden. “This time we jazzed it up with a watermelon slice topped with lime and tajin.”
No surfboard required.
I tried it on Thursday, so I can be pretty sure I’ll be back today when it goes on sale with a dollar off the retail price.
» Detailed exhibition schedule for Friday, August 23
Concerts
1/25
» Sophie B. Hawkins, 1 p.m. in Chevy Court
» Sister Sledge, 6 p.m. at Chevy Court
» TLC, 8 p.m. in Suburban Park
Today’s forecast: It’s time to unpack the sunscreen
Fair principles
Hours: The fair is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. The buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Midway is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but closes at 9 p.m. on Labor Day.
Tickets: Admission to the fair is $8 for an adult. Seniors 65 and older are admitted free. Children 12 and under are admitted free. You can purchase tickets in advance online. You cannot purchase tickets with cash at the entrance – you must purchase them on your phone or at a kiosk at the entrance.
Park: Parking is $12 per car this year, up from $10 last year. You CANNOT pay with EZ Pass Plus, but you can pay with a credit card at the entrance to the parking lot. You can also purchase parking passes in advance online.
Further rules: Smoking is only permitted outside the gates in designated areas. You can bring coolers with food and non-alcoholic beverages. Pets are not allowed unless they are working dogs or participating in a competition. Visitors must wear a shirt and shoes. Last call for alcohol is 10:30 p.m. each day.
State Fair Newsletter: Stay up to date on all the New York State Fair news, food, music, events and more with our free newsletter, emailed to you each morning. Click here to sign up.
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Charlie Miller finds the best food, drinks and entertainment in all of Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984 or 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 at @HoosierCuse on Þjórsárdalur and further Instagram. Sign up for his weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here.
