We begin this weekend in July, but when it’s all over, it’ll be August. Yes, difficult as it is to believe, we are about to enter into the dying days of summer. Bummer. Of course, you folks where the heat and lack of rain has been downright deadly (as opposed to just a nuisance) are probably looking forward to some relief. I, however, have visions of 10-foot high snow drifts dancing in my head. Of course, winter is still a ways off, and we’ll have football season to look forward to, when we can all root for the Minnesota Vikings to win the Super Bowl behind a Hall-of-Fame clinching performance by their new/old QB, Donovan McNabb – who, say what you will about him, I’m pretty sure won’t be caught in any sexting scandals – after watching Syracuse win a BCS bowl game on or about New Year’s Day. Hey, we’re still undefeated, so I can dream.
And before the summer ends, there will be the Great NY State Fair. If the thought of end of summer makes you want to kill yourself, The Fair will provide you the tool for a tasty suicide: The Big Kahuna Donut Burger.
It’s a quarter-pound burger placed between a grilled, sliced glazed donut with your choice of cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and onion — all for about 1,500 calories.
Mmmm. I think I’d probably go with a fried cake as opposed to glazed. I mean, how well will the glazing hold up on the grill? Eat you heart out (literally), KFC Double-Down!
But before you throw yourself on burger of death, there’s still a little bit of summer to go, and it’s a big weekend in these parts, as it’s Harborfest in my (and Mrs. Art’s) old stomping grounds, Oswego. I highly recommend it (assuming you got there on Wednesday, got a motel room, and plan on staying at least until Monday, ‘cuz trying to get to Oswego (let alone drive around town once you get there) this weekend is all but impossible.
Once you get your vehicle parked, you’ll be able to stumble around drunk with everybody else and visit the various venues to check out the weekend’s entertainment, which includes Pink Floyd tribute band “The Machine,” “Barenaked Ladies,” and “Herman’s Hermits,” all culminated by the world famous Grucci Brothers’ fireworks show (rather spectacular, I must say, being launched from a barge out in the harbor).
Or you can head on over to the Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival (because what’s one without the other?). The jazz is free, but I assume they’re charging for the wine.
If jazz and wine aren’t your thing, there’s always the K-Rockathon, which is all about beer and Heavy Metal. I think. I don’t recognize the groups (not a surprise, as I haven’t really been up on the whole Heavy Metal scene since Ozzy was still with Black Sabbath). Oh, except I’ve heard of “Stone Temple Pilots,” but can’t say as I have any of their tunes on my mp3 player. They must be good, though, ‘cuz they want $45.
There’s more, of course, but it’s time to quit talkin’ about it, and get out there and do it. After all, winter’s coming.