Every year my friend and I meet on opening day of the State Fair in front of the Giant Slide - without fail.  We've been doing this for probably ten years now.  We don't have to call each other to schedule, it's a standing engagement.  Once we meet up we go to the cheapest beer vendor there, get our beer, then go look for dinner and some good music to listen to.

Over the years we've watched the number of items of food you can get on a stick grow from a few to over a reported 40 items this year!  I decided I'd try to find as many of these food items as I could but I vowed to not eat any of them.  If I did that I would have been sick by the time I went to bed.  The first thing I saw was the new bacon on a stick.  It doesn't look too appetizing to me, but people were gobbling it up.  I also saw cherry pie on a stick, corn dogs, cheese on a stick, and my friend saw the little sausages on a stick.  Of course we also saw various ice creams on a stick.  We ran out of time so I will be going back to finish my quest.

Today while writing my blog I decided to look for a list - I'm sure there is one.  I found it!  Of course, it's on Wisconsin State Fair's website.

I noticed that there is a lot less advertising this year, or else I just wasn't paying attention.  I had no idea that Foreigner was playing last night, so it was nice to be able to see and hear them as I was walking back to my car.  I am disapointed that the Stone's Throw Winery is not there this year.  They had brought in some great musical entertainment for a few years in a row.  I really miss them.  There are new vendors this year too, and we had a great time with the robot guy that dances as he strolls through the park.  He is really funny!

Take a look at their website, they did beef up ways for you to get information, from facebook to twitter and text messages.  See you at the Fair!

With a name like Fun Fest, it's gotta be fun, right?  In fact this festival has been going on for 30 years.  Even though I'm writing this late, there is still today to experience a little fun.  Today's schedule has a wide variety of music, starting with a polka mass, then bagpiper music, swing, and rock (IMt. Olive 5 to 9pm).  

Roasted chicken dinners start at noon - stop early because they sell out every year.  While you eat your chicken, there is a beer special  today only from noon to 2pm, tap beer is $1!

A new addition, a pong tournament (with water, not beer) will be played with 32 teams on 8 tables.  Maybe the parents can beat the college kids!  :)  Starts at 1pm.

If you bought raffle tickets, the winners will be drawn at 8pm tonight.  You need not be present to win.  My mom buys tickets for all of us each year, so I think this year, it's my turn to win.  I just feel it.

http://www.dmfunfest.com/30th.php

IRISH FEST STARTS THURSDAY!

I never miss Irish Fest.  I feel a pull to the music, the costumes, the culture, and of course, the brogue!  Being Irish is very important to me, and I think that is true of most people that are of Irish descent.  Ever since I made a trip to Ireland a few years ago, I feel such a connection.

And you can certainly make connections at Irish Fest.  Starting on Thursday night Where's Your Paddy kicks off Milwaukee's largest happy hour for young professionals.  Get your free tickets to the happy hour by joining Facebook and then going to this link:  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112619445777 .  Admission to the fest is not free, but you can get in Thursday night for $5 with a school supply donation.

Admission is free Friday from 4-5:30 pm.  And there are many other ways to get in with discounts.  http://www.irishfest.com/festival/.  The fest closes on Sunday at 10pm.

Last year I took a Bodhran lesson (traditional Irish drums).  It was very cool!  We sampled some mead, and Shepherd's Pie, yum!  I'm looking forward to doing all this and more this year.  

If you are a Facebook member or want to get email updates, it is easy to join up so that you'll get all the latest updates.  And they will let you know what's going on all year.  The Irish Fest Milwaukee organization is active all year round.  Check 'em out!

I've stopped at Wendt's a few times over the past 2 years because it's half way between my house and one of my friend's houses.  The reason we first stopped there is because my friend wasn't looking very closely at the sign and she thought at first that it said Wende's, so she had to tell me there was a bar/restaurant with my name on it!  I set her straight, and we met there anyway just to try it out.  I'm so glad we did.  Their food is really good (especially for pub food).  They have wraps and burgers, and are well known for their Friday fish fries. Their criss cross cut fries are awesome!

Wendt's is very close to House of Harley-Davidson on Layton Avenue.  It's a nice south side pub with an open layout, plenty of seating area, and very friendly staff.

Tomorrow night, South Shore constituents will have a chance to learn about plans for the Hoan and make their voices heard.  Don't let this change go by if you have something to say about it.

Coalition to Save the Hoan
August Town Hall Meetings

Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
South Milwaukee Council Chambers
2424 15th Av., South Milwaukee
With Mayor Tom Zepecki and Sup. Jursik

Thursday, August 27, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
Cudahy Public Library, Winter Garden
3500 Library Dr., Cudahy
With Rep. Sinicki and Sup. Jursik

Sign a petition to help save the bridge
Learn about the Wisconsin DOT’s desire to demolish the bridge
Give brief comments to elected officials

Testimony limited to 3 minutes per citizen. Extensive written comments may be submitted to your elected officials.

Do not let this be decided behind closed doors! Make your voice heard! Join the Coalition!

For more information, visit www.county.milwaukee.gov/Jursik/SavetheHoanBridge.htm
or contact Supervisor Patricia Jursik, 414-278-4231 or patricia.jursik@milwcnty.com

I hope you never need to use this information, but I have needed an emergency vet once, and I sure wish I had one close to me at the time....

There is a new Emergency 24/7 Vet Clinic that is closer than Madison or the north side of Milwaukee.  Newly opened in June, this clinic is on Hwy 100 near Beloit Road.  There are several emergency vet clinics around, but very few that are always open and available to treat your pets.

Milwaukee Emergency Care for Animals (MECA), 3670 S 108th Street, Greenfield, WI (414) 543-7387. Twenty-four hour emergency service is provided by a team of experienced veterinarians and staff, concentrating on dogs, cats, exotics, reptiles and other small mammals. Critical care cases and surgeries may be referred to the ER seven days per week. Check out their website at:  www.erforanimals.com

These phone numbers are also good to keep handy also:

Phoning the 24-hour Animal Emergency Center Pet Hotline at (414) 540-6710 gives you immediate information about first aid and offers advice for safe transportation of your pet.  Animal Poison Control Center Hot Line (888) 426-4435.