Now, with under two months to go to opening day, there’s plenty of activity underway in preparation for New York State Fair 2015, both with Fair staff and planners and with workers and tradesmen around the grounds.

First, to update Hound readers on the construction on both sides of the colonnade, the Science and Industry Building ramp, seen in the photo below, appears to be completed. Meanwhile, masonry steps and a ramp with the same look continues under construction on the Dairy Products Building, which is on the other side of the center ramp, which flanks the clock.

Meanwhile, at the far side of the grounds, the Anna’s Pizza stand has been demolished, disappointing thick-sliced pizza fans, but offering opportunity for a new entertainment venue. Acting Director Troy Waffner revealed in a recent chat with your State Fair Hound that the Midway Music Series will not return to the Talent Showcase stage this year, but there will be live entertainment in that area as the former Anna’s site, seen below, will host local and regional acts on a regular basis.

We hope to see the MMS back in the future as its diversity of talent added a different stroke to the Fair’s entertainment lineup. The challenges of keeping it booked, promoted and drawing consistently led to its current suspension, but there may be possibilities in the future.

As the Fair rolls on in the run-up to opening day, the Hound will be posting more often with news and photos to get you ready, so check back soon.

Just as many homeowners have started outdoor projects with the coming of summer weather, our New York State Fair has undertaken some improvement projects on the grounds. Two caught our eye on a recent visit, the first the latest installment of the Restaurant Row renovation project that has been underway for over a decade.

Those handsome brick paving stones that surround many food stands are now in place on both sides of the venerable Baker Chicken Coop. The roofs that covered the dining areas have been removed. We don’t know if there are plans in the works to replace them, but we’ll try to find out.

Meanwhile, the main entrance to the Dairy Products Building—the one facing Chevy Court and the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que—has been demolished and a replacement is being constructed. It looks like stairs will replace the ramp that had been there for many years. That would mirror a change to the dairy barn side of the colonnade, where steps have replaced ramps. There are still ramps on the north and south ends of the complex to allow for wheelchair accessibility.

Your State Fair Hound will keep an eye an changes happening and have more reports as the summer progresses.