Opening day of the great New York State Fair is Aug. 27, so today State Fair Hound kicks off daily posts leading up to that glorious day. We’ll begin with a topic that’s been in the news quite a bit.

The first concert at the not-yet-completed amphitheater is scheduled to take place during this year’s State Fair. Officials still have to figure out how to work around the problems handed them by the short-sighted politicians who chose the lakefront site. Just how do you get 17,000 concert patrons from the new shell to the Fairgrounds and vice versa? It’s a daunting and very likely an impossible walk, so buses will be the first line of service.

Ideally, a monorail that can zip passengers around from parking lots to venues is in the future, but the expense is insurmountable, at least currently. State Fair Hound is looking into sponsoring teleporting, as in sci-fi movies and TV shows, but so far we haven’t found a way for that either.

One bit of good news revealed to us recently by Mr. Waffner is that a ticket to a show at the new stadium is good for Fair admission any day, not just the day of the show. So if you go to a concert on one day, you can use your free ticket to attend the Fair on another day. That part of the plan makes sense.

You could consider the just-completed Syracuse Nationals weekend a dry run for the New York State Fair. Just like our Fair, they get a massive crowd wandering the entire grounds. They have to deal with traffic, parking, food vendors, rest room use, security and entertainment stages. This year also brought hot weather and the potential for health-and-comfort-related problems, something Fair visitors know very well.

From here on out, it’s primarily various livestock events as the final push comes to prepare the Expo Center for the onslaught of Fair aficionados. Beginning on July 27, one month from opening day, State Fair Hound be posting daily with Fair news, ideas, photos and tips to prepare you for the Big Event.

We’ll continue publishing new stories and exclusive photos galore every day through the Fair. We hope you’re excited to be the most important part of the Fair. We promise a wild ride.

State Fair Hound urges you to consider how different our Fair will look after this year, with the Grandstand demolished. Here we see the roof and upper seats looming over the grounds.

No decisions have been made on the fate of the dirt track, but future events won’t have the hulking stadium.

More thought on the future of that area later.

We now know which performers will close out the Grandstand concert series. The Fair has announced that comedian Jim Gaffigan will appear on Aug. 28, followed on Aug. 30 by country musician Hank Williams Jr. and by soulful chanteuse Patti LaBelle on Sep. 3. The stage will then be dismantled to make way for a couple of motorsports events to tear up the track on Sunday, Sep. 6.

Prices, all including an excessive $3.75 per ticket fee to make etix richer, are $18.75 and $23.75 per seat. If you buy with a credit card, you will pay even more.

Many country music fans will be happy to see Williams return, as the man behind the shades is a multi-talented entertainer who always brings a hot band and a truckload of famous songs, some penned by his legendary daddy. Unfortunately, Junior is also a loudmouthed lunkhead prone to offensive and brainless comments that approach Ted Nugent territory. We can hope he tones it down up here in Yankee country, but we won’t stop holding our breath until his show concludes without him making some outrageous comment that would cause embarrassment and reflect poorly on the Fair.

The timing of the announcement that Williams will return, coming just as people in South Carolina and around the nation have finally admitted the disturbing truth about the confederate flag, is intriguing to say the least. Vendors at our own New York State Fair have agreed to refrain from selling that infamous banner, often has used by Hank Jr. as a stage prop over the years. Worse yet, he has championed the appalling, arrogant rhetoric that made it a redneck icon.

You can bet your State Fair Hound will be on hand when Hank Jr. plays the final country concert at the old Grandstand and we’ll let you know how it works out. But we can’t help but consider the irony that the Joe LaGuardia stage’s first concert–long before it bore that name–was Williams’ opposite, Charley Pride, in 1976. Not only are they opposites in terms of race, but there’s so much more. Pride, who still performs but wasn’t available for this show, is beloved by fans around the world for his class and graciousness. We could use some of that for this landmark event.

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.

We’ve hit a milestone as there are now only 100 days to go to the Aug. 27 opening of the 2015 New York State Fair. What you do now can make for a better Fair experience. It’s time to start thinking ahead. Enjoy your long-awaited summer, knowing it will end with the biggest party of the year.

Of course it’s too soon to buy your tickets or plan your itinerary just yet, but you can get some preliminaries out of the way. Maybe you need to arrange for time off from work, especially to allow you to head to Geddes on a weekday when the crowds are lighter. Quite a few Chevy Court acts are already scheduled, so review that list as you plan your days to go.

If your budget is tight it’s never a bad idea to start putting aside a few bucks to spend, especially if you have kids who love the rides and midway. It’s more fun to splurge if you have saved up the cash.

One especially good idea is to review your last visit to the Fair. Plan to go back to what you liked most, from animal acts to annual exhibits to that special meal you can’t stop reliving. On the other hand, what was unsatisfying or disappointing? Maybe you should skip those stops and go elsewhere next time.

Most of all, resolve to try something new or visit different spots on the grounds. There’s so much to see, do and eat, there are bound to be a few things you’ve never tried, even if you’re a devoted Fair fan. Stray from your comfort zone a bit. Get recommendations and reviews from friends.

Have you been to the rooster crowing contest and the wool center? How about the flower shows and fine arts exhibits? The Pan African Village and historic train cars are among the most underappreciated exhibits on the grounds—certainly worth a look.

The sausage sandwiches, ice cream and fried dough are great, but how about some of the exotic ethnic cuisine, seafood entries or home style breakfasts? Try one new food among all of your favorites.

Maybe it’s too tiring to walk through every barn, but pick a couple of favorites. Have you seen the goat milking parlor? The llamas are graceful and regal. Everyone loves the horses, so sit down for a shady rest in the Coliseum while they’re kicking up the dirt.

Some of the smaller music venues are just as enjoyable as Chevy Court, so watch for acts you like at the Midway Music Series or Regional Artists stages.

We find it infuriating to hear a local person complain that the Fair is always “the same old thing.” If you can’t find something there to enjoy, even love, you aren’t really trying. You’ve got under 100 days to think about having a great time this year’s New York State Fair.

The recent muggy weather brings to mind some steamy days and hot times at the New York State Fair. If you can’t wait until Aug. 27 to visit the Empire Expo Center, you don’t have to.

The Fair’s website (nysfair.org) boasts plenty of events you can attend over the summer, all listed under “Year-round events calendar.” Our favorite excuse to drive onto the grounds is for a horse show and there are plenty of them on the agenda. There were two this past weekend and the next, the New York State Breeders show, runs May 14-17 and May 21-24.

More shows follow on virtually every weekend, giving equine enthusiasts a chance to see the horses up close in the barns and rings and to see them put through their paces as they compete for ribbons. Parking and most events are free of charge and each is a relaxing way to enjoy these beautiful animals on your own schedule.

While on the grounds, you may see new construction or improvements being done for the late summer extravaganza. Take your camera and visit soon.

With four months to go to opening day, announcements flow regularly from the New York State Fair, including some very welcome news regarding Chevrolet Court decorum. A long-overdue ban on smoking cigarettes on the benches and in the grassy area was announced last week, fulfilling a frequent and emphatic demand from your State Fair Hound.

It’s a no brainer when you consider the close quarters involved with fans sitting literally hip-to-hip and thousands more standing tightly-bunched for shows in the courtyard. We’ll go on the record as saying that we don’t favor a Fairgrounds-wide ban on puffing as those afflicted would be too severely affected by such a law. But there are places—and Chevy Court is clearly among them—where non-smokers need to have a chance to breathe.

The Chevy Court experience still needs much improvement, but this is a giant leap.

Another change we applaud is the relaxation of beer and wine sales rules to allow vendors to serve until 11 p.m. Last call has come as early as 9:30 in recent years in an effort to control over-imbibing and related behavior issues. But drinkers who are going to cause problems will find a way, regardless of time, and there’s no use punishing everyone for the poor behavior of the few.

Use some common sense, though. If quaffing a few is part of your Fair fun, plan ahead and take the bus or travel with a designated driver, OK.

Did you catch the April 1 television interview with Acting Director Troy Waffner discussing the recent concert bookings for the 2015 New York State Fair?

Troy was explaining that the scheduling of two rap acts for Sep. 2 is part of a strategy to diversify the Chevy Court lineup. No argument here that bringing in a wide range of talent strengthens the attraction of the Fair’s free venue, but we do have a couple of thoughts that we’re hope are being addressed as planning for this year unfolds.

We’re partial to shows that bring in singers and musicians who can be classified as pioneers or classic examples of their genre. We didn’t see much of that last year, but the Fair has certainly had its share recently from the Temptations to the Buddy Rich Band to the Grand Ole Opry show. It’s a great opportunity for fans of some of these beloved acts, not often featured on local bills.

Meanwhile, nothing has been announced that would lead to a more enjoyable experience in the courtyard but we’re still hoping that a new code of conduct for the notoriously rude fans will pick up on a couple of ideas proposed by the Hound (Four To Go, Aug. 29, 2014).

We’re not shy about repeating what we think are two great ideas—requiring fans in the bench area to sit during the show and prohibiting smoking during performances. Come on, Fair brass—these should be common sense ways to make a crowded, often-uncomfortable venue more enjoyable.