The Great State Fair of Oklahoma 2011

Just some random thoughts on one of the biggest events to grace Oklahoma City on a yearly basis, the great State Fair of Oklahoma:

I noticed yet again that there was a Confederate flag flying over the Fair. Why?

I went for a more traditional food choice this year to fill my belly, a hot dog on a stick, or more commonly known as a corn dog (I couldn't find the giant ones that Rick Perry and Michelle "bat shit" Bachmann have been seen eating lately). Good stuff though I'm not sure why mom had to have a bite after she had already visited three other food vendors! I don't like to share. I finished off with a fried Snickers later. It was decent but a little too heavily breaded in my opinion and it wasn't even on a stick.

Of course it was raining. I posted on Facespace that I hadn't seen this much rain since the Festival of the Arts, the other big outdoor event in Oklahoma City which seems to usher in biblical deluges. While having a rainy afternoon kept the attendance down and made parking easier, it also meant that I was freezing my ass off running from building to building.

I was on mullet alert red when I entered the Fair but I have to say I don't recall even seeing one. Lame. I did notice that a lot of the "cowboys" roaming around the grounds had their pants tucked inside their boots. As the old joke goes this is normally a sign of a sheep fucker but I think this actually had more to do with the rivers of rain water running down the streets. Can someone more versed in the cowboy arts give me a clarification on this?

I always look forward to seeing the Oklahoma Democratic Party kiosk every year for the morbid pleasure to see what my pathetic excuse for a political party is up to. I found through talking to one of the volunteers that they were no longer allowed to hand out bumper stickers of a political nature as people had apparently used them as a form of graffiti on cars parked at the Fair in years past. Weird. On a more positive note, they did have a bean poll which I found pretty cool. They had a list of political issues in tubes where you could add up to ten beans to any of the issues you care about most. I split my beans evenly to environment, protecting Social Security, and other topics of a liberal nature. I omitted adding a bean to increasing military spending and deficit reduction.

Finally, apparently, what could jokingly be called the Space Needle, is now closed. I was looking forward to an unobstructed view of downtown. Alas it's become extinct much like the monorail only to be left unused as a reminder of what used to be really cool about the Fair experience.

So readers, what's your favorite things about your state fairs? Is it something you take part in yearly?

Fried Bubblegum

Leave it to the Texas State Fair to come up with the most bizarre food you can fry, again. Justin Martinez, a 30 year-old Arlington, Texas baker, took home the State Fair of Texas's Seventh Annual Big Tex Choice prize for "Most Creative" for fried bubblegum.

Link.

Interestingly, there's no actual gum in the recipe. Martinez created the familiar taste with bubblegum flavored marshmallows that were deep fried, covered in icing and then dusted with powdered sugar.

Disgusting. And I thought last year's fried beer entry was bad enough!

So once again as fair season rears its ugly head, I ask all you foodies out there: what's the weirdest fried food you've ever had on a stick (or not on a stick)?

I'm still waiting for fried weasel...

The South Shall Rise Again!

I don't have a Sunday Funday story this week since I did pretty much nothing over the weekend but recuperate from being ill. I did venture out to "the great state fair of Oklahoma" on Sunday morning with the parents. We went early enough to avoid the crowds and the heat. Here are a few observations I have about the fair:

Going early to the fair is great. Enjoy the cooler weather, beat the crowds and easier parking; however, if you expect to get a beer before noon, you're shit out of luck. Apparently there's an old liquor law on the books which prevents the serving of alcohol before noon either anywhere or at state functions. I'm still confused about the reasons the nice girl gave me when I tried to buy a beer at one of the food stands. Beer in Oklahoma is 3.2% alcohol by weight and considered a food product, I saw food being served before noon! Also I know there are restaurants around town that serve beer and/or alcohol between 10 and noon.

After running around most of the morning we took a break and sat down to enjoy a cold adult beverage (after 12PM of course). While people watching I noticed a flag pole near the needle (or is it a space needle?). It was flying a Confederate flag!!! I wasn't aware that Oklahoma was an integral part of the Civil War. In fact I'm not so sure Oklahoma would be considered a Confederate territory. I did a little research this morning and found some information here and here. Regardless of the status of the Indian Territory during the Civil War, I don't think we need to fly the Confederate flag under any circumstances. It's a racist symbol, period. Anyone who says otherwise, usually promoting the theory it's a symbol of the states rights over the federal governments power, is a redneck chump. I tried to get a snap shot of the flag with the camera in my phone but it didn't turn out too well.

Not to be entirely negative, I did find the fair to be cleaner than I remember (it's been a couple of years since I attended). The paid parking was a lot easier to deal with rather than what is usually a massive mud pit in the free parking areas. The crowds were manageable and there were plenty of food options to please just about anyone, albeit not very healthy ones.