Sights from the 2009 Fair

I didn't get to see too much of it this year, unfortunately. My dance troupe performed on Thursday night, and we had to get home within two hours of the show because my daughter and I both had to be at school the next morning (she's a first grader, now, and I teach the same grade at the same school).

I did see one ride that had me in giggles: I don't know what it's called, but it had three arms, the riders sat in chairs, legs dangling. The main arm held the riders way up in the air. Sometimes, it spun wildly, sometimes it just sat there. It looked to me like an enormous room fan. I :::kinda:::: want to try it.

The best part of the fair was seeing my former students' 4th grade California Missions projects -- two with 2nd place ribbons and one with a 3rd place ribbon. Proud teacher, here. :) :)

[On the really hot days an enormous room fan at the Fair might be refreshing! -- DA]

I promised myself a long time ago that, if my girls ever got old enough to go to the Fair on their own, I wouldn't go again. They did and I haven't.

Every year when the Fair opens others ask me if I wish to go with them. Every year I consider it. For about a minute. And refuse. It's been 33 years (!) and I don't miss it.

However, your photo and mention of the Railroad Garden did make me wistful. Lotsa time spent there hanging over the fence with my mom and then the girls.

I look forward to the comments of the gang to see if anything else they saw will tweak a good memory.

Glad you enjoyed the Fair. Everyone, but me, should. What did you indulge in that was covered in chocolate. Come on now. 'Fess up.

[One item. See Sunday's column! -- DA]

I went to the fair one Wed. night because it was too hot in the daytime and again the following Wednesday. There is too much to see and too much to eat, so it can't even be covered in two visits.

I can certainly recommend traveling to the Fair by Metrolink. My round trip ticket from Claremont was $4 compared to the $10 fee it would have taken to park my car. The Metrolink staff met us when we arrived, and were still there to make sure that we got on the trip home safely.

I tried to play it safe with the food so I wouldn't get sick -- I had the huge Tom's Baked Potato smothered with butter, cheese sauce and mushrooms -- delicious. I never resist the funnel cake with cherries and whipped cream, no matter how many inches it adds to my waistline.

As I had already mentioned to you on another thread, I am disappointed that you did not see "Jurassic Planet." I hope some of your other readers saw it and can verify that it was as amazing as I say it was, or that maybe I don't get out enough.

[You seem to get out plenty, Shirley! -- DA]

Re: Mini Pomona Fox Theater -- Were SUV's smaller back then?

I miss all the animals. It was fun to go through the buildings where kids exhibited their animals for 4-H. There is not much anymore — only a few examples of pigs to show people that there are such critters. The judging has largely disappeared. We always took the kids to see them. As kids, my children entered their rabbits. One whole exhibit building was devoted to rabbits and cavies. One year, their English spot rabbit got a third place, mainly because it was the only rabbit of that breed entered in the fair.

Another disappointment is the location of the Forest Service care for the land exhibit is in the out-of-the-way area behind the flower pavilion. With stewardship of the land and the Station Fire ongoing, I think since most people are city dwellers, they need fire safe education and to learn to take care of our wild lands. The Forest Service needs a prominent site.

My kids also performed with their baton group. When I took tap and ballet as a child, we performed on the stage in the former Mexican Village.

I think the Valley Girls commercials have reduced the fair to an urban experience. It is an urban fair with little relationship to its agricultural roots.

Oh, by the way, the KIIS truck was there. It looks like the station must be experiencing financial difficulties or does not read the news.

Not all was lost, however, because we had massages in one of the sales building. We felt revived and did some more walking.

Loved your column yesterday! I was at the Fair for the third time on Saturday, mainly to watch the draft horse show. Also did a little Christmas shopping and got some last-minute bargains!

I agree about missing the 4H animal judging, but I believe there was one 4H weekend for those kids. I'm guessing it's really just too expensive anymore for them to be there over the whole run of the Fair.

I decided to try the zucchini-weenie, and found it really good -- like hot dog on a stick with zucchini between the dog and batter. The chocolate-covered bacon and corn just make me shudder -- reportedly the meat-lover's ice cream is topped with sprinkles of said bacon.

I live just a couple blocks from the Fairplex, so I just walk over. One thing I won't miss now that it's over: the city towing the cars of those who try to save the parking fee by parking in our permit-only neighborhood! I imagine what it's like to come back tired from a fun day at the Fair, only to have to deal with getting your car back from the police.

In response to your Sunday column, Santa WAS there! I saw him in a photo booth dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and sunglasses. You could get your holiday picture taken with him holding a surfboard in front of a beach backdrop.

If ever there was a definitive sign that we're in a depression, the sight of Santa having to work in the summer would be it.

[Ha ha! Thanks, Judi. -- DA]