Labor Day weekend looms and if you haven’t been to the 2014 New York State Fair what are you waiting for? If you have been, go again. And again.

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It’s a great Fair and there are some dandy new features, documented here at State Fair Hound. But we always think that the best thing about the Fair is returning to the annual people, places and things that we love.

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They’re back—Dippin’ Dots, Footsie Wootsie, I Got It, Hilby, Pizza Fritte, sculptures created from sand and butter and barn after barn of great looking animals
Throughout today’s post, we’ll features some new photos from the lens of Hound photographer Nick LoPresti, hoping you’ll enjoy them and they’ll motivate you to head out (or head out again).

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The Eli Young Band’s performance last evening at Chevy Court—poorly covered by our town’s daily paper—was disappointing. Not only because this supposedly country band played primarily light, soulless rock or even because lead singer Mike Eli’s singing—distorted all night long–didn’t approach the quality of their recordings.

Classic Chevy Court rudeness made it even harder to enjoy. The Fair has promised to improve the fan experience there, so the Hound will jump in with some ideas in the form of rules fans should follow, recognizing that enforcement is most attainable through people being more considerate:

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Don’t smoke. It only lasts an hour to 90 minutes and you’re surrounded by people who will appreciate it.

If you’re in the bench area, use the benches. That means sit down most of the time. An occasional standing ovation or quick photo is OK, but many people wait for an hour or more to get a seat for the show, then have their view blocked by some knuckleheads who thinks they have to stand. There’s plenty of space for those who prefer to stand off to the sides and behind the benches.

If you want to talk to your partner or friend, do it somewhere else. People are there to hear the performers, not you.

Texting is OK, but if yakking on the phone isn’t.

Take up only the space you need to be reasonably comfortable and make room for others where possible.

It’s a start and we’re open to more ideas. The first two items (no smoking, sit down), we propose become actual rules, subject to enforcement by staff. Remember, even a free show is no bargain if you can’t see, hear and breathe.

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