Fall in the New England means festivals, country fairs, state fairs and the Big E, also known as the Eastern State Expositions or the Springfield Fair. If that isn't confusing enough, it is held annually for approximately two weeks, from mid September to early October. Located in Agawam, Massachusetts, a suburb of Springfield, it represents all of the New England States, their economies, citizens and civic organizations. This exposition attracts visitors from all over the United States as well as many other countries.
From the time Bill and I were youngsters, we have made yearly visits to this fair. Occasionally, there were multiple visits during the two weeks it was opened. Well known performers entertain nightly, agricultural judging takes place daily, and the place is packed when the Rodeo starts. It's great fun and brings in millions of dollars annually to the Massachusetts economy. There are hawkers, selling their wares in the Better Living Building, with kitchen gadgets being the most entertaining. During our yearly visits, we would always pick up some sort of new gadget for Fred's News. Our patrons would arrive and ask "does it really work like it is advertised?" Surprisingly, a definite yes! Over the years we purchased a number of "Ginsu knives" guaranteed to slice tomatoes paper thin. You could also use it to cut aluminum cans in half. For life of me I can't imagine "why the hell you would cut aluminum cans in half!" Some stupid -ass advertising gimmick. Point being...the knives worked like a charm, slicing tomatoes. True to their ad, they never had to be sharpened. We still have two Ginsu knives here in Florida. Many of our customers purchased a Ginsu, if it was good enough for Fred's News, it was good enough for them! Another spot on useful product, the chamois towels, guaranteed to last a lifetime...what is a lifetime and whose life are they basing this fact on? Hopefully, my lifetime, you can't wear those bad boys out! Maple syrup from Vermont, wild blueberries from Maine, fantastic seafood and fritter batter from Rhode Island, fresh cranberries for our freshly baked muffins, from the Massachusetts pavilion and the list goes out. The Big E was better than most Trade Shows we attended.
Our purchases for Fred's News, were not limited to food products. Many great Fall decorations and Christmas ornaments would now call Fred's News, home. There were a few "got to have that items" thrown in as well. We purchased a bamboo flute for Mark, didn't work as advertised though. The boomerang, from the Australian group, however, was a whole other ball game. First question: What was an Australian entourage doing at the Eastern States Exposition? Money talks. If they were willing to pay the set up fee to hawk "their wares", so be it. Second question: Did the boomerang work? Absolutely! Not the first few tries, but once you got the idea of how to hold it and throw it, back it came. The time Bill had a successful throw, it returned, we watched in awe, then scattered, for fear of getting smacked in the head by that hovering menace. Eventually, Bill got it down to a science.
Perhaps the best memory we've taken back from the Big E: A jug of fresh apple cider, a brick of extra sharp Vermont cheddar cheese, all consumed on the ride home from the fair. Pulling into the lot behind the restaurant, hurrying up the stairs, sleeping an hour or two, then up again for our day at Fred's News.
No comments:
Post a Comment