The Arkansas State Fair! 2011 (Update 2012)

                     I've been to many different festivals around the states, but the Arkansas State Fair was the first state fair I've been too. My first time going to it was some five or six years ago, with me attending almost every year after that. They have it around the same time each year; this time it was from October 14 -23.

                         The fairgrounds are used for various events throughout the year, like gun shows, flea markets, and other small events.The biggest event that all the crowds attend though, is the yearly fair.The fair has the same rides and stalls installed every year, but it has enough things that it would take more than one day to look at everything. Remember those state fairs in the movies with the corndogs, the games, and rides? They hit it right on the money. The fair does look like those old time fairs, but with modern music in it, and slightly modern attractions.
                       
                Since all fairs do this a bit differently from each other, let me tell you how the pricing works. An entrance fee is paid up front, with a standard price for seniors, kids, and adults. The fee will be discounted on certain days when they have some event going on, so if you plan to go in the future, check up daily while the fair is in town. Then comes the inside fee. The games,food, and some events usually accept cash. The rides work in two ways; you can get coupons, which require a smaller usage per ride,(like two coupons per ride), or the tickets which you get from various ticket booths from the fair. A word of advice, the rides are expensive this year, and the pricing fluctuates yearly, so have extra cash on you if you want to try the rides. ( This year, it was about 5 or 6 tickets per ride, with 10 or 11 tickets costing approximately $20.)

                   Now if you're a health food lover, you might have to do a lot of digging around in the food booths. The fair has food, and very good food, but not really healthy. The traditional funnel cakes and corn dogs are in the fair, as well as Virgin Pina coladas and other drinks in their own special booths. However, the most popular food, (that I hear numerous people talking about), is the fried food. I can't speak for other state fairs, but the one in Arkansas have people experimenting with fried everything! You have fried Oreo, fried butter, fried ice cream,(don't ask), fried pie,(which I tried), fried watermelon, fried vegetables, and, well, you get the idea. For long time fair- goers this might come as no surprise, but I figure a new comer would appreciate the info. :p

                  So do I recommend the fair? Even if it's your only time, I whole heartedly say yes. I think, even once, it's worth the experience.Though, for future reference, it would be advisable not to be dead last, like what me and some friends did this year... you're not going to find much in terms of discounts or cheap admission. (Here is a local news channel showing all the discounted days this year. It will probably be very similar for the next fair. They also explain how to purchase coupons.  Today THV)
                                                                          
                                                                     

           Part of the entrance. Since these were taken at night, there is going to be a glare,sorry!

                                                                          
                                                               Entrance booth.

                                                                                  
                                          As you're going in... we took a side entrance.

                                                                             
                                I went to that booth and got myself a little fried something...

                                                                               
                           Presenting, Fried Key Lime Pie! It was good but a bit messy,haha.

                                                                               
                  I wish I knew how to fix the glare; but it's a cell photo so it's complicated. ><

                                                                              
                             We usually played games, and I have a few prizes from previous years,
                                                         but didn't really bother this time.

                                                                              
                    The photo is of a funhouse; I think it was taken from the Pirate Ship.
               ( The fair has the ride with an Egyptian theme, so it's called Pharaoh's Fury. :p)

                                                                              
                     Hm... I'm too scared to try the taller fair rides cause they don't look safe to me.
           In parks like Six Flags or other bigger amusement parks, I do like to go on
                     rollercoasters and those rides though! XD  This was also on the Pirate Ship.

                                                                        
                                             We went on this ride; it wasn't really scary. :p

                                                                             
                                               "Pharaoh's Fury." Taken as we got off.

     We also went on bumper cars, the swings, and the Zero Gravity ride that takes you sideways and you're not holding on to anything. XD By the way the carousel and swings have Old Victorian paintings and decor to them; so they might be older than the rest of the rides. I can't confirm it as fact though, but they are more decorated!
     
     This year's fair is over, but if you want something to do for next October, book a day if you're in town!

Update (10/21/12):
        Hey everyone! Today is the last day for this year's fair. I went on Monday for an hour or so,
 and got to try some different things.~ I had a co-worker yesterday mentioned they had red-velvet
 funnel cake, and fried Kool-Aid, which I haven't had the chance to try, but I did have a more
 traditional candy-apple,lol. I got to go on a new Roller- Coaster that they put this year, and saw
a show with trained baboons. In particular, this show. (If you ever go to a state fair and get to see
them, it's worth your time! And it's free!) I also got to get an old-fashioned/antique photo of myself
which I always wanted to do, (but it's not getting posted here!) Anyways, I didn't go a long time,
but I did something with my family, which I enjoyed. The photos look better this year as we went
in the day time. XD

                                                                               

           Double Update! (11/3/12) So, that last week of the fair, I ended up going again with some
        friends on Friday, and got the opportunity to try a Red-Velvet Funnel Cake, and I bought a
        hat at the Inventory room; the shop was from an Etsy seller, so I might do a review. ~ The
        Red-Velvet tasted like the cake; and they put icing, cream cheese, and sugar powder. It was
        really good, and I recommend everyone to try! The fish was also in the inventory room in a
        nature exhibit; some were about 4-5 feet long!
               

                                                                                

                                                                                

New York Sweets - Brooklyn Soda

          Today will be a short post on soda. A soda brand that is seen in alot of delis and pizza shops in New York, is called " Olde Brooklyn."  It's styled with a sketch of the Brooklyn Bridge, with names of popular places around Brooklyn to accompany the bottle ad. It's designed like vintage soda bottles, not only with the design, but the fact that the bottles are made from glass. The only flavors I tried so far are Cherry,Orange, Cream, and Raspberry, but I do like the way it tastes; at least to me, it does not come out as highly carbonated as more commercialized sodas, and so you can get more flavor in the bottle. C:

           The soda seems to have been acquired by a company called White Rock Beverages in 2003, but I can't seem to find information on the brand before that,though I do know they existed earlier.White Rock, however, seems to have quite a history before acquiring the soda. Established in 1871, they were one of the first soft drink companies in the United States. Their products were featured in King Edward's VII coronation, and were the first to use a Kris Kringle/Santa Claus ad for soda. As far as soda companies go, it seems they did well buisness wise, but didn't reach the popularity status of Coke or Pepsi. (Which is a shame,since in my opinion, the Olde Brooklyn Soda can compete pretty well with the more popular brands!)

                               "Red Hook Raspberry" The bridge is a sketch of the Brooklyn Bridge.

             So, how can you try this soda? Outside of New York, I've seen them being sold in local supermarkets, and pizzerias, so your best bet is there. White Rock also has a section of their website were you can type what state you live in, to see what places sell their products, which might reduce alot of search time. :p

    * All information listed in this post can be found in various sections of the White Rock website!

Little Rock, Arkansas - Buffalo Grill

                  Buffalo Grill is a burger place, that I've visited a few times before with some friends. They currently have two locations in Little Rock. It seems there are two other similar sounding places, Buffalo Grille, in Texas, and a French restaurant, Buffalo Grill, whose locations are only in Europe. However, the French one is a completely different company, and the similar Texas name was established in 1984, not 1981, with the Texas chain having a different menu. (I thought I should specify, since I didn't realize there was similar sounding places until I googled it, haha.)

           The one I will be talking about is the Bowman location. It's one of those restaurants that have a small appearance at front, but looks much bigger once you go inside. The place is decorated like you're in the old west; everything is made from polished wood, and hanging around is taxidermy of birds, and buffalo heads. The menu has different dips, potatoes, and nachos for appetisers, with the main menu being the burgers or sandwiches. Drinks are coke products. They also have a smaller salad menu, and platter menu with hamburger steak or chicken breast and the like, and a small dessert menu.Even if you don't like burgers, they have enough in the menu for non-burger lovers as well.
   
         The food that I ordered was very good, but was quick to cool down.  I ordered a cheeseburger without mustard, and a small cheese dip and lemonade. If you go there on warm days, the place has a blasted air conditioner, so try to eat as fast as you can, if you don't like cold food. The burgers taste very well, as does the cheese dip, and you are given more chips with any burger/sandwich you order too. (It's plain ridge chips, but I'm not sure if they make it or just order the chips.)
  
       If you like to visit a place with a country air, but doesn't look too old, go and give Buffalo Grill a look!

                                                                          
                                            The entrance looks a bit like a funhouse lol.

                                                              
                                                           The entrance.

                                                                             
                                                     Some of the animal heads. :P

                                                                              
                                                   They're proud of their coke.

                                                                              
                                     Some of the decor has bricks, but it's mostly wood.

                                                                                
                                    There is alot of windows, so it doesn't get very dim.

                                                                               
                                                Small cheese dips with nachos.

                                                                                
                                               Cheeseburger, with chips and pickle.

Little Rock, Arkansas - Damgoode Pies

                                 
             This is my first time going to Damgoode Pies; it was always one of those places I passed by, but never actually went in. Damgoode Pies is a pizza joint, with three locations in Little Rock, and one in Fayetteville.

            The location I went to was in Cantrell, and I'm going to say it now, was one of the most quirkiest places I ever went to. The photos taken don't do it much justice, but I'll try to explain the decor. The outside is wooden, and looks like a psuedo- old country shop. Inside, though, is a different story. When you walk in, to your left, is an open kitchen, so you can see the chefs making the pizzas and food. This place is designed as a small hallway, and when you walk to the end and go right, you'll see the truly weird of the weird. Once you make that right, on your left is a small bar, that is decorated with chalk walls, which has thousands of written phrases and designs, that is semi-normal looking. As you walk to the dine-in area, they split it into two different sections. One is behind the bar, and they have a circular ceiling that has a painted sky on it, giving you the illusion that you're outside. If you look at the wall, painted on it is a bearded man laughing, and a fat man wearing a tutu.

                 Now if you go to the more normal looking sit in area, each wall is decorated in a different color,( mostly yellow and red), with black wall decals.Around this area of the room, they decorated the walls with portraits of modern photos of old country cottages and the like.

                 The food menu consists of pizzas, appetizers like stuffed mushrooms or breadsticks, sandwiches, pasta, salads, and desserts that change every so often, (mostly cheesecakes.) We ordered a half alfredo cheese, half regular pizza, in the largest size available. (I think it was 16 inches.) We had it with the regular crust but they also have thin and stuffed crusts too. (The stuffed takes 20 minutes to make, if you wanted to try that.)  They had regular coke products; I just ordered a sweet tea. The service was laid back; we had one waitress, who mostly stayed out of the way,except for serving the dishes, and giving refills.

                         The food was very good! I've been to many pizza places, and I can vouch that this place makes excellent pizza. They have no problem splitting condiments or sauces in the pie, and will make it exactly as you like. If you're dining, a word of advice though; this is not fast food. We had to wait almost half an hour for the food to get done, so please keep that in mind if you want to visit.

                                                                               
                                                  The dine in area with wall decals.

                                                                    
                                      The blue dine-in area. The ceiling has a painted sky.

                                                                            
         A better view of the..uhm... artwork. One photo is some rocker guy yelling, and the other is a fat man wearing nothing but a tutu. The photo is not very sharp, but you should be able to see it. XD

                                                                               
                                   The pizza. I got full after two slices, but if I had a better
                                   appetite I think I would have eaten the whole thing! XD

                                                      The front entrance to the place.

If you want to try a pizzeria with an artsy and strange atmosphere, go to Damgoode Pies!

                                                                                
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Little Rock, Arkansas - Luby's Cafeteria

                                   
                                     
               So today I'm going to talk about my second experience in a Cafeteria,( that's outside of a school :p), called Luby's Cafeteria. This was my first time at Luby's, but I went to a Cafeteria before this one, which I unfortunately forgot to take photos of. (It was called Franke's Cafeteria, if you're interested.)

                  Luby's Cafeteria is currently in three states only, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. The one I will be talking about is located at West Markham, the only one in Arkansas. For those who never went to a Cafeteria style restaurant, I'll explain how it works.  They have the food arranged in a line, with different servers in each section. You get a tray and some plates in the beginning, and you stay in line as you get what you want. The payment is done a bit differently in each cafeteria, but it seems Luby's charge by the amount, with each item having a different price. Once you're done paying, you get to sit wherever you want. It went about 11$ for three people, so it was about 30$ for the group I went with. For drinks,you get a glass and put the drink yourself.

                The food had some good and so-so items, in my opinion. I got some mashed potatoes, roast beef with grilled onions, macaroni and cheese, and some green jello for dessert. The mash potatoes have no flavor or salt in it, and it didn't come with any gravy either. That's one item I don't recommend. The roast beef on the other hand, although a tad salty, wasn't too bad, and tasted quite good with the onions, so I recommend trying that at least. The macaroni had flavor to it, and wasn't very bland, so it fills you up. The jello tasted like apple flavored jello, and wasn't bad either. The have regular fountain drinks, and sweet/unsweet tea, so I just got a regular soda.

                                                           
                                                                  The entrance.

                                                                              
                                         The food line- it reminds me of a conveyor belt. :p

                                                                               
                                     My plate. The onions tasted really good with the meat.
      
          Overall, I think Luby's is a good place to go if you want a quick bite, but it might be preferable to go with only one or two people since the price is by how many items you purchase. It's not 5-star restaurant food, but it's not fast food either.

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