Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Nebraska State Fair


Grand Island is now the new home of the Nebraska State Fair, after having been in Lincoln for so many years. They have all-new exhibition buildings constructed for it, giving this event a new boost for future growth. In particular, one improvement over the old site is a climate-controlled birthing room, which is one of the fair's main attractions.

Grand Island is farther from the population center, but closer to the geographical center of Nebraska. In my opinion, it is not too much of a pain for people from Omaha (Nebraska's largest city) to drive there, than when they had to drive to Lincoln, since it is still a fairly easy drive just about eighty miles further down Interstate 80, Nebraska's "main street".

There is not much to say about the fair in words, that pictures can't do a better job explaining. So here goes it:

High School Football

Nebraska's 2010 high school football season kicked off on August 26. Nebraska divides the competition into different levels, with Class A being the highest division. Week one saw several good matchups, including Millard West hosting Omaha North and Creighton Prep hosting Millard North. Millard West justified their #2 preseason ranking by defeating Omaha North by a score of 35-19, and Creighton Prep eeked out a close win over Millard North, by a score of 7-6 at UNO's Al Caniglia Field, which Creighton Prep uses as their regular home turf. In week two I saw visiting Fremont defeat Omaha Northwest 27-7.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Calvin Keys

Jazz guitarist Calvin Keys, son of drummer Otis Keys, is one of Omaha's native sons. At age 17, Calvin first hit the road to Kansas City, and eventually working with the Jimmy Smith Trio. In 1969 he moved to Los Angeles, and soon after cut his first album with the Black Jazz record label. By 1975 he had relocated to the San Francisco bay area, and has been there since. Over his career he has worked with such personalities as Ray Charles, Ahmad Jamal, Carmen McCrea, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Gloria Lynn, M.C. Hammer, Sonny Stitt, Tony Bennett, and Luther Vandross.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

It is easy to get there...

If you want to go to a New York Red Bulls soccer game, it is now easy to get there, thanks to the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) trains. If you're coming from Midtown, go to Herald Square (where Macy's is) and you'll find the 33rd Street PATH station. Buy a ticket for $1.75 at one of these machines...
Then you'll get on one of these trains, sit in one of their comfortable seats, and you'll be taken to Journal Square station where you shall get off, to switch to the other train coming from the World Trade Center. It is a free transfer. Don't leave the platform. It's coming...When you get to the Harrison station, you'll get off the train. This is the stop for Red Bull Arena, which is only a short walk away from the station. The stadium is not hard to find from where you leave the Harrison PATH station. Just walk south from the station and look to the left.Enjoy the beauty of this stadium in all its splendor.And then there's The Beautiful Game...

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Sarpy County Fair

There is only one Sarpy County in the USA, and they have one of the best county fairs around. It is in the town of Springfield, which has that small-town atmosphere not far from the city. They have rodeos and demolition derbys. They have kettle corn that is bigger than any popcorn you have seen. They have concerts with local bands, all the classic carnival rides, 4-H club displays, a beer garden, bingo hall, cattle and chickens and other animals on display, some exotic. They have a petting zoo, tractors on display, a mechanical bull, politicians' booths and a whole lot more.
click on image for bigger picture

About Me

Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Jag förstår någon svenska, men mitt modersmål är engelska.