Tony goes for lunch and finds the scariest ride
This weekend is the last chance to make your diet cheat day more than just pizza at home as the Sonoma County Fair wraps up its 2016 run. Along with food that challenges just what “fair food” is, there is plenty to do and see, from the Hall of Flowers to a 50-foot drop that has everyone screaming and one ride operator laughing.
My original goal for this year’s fair had me starting out with a light breakfast and waiting until I was good and hungry for a large lunch before pedaling my bicycle across town to the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
The word was that a new vendor at the county fair was serving up Hawaiian inspired meals served in hollowed out pineapples.
It didn’t take long to find Ricardo’s Hawaiian Feast stand in Shade Park, by the race track. The shrimp Maui Wowwie Pineapple Bowl had been what I’d heard about, but due to a shellfish allergy, it was the ribs option that I ordered. Alternatively, they also served chicken and beef.
Kathy Kuhne of Santa Rosa, along with her family, ordered the shrimp, chicken and ribs to share and sample each one. She said she hadn’t heard of the Ricardo’s before coming to the fair but rather, spotted the festive stand while looking for lunch. “It looked fresh, it looked good,” said Kuhne.
The meal did not disappoint. There were four pork ribs covering the coleslaw, rice and generous chunks of pineapple in a pineapple that had been cut in half and carved out to make a bowl. The ribs were crispy outside, tender inside and delicious. The slaw was creamy and tangy with the expected tone of the fruit. I was full before I could finish it all, so some of the rice was left uneaten. For $16, it was well worth it as fair prices go. The line wasn’t short for Ricardo’s but the friendly people manning the stand were working at a fevered pace and things moved quickly enough.
To hydrate, there is only one thing if you’re going to forego the frosty barley pop (beer) that adults tend to go for at the fair. Last year, I just couldn’t find that sweet spot moment of a short line at Phil’s Fresh Squeezed Lemonade stand and went with a tasty iced coffee drink at Java 2 You.
But, this year, I was sufficiently caffeinated and so, was jazzed that on my second walk over, the iconic lemon shaped stand was free of a line for the moment.
$12 might sound pretty steep for lemonade but this was a “bucket” of fresh squeezed lemonade from the popular vendor, based out of Ukiah.
A family from El Cerrito was gulping down their lemonade as I held my ice cold, two-liter bucket. “It’s better than the rest of the lemonade, here,” said 13-year-old Eli Tipton. “Ditto,” said his younger sister Lulu, the pair described as lemonade experts by their parents. Their mother Paula Tipton said they prefer the Sonoma County Fair to the Alameda Fair due to the crowd sizes. The bucket still wasn’t empty after more than two hours of walking around in the 80-plus degree heat. “RePhils” were $6 and the bucket seems like it’ll be good for reuse on trips to the beach.
The rides had everything expected, from ferris wheels to the funhouse to a roller coaster, giant slide, bumper cars and a variety of rides that swing or spin, some of them both.
But, I was listening for that sound that teenagers make in that split-second moment when they actually contemplate the possibility that they’re not immortal after all.
And without a doubt, those screams of terror were coming from the Super Shot. The ride takes a platform of seated ride-goers up about 50-feet and then drops.
“At first I was anxious to come down, but then I dropped my dinosaur (souvenir toy) and it went splat,” said Sara Fields, 9, from Windsor. “It was fun, but I did scream.”
The ride’s popularity very likely had quite a bit to do with operator George Clark, who was having a good time getting people to stop watching the ride and get on. To those that wouldn’t take the plunge, Clark offered good spirited heckling, all in fun.
“Oh, he’s too scared,” said Clark with a smile as one man declined to ride with his young daughter, shaking his head.
“She’s not scared, dad’s scared,” Clark joked, coaxing a smile from the man and his daughter as she climbed on to the ride with the man watching from below the platform.
“It’s a family fun event,” said Clark about his humorous taunts and attempts to get people on the ride, which was slowly making its way up. “Torture is for everyone,” said Clark with a laugh as he pushed an unseen button.
The platform several stories above suddenly plunged earthward, an eruption of screaming serenading the sudden, rapid descent.
Other noteworthy attributes of the fair include the free music shows happening all over the grounds. Livestock shows, petting zoos and animal rides also brought big smiles from parents and kids alike.
Fifty-four years after it began, the Hall of Flowers is celebrating cinema for this year’s theme.
Displays include “Peggy Sue Got Married,” “The Birds” and more. Just outside the Hall of Flowers, University of California Master Gardeners Susan Curry and Linda Bishop offer gardening advice to anyone with questions.
Last, but certainly not least are the coin operated Jiggle Foot foot massagers strewn around the fair. Considering the walking you’ll be doing, bring quarters, this is the only ride I can say with any certainty will definitely be worth the price to anyone and everyone. Don’t forget sunscreen.
I spent a lot more time in the fair than driving around it by riding my bike. Bicycle parking is near the gates outside Grace Pavilion and on Brookwood Drive. Bring a sturdy lock, there’s no valet bicycle parking this year.
The fair opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m., the gates close at 9 p.m. Thursday is the last day to get an all-day rides wristband with admission for $23. After that, the wristbands are $35, after admission.
More information is available on the Sonoma County Fair website at sonomacoun
tyfair.com.
