I've never actually done anything on Labor Day.  When I was a kid, school never started until after Labor Day, so it was either just the day before school or it was just another day in the summer.  Then I got to college, and we had classes on Labor Day.  Oh, all university employees (except professors) were off, so there were no services and there was no way to eat on campus, but we had to be in class.  It was always one of our biggest early complaints.

Now, Labor Day is really just about putting my feet up and relaxing after a long summer of work.  That's what it's for, of course, but the last thing I think about is partying it up like most people do for other three-day weekends.

And since the Allentown Fair always closes on Labor Day, that means we intrepid folk over here at MergeDigital will be there wrapping up our coverage.  Catch me at the Demolition Derby - guess I'll need to pick up a trucker hat this weekend.

So I won't be having any sort of "real" Labor Day, but in my experience neither does anybody else.  It's really no big deal, though, because I never even considered it a holiday since I've never actually had it off.  Can't miss out on something you never had, right?

    -Tucker

Yesterday I rode most of the rides at the fair.  It kicked ass, even though I did fear for my life a few times.  The wristband was $15 - I believe the price goes up to $16 later in the week - and it was totally worth it.  If you're a thrill ride fan, grab a wristband early and ride all night. You won't be disappointed and it'll be much more rides and less wait for way cheaper than a regular amusement park.

Next up for me are the Blackeyed Peas tonight and Sonic Youth/Ween/Flaming Lips/Magic Numbers tomorrow.  So far, the fair has been a good time and it looks to continue on that way.  Maybe because it's more laid-back than Musikfest in a sense?  Maybe it's because it's on a smaller scale?  I don't know, but so far I'm enjoying the A-town fair much more than Musikfest.  Call me "that guy" if you must.

    -Tucker

In case you weren't aware, they don't serve beer at the Allentown Fair. BUT... MainGate Nightclub has a patio bar (or two) that are technically on the fairground, so you can actually have beer at the Fair - and cheap beer at that.

MainGate has specials on the patio including $2 drafts of Miller Lite and Yeungling and $2.50 bottles. Of course, you can't take your beers off the premises but it's an easy enough destination to catch you fix or buzz or whatever you need. The "party patio" is open from noon to "close" every night and their servers are super nice (and some are super good looking).

It's the one daily event on the Allentown Fair schedule that just might want to hit every day.

- Judianne

After suffering a painful defeat at trivia night at O'Malley's last night, I've decided to become a sort of real-world Batman. I won't be donning a cape or anything, no matter how badass that'd be, but I will be fighting some of the dirtiest scoundrels known to man.

That's right: I'm talking about trivia cheaters.  I'm not saying we didn't lose fair and square - one of the three teams who scored higher in the end probably did deserve all those points.  The dudes who got a perfect score and took home the $50 gift certificate, however, clearly did not win fair and square.  This isn't sore losing, people - I watched the one guy excuse himself outside for a little cell phone break after just about every question.

Then there's the other type of cheater: the wasted chicks who think a coy smile and a little extra cleavage will elicit a correct answer from other teams around the bar.  It may not have worked on steely trivia pros such as ourselves, but it sure worked on the guy with the blinking LED belt displaying his phone number.

I know not everyone has integrity and it's real tempting to just cheat your way to a $50 gift certificate, but come on - don't ruin it for everyone else.  Since nobody else is going to do anything about it, it's time for me to take matters into my own hands.  I will now be "that guy" at the bar - the trivia crusader who reports every cell phone usage, every shared/shouted answer... I'll be your worst nightmare.

So be on notice, trivia cheaters.  I'm-a comin' fer ya and I ain't showin' no mercy.

    -Tucker

The Allentown Fair start next week and, as much as we like to tout the un-cool-ness of rides and bake-offs, don't forget that it's a FAIR! That's what fairs are all about. It's about going ghetto if you must, risking your life on foldable roller coasters and fried foods, watching cows and sheep and pigs get weighed in and prized, parusing crafts for useless knick-knacks that you just can't live without and just being outside with a cotton candy in one hand and a stuffed animal in the other.

So, hit up the freak show tent, stop by the flower exihibits, flirt with a carnie or two and watch the pigs in their swimming race without shame. It's all good.

- Judianne

PS: SHAMELESS PLUG - Check out our Fair preview tomorrow and look for our daily coverage from the Fair next week.

I've got to get a quick plug in for the Lehigh Valley Rugby Club this week.  I joined the team last fall after learning the game while abroad in London.  It's a hell of a lot of fun and really not that difficult to learn, plus LV Rugby is full of great people who are more than accepting of players of all skill levels.

The reason I mention it this week is because training began yesterday.  Unfortunately I'm still out of commission from hiking last week, but I'm aiming to show up to practice next week.  Everybody meets at Monococy Park in Bethlehem Tuesdays and Thursdays, practice runs from 6-8 p.m.  Games are usually in the morning on Saturdays.

For more information, check out www.lvrugby.com .  Like I said, you won't meet nicer, more solid people anywhere and it's a great way to make some new friends.  There's a men's and women's team, and we play at the US Rugby division III level.  The 7's team (more hardcore, played during the summer) just ranked nationally.  No experience or knowledge of the game is necessary, so even if you want to just show up for the exercise you'll be welcome.  I highly recommend giving it a shot, and if nothing else check the game schedule and come on out to show your support.

    -Tucker

Despite the desperate tone of this article in the Morning Call, the Allentown Fair will continue as usual even though Yocco's will not have their tent set up.  A tragedy, I know - evidenced by the fact that it's a top story. There's more than 280 comments as of the early afternoon, and the way some of these people are going off you'd think it was the end of the damn world.

So it's the first time in 60 years the hot dog vendor won't be there, but it's also probably the first time in 60 years such stellar acts have come through town.  Personally, if I had to sacrifice some Yocco's to get Sonic Youth, Ween, The Flaming Lips and the Blackeyed Peas, I'll take it.  Besides, the Liberty Street shop is right down the road if you need a fix - they even sell 40s.

Greg Iacocca says they'll be back next year, but it sounds like pretty piss-poor planning.  They figure out the WEEK before the fair that the tent is all F'd up? Please, I opened up and inspected my pop-up trailer MONTHS ago before going on my camping trip last week.

Here are some choice comments from the story, the doom and gloom ones are funny but the anti-hot dog ones are better:

"Not having Yocco's there seems like something that could upset the order of the cosmos. (yes, i'm exagerating, but only slightly)"

"Thin gruely hot dog sauce on a wrinkled steamed to hell bun with a wrinkled overcooked dog. Then on top of that they repeat on you (out the front) a few hours after lunch. The are truly death rockets. Eat 'em up! Yum!"

"I think that is just when your a child and don't even realize what hot dogs are. Now that I'm an adult- I couldn't even tell you the last time I ate one. all lips and assholes-- icky."

'All lips and assholes'...  I think I might have to start using that phrase.

    -Tucker