October Snow Disaster

It’s Friday, Nov. 4 – day 6 or 7, depending on how you’re counting – of the power outage caused by an October 29 snowstorm. We are lucky to have power, phones, internet and email here at work. However, looking out my window, I watch power trucks from as far away as Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida and yes, Wichita, Kansas, drive by.

It’s a sure sign that hundreds, or even thousands of linesmen and tree workers are here in our area restoring power to homes and businesses in the region. I’m hoping that includes my home soon.

I personally witnessed more than 500 people dining in our Better Living Center last night. They were exhausted, and hungry. They ate, relaxed, visited – and then went right back out into the darkness to continue their much-appreciated work.

When the day is done, which can be at any hour, they return here to our Moses Building to get some sleep before starting over the next day. There are so many workers to house, we set up a temporary shelter in part of the 3-acre Better Living Center.

The logistics of such an undertaking are mind-boggling. Storrowton Tavern is providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to WMECO headquarters for their staff and box lunches are farmed out to workers in the field who can’t leave their posts (no pun intended) to stop to eat. Kudos to the Tavern staff.

Base Logistics, of Harvey, Louisiana, is overseeing all emergency response logistics – coordinating meal services with hot breakfasts and dinners to more than 700 at a sitting.

Our Operations department is on hand to help with any needs imaginable. Beds need to be transferred from the Moses building to the Better Living Center. Restrooms need to be cleaned. Security needs to be provided. Trash need to be disposed of. Parking needs to be orchestrated – these trucks are HUGE! The list is endless.

At the end of the day, it just starts all over again. According to WMECO, power is expected to be fully restored within the next few days. While it’s not soon enough for those waiting in the cold, it will be welcome and warm when it does happen. And the experience won’t be forgotten soon.

2011 Big E Wrap-up!

Sorry I didn’t get around to updating the blog as much as I would have liked. So much to do, so little time! But let me say, the 2011 Big E made nothing short of a lasting impression on everyone.

The Fair has officially closed its doors, with a grand total of 1,201,428 guests who came and experienced the sights, sounds and tastes that the 2011 Big E had to offer. Throughout the course of the 17 days, three daily attendance records were broken, Opening day, 60,744, the third Friday with 90,549 and the last Sunday with an impressive 136,412.

The weather throughout the course of the Fair was like a trip down the Yellow Slide: up and down… Some days were hot and humid, some rainy and with cooler temperatures. Regardless, Big E fans from all over New England ventured out to enjoy themselves. Rain or shine.

I was lucky enough to experience the set-up of the Fair, which was of course very exciting. I just couldn’t wait for the first day! Unfortunately all that is left now are the memories made this Fair season and the sound of vendor trucks and cleaning crews making their way past the Brooks building. The 17 days went by in the blink of an eye. I can’t believe it is already over :(.

I will share some of my memories with you, from highlights that made the Fair so memorable to exhibits, food and entertainment that I got to experience firsthand.

Let’s start with food – although not because I’m hungry…

With popular fair food favorites such as the Big E Craz-E Burger and of course, the Cream Puffs and Eclairs, fairgoers tried their taste buds on many other taste sensations that made their debut. We all know that one of the reasons we all venture out to the Fair is of course, the thousands of choices of food… Should I have the cream puff or the éclair…I’ll take both!

I personally sunk my teeth into a Corn Cake Pulled Pork Muffin from Scirrotto’s Cinnamon City. The creamy barbeque sauce with mouth-watering pulled pork and generously topped with coleslaw, instantly sent my taste buds on a roller coaster ride. This concoction was just one entry in The Big E Corn Challenge. If you missed it this year, not to worry, I spoke with the creator and it will be back in 2012.

Other entries that participated were Corn Poppers from Osborne Mushroom Farm, Red’s Tutti Frutti Popcorn from Red’s Red Apples and Deep Fried Shepard’s Pie from EB’s.

CBS3 Springfield hosted a poll on their website where fairgoers who tried these new foods could vote for their favorite. The winner was EB’s Ed Borgatti, with Deep Fried Shepard’s Pie, which received 65% of the overall votes. Didn’t get to try it? Ed says to look out for it on the menu at his restaurant, in Agawam, Mass., as soon as late October.

But wait that’s not all! Red Velvet Funnel Cake, Deep Fried Whoopie Pies, Fried Kool Aid, Deep Fried Twinkies and Fried Brownie Bits also shared the menu with the many foods fairgoers have come to love. At The Big E, you’ll never leave hungry!

The Comcast Arena Stage brought spectacular entertainment! A SOLD OUT Blake Shelton Concert, Country Superstar Reba, and Darius Rucker. I was lucky enough to attend the Reba concert on the final Sunday and boy does she know how to put on a great show! Even though the sky let a little rain out before the show began, you couldn’t have asked for more perfect concert weather.

That was not the only stage that brought top-notch entertainment to the Fair this year. The Court of Honor stage hosted the talents of Extreme Vegas, Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers, The Buckinghams and Yvonne Elliman. Galaxy Girl also swayed atop a 120’ pole and impressed audiences with her impressive handstands, with absolutely no safety devices.

I also had the opportunity to view a showing of Bixby’s Rainforest Rescue. The show was both educational and interactive. Children were in awe as Bixby showed many different animals, including Allie the 18 foot-long albino Burmese python. Bixby made learning about the environment and his other animal friends who live in it, that much more exciting with his upbeat personality. Definitely was a show that would keep the kids entertained and have them smiling from ear to ear.

The Circus Around The Clock exhibit, sponsored by Uncommon USA was truly something special. It depicted a day-in-the-life story of the largest circus of all time, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. The exhibit was filled with historic photographs, memorabilia and film footage as well as the Mother Goose Float, a brilliantly carved circus parade wagon that was built in the mid 1800s for Barnum & Bailey’s glorious horse-drawn street parade. This exhibit was truly an eye-opening experience for those fairgoers who experienced it for themselves.

"America’s Best Clown,” Bello Nock, not only put on a spectacular show under the Big Top with a team of acts including Olate Dogs, Juggler Picasso, Jr., Alexandra’s Net Trapeze and The Big E Super Circus Elephants, but he surprised fairgoers with a walk over the high-wire September 27. The stunt was 70 feet in the air and the wire was 50 feet long. I got to witness it for myself as Bello completed the stunt with ease. There was also a familiar face atop the Circus Tent as well, ESE President Wayne McCary.

There sure was a lot going on this year. I could write on and on about everything that happened over the course of the 17 days. As I sit here writing this blog, I can hear the sweeper crews and trucks pass by the window. It seems as though the Fair just started, and it’s already over. Where will I get my cream puff now? I guess I’ll have to wait until next year…

Be sure to visit TheBigE.com for details as plans begin to take shape for next year’s Fair, which will be taking place September 14– 30, 2012. Also, find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and join our mailing list - all from our home page.

3 days! 3 days! 3 days!

The excitement is building!

The grounds are transforming right before my very eyes. There are orange and blue umbrellas (reminiscent of a circus, and boy are they HUGE!) set up right outside the Brooks building next to the home of the Court of Honor Stage, along with rows upon rows of vendors and exhibitors who are beginning to set-up for the Fair’s 17 day run.

I must say, it’s an amazing feeling to be behind the scenes and get to experience what it takes to put together such a spectacular and memorable for the over 1 million fairgoers who venture through the gates expecting a fantastic Fair experience.

Last week was the Employee Training event, where over 500 employees and staff who work the Fair gathered together to learn about what is in store for this year. Everything from the entertainment venue and special exhibits and attractions on the grounds were covered. Oh, and not to forget the raffles and the hot dogs provided to us at the end of the presentation.

I was given the job of handing out the Employee Handbooks to everyone who showed up to the event. You could see the excitement in the eyes of each individual who passed through the entry gate into the Coliseum. It is rewarding to see the overwhelming amount of dedication these individuals put forth, helping make the Fair successful year after year.

Growums at the 2011 Big E!

We all know that The Big E has gastronomic delights, such as the Big E Craz-E Burger, located at The Big EZ Café, and the newly named Hot Diggid-E Dog, at Captain Nemo’s Galley.

On Specialty Foods Day, Friday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to noon, and again 4 p.m. through 8 p.m., children are in for a special treat! Between these times, those who pass through the gates will receive a coupon voucher for one free “Growums”, redeemable at Farm-A-Rama.

Now, you may be wondering what exactly is Growums? Growums not only teaches children that they can grow their own food and help the environment, as well as emphasize the importance of healthy eating, but it also gives them gardening knowledge and shows them the skills it takes to become a successful gardener – no matter what their age.

Each kit comes with everything you need to start growing your own delicious vegetables or herbs, and come in six varieties including Herb Garden, Pizza Garden, Salad Garden, Stir-Fry Garden, Taco Garden and Ratatouille Garden. We will be distributing the Herb Garden kit.

Your Growums experience doesn’t end there. Before you start growing your seeds, you can register your garden at Growums.com to take part in an interactive gardening adventure. You can also find out more information by visiting the website.

Tickets still available for entertainment on the Comcast Arena Stage!

There are still tickets available for Darius Rucker, Friday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m., priced at $39/$29; Reba, Sunday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m., priced at $69/$59/$49 and single-seat tickets only for Blake Shelton, Saturday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m. They are going quick, so be sure to make your purchase before they are gone!

This just in!

The Equine Arena project is nearing completion! I have received word that the project will be completed in its’ entirely by the start of the ESE Horse Show on Wednesday. The footing for C-Barn was installed September 8. Overall, the arena looks spectacular!

In case you were wondering, The ESE Horse Show, sponsored by Williams Distributing, schedule is as follows:

Hunters & Jumpers, Hunt Seat Equitation, and the USHJA Zone 1 Championship, Sept 14-18
Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Morgans, Friesians and Arabians, Sept. 22-25
The Big E Draft Horse Show, with The Big E $30,000 Six-Horse Hitch Showdown, Sept. 29 – Oct 2
4-H Horse Show, Sept. 22-24.

Other exciting events include: Horse Pulling, Sept. 19; Ox Pulling, Sept. 20; and Sheepdog Trials, Sept. 26 and 27 at 10 a.m.

Program & Coupon Books will be delivered soon!

After months of preparing the 2011 Big E Program & Coupon Book, they should be arriving in the Marketing department office sometime this week! Everything you will need to know about the 2011 Big E will be presented to you in a beautiful format, with plenty of information and pictures to accompany. What we call the “guidebook”, will be sold by the Elks on the fairgrounds. Whether you’re searching for that perfect sweater and cannot remember the vendor, or you want to know what’s happening in the Mallary Complex or Coliseum, be sure to pick up your copy when you visit the Fair this year!

Wow. There is a lot going on! And it is only going to get crazier from here. I am totally ready to jump in and experience the Fair in its entirety! I will see you on the grounds of The Big E!

13 Days & Counting until The Big E!

Just 13 days until the gates open! Excited? I sure am! But hey, who’s counting? Looking out the Brooks Building from the Marketing department, I can see the yellow benches where the Court of Honor stage will be set-up.

The Court of Honor Stage, sponsored by Comcast, will be hosting free entertainment including: Extreme Vegas, daily at 11, 3 & 8 p.m.; Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers, Sept. 16 – 22 at 1 & 6:30 p.m., The Buckinghams, Sept 23 – 27 at 1 & 6:30 p.m. and Yvonne Elliman, Sept. 28 – Oct 2 at 1 & 6:30 p.m.

Just to the left of my view is Hampden Avenue, which just received its make-over! It is complete, and looks fabulous! Fairgoers this year will have nothing but smooth sailing for their visit at the Fair.

Hot Diggid-E Dog

This year, the Fair will have two delicious hot dog creations available to fairgoers. The first, the New England Dog, a hot dog wrapped in bacon with baked beans and cheddar cheese is sure to have your taste buds in an uproar. Also, Captain Nemo’s Galley’s newest creation, the Hot Diggid-E Dog, is a hot dog wrapped in bacon with spicy coleslaw and fresh jalapeno, all in a gourmet hot dog roll from Bernardino’s Bakery. It got its name from a “Name That Dog” Facebook contest and the winning entry was selected August 22. Congratulations to Heather Liebensohn, of Shelton, Conn., who won four tickets to The Big E and four Hot Diggid-E Dogs!

Be sure to try one, if not both of these creations!

Other new foods available at the Fair this year include:

Fried Kool Aid at the Fried Dough Concession inside Gate 9A

Deep Fried Whoopie Pies at Sugar Shakers on New England Avenue

Red Velvet Funnel Cake at the Apple Fritter Concession on West Road

Deep Fried Twinkies at the Fried Cheesecake Concession on Commonwealth Avenue

Fried Brownie Bits at The Coffee Break in the Food Court

The Big E Corn Challenge!
Delicious new concoctions from our concessionaries! One stipulation, they must be made from corn! Vote for your favorite. Details to come!

You’ll find… Red’s Tutti Frutti Popcorn at Red’s Red Apples, Corn Poppers at Osborne Mushroom Farm, Country Fried Shepherd’s Pie at EB’s in the Food Court and Corn Cake Pulled Pork Muffin at Scirrotto’s Cinnamon City behind the Stroh Building.

Have You Purchased Your Tickets Yet?
Advanced Discount Tickets are available! You can purchase them NOW through Sept. 14 at Big Y® World Class Markets®, online at TheBigE.com or The Big E Box Office. Adults are $12 and Children (6-12) are $8.

You may also purchase an Advance Pay-One-Price Midway Magic Pass, which includes unlimited rides any one day of the Fair, Mon – Fri, for just $20. You also have the option to exchange for 24 ride coupons for Sat & Sun.

Value passes are also available at Big Y® World Class Markets®, online and at The Big E Box Office & Big E Gates NOW through Oct. 2. The passes are good all 17 days of the Fair, Adults, $40 and Children (6-12), $20.

That’s it for now! The clock is ticking and the gates will open before you know it! Are you ready…?

24 Days Until Big E 2011!

The Big E is just 24 short days away! As I look out the window from the Marketing department, there are no tents up yet nor food vendors in their usual spots for the course of the 17-day Fair, but this will quickly change as the next few weeks’ progress, I assure you.

However, I see the many construction projects that are in full swing. Construction workers and pavers are hard at work to make this year’s Fair experience that much more enjoyable! Fairgoers this year are sure to be amazed at what they will witness when they step through the gates!

Here’s the 411:

The construction on the Equine Arena is nearing completion! Construction workers have been hard at work for weeks on end, getting the new arena built in preparation for the Fair this year. I am sure the horses will be very pleased with their new home! Speaking of horses, woven into the little experiences that make The Big E memorable are traditions that have been a part of the Fair for many years. The Eastern States Exposition Horse Show, sponsored by Williams Distributing will feature Hunters & Jumpers, Hunt Seat Equitation, and the USHJA Zone 1 Championship Sept 14-18; Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Morgans, Friesians and Arabians, Sept. 22-25; The Big E Draft Horse Show, with The Big E $30,000 Six-Horse Hitch Showdown, Sept. 29 – Oct 2; and the 4-H Horse Show, taking place Sept. 22-24.

Fairgoers will also be able to enjoy exhibits of animal power with competitions in Horse Pulling, Sept. 19, and Ox Pulling, Sept. 20, as well as the Sheepdog Trials, which run Sept. 26 and 27 at 10 a.m.

Smooth Sailing!

Hampden Avenue is receiving a make-over, and by make-over I mean getting repaved. Fairgoers will have smooth sailing as they navigate their way through the 2011 Big E.

Oh, and we cannot forget about the beautiful new flowers that have been planted throughout the grounds!

Big E Brochures are everywhere!

And boy do they look great, too! What a team effort to get beautifully articulated brochures printed and into the hands of excited fairgoers! The brochures will provide you with everything you need to know about this year’s Big E. Whether it is entertainment on our Comcast Arena Stage, this year’s ticket prices, or basic information, the Big E Brochure will give you the perfect inside scoop on what will be happening at this year’s Fair.

Circus Around The Clock, sponsored by Uncommon USA!

A new and exciting exhibit at the 2011 Big E is Circus Around the Clock, a day-in-the-life story of “The Greatest Show On Earth,” in a 24-hour visual depiction of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus under the big top. Rare film footage, black & white photography and the restored Mother Goose circus wagon are highlights. Interactive performances will be presented by T.J. Howell’s “You Can Juggle” Kids’ Show. Plus, the greatest animal features in circus history – Jumbo, Ringling’s “last giraffe,” Gargantua the Great and the sacred White Elephant.

Be sure to make your way over to the Young Building and check it out. I guarantee it to be an impressive exhibit as well as an unforgettable experience!

Wow! There are so many exciting events occurring at this year’s Fair. Be sure to look out for more updates that will be posted here frequently!

We will see you at the 2011 Big E!

Big E-xcitement!

Looking out the window of the Marketing Department is a different experience every hour! We’re in the final stages of putting the 2010 Big E together, and the grounds are rapidly transforming. Many of our vendor booths are already here like Millie’s, Netterfields and Osborn Mushroom Farm and the Cream Puff Bakery signs on the New England Center are already making my mouth water! On my way in from lunch I even noticed the Giant Wheel is up in the Midway, which is one of my favorite rides! 

Last Friday, they assembled the tent for The Big E Super Circus, it’s brand new this year and looks great. I’m really looking forward to the circus– there are so many new and exciting acts, including Miss Vicenta’s White Tigers, quick change artists David & Dania, Juggler Kris Kremo, Yelana Larkina’s Hula Hoop, Tempo Trapeze, Alexandra’s Net Trapeze and Raul Castano’s Dogs & Clown.The Super Circus is free, and happens three times a day at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. – a Big E experience that’s not to be missed.

The Official Program & Coupon Books were also delivered to us at the end of last week – almost anything you’d want to know about the 2010 Big E is in this beautiful 56- page, full color booklet. The “guidebook” as we often call it in the office was truly a team-effort this year and the end result is great! So whether you’re looking for a daily schedule of all our events, what food is offered from which vendor or what’s happening in the Mallary Complex, be sure to pick up your copy of the Official Program & Coupon Book on the grounds from the Elks.

I really can’t believe how fast these last few weeks have gone by! It’s almost “go-time!” Be sure to get your advanced tickets, which are still on sale until Wednesday, 9/15 at TheBigE.com, The Big E Box Office and at your local Big Y World Class Market. Advanced tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children, ages 6 – 12.

We’re also continuing our recycling efforts this year! When you’re at the Fair, be on the lookout for the can and bottle receptacles throughout the grounds and try not to throw them in with the trash. The Big E attracts over 1 million visitors each year and it’s amazing how much we can help the environment if together, we all recycle!

The 2010 Big E – “The Last Blast of Summer” – will be here in just four days!
What are you looking forward to most?

We're 22 days away!

It’s hard to believe but The Big E will be here in just three weeks from tomorrow, 8/27! You can really start to tell, too. Yesterday, I saw a crane carry a ticket booth past my window in the Brooks Building! It’s finally starting to feel like the Fair is in close range.

Even with 22 days left, there are a lot of things the grounds department are doing to prepare – so today, I took the golf cart and went to explore.

I put together this little video to show everyone what is happening :

Ticket booths are being placed at the gate entrances and tents are being set up around the grounds. They recently put the Farm-A-Rama sign on the sides of the Stroh building, which is one of my personal favorite buildings. I can’t wait to see the hatching chicks, tiny pigs and all the entertainment on the Farm-A-Rama stage!

I took a few shots of the Food Court, home of The Coffee Break which is now offering a whole new line of gastronomic delights including Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich, Fried Snickers, Fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bits and Frozen Hot Chocolate! Yummy! I can’t wait for all the food to get here!

Speaking of delicious new treats, everyone has to try the new Fried Jelly Beans this year on New England Avenue, near Gate 9A – sweet jelly beans rolled in funnel cake batter, fried until perfectly browned, and dusted with powdered sugar for the perfect soft, gooey treat. And maybe even Fried Butter, in plain or garlic, no less.

The Giant Slide stays up all year long, but doesn’t it look flashy? It was painted a fresh and bright new shade of yellow last month. And when you’re at The Big E this year, don’t miss the opportunity to check out the gorgeous new pond. It’s located right outside the Mallary Complex, and features benches, which are perfect for taking a short break from walking. The landscaping is so colorful and the gurgling water is so relaxing – and especially with the sun shining, I didn’t want to leave there today!

And of course, the bright blue Big E Gate banners are once again lining Memorial Ave!

There are still so many things left to do, and in just three weeks, this 175-acre fairground will transform into a magical place, filled with everything from smiling faces and competitive animals to tantalizing aromas and flashing lights. And I will be here to document it all… check back soon for another video documenting The Big E as it comes to life!