This weekend is the 11th annual Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival. You have read past stories in this blog about the goings on at Irish 2000. This year will be no different. This year the festival has expanded to two days, well technically a day and a half, due to a prior commitment I can only go on Saturday. Friday's line up is headlined by Flogging Molly, one of my favorite bands and it's killing me that I have to miss them but what can I do. Saturday features bands such as Gaelic Storm, Seven Nations, The Tossers, Enter the Haggis, Greenwich Meantime and local favorites, Hair of the Dog and Kevin McKrell. Saturday also features the band Give Way, I don't know much about them but in their photo they seem to be four hot women. Which brings us to the main point of Irish 2000, the women. Irish 2000 is crawling with the finest looking women you will see in the capital region. It's as if they bus them in just for the festival. Me and the boys will be seeking some female companionship all day Saturday so come along and join in on the fun. In particular, I am looking for Bill. We had a great time last year and I hope she returns to Altamont Saturday for another great day. So if any of you see this woman please let me know right away.

I asked my boss if there was a chance of getting out early on Saturday and her answer was "when hell freezes over" then she thought about what was going on and asked, "You want to go to that thing [Irish 2000] don't you?". I'm getting out early. So, if even my boss knows how important this festival is there is no reason any of you will miss it. See you there and let's have a pint or two.

For the complete schedule of entertainment go to http://www.irish2000fest.com/welcome.asp?mnuENT=1

Blog number 100. That's right folks this is blog number 100 for me. If you have been reading along you have learned a lot about me. I have written about my loves and the lack of, my family, my friends, my favorite sports teams and the dreaded red sox. I have written about vacations and music. I have asked questions and gotten answers. What started out as a way for the members of my AOH division to keep up with events has become a bit of an outlet for my personality. Although this is a milestone blog it will be short. I will post an album of photos that will represent what I feel are the best of the first 100 blogs. Feel free to view the photos and stir up some of your own memories. Check the archives and reread your own favorites. Thanks for reading and I hope you will continue.
http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/First100

Labor day weekend is over. Matt Dillon has spilled the beans about Richard Crenna's cheating at gin rummy but still loses Janet Jones to the Great One. School opens this week and it's a big year in my house. Mike starts his senior year and Jack starts his freshmen. So let's talk about the weekend. Friday afternoon started with Sunset Racing at the Saratoga Race Track. This was the second late start for the meet and there seemed to be more people this time around. I think this will be an every week thing next year if NYRA keeps control of the track. One thought on the NYRA situation, if they lose the contract for the track you can kiss goodbye that $3 entry. You won't have to get to the track at 7am for a picnic table next year, the crowds will be gone and only the rich will be going to the track. Back to the weekend. The usual suspects showed up for Social Hour at the track, when racing was over we moved to Bailey's for dinner. A change in the line up as Michael went to Rob's to babysit so he and Miche could come out. We also picked up Mr. Nelson for dinner. We meandered over to Desperate Annie's so Emmett could hear some Thin Lizzy on the juke box. We started to shoot darts and the night was flying by. Around 12:30 Sean and Sara got there from Maryland, beers all around and Rob and I kicked butt in darts. Saturday Sara and Sam went to see bridesmaid dresses while I watched the Yankee game with my boys. Saturday night we went to the Glass to hear Jeff Strange, Mike went to the drive-in with his friends. We walked up to Broadway and as we strolled along four girls passed us with a "Hi Jack". Sean know calls Jack the hero of Saratoga, women love him the teens we passed in the park fear him. We walked back to the apartment and called it a night. Sunday morning came early as Mike and I went to the track around 6:30 to find a table, the place was crowded all ready. I sent Mike in with a chair and a cooler to stake out a table, since they were having pony rides by the Big Red Spring that took away space Mike found the last table. It was inside a ring of other tables and proved to be a good choice. We went home and Mike returned to bed for a couple of hours before we all got up and headed to the track. Sunday turned out to be Hibernian Family day at the track. The Bergman's, The Curran's and The Przedwiecki's had an enjoyable day.
Pictures can be found here http://picasaweb.google.com/saratogairish/TracklaborDay

Upcoming: Thursday night is the September meeting. 7pm at the K of C on Pine Rd Saratoga Springs. Hope to see all members there.
Irish 2000 Music and Arts Festival Friday September 14 & 15. Flogging Molly, Hair of the Dog, The Prodigals and much much more. check here http://www.irish2000fest.com/welcome.asp