summer fun

With a name like Greg McShea, you know I'm a wee bit Irish, but those that are and those that aren't will enjoy "The Great American Irish Festival" this weekend. Here's what it's all about.

Summer in central New York means a number of outdoor concerts, most of which are free. Tonight you can enjoy the free "Betsy The Barge" concert at Lock 20 Canal Park, Route 49 in Marcy.

I've been going to "The Great New York State Fair" in Syracuse since forever. Each year, my daughter and I spend a day at the Fair, always making sure to catch a concert at Chevy Court. Now, the Fair has made it more convenient to save dollars on the admission tickets and more!

Whenever I go on vacation, I like to search out and support the local brewery in town, and that's what I did a few weeks ago. While my wife and I were vacationing in Sedona, Arizona, we returned to the Oak Creek Brewery and Grill.

One of the nice things about summer in central New York is that just about every night, there is a free concert. This Wednesday night you can take your pick of either Whitesboro or New Hartford. Here are the details.

Can you believe we're halfway through summer already? But don't worry, because there are plenty of Saranac Thursdays left in the season, meaning plenty of summer left. Check out who's playing tonight in the parking lot at the F.X. Matt Brewery at the corner of Court and Varick Streets in Utica.

One of the annual events of our central New York summers in the Bavarian Festival, presented by the Utica Maennerchor, and it's this weekend. If you like German food, beer, music and dancers, this event if for you.

While Boilermaker 2014 is now in the record books, for those of you who didn't make it  to the race route, we have some sights, sounds and memories to share. Our morning man Keith James and myself were at the corner of Kellogg Ave. and Whitesboro Street in West Utica on the day of the race, about a mile from the finish line.

We're in the middle of golf season here in central New York, and if you're heading out to the links or participate in a golf league, here's a free tip that may save you some strokes. Watch one of the best golf instructors show you how to hit from an uphill lie.

On Boilermaker Sunday, our 96.1 WODZ morning man Keith James and I set up the station van at the corner of Kellogg Ave. and Whitesboro Street around 6:00 a.m. to get ready for the runners. At our location, the finish line was about a mile away, so we made sure we pumped out some running music and cheered on the runners in that last leg of the race.

If you're into boating and appreciate those classic wooden boats of yesteryear, you may want to head to Old Forge this weekend. "The Antique Wooden Boat Show And Fulton Chain Rendezvous" is this Saturday.

I go back a bit in central New York radio and remember broadcasting the first Boilermaker Road Race in 1978. Things were quite modest then, with a little over 800 runners entered, and a few media people covering it live.