While admiring John McCain’s VP choice, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a former runner up for Miss Alaska in the beauty contest (isn’t it about time somebody hot was on top of the ticket?), my real thought: is it really the end of summer ?  Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, and we’re here bud.  Damn!  Summer flys, winter lingers and they have the exact number of days.  How does it happen like that?  I guess it’s because of where we have chosen to live.  There’s plenty to do around the area this weekend, so let me give you some ideas:

++ for rockers, RageFest is tonight at Water St. Music Hall.  22 bands on 2 stages, including 17 local bands like Ice Nine Kill, Remember Tomorrow and The Years Gone By.  If you’re into the local music scene, get your butt into Water St. tonight.

++ for a great movie, check American Graffiti at the Highland Park Bowl at dusk.  A true classic from the 70’s with great actors (Harrison Ford, Richard Dreyfus, Ron Howard and lots more) and music.

++ for a great time at the ball park, the Red Wings are home for the final homestand tonight, Sat. & Sun.  Plenty of fireworks, fun and food (along with a couple of beers) as the Wings wind it down for ‘08.

++ for balloon fanatics:  the NYS Festival of Balloons in Dansville @ the airport on rt. 36, right off 390.

++ for marching band nuts: the Drum Corp World Championships @ PAETEC Park 2p Sat. with the finals Sun. @ 5:30.

++ for laser lovers: High Falls has the laser show 9:30 Sun. & Mon.

++ for bikers: the boys from Orange Co. Choppers will be @ the NYS Fair Sat. afternoon taping their show.

++ for pyros amongst us: the annual Ring of Fire on Canandaigua Lake Sat. night @ 9p.  Fireworks over the lake near Kershaw Park right after, and plenty of great, private firework shows along the lake throughout the night.  It’s really an amazing scene you should check out Sat. in CA.

== and finally, who doesn’t love a parade?  The city’s Labor Day Parade is Monday morning @ 11 starting @ East & Alexander.

The weather should be tremendous, so soak it up and live large all weekend.  I’ll report back Tuesday after I check out pictures of the hot new VP candidate in the race for the White House.  I’m sure they’ll be popping up everywhere.  She has a son in the Army, so bless him and God bless all of our troops worldwide.