Whether you’re a serious horse person or just a casual fan, get yourself over to Fairplex this weekend for the nation’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering – Equine Affaire. If you want to see beautiful breeds, catch the latest on horse care or buy a new saddle, this is the place to be.

And don’t let these few sprinkles stop you. Every event is either in one of the buildings or under a covered barn, so no worries! There is so much to see, so plan to stay for awhile. I was just out there and found the amazing Gypsy Vanner horses. Gypsy Vanners are horses bred by gypsies in Great Britain. They are very docile and easily trainable. The breed has been in the U.S. for about 15 years. This fella to the left was most interesting, looking like a cross between Tiny Tim and Russell Brand. The Gypsy Vanners are in Fairplex 10 along with other breeds, including miniature horses and Fighting Furrari, the thoroughbred that played Seabiscuit in the movie about that famous horse (did you know some race track scenes from Seabiscuit were filmed here at Fairplex?).

Vendors are selling tons of horse and barn supplies, boots, clothing and saddles. There is even a simulated riding apparatus that shows you via a big screen how to ride and handle a horse. Don’ts miss the Extreme Cowboy Race. A complete list of seminars and classes can be found at equineaffair.com.

So tons to do at Equine Affaire! Hours today, Saturday and Sunday are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $16 a day for adults, $10 for children ages 7-12 (6 and younger are free). Or get a three-day pass for $40 for adults and $25 for children.

This is one event you will not want to say neigh to!

The hottest bodies around can be found this weekend at Fairplex – that’s right, hot rods, customs, muscle cars, classic trucks and motorcycles (what did you think I meant?). The 61st annual Grand National Roadster Show starts tomorrow. Wheels rolled in today and I had to sneak out to the grounds to take a look. You will not be disappointed! Whether you’re a car enthusiast or not, there are some amazing works of art at the show. Take a look:
 

James Hetfield’s (of Metallica) 1936 Auburn Boat-tail Speedster

1968 Mustange Fastback

My photos can’t compare to the real thing. See great customs by designers Chip Foose and Boyd Coddington. America’s Most Beautiful Roadster will be awarded. There’s a great exhibit on Cars that Made a Difference: Famous Magazine Car Covers and vendors galore. Plus you can meet Lorenzo Lamas and John Schneider and Catherine Bach from the original TV show “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
Show hours are:
Friday noon to 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission is $20 for ages 13 and up; $10 for children ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and younger.
Check out the show Web site at rodshows.com.

All this rain gettin’ to you? Chase those SoCal storm blues away by getting a colorful tattoo! The world famous Tattoo and Body Art Expo opens tomorrow for a three-day gig at Fairplex. This is one of the largest tattoo expos in the world, featuring some popular artists displaying (and creating onsite) their finest work.

Tattoo and Body Art Expo features tattoo contests, live entertainment, body piercing and the Hot Babe and Hot Stud contests. This could be the event to bring some sunshine back to your day.

Hours are:
Friday 2 – 11 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Tickets, available at the door:
$20 one-day ticket (on sale all three days)
$45 weekend pass (on sale Friday only)
Children ages 10 and younger free with paid adult

The sights, sounds and savory flavors of the Far East are celebrated at Fairplex this weekend with the popular Asian American Expo. With Dragon dances, Japanese Taiko drummers and delicacies from dumplings to sushi to Tapioca Pearl drinks, this is bound to be one adventurous and exotic weekend.

The expo hosts one of the nation’s largest Chinese Lunar New Year festivals. It’s a grand celebration of food, culture, shopping and entertainment. Promoting the cultural heritage of all Asians, the expo features more than 800 booths in five exhibit halls throughout Fairplex and builds a bridge between the booming Asian market and the U.S. marketers, according to Alan Kao, president of Chinese Overseas Marketing Service Corp., organizer of the expo.

New this year is the Asian American Bridal Expo, featuring gowns, cakes, chocolates, jewelry, flowers, photography and more – a virtual one-stop shopping experience for everything wedding! Additionally, guests to the 2010 expo will delight in the new Parade of Cultures, with participants adorned in authentic costumes.

Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children ages 3-12. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

What a great event to bring the entire family!

Happy New Year from all of us at Fairplex – the destination for all your entertainment needs in 2010! Thank you to everyone who joined us in 2009 for the L.A. County Fair and the more than 500 events that take place year-round. 2010 is going to be even better! We are kicking things off just right this weekend with the Easyriders Bike Show Tour and the Reptile Super Show.
For motorcycle and chopper fans, don’t miss the Easyriders show. The show offers competitions, vendors selling the finest in rider leather gear, bike shops selling the best on two wheels and live entertainment. And talk about things to see! Full Throttle Saloon, the world’s largest biker bar from the reality show on True TV, will be pouring the fun. And don’t miss the world’s fastest motorcycle – the BUB Seven Streamliner designed by Denis “BUB” Manning, which rolls into the show at 367 mph. Big Bear Choppers will also have illusionist Criss Angel’s chopper on display. The show runs Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the Fairplex events page for admission prices.

Looking for something more on the slithery side? Look no further. The Reptile Super Show is back for its second year at Fairplex with more than 300 tables of rare and unique animals. Find thousands of lizards, turtles and frogs and a variety of supplies and more. The show is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. We’ll probably bump into each other. My deskmate is a bearded dragon, Brutus Maximus, formerly known as Heather. We had to change his name when we found out he wasn’t exactly a Heather.

Coming out to one or both of these events is a great way to start your new year! Burn some rubber and get here!

It’s crunch time for holiday gift shopping. The Computer Fair, Friday and Saturday at Fairplex has everything for those hard-to-buy-for friends and relatives: laptops, games, big-screen TVs, DVD players, digital cameras and pretty much every conceivable gadget, tool and high-tech toy, all for pennies on the dollar.

Get paid for your e-waste. Earn $2 in cash for each CRT you drop-off (TV or monitor) up to a maximum of three (must be larger than 4 inches diagonally). Drop off time is 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the entrance to Gate 9 on White Ave. Save time by completing the Drop Off Form in advance.

Computer Fair
Saturday & Sunday
Dec. 12-13
Fairplex 7
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

If you want really special, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts (you can include yourself on the list of recipients), the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show, Dec. 4-6 at Fairplex 4 is your shopping destination. Choose from folk art, jewelry, ornaments, clothing, candles, homemade candies, vintage items, woodcrafts, ceramics and more.

One ticket is good for admission all three days. There’s entertainment, a drawing for $100 in Harvey Bucks (just like cash for Festival purchases), food, a Kids’ Zone to keep the little ones entertained, a package check (all proceeds donated to charity). If you bring a can of food to donate, you’ll get reduced admission. Purchase tickets online so you don’t have to waste time waiting to get in!

Friday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 6
Fairplex 4

Admission:
Adult: $9
Senior (62+): $7
Ages 13-17: $4
Ages 12 and under: Free when accompanied by an adult

Hours:

Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

First, there’s turkey, of which you can eat an abundance at McKinley’s Grille family style Turkey Day feast. Then there are birds of the pet variety at Everybody’s Bird Mart, Sunday, Nov. 29 (Please be respectful. Don’t mention that you ate turkey on Thanksgiving).

Thanksgiving at McKinley’s Grille*
Thursday, Nov. 26
4 – 9 p.m.
$19.95 per person + tax
*take-home dinners available starting at $89.95 + tax (serves 5-7 people)

Everybody’s Bird Mart
Sunday, Nov. 29
Fairplex 4
9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission $7 (11 and under free)

WOW, I just went on a mini tour of the Auto Club NHRA Finals and I can safely say that I will never look at the Drag racing the same again!  First, I walked through an area known as THE PITS there I saw and heard the loudest most amazing looking drag cars and motorbikes I have ever seen in my life. Even better, I saw how some of the beast machines were built and fixed up to beat the competition.

Then I made my way to the Sky Boxes, where only the VIPs sit and enjoy an exclusive crystal clear view of the drag races and the entire event! It’s a great place to catch a photo  like the one posted at the bottom.

After my trip to the Sky Boxes, I found myself at the Staging Area. There I saw what looked like a pack of drag cars waiting impatiently to be driven at Full Throttle™ . It’s a great opportunity to check out the drag cars up close and see the hard work that is being put into these astonishing machines.

Continuing my journey, I made my way on over to the Top Eliminators Club, where food from the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel was served and eaten by me (in my mind).

After this awesome mini tour, drag racing at the Auto Club NHRA Finals will never be the same for me. It’s one thing to sit on the bleachers and watch the drag races. It’s a whole other experience to see them when you’re high–like up on the skyboxes, rolling with the big guys.

Looking for a different experience this weekend?  Check out the Auto Club NHRA Finals right here at Fairplex.  Now for a step-by-step guide to looking like a die-hard fan this weekend.

1. Arrive early!  The best time to get autographs and enjoy the pits (not to mention finding some prime parking) is before the racing starts.
2. While wandering the pits, feel free to chit-chat with people like you know what you’re doing.  “Hey, did you see John Force’s qualifying run last week?”  Simple statements like that make you seem much more knowledgeable than you are.
3. Before walking up to a driver to get his autograph, make sure you know his (o her) name.  Their faces are huge on the sides of their trailers and their names are always there too.  You have no excuses for not knowing who Brandon Bernstein is when his face is plastered about 12 feet high.
4. Now this is one decision you get to make: Do you buy a t-shirt or just ask the drivers to sign the cards they provide? If you buy the t-shirt, be sure to put it on so they can sign your back (this is the ultimate in pit groupie cool).
5. Find a good spot to sit.  Now, depending on which tickets you purchased, you may have a reserved seat or you may not. If you do, come and go as you please, but if you don’t, you are going to need to camp out in your spot for quite some time.
6. Earlier, I mentioned Brandon Bernstein. If you do see him, wish him luck in his new ventures.  Budweiser is pulling out of NHRA at the end of these races, and he has found a great new team.
7. Drink water and wear sun-block!  You are sitting outside all day. I don’t care if it is overcast, the UV rays still come through and you can still get dehydrated (sunstroke is definitely not pit groupie cool).
8. And, the most important one…HAVE FUN!  The Drags only come twice a year and they can be a great experience.

If you follow all my steps you are sure to have a great weekend!  The Auto Club NHRA Finals run now through Sunday at Fairplex.