Maryland State Fair

You'll have no trouble finding food at the Maryland State Fair. Some of it is still walking around on hooves, granted. But once you're on the Midway, you'd have trouble swinging a test-your-strength mallet without hitting a stand selling corn dogs, fried dough, french fries or skewered chicken. Oddly, as hamburgers have become the an upscale item and a precious gem in the locavore dining, they've nearly vanished from the fair's main street. Sausage is plentiful, but hot dogs are hardly seen.

Parents, prepare to be begged. Victoria Justice, aka Tori Vega on Nickelodeon's popular show "Victorious," will perform at this year's 131st Maryland State Fair. The singer-songwriter-actress will perform Aug. 31, a year after another teen-idol, Selena Gomez, graced the Fair's stage. (Read my review of the Gomez show here .) Country act the Band Perry will perform at the Fair the following day. The State Fair stop will be apart of Justice's "Made in America" summer tour.

Deep-fried Pop-Tarts? Underwater robotics? Jousting? The U.S. Navy? All this and Justin Bieber, too? Just when you think the Maryland State Fair cannot add another item to its long list of livestock, food, blue ribbons, rides, entertainment and demonstrations, it does. More than 400,000 people from Maryland and neighboring states are expected to visit the Timonium fairgrounds between now and Labor Day, when the fair closes. They will find old favorites — the Ferris wheel and the merry-go-round are always the two most popular rides on the midway — and some new favorites.

John R. Regalbuto Sr., a retired contractor who had been a jockey at Maryland racetracks, died of Alzheimer's disease April 11 at Stella Maris Hospice. The former Essex resident was 80. Born in Vineland, N.J., he was raised on his family's small farm. Friends and family encouraged him to become a jockey, and he practiced at local farms. News articles often noted that his brother, Joseph Anthony Regalbuto, also rode horses. In 1948, he made his debut at Monmouth Park in New Jersey aboard Hasty Mabel.

A 9-year-old boy was injured Saturday at the Maryland State Fair when he tried get off a small swing ride while it was operating. The incident was the most serious injury this year at the state fair, which ends Monday, said Michael Huber, coordinator of emergency services at the event in Timonium. Huber said the child's grandmother put him on the ride. "At some point, he decided he didn't want to be on it and attempted to exit the ride while it was in operation," Huber said.

Will they or won't they? It's a question that has surrounded Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez - the pre-teen equivalent of Brangelina - for more than a year now. Will they come out as an official couple? Yes. Will they go on vacation together and have their make-out sessions photographed by paparazzi? Of course. But the burning question for Maryland teens and tweens is, will The Biebs show up at Gomez's gig Friday night at the Maryland State Fair? And if so, will they perform together?

Move over, Justin Bieber — another Justin has trumped your arrival in Timonium. A Holstein calf was born Sunday afternoon at the University of Maryland birthing center at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, and fair officials said there were no surprises when a group of more than 100 children were tasked with naming the newborn. "Justin," the calf — named after Bieber, who will play a sold-out show at the fairgrounds tonight — was born just after 3:20 p.m. and weighed in at 80 lbs. Justin's mother, who had been in labor since around noon, doesn't have a name.

Antique cars, thoroughbred racing, a preview of midway rides and a concert by Selena Gomez are all part of the opening weekend of the 2011 Maryland State Fair, from Friday, Aug. 26, and through Monday, Sept. 5, at the state fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. Midway rides, games and food stands will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday; then Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Early risers may attend livestock and horse shows in the various livestock buildings and show rings at 9 a.m. Admission to the fair in general is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for children ages 6 to 11. Children 5 and younger are admitted free.

Competitive cooks interested in entering their baked goods, candy and other treats in the Maryland State Fair should write for rules, regulations and required forms. The address is: Maryland State Fair Administration Office, P.O. Box 188, Timonium, Md. 21093-0188. Readers can also call Joan Neels at 252-0200 and request the information.In addition to the regular categories of yeast breads and rolls, cookies, pies and such, there is a special chocolate cake contest and a quick bread contest sponsored by Land O' Lakes Inc.

Officials of the Maryland State Fair in Timonium on Saturday said they had closed the fair's midway rides and games at 3 p.m. on Saturday, and that the buildings at the fair would close at 5 p.m. due to the inclement weather as Hurricane Irene approaches the Baltimore area. The rest of the rest of the fairgrounds will close for the day at 6:30 p.m., officials said, canceling the slate of activities planned for Saturday evening. The fairgrounds, on York Road, are still scheduled to reopen on Sunday morning, Aug. 28, at regularly scheduled times, officials said.

College football Towson QB Enders receives CAA honor Towson sophomore quarterback Grant Enders (Old Mill) has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday. A transfer from Lackawanna College, where he played last season, Enders made his first start for the Tigers in their season opener against Morgan State on Saturday night, completing 15 of 19 passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-3 win over the Bears.

A 9-year-old boy was injured Saturday at the Maryland State Fair when he tried get off a small swing ride while it was operating. The incident was the most serious injury this year at the state fair, which ends Monday, said Michael Huber, coordinator of emergency services at the event in Timonium. Huber said the child's grandmother put him on the ride. "At some point, he decided he didn't want to be on it and attempted to exit the ride while it was in operation," Huber said.

Judging by the questions prospective guests ask when they call her beachfront hotel, some people seem to think that Ocean City got washed away by Hurricane Irene, says longtime employee Carol Dickel. "They're asking, 'Are you still there? Is everything OK? Can we come down?'" Dickel is quick to reassure callers that the 180-room Castle in the Sand hotel held up well and has fully reopened. Like Dickel, many hoteliers and merchants at Maryland and Delaware resorts are eager to show Labor Day travelers that there is life after Hurricane Irene.

You'll have no trouble finding food at the Maryland State Fair. Some of it is still walking around on hooves, granted. But once you're on the Midway, you'd have trouble swinging a test-your-strength mallet without hitting a stand selling corn dogs, fried dough, french fries or skewered chicken. Oddly, as hamburgers have become the an upscale item and a precious gem in the locavore dining, they've nearly vanished from the fair's main street. Sausage is plentiful, but hot dogs are hardly seen.

Officials of the Maryland State Fair in Timonium on Saturday said they had closed the fair's midway rides and games at 3 p.m. on Saturday, and that the buildings at the fair would close at 5 p.m. due to the inclement weather as Hurricane Irene approaches the Baltimore area. The rest of the rest of the fairgrounds will close for the day at 6:30 p.m., officials said, canceling the slate of activities planned for Saturday evening. The fairgrounds, on York Road, are still scheduled to reopen on Sunday morning, Aug. 28, at regularly scheduled times, officials said.

For a few hours Saturday, visitors to the Maryland State Fair had it easy: no lines for a cheesesteak, immediate seating on the merry-go-round and no waits to milk your own Guernsey. Eric Ritter, a Hamilton resident, said he followed a weather forecast that predicted no rain for the morning. He set off for Timonium with his wife, Elena, and 5-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, and son, Luke, 2. "We did the rides first - the swings, the fun house, the bumper cars, at about 10:15 a.m. and got on whatever we wanted.

The most lively moment of Selena Gomez and the Scene's 80-minute set Friday night came toward the end of its second half. Gomez, the "Wizards of Waverly" star and girlfriend of Justin Bieber, recreated her viral hit, a backstage clip of her rapping along to Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass. " She does a fine rendition, with enough teen swagger to be cute and mischievous at the same time. While the "He might sell coke" line was edited from the video - this is a Disney star, after all - Gomez kept it in Friday.