So summer is unofficially over, but that doesn’t mean there is less fun to be had in the area this weekend.  Let me be your tour guide to aim you towards:

^^ BEER!  The Irish Festival is underway at Durand Eastman Park in IQ. They tap the kegs at 3 today, and fill your mug til 11 tonight, 12-11 Sat. and 12-6 Sunday.  We irish like Billy Bob Lawler know how to keep your glass and tummy full.

^^ MORE BEER!  The 2008 Ithaca Brewfest is tomorrow @ Stewart Park in Ithaca, obviously.  There will be 30 craft brewers on hand (look for the Buzz’s own Dem Jones with the Rohrbachs crew) and 3 live bands.  Tix available at Southtowne Beverage on W. Henrietta  (say hi to my bud Joe)

^^ MORE BEER & ANIMALS!  ZooBrew happens today at the Seneca Park Zoo on St. Paul St. @ 6p.

^^ MORE ANIMALS & BBQ! Mendon Station Festival goes down Sat. 11-5, Sun. 12-6 with lots of horses and great BBQ.  Free admission (they’ve got lots of $$$ in Mendon already).

^^ MORE FOOD & ART! The Clothesline Arts Fest @ the Memorial Art Gallery on University Ave. Sat. 10-6 & Sun. 10-5.

^^ MORE FOOD & FINAL FUN!  It’s your last shot to take on the Jack Rabbit @ Seabreeze for the summer.  Open Sat. & Sun. 11-8.  For a great dinner, go see Nick @ the Seabreeze Inn right across the street.  For some drinks, go see Fran @ Marges right down the hill by the bay.

^^ FINALLY, FOOTBALL FUN!  Yeah, it’s here.  High school ball rolls out this weekend (I’ll be checking out the Canandaigua Braves vs. the McQuaid Knights @ CA Sat. @ 2), college football is underway (SU better win @ the Dome Sat. vs. Akron or Coach Robinson is a goner…..probably already is) and of course it’s NFL time!  Let’s go Buffalo!  Bills vs. Seattle at the Ralph Sun. @ 1p.  By the way, for those of you who think “football” is soccer, there’s college action for you today & Sat. at Aquinas on Dewey Ave with the Puma-St. Bonaventure Soccer Tournament going on, starting this afternoon at 5p.  Bona, Cornell and Central Michigan are some of the Div. I teams playing.

There’s a little bit of something for everyone. Isn’t choice great?  I’m sure many families would choose to have their man or woman home from the war.  So, think of them this weekend while you’re enjoying the fun.  God bless our troops!