EDITORIAL: And you thought 8/2 wasn't special

You flipped another calendar page yesterday.

Now look where you are.

It’s Aug. 2, the 214th day of the year. Journalistic math being what it is, that means there are probably, almost certainly, 151 days left in 2024. 

But today isn’t merely about the dawning of a new month. Today also happens to be International Beer Day and National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. Mix them at your peril.

Today also harkens the beginning of the end of the infamous Dog Days of Summer. According to Farmers’ Almanac, the dog days saunter each year from July 3 through Aug. 11, “usually the hottest and most unbearable days of summer.”

Amen to that, farmer brother.

Unabashed summer enthusiast and Press columnist Kerri Thoreson recently lamented the wretched heat that had made even her favorite season doggedly insufferable. Kerri got perhaps too much of a reprieve before that hot sun returned, and now she’s facing Ma Nature’s tanning booth on steroids at least one more time.

There’s a big political convention later this month in Chicago and an awesome fair hereabouts, too, but it seems like there was something else we wanted to mention today.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, YEAH!

Today starts the phenomenal three-day weekend for lovers of art, crafts, entertainment, comfort food and about a half jillion booths that sell products you can’t normally find around here.

Today through Sunday is the 56th annual Art on the Green at North Idaho College. Built on Art on the Green’s drawing power, Taste of Coeur d’Alene and the Downtown Coeur d’Alene Street Fair will shoulder their fair share of the 50,000 or so expected visitors between the three events.

Basically, you’ve got one massive festival stretching from the Spokane River to the eastern edge of downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Consider this long weekend more than a tantalizing tuneup to the North Idaho State Fair, Aug. 16-25. Recognize that the summer trimester is now in its final stage, with September and the resumption of school up next. But that’s a subject for another day.

Today is the second day of the last month for summer fun. Dive in headfirst and paddle with delight. 

There'll be plenty of time for naps later.