The Giants got swept at AT&T Park this past weekend, continuing an unsettling trend where the Blue Crew has won eight straight in San Francisco. But on a chilly Friday night, fans could at least try to forget some of the pain of losing with another nifty fireworks show. There’s only one other fireworks night currently scheduled for this season, on May 25, so get tickets now if you want to catch it along with a contest against the Colorado Rockies.

The weather cleared up in time for Saturday’s game, which coincided with Kids Opening Day. The pregame concert by The Sippy Cups seemed to go over well with their target audience — which is The Wiggles-age crowd — but the non-kids had a mixed reaction to them, especially after their offbeat rendition of the national anthem.

Here’s my first attempt at a Canon Powershot video clip, an idea I totally hijacked from MLB.com’s Mark Newman, who did it during last year’s playoffs. Yes, it’s The Sippy Cups. But check out the folks getting their groove on to them.

Tonight is Game 2 of the 2007 season for the Giants, and the club knows that not everyone could get a ticket (or the day off) for Opening Day, so they try to make the first night game special as well with Opening Night. In fact, the whole homestand is designated as Opening Week, with special events and giveaways for each game.

Tonight there will be fireworks, then a cool Barry Zito poster giveaway on Thursday night, the first poster in a series of six this year. There’s even a special ticket package, the Poster Pack, just for those games.

On Friday night, when the Dodgers come to town for the first time this season and the first Orange Friday of the year, the first 40,000 fans will get orange foam fingers. Saturday is Kids Opening Day, with a pregame concert by the Sippy Cups and the first 6,000 kids getting a really neat Beary Limited Edition Bear from Build-a-Bear, complete with a Giants cap, orange ribbon and Giants logo on the foot.

The homestand wraps up Sunday with Barry Zito’s second start and the ever-popular magnet schedule giveaway.

Except for the final score, Tuesday’s Opening Day, the 50th in San Francisco, was a grand celebration, and even folks who left disappointed by the game’s outcome will never forget the pageantry.

For those with a deep appreciation of baseball history and especially the rich history of the Giants, the pregame ceremonies were a special treat, with 27 of the 44 players who have represented the San Francisco Giants in the All-Star Game in attendance. I think the players enjoyed it as much as the fans, as evidenced by Will Clark’s enthusiastic fist pump at the grand ovation he received, Juan Marichal’s two-armed wave to the crowd and Mike Krukow’s great big grin as each was introduced.

As most already know, AT&T Park will host the 2007 All-Star Game and its related festivities. While more people than can possibly be accommodated obviously want tickets to the Midsummer Classic itself on July 10, tickets are already on sale right now for two other All-Star events: the DHL All-Star FanFest at Moscone Center and All-Star Sunday, which includes the Futures Game and the Legends and Celebrity softball game. The Futures Game is particularly cool, since it features some of the top prospects in the game, many of whom you’ll see in the Majors very soon.

Though there won’t be any postseason baseball at AT&T Park this year, this week’s final homestand will have several cool events for fans coming to the yard.

The Diamondbacks arrive Monday, which is the second College Night of the year. On Tuesday, fans with special tickets can celebrate Oktoberfest at the BallPark; the ticket package includes a pregame party, a seat in the official Oktoberfest section and a 22-ounce San Francisco Giants
Oktoberfest Stein with one free pour of beer.

Fittingly, the final weekday game of the season Wednesday is PG&E Giants Solar Day, and the first 15,000 fans get a special Giants cap with a sun-themed logo.

Of course, the hated Dodgers will be in town this weekend, and the Giants would love to knock them out of playoff contention. Friday’s series opener, the final Orange Friday of the season, features Rally Rags for the first 40,000 fans. On Saturday, as part of Strike Out Violence Day, fans can buy $1 tickets in hopes of winning autographed jerseys in the Jerseys Off Our Giants raffle to benefit Casa de las Madres.

Sunday’s the traditional Fan Appreciation Day, with tons of prizes to be given away. The grand prize is a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser. Hope it’s orange :-p

Outfielders were fighting some wicked shadows Sunday thanks to the 5:05 p.m. ESPN start time. If you want to get a first-hand taste of just how rough that early-evening sun at AT&T Park is for catching fly balls, sign up for the "Swing Like a Giant" event slated for after Thursday’s day game.

Participants will take eight swings from home plate off a pitching machine, with prizes for the five farthest hits, but those who aren’t batting will get to shag flies in the outfield. Bring your flipdown shades.

Proceeds benefit the Giants Community Fund.