A change of Taste as main gate moves
Like a fancy dinner table that wouldn't be complete without a centerpiece, the Taste of Chicago is switching things around this year to showcase the Buckingham Fountain as its main entrance, organizers say.
The actual area covered by the festival remains the same, say Taste officials -- from Monroe to Balbo Drive on Columbus Drive with various spurs along the way.
But with the Buckingham Fountain being one of the city's main jewels, festival organizers decided to accentuate it this year by making it the centerpiece of the Grant Park festival.
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"With the lakefront (visible) right here, it's the best place to have it," said Mayor Richard M. Daley, who kicked off a preview of the festival Tuesday with a tasting for the media and dignitaries.
Moving the focus to Buckingham Fountain also will relieve a little foot traffic from Jackson Drive next to the Art Institute, which is currently under construction and may not be finished by the Taste's opening day, said Ann Hickey of the Mayor's Office of Special Events.
Of course, with a fancy dinner table, one has to have fancy food.
Along with the usual hot dogs and pizza, the Taste this year will feature "The Chef's Table," with nine high-end restaurants teaming with Zagat and the Washburne Culinary Institute to have students prepare signature dishes of some of the finer restaurants in the city.
Besides stuffing themselves silly, Taste attendees can catch a preview of Cirque du Soleil's new KOOZA show on the festival's opening day, June 27 at 10:45 a.m.
Bands booked for this year's fest, the 28th annual, include Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, Joss Stone, Fantasia and the Plain White T's, among others.
Parents can stop by with their children at The Family Village, where The Wiggles and Bugs Bunny will entertain. A baby changing station and free diapers also will be provided by Dominick's.
Food tickets cost $8 for a strip of 12, with each restaurant setting its own prices. The festival runs 10 days from June 27 to July 6.
Taste of Chicago
This year's festival runs from June 27 to July 6 and features a wide array of musical artists at the Petrillo band shell. Here's the lineup:
Friday, June 27, 5:30 p.m.: Angie Stone, headliner Chaka Khan
Saturday, June 28, 5:30 p.m.: Stevie Wonder
Sunday, June 29, 5 p.m.: Josh Kelley, headliner Plain White T's
Monday, June 30, 6 p.m.: Broadway in Chicago featuring the casts of Jersey Boys, Wicked, Legally Blonde, A Chorus Line and others.
Tuesday, July 1, 5:30 p.m.: Ryan Shaw, headliner Joss Stone
Wednesday, July 2, 5:30 p.m.: Estelle, headliner Fantasia
Thursday, July 3, 8 p.m. Grant Park Orchestra, followed by fireworks accompanied by music from 101.9 THE MIX and broadcast on WGN-TV
Friday, July 4, 3 p.m.: Alejandro Escovedo, followed by Gomez and another fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 5, 5:30 p.m.: Bonnie Raitt
Sunday, July 6, 2 p.m.: KeKe Palmer, followed by A Cursive Memory, followed by Aly AJ
For more information, visit www.tasteofchicago.us
For video of Tuesday's Taste preview, go to DailyHerald.com.