Taste of Chicago shifts to new family focus
Mmmmmmmmm ... food.
Yes, it's time again to head down to the lakefront and devour some of the most delicious eats Chicago has to offer, from pork tacos to jerk lamb chops, from sweet potato cheesecake to the classic Rainbow Cone.
Taste of Chicago 2011 is here.
The event begins its 10-day run on Friday, June 24, wrapping up on Sunday, July 3. Nearly 60 vendors will be on hand, selling their culinary delights in Grant Park. Live music and children's activities will be part of the fun, too.
“We've got some new vendors, we've added some wonderful new activities,” said Mary Slowik, the festival's general manager. “It should be a great year for the festival.”
This year's Taste will differ in some respects from previous models. The Chicago Park District is managing the event for the first time.
The park district took over the Taste from the city of Chicago in an effort to make the festival more economically viable while keeping the admission price free.
That means the big superstar musical acts of years past have been eliminated. So have the Taste of Chicago fireworks.
Live music will still be a part of the Taste of Chicago experience, however. Four smaller music festivals that used to be run as stand-alone events have been folded into the Taste: Viva Chicago, the Chicago Country Music Festival, Celtic Fest Chicago and the Chicago Gospel Music Festival.
Each of the festivals will get a specific day of the fest. Among the headliners performing on those days are Los Horoscopos de Durango (Viva Chicago Latin Music Day, June 24); Donald Lawrence and Company (Gospel Music Day, June 26); Natalie MacMaster (Celtic Music Day, June 29); and Loretta Lynn (Country Music Day, July 1).
Other musical performances scheduled include alt-rocker Evan Dando of The Lemonheads on June 28, jazz and r&b artist Natalie Cole on June 30 and alt-country group The Jayhawks on July 2.
In addition to overhauling the musical programming, the park district has added elements designed to enhance the Taste's appeal as a destination for families.
Chicago's own Midnight Circus, a lively troupe of clowns, acrobats, dancers and contortionists, will perform four times each day at the Family Village area, located at Columbus and Jackson. (The Midnight Circus performances will cost $2 in Taste tickets.) A full slate of arts, crafts and educational activities will take place each day at the Family Village, as well.
Meanwhile, the Playground area at Columbus and Balbo will feature a 40-foot sandbox (from corporate sponsor Target), along with a full day of fitness activities for children and adults alike. (Not a bad idea after chowing down on some deep-dish pizza and fried dough!) The Move at the Taste fitness day will be June 29.
And fireworks fans shouldn't be too upset that they've been eliminated from the Taste. Navy Pier will be hosting fireworks displays on July 2 and July 4.
All of that extra stuff is nice, of course, but most people visit the Taste to do one thing — eat. On that score, the 2011 version of the festival will match up quite well to its predecessors.
Fifty-nine vendors will be selling food this year, six more than last year. Twelve of the vendors will be new to the Taste.
Classic Taste of Chicago items will be available as usual. What would a trip to the Taste be without visiting the Original Rainbow Cone booth for an ice-cream treat? Or the Eli's Cheesecake booth for some turtle cheesecake? Or the Billy Goat Tavern's booth for a double cheeseburger?
Taste-goers should consider visiting some of the new restaurants as well. The Banana Leaf Restaurant, for example, is offering jerk lamb chops with rice. Alhambra Place is serving a falafel sandwich with Jerusalem salad. And Lao Sze Chuan will be selling crispy shrimp in lemon sauce.
Hungry yet?
By the way, health-conscious festival-goers should look for the Humana Healthier Choices items, which will be designated with green apple icons on the menu boards of the restaurants. A free guide to the healthy choices is available at humana.com/tasteofchicago.
“It's a great lineup of vendors,” Slowik said. “Everyone should find something they love.”
<b>Taste of Chicago</b>
<b>When:</b> 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily from Friday, June 24, through Saturday, July 2; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 3
<b>Where:</b> Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., Chicago
<b>Cost:</b> Admission is free. Food and beverage tickets cost $8 for a strip of 12. (Tickets are $8 per strip while supplies last at Dominick's stores.)
<b>Parking:</b> New discounted parking lots near Soldier Field will be available for Taste of Chicago visitors. A free McDonald's Family Trolley will shuttle visitors between the lots and the festival.
<b>Information:</b> Call (312) 742-4387 or visit tasteofchicago.us.