Getting a Taste of Chicago…and Cicero!

We’re a little more than ten days away from an annual Chicago tradition- as Grant Park gets overloaded with visitors,

turkey legs, and pickles on a stick-yes, it’s the Taste of Chicago!!! I wonder how the current economy, plus gas prices, will affect the turn-out…or, if it even will!

According to the latest press releases, the cost of those wacky food tickets for taste of Chicago will again be going up-with the increase including a 33 percent rise in the city service tax. Here’s the deal- last year, you got 11 tickets for 7 bucks, plus a $1.50 surcharge. THIS year, you’ll get a strip of 12 food tickets for 8 bucks- which includes a two dollar per strip charge for city services. Those services include removing trash (not the human kind that also shows up there) and making an effort to recycle. If you want to avoid that two buck service charge, you can purchase tickets at a certain grocery chain’s stores BEFORE the festival of food, fireworks, and freakazoids begins.

The problem always seems to be how many tickets it takes to get a food item. While twelve tickets sounds like a lot- if  that Kentucky-fried wombat gizzard sandwich will cost you five or six tickets- if you’d planned on taking a smorgasbord tour of the 300 items of food available, you’d better have visited the ATM before you start eating.

There is often discussion of how, when the Taste first started, the idea was to have small samples of all kinds of local cuisine served by unique Chicago restaurants available- but that went by the wayside early on. Now, such exotic local fare as McDonald’s thrives among the other restaurants selling full portions of food- not just a taste for a ticket or two.

I think I’ve mentioned in previous years that, except for my very first time there, every time I’ve been at the Taste, it’s been in a working capacity. I spent an afternoon broadcasting live with the late Bob Collins from the WGN booth. I did a couple weeks of live “Koz Zone” shows from the Fox stage- which included a guest appearance by the beloved “fighter of filth” superhero Capt. Dustpan (let’s see YOU put on a mask made out of a dustpan in 85 degree heat!) I’ve been out there for Taste preview shows, Taste fireworks shows, and even did a weather broadcast from the Taste during a news show. I also ended up being an “on-the-spot” reporter the day that a microburst hit Grant Park during one of our “Koz Zone” broadcasts, giving the anchor live reaction to the horrific weather that closed down the Taste- and nearly lifted our protective tent high off the ground!

Of course, I also made appearances at the taste at the WCIU booth- the first couple of years that our station hit the air as “the U!” Believe me, Sven being out in a sizzling Grant Park is enough to par boil a rubber chicken right on the pavement.

There won’t be a “U booth” at the Taste this year-but I’m hoping for slightly cooler weather this Friday night- when I’ll be appearing at the Cicero American Fest from 6-8 pm in-where else? Cicero! (Just east of Berwyn, of course…) The festival is located at 50^th Ave. and 25^th Street. Save yourself a trip to Grant Park amidst the sweltering throng, and have some food and fun Friday with yours truly !!!  #    #   #