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? Photo album 2001.06.29 v .. [ ( < + > ) ] Taste Of Chicago - THE big summerly event, throughout Grant Park since 1981. Free admission, lots of beer, booths from about 70 area restaurants many offering special "Taste" portions, bands at several stages, carnival rides, kid fun, high diving, more. Andrew's bottom line: This fest is an unstoppable juggernaut, constituting THE Chicago summer festival on the same scale as Octoberfest is to Munich for example. However, objectively speaking for the resident, an average day spent at Navy Pier can be MUCH nicer. Going to the taste requires either that you like crowds, happen to really like this event, or have come for a specific musical act. Even so, seeing the big name act at Petrillo requires staking out a place hours in advance. We went in the afternoon of opening day, and using standard DisneyLand procedure immediately went to the far end, Buckingham Fountain and the gourmet cuisine booths (rabbit, duck, pheasant?!?). Largely I suspect due to this PARTICULAR time window, the experience was comfortable, the crowd was cheerful and moderate, and the lines very short. I especially enjoyed the diversity of attendees and quality of music. McDonalds, a source of commotion this year. 2001.06.29 Hotdog costumed happy Eclipse gum guy (fights food odors, get it?). 2001.06.29 People. 2001.06.29 City of Chicago information booth. 2001.06.29 Tickets. 2001.06.29 Souvenirs. 2001.06.29 Sailors. 2001.06.29 Person. 2001.06.29 Art Institute. 2001.06.29 Skyline. 2001.06.29 Bike cop. 2001.06.29 Bike boys. 2001.06.29 People. 2001.06.29 Usually a highway. 2001.06.29 All quiet at the Polka Pavilion. 2001.06.29 Wheel accessible stage. 2001.06.29 FOX BandStand 2001.06.29 Good band. 2001.06.29 Good band. 2001.06.29 Bass solo. 2001.06.29 Dunkin Donuts. 2001.06.29 Hemp wear. 2001.06.29 Hemp wear. 2001.06.29 Balloon guy. 2001.06.29 Suite Home Chicago set. 2001.06.29 Buckingham Fountain distant. 2001.06.29 Buckingham Fountain. 2001.06.29 Buckingham Fountain. 2001.06.29 Buckingham Fountain. 2001.06.29 Buckingham Fountain detail. 2001.06.29 Dominicks cooking Corner. 2001.06.29 Kenmore chef demo. 2001.06.29 Southwest from Fountain. 2001.06.29 Gourmet Dining Pavilion. 2001.06.29 McDonalds kids jumpatorium. 2001.06.29 Budweiser temporary tattoos? 2001.06.29 Sears stage. 2001.06.29 Good band. 2001.06.29 Pit crew game promoting Hot Tamales / Mike&Ike candies as "The Choice of Nascar". 2001.06.29 Schick karaoke game. 2001.06.29 Ferris wheel and crowd. 2001.06.29 Ferris wheel and crowd. 2001.06.29 Ferris wheel close. 2001.06.29 Ferris wheel far side and crowd. 2001.06.29 Ferris wheel and Bud Light. 2001.06.29 Flume ride. 2001.06.29 Flume ride. 2001.06.29 Flume ride. 2001.06.29 Goose Island stage. 2001.06.29 Yet another good band. 2001.06.29 Bladers. 2001.06.29 Blader. 2001.06.29 Blader. 2001.06.29 Imported. 2001.06.29 Suite Home Chicago. 2001.06.29 High diving show. 2001.06.29 High diving show. 2001.06.29 High diving show. 2001.06.29 High diving show. 2001.06.29 High diving show. 2001.06.29 Fried dough... 2001.06.29 and Mountain dew. 2001.06.29 Lost children. 2001.06.29 Fire Department. 2001.06.29 End of fest. 2001.06.29 Bally Total Fitness health club demo. 2001.06.29 Bally Total Fitness AIRBORNE! 2001.06.29 Bally Total Fitness health club demo. 2001.06.29 Bally Total Fitness health club demo. 2001.06.29 Bally Total Fitness health club demo. 2001.06.29 Face painting. 2001.06.29 Colorful person. 2001.06.29 Back painted. 2001.06.29 Watermelon. 2001.06.29 Yet another band. 2001.06.29 Miller Lite. 2001.06.29 Famous Ice Cream. 2001.06.29 People. 2001.06.29 Sears video game center. 2001.06.29 Sears video game center. Free PS2 demo disk! 2001.06.29 Long boarders waiting for the shiz-ow. 2001.06.29 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, distant. 2001.06.29 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, closer. 2001.06.29 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, can almost make them out... 2001.06.29 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, crowd. 2001.06.29 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, crowd. 2001.06.29 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, crowd. 2001.06.29 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, crowd. 2001.06.29 George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, crowd. 2001.06.29 Vienna Beef. 2001.06.29 Eli's Cheesecake - "Taste of Chicago's #1 Desert Since 1980" 2001.06.29 Connie's Pizza and skyline. 2001.06.29 Tibet Cafe and skyline. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Random crowd. 2001.06.29 Fried rice. 2001.06.29 Stuffed potato. 2001.06.29 Ice cream. 2001.06.29 Sushi elsewhere. 2001.06.29 Watermelon and burger shaped cakes at Jewel. 2001.06.29 2001.06.29  ^ © 2010 Andrew Bedno     •  ?