The Taste Of Chicago (Time: coupons, to buy, restaurant)

[JohnDoe2008]

How can there not have been a thread on this?!

advice: Only buy the 3 ticket taste samples from the kiosks, anything more will fill you up too fast without trying so many other palces. so yeah, never get more than the 3 ticket taste samples from the booths.

advice: dont make the long lines for the tickets at the entrance or even a littl more in, go deeep in, theres almost no lines at all, and by that time you saw a lot of kiosks.

advice: the port a potis (bathrooms) have mirrors! so you can get good looking to impress your date or girls/guys that are there. also, theres allot of areas to wash your hands, you have to pump it! its wierd but cool, I actually stuck my hand under it like it was gonna be automatic, damn Im spoiled.

[noid_1985]

Advice: if you've visited the taste before then there is no reason for you to buy food especially if you are from Chicago and the surrounding areas. Let the tourist spend their money.

A lot of people do not go to the taste to eat they go to see who they can hook up with....Good Luck

One more thing be sure to have on your most scandalous attire

[Manigault]

I just got back from the Taste. They have really improved on the layout so it is no longer wall to wall with bodies. Lots of folks with their kids, lots of rides, lots of folks showing lots of skin.

[ChicagolandRon]

Saw Stevie Wonder last night, good stuff!!

Other than that I hate crowds, lol...

[aragx6]

I have a question about the festivities. Anyone know why you guys do your fireworks display on the 3rd? I guess it's been that way for a long time, but I was just curious if there was a story behind it.

[Castro Viejo]

Since it's my first summer in Chicago, I decided to go to Taste. I bought my tickets at a local Dominick's for $6 (for a strip of 12). I noticed at the actual fair grounds that the price was $8. Provided that the stores are still selling them for $6, I'd highly advise everyone to buy it at their local store before venturing out to the actual Taste.

As for the food, well, it was so-so. A little expensive for what you get -- it's mostly carnival food. I agree with the long time Chicago residents that I'd rather spend my money in an actual restaurant than overpay for low quality stuff and bumping into Chicagoans everywhere.

The atmosphere is kind of fun though.

[Costa Rica Chica]

Originally Posted by aragx6

I have a question about the festivities. Anyone know why you guys do your fireworks display on the 3rd? I guess it's been that way for a long time, but I was just curious if there was a story behind it.

I always understood that it was because the suburbs all do their fireworks on the 4th. That way suburbanites go to Chicago on the third too. I may be wrong. I'm going to Google it...

[Costa Rica Chica]

I just got this from a Sun Times article:

And in addition to the annual July 3 show, on July 4 at 9:30 p.m., the Taste will light up the sky in a simultaneous show with the Navy Pier display.

I guess there will be a show Friday too, but I still can't find why Chicago does its big show on the 3rd.

Holiday fireworks to light up the night :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Entertainment (http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/1026844,WKP-News-fireworks27West.article - broken link)

[gardener34]

"it's mostly carnival food"
I didn't think it was. Although there are alot of pizza places. But of course, my kids had to have their pizza. They had the connies, (deep dish) which is really good. And the other kid had the father and son (thin).
We had samosas, which were good. And those bobo things, steamed buns with chicken teriyaki in them. Those were good. And ribs of course.
You have to seek out the unusual there... the one african restaurant had goat, wanted to try it, but ran out of coupons!
Hadn't been there in a while, went first day, was not too crowded and the layout was better. Make sure you bring the sunscreen there, it was hot.
Ditto on getting the tickets beforehand or at kiosks that are not right at the entrance.

[Costa Rica Chica]

Do they still sell alligator? Yuck.