End of the Taste?
From a security standpoint, this year’s Taste of Chicago was a rousing success. From a sales and attendance standpoint, it was a flop.
While officials did not release hard numbers Tuesday, city officials and Taste vendors acknowledged that the number of visitors to the city’s biggest annual festival was down, as were ticket sales for some vendors. The Park District, which ran the fest this year, said it lost money.
And Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the city is going to take a look at the 31-year-old chowfest, even though he vowed to keep it going in the future.
Shortshanks was always willing to throw good money after bad. Hell, he was willing to sell city assets at a loss just to balance a current budget. Rahm doesn't really have that luxury, especially with aspirations to higher office. Rahm has to succeed. And to succeed, he's going to end up tossing a bunch of previously sacred cows under the proverbial bus.
We could definitely see the Taste being downsized and shortened up on the calendar next year. Maybe even fenced off and admission charged. And it would be an easier sell for Rahm to do this now that the final numbers are in.
We could definitely see the Taste being downsized and shortened up on the calendar next year. Maybe even fenced off and admission charged. And it would be an easier sell for Rahm to do this now that the final numbers are in.
Labels: money questions
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
57 Comments:
C'mon up to Lakefront in BrewTown, guys.
Summerfest runs through next Sunday, July 10th.
Bring the family. No wildings or flash mobs. Concerts, cold beer, hot brats and great food.
Hey Rahm. How about cancelling or drastically downsizing Puerto Rican fest. All paid for with city services, police, cfd, free water, free sewer, free use of the park, tma's, free electric oh yea, don't forget the $143,000 they still owe for private garbage pick up last year that the city had to pay. If I have a parking ticket I can't get a building permit but they can owe hundreds of thousands of dollars and they get a permit.
Its gone! Another Detriot here we come movement
•From a security standpoint, this year’s Taste of Chicago was a rousing success. From a sales and attendance standpoint, it was a flop.
Just wait untill they get the bill for all of that security...
They are REALLY going to be broke!
Guess that is why Napervilles RibFest is a HUGE money maker every year!
The napeville rib fest numbers were up exponentially. They even charged an entrance fee. I saw very few cops in the sea of thousands.
Give us back our park. While it was once a novel idea, times have changed and it's just a large problem now.
The few manage to ruin things for the many. Over and over again.
Just take the money that should go into the cities pension funds and use that to run the taste next year.
It's more important that the corporate friends that make the campaign donations make a profit than it is to honor a signed contract for the union churls right?
I mean follow the states governor example. Over $280 million in corporate tax break give backs to corporations and now there's no money to honor state contracts.
Only in a country, state and city with Democrats in power could you have someone deem a money losing event a success. Welcome to Bizarro World 2011 where up is down and wrong is right.
No suprise that they lost MONEY!
I love how one city official on TV spun it as saying the numbers were done but over all it was a positive experience.
It was for us too, went to nice restaurants in Oak Park and other towns. We had free parking and discounts too.
Not too shocking that people did not show up.Times are hard right now.Who can spend an extra hundred bucks to go downtown. And with no fireworks....If the city would hire someone to run it and give them a percentage of the total they might make some money. Look at all the other food shows in the burbs.
Why do you say he has to succeed? Did Obama succeed on the senate? Did Daley succeed? Hell, did Bush succeed? Absolutely not. It's about the media and the selected party/media behind you. That is all. Everything else is just spin. Fuck Rahm but he doesn't have to succeed at anything.
The problem we have today is there can be no more big events on the lakefront. Fireworks was the first to bite the dust. The Taste will go to the wayside and they will opt out for smaller neighborhood festivals. We already have lots of those during the summer. These big events are just a magnet for violent moronic young minority Thugs to flex their muscle. Just a sign of the times. I can still remember working the first two Chicago (Taste) Fest under Mayor Byrne at Navy Pier. Fenced in charging a $5.00 admission fee, great food at reasonable prices, and the very best entertainment there was. Long gone. Long forgotten.
The Taste has always made me nauseous--like watching a gluttony session from the Middle Ages--all it' missing is a vomitorium.
Hey, maybe I'll send that in as a suggestion.
It was down over 60% from previous years. Stick a fork in it, it's done.
When it comes to coming downtown and spending money and there is a threat of violence or chaos, why come down?
I think many people are cutting back (on a lot of things). Taste is just another victim of austerity and the news that there is more violence erupting at public events and venues in Chicago.
No one wants to be caught in a melee. Especially one that is later denied as a heat wave or meteor shower.
Honestly, who wants to purchase overpriced food? I mean a slice of pizza for $6? GFY!
people took their money elsewhere. my sister works right by there and every year her office and practically the whole building would pick a day and go to the taste for lunch. the topic didn't come up this year. after years of nonsense they said never again.
Bring back Jane Byrne's "Chicago Fest"
I can still remember working the first two Chicago (Taste) Fest under Mayor Byrne at Navy Pier. Fenced in charging a $5.00 admission fee, great food at reasonable prices, and the very best entertainment there was. Long gone. Long forgotten.
7/06/2011 05:39:00 AM
Not completely forgotten. "Thanks Jesse!".
Security success?? Thats due to No shitbird thugs going down to watch the fireworks or gain entrance for free. Have to lock it down , fence it in, and charge admission. If you want to see how it should be done head to milwaukee summerfest. Cancel puerto rican and billiken too. Plenty of savings all around.
Shaina Perry remembers the punch to her face, blood streaming from a cut over her eye, her backpack with her asthma inhaler, debit card and cellphone stolen, and then the laughter.
"They just said 'Oh, white girl bleeds a lot,' " said Perry, 22, who was attacked at Kilbourn Reservoir Park over the Fourth of July weekend.
Though Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn noted Tuesday that crime is colorblind, he called the Sunday night looting of a convenience store near the park and beatings of a group of people who had gone to the park disturbing, outrageous and barbaric.
"We're not going to let any group of individuals terrorize or bully any of our neighborhoods," Flynn said.
Perry was among several who were injured by a mob they said beat and robbed them and threw full beer bottles while making racial taunts. The injured people were white; the attackers were African-American, witnesses said.
Mortar Shells Fired at Illinois Police
AP File
An incident that left a Peoria policeman and firefighter with temporary hearing loss after being fired upon with mortar-type fireworks in Taft Homes is being reviewed by authorities Tuesday.
Just as the grand finale of the riverfront fireworks display was exploding over the Illinois River on Monday night, emergency responders were summoned to Taft Homes on a call of a burning Dumpster.
A fire engine and two police officers were the first to respond. Peoria Fire Department Division Chief Gary Van Voorhis said a crowd that had been shooting firewworks as the engine arrived turned the tubes toward emergency personnel and ignited the contents.
The family and I went to Lisle fest like we have been doing for the last 4 to 5 years.(I haven't been to our Chicago Shit fest in well over 10 years and will never go again). $5 to get in Lisle fest but well worth it. Good food, good drinks,carnival rides for the kids, little booths selling knick-knacks, a nice 20 minute firework show and music playing on 3 stages all day long. The only 2 cops I saw were walking out as I got there who just stopped in to get a bite to eat. Guess what no fights, no shootings, no robberies, no packs of roving flash mobs. A great time had by all in a civilized event. What was missing from this event? I'll give you three guesses but you probably only need 1!!!!!!
Why would anyone with a brain in their head come with their family to this violent city and be subjected to the wildings,flash mobs,murder,shootings,stabbings,robberies,etc. Looks like the cancer has spread throughout this city.
Seems elementary to me: cancel the biggest draw to the Taste, the fireworks, and attendance is going to plummet. Very simple.
And since the fireworks are now impossible - unless maybe we call out the National Guard - the Taste has also become impossible.
Like others have said, street festivals in other locations are NOT seeing an attendance drop....
so the chicago media outlets and city officials have to dispense with the bullshit about the tastes numbers having to do with the economy.
The media has covered flashmobs pretty extensively....but that CAN'T have anything to do with anything, right?
Traffic, expensive and limited parking, flashmobs, shitty entertainment, and the fact that there is NOTHING interesting to eat anymore might be better reasons?....
Shit, I'm surprised Rainbow cone wasn't serving turkeylegs this year....
OT heard the union paid 1800 USC for Camdens trip to DC. This is a violation since he is not a board member. Way to spend money MICKEY u stroke. Ur union will b investigated on this
I heard lt. G.E. to be new commander of Englewood
7/05/2011 11:41:00 AM
OK Since you heard it must be true!!!
Would you care to tell us then old wise one who the hell G.E. is. I'm on the edge of my seat in
If you don't know who G E is then your not from a working district and have no fuckin clue what a real boss is.I don't think it will happen but wish it would he was a good boss and would always lookout for working coppers.unfortunately for all you hairgels you can count these bosses on one hand and the old days are over.
7/05/2011 11:32:00 PM
OK I'll ask again. I have worked in 007 for over 20 years(all on the street not inside) and have been through about 10 Commanders here (so I guess I have been in a fast district for awhile so I don't consider myself a hairgel). I've been through good bosses and bad bosses. Sorry I don't know every Lt. on CPD by their initials. Maybe you could just come out and say the name for us old guys who don't study the CPD initials book.
The Taste has always made me nauseous--like watching a gluttony session from the Middle Ages--all it' missing is a vomitorium.
Hey, maybe I'll send that in as a suggestion.
7/06/2011 06:25:00 AM
__
Perfect! Just use Buckingham Fountain!
Aside from a little extra traffic on State and Michigan Ave from Columbus being closed, it didn't even seem like the taste was even happening. At the end of the night when it closed you could see groups of the ghettos finest leaving but not much else as far as attendance. I'm sure they bought plenty of tickets though so the vendors made more than enough to pay the $100k booth rental fees. Sure they did.
The Taste has become as obsolete and fiscally unsound as the Democratic Party. Time to shitcan both.
Saw U-2 at Soldier Field last night, along with 75,000 of my new best friends. I wish you could bottle the sense of community,kindness and good fun they bring. The thought of any type of problems NEVER crossed my mind, and I am really paranoid around big crowds. As far to the RIGHT as I am, Bono is to LEFT, but repect his positions. A big thank you for a great time with my family to everyone who worked so hard, so that we could have fun. Thats the way things should be,but rarely are in this day and age.
"We're not going to let any group of individuals terrorize or bully any of our neighborhoods," [Milwaukee police chief Edward] Flynn said.
--7/06/2011 09:50:00 AM
A Newspeak paradox! "Group of individuals" = "notgroup."
"Perry was among several who were injured by a mob they said beat and robbed them and threw full beer bottles while making racial taunts. The injured people were white; the attackers were African-American, witnesses said."
"You don't have to worry about choosing up sides in a race war; the other side will take care of that for you."
--Col. Jeff Cooper, USA (Ret.)
"...emergency responders were summoned to Taft Homes on a call of a burning Dumpster.
"A fire engine and two police officers were the first to respond. Peoria Fire Department Division Chief Gary Van Voorhis said a crowd that had been shooting firewworks as the engine arrived turned the tubes toward emergency personnel and ignited the contents."
--7/06/2011 09:54:00 AM
"The heavy pumper then rammed the burning dumpster through the plate glass into the front lobby of Taft Homes before departing the scene."
A guy can wish, can't he?
The correspondent here who suggested a shotgun on every fire truck wasn't far off the mark...
Charge admission, and lower ticket prices. Who wants to spend over $100 on small plates of food and VERY expensive beer? If you reduce the price of tickets, and charge admission, I bet you'd see a) better attendance, and b) people open to the admission price.
This isn't rocket science.
Sunny with a chance of gunfire? You go. We'll stay safe at home- xxck you very much city of C.
RE: As far to the RIGHT as I am, Bono is to LEFT, but repect his positions.
I'd puke if I had to sit through that propaganda, left wing shit.
NOBODY really cares if the Taste stays or goes, for the most part. It's an outdated concept. Nothing really new or exciting, small food portions for high prices, stand in line for everything, hazardous environment and safety. People aren't stupid, they're smart, and going elsewhere. See post 1 @12:09am if you don't believe it.
The Commie named Rahmmie and the City Bullshit Squad lost their asses with the Taste this year, but in true Demmocommiecrat Tradition, they won't tell the truth, admit the problem, and work HARD to fix it, instead they will do the usual lieing, denying, and covering up via their Commie Tools in all local Crookago Socialist owned and operated News Media. Nobody around believes a word they say anymore, and they have NO credibility. That's why people won't touch the Waste of Crookago with a 10 ft. pole anymore. Too many, much nicer, cheaper, and safer places to go, especially since Crookago's Own, Barak osamabama has us with the highest Gasoline prices in the nation, and in History, right here in good old Crookago. Enjoy Summer, Comrades !
Anonymous said...
Why would anyone with a brain in their head come with their family to this violent city and be subjected to the wildings,flash mobs,murder,shootings,stabbings,robberies,etc. Looks like the cancer has spread throughout this city.
7/06/2011 10:13:00 AM
_________________________
Exactly why I stopped going and would never think of bringing my kids there, and exactly why I want to get out of this city.
DemocRATs cater to the criminals and the useless all to cultivate votes. The animals can have this shit city.
Went to Summerfest last Saturday.
Good food, cold beverages, live music, = great time.
No fights, real bathrooms, no packs of savages.
Oh, did I mention that I diverted my visiting family from the Taste to Summerfest. They loved it.
All the thugs in the news, shit food, no fireworks and no name entertainment,this was daley head of criminalinc swansong the big fuck you to rahmbo and the Chicago.
Rahm you want it to succeed fence it in charge $10.00 like Naperville and have some TOP bands,and exempt any rap crap it would be a hit! no thugalicious shit it would work try it!
Not completely forgotten. "Thanks Jesse!".
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
I remember-it was the best fest ever. And I also remember those t-shirts were 5 bucks!
A great city should put on great festivals. When those cheese-eating sheep rapists in Wisconsin can put on a better festival than Chicago then we need to up our game.
First, fence off the grounds.
Second, charge for admission.
Third, plenty of cops and security and no tolerance for any stupidity. If that means borrowing the Sheriff's Dept buses so be it. I'd put a mini camera on every cop down there and double dog dare Loevy and company to file lawsuits after any incidents of alleged police overreaction. Since cameras exist and aren't going away use them to our advantage.
Fourth, FIREWORKS on the third. For hundreds of thousands of people that is the only time they come into the city each year. We want the suburban masses to feel safe and sound in our fair city so they come in and spend their lovely cash and possibly move in post college.
I'd also have largish fireworks shows at Rainbow Beach and possibly Montrose simultaneously.
Daley cancelled the fireworks and other festivals in a fit of spoiled anger after he was denied the Olympics. Fuck him to hell.
I want those annoying tourists and their spending downtown.
Great cities bring in great numbers of visitors.
So the question is are we going to be Chicago: City on the Make or Chicago: The Mistake on the Lake.
Milwaukee police Chief Ed Flynn, not to be confused with the old kick ass Area Six detective (and sgt, and Lt. of the same name) is a bona fide pussy of the same small calibre as Jody Weis, Garry McMush, et al. Ignore the asshole-and keep at least a .380 in your pocket when you visit the land of sky blue waters...
Bring back Jane Byrne's "Chicago Fest"
7/06/2011 08:32:00 AM
Just bring back Jane Byrne!!!
"Why would anyone with a brain in their head come with their family to this violent city and be subjected to the wildings,flash mobs,murder,shootings,stabbings,robberies,etc."
Many of them are suburbanites who don't know any better.
People come into the city for one of two reasons; to go to work or to do something that's likely to get them in trouble. And if they aren't on their way to work...
let's get something clear....
the fireworks are NOT the biggest draw to the taste.
they are a big draw to grant park.
They're there for the free show, not necessarily for the food.
The taste runs all week and relies on the entire week of food sales rather than a one day draw from the freeloading fireworks crowd.
it aint the crackle pop. its the bang bang bang.
"Not completely forgotten. "Thanks Jesse!".
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I remember-it was the best fest ever. And I also remember those t-shirts were 5 bucks!"
--7/06/2011 10:00:00 PM
I also remember a news story that a man wearing that T-shirt was turned away at the gate. Some nervousness about "avoiding problems" or something.
Best of the Fest -- the guy who climbed back over the fences into the storage area, hurled a full half-keg into the lake, than dived in after it and tried to kick his way to shore with his prize. Kind of like a one-man minesweeper.
Police boat grabbed him.
We didn't go this year because two years ago it was the shittiest experience I ever had with my family. We spent over 150 dollars on food, 30 for oparking, jostled at every moment we walked and ate, couldn't get close to what was called entertainment, instead this year we found a small volunteer firemen's picnic, spent $30 on food, listened to a band play old cover tunes, spent about 30 dollars on carnie rides, 10 on carny games, and 10 dollars on the raffle, and got to see some fire equipment up close. The worse thing that happened was one guy using foul language; and another guy telling him to shut up that there were kids around, he shut up.
No way I would ever go to the Taste again
"The Taste has become as obsolete and fiscally unsound as the Democratic Party. Time to shitcan both.
7/06/2011 01:21:00 PM"
Amen! As long as the Sheeple keep voting as they're told by their benefactors, it won't happen. But what a wonderful thought.
Why not take a clue from other cities (Joliet/Nascar events; Boston, etc.) and have the BUSINESSES pay for and hire off duty sworn for their events? No more free security - especially when all they do is whine about having to pay their share of the taxes.
"First, fence off the grounds."
It was fenced off and they were checking bags as you entered the Taste.
Chicagoist has posted a video clip of activity at the "security success" Taste of Chicago.
http://chicagoist.com/2011/07/07/lower_attendance_to_taste_didnt_equ.php
Good riddance. Waste of Chicago is nothing but a bunch of one-time tourists and suburban proletariat eating overpriced junk food and generating huge amounts of garbage.
How ironic is that there is a huge variety of food (from Ethiopian to Thai and everything in between) to choose from, yet most sheeple --- oops I mean people --- are lined up at Ginos East, Burger King, or some other usual shithole eating and drinking the same swill that made them fat, stupid, and good to go for the future heart transplant list.
Dump this "event" and move on. It is not worth a single taxpayer dollar.
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