Taste...Going...Going....
- After powerful storms led to the cancellation of Saturday’s festivities at the Taste of Chicago, final attendance numbers for last weekend’s event also took a bath.
Roughly 1.1 million attended the annual food and music festival in Grant Park this year, according to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office. That’s down 400,000 from last year’s attendance number of 1.5 million.
Attendance also was slightly down when compared to 2012, when 1.2 million people went to the festival.
Overall, however, attendance numbers for the festival – which was first held in 1980 — have been on a skid since the heyday of the mid-2000s. An estimated 3.6 million people attended the festival in both 2006 and 2007.
Rahm and Garry lucked out with Saturday's rain-out, as "wilding" youths were expected to be in full force according to insiders who monitor the social media sites for indications of, shall we say...over-exuberance? And in light of what wasn't/couldn't be prevented at Montrose Beach, perhaps a strategic withdrawal is in Rahm's best interest.
Labels: we got nothing
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
58 Comments:
When towns such as Naperville offer so much more for so much less, and not worry about being a victim of a crime. Why drive downtown and pay $30-$35 just to park? No Thanks!
SCC, how about this, maybe have the event on every odd/even year, throw the idiots off base!
IJS! at least its a different approach
1.1 million over 4 days? No way. The only way to revive the Taste is to take a page from Milwaukee and Summerfest. Fence it off, charge admission. Was up there 2weeks ago. Not one group of "exuberant urban youth" running wild.
You suggest a strategic withdrawal from Taste, SCC? Why, that's what Emanuel planned all along.
The replacement will be produced and directed by Ari and it will be a huge financial $ucce$$ for those who matter most in this world.
retreat
close north avenue beach because of heat , makes sense
rain in morning , close down the taste , keep gang bangers away
Stick a fork in it . . . it is done.
Instead, the City should encourage festivities such as Taste. They provide and outlet and diversion for our youth. A way in which youth can engage in wholesome endevors, and group participation. This is particularly important for our youth of color. We don't want them to feel estranged.
Tastes like DETRIOT
Who cares about the taste. If I want different food I'll drive to another restaurant. No biggie.
400,000 ran out of ammo. Crime is down! Now if we could only get out of this rain drought. Thanks to no leadership nature is taking its course. Fools.
Rahm and Garry lied about closing the North Avenue beach Memorial Day 2011, why wouldn't they lie now? Same deal, same clowns.
NOW get rid of Puerto Rican Fest.
Save the taxpayers over 1.5 Million in police services each year
Wasn't it too hot on Saturday?
The city should just privatize the taste so they can make a profit. What's so wrong with charging $10 each to enjoy a nice and safe taste??
Who cares if Jesse Jackson starts marching. No one listens to him, or his criminal kids anymore.
F Y I... While the Taste began in 1980, Jane Byrne actually started the festival in 1979 with ChicagoFest, located at Navy Pier. It was more of a music fest, with barges moored at various locations around the Pier and set up as stages for different bands and music types, ie Blues Stage, Country Stage etc. There was also a main stage at the entrance to the Pier for BIG groups. It was really pretty awesome and I was sorry they didn't continue it in that format.
I think Milwaukee's Summerfest is more like the original ChicagoFest than anything else.
After decades of living on the south side I've moved downtown a couple of years ago and am stunned at the frequency and duration that the city fences off huge portions of the park and Buckingham fountain from taxpayers and tourists alike for monetary gain. The Taste of Chicago and lollapalooza just to name a couple.
The FRIENDS OF THE PARKS did great work in the past denying Daley his children's museum but they and taxpayers seem to be losing little by little to the city.
"Rahm and Garry lied about closing the North Avenue beach Memorial Day 2011, why wouldn't they lie now? Same deal, same clowns"
Great point. And except for talk radio the next day the press willfully ignored that story and refused to question the mayor or police commissioner on the preposterous claim that a BEACH was closed due to HEAT.
The media in Chicago is a national disgrace.
Remember Riverview?
Chicago needs to have festivals and frequent fiesta for the entertainment of all our south of the border immigrants. I have heard we will be getting many thousands shipped up to us in the next days and weeks. Be Happy Fiesta.
Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Tourism Director Desiree Rogers should direct tourists to visit the cultural event of the summer, the annual Bud Biliken Parade.
Now, how about shutting down Puerto Rican Fest? This is a taxpayer funded 4-day bender for the bangers . The respectable Puerto Rican families go to the parade and have their own BBQ.
Oh, that's right, Alderman Maldonado uses the Fest to keep getting re-elected. That's why he is so adamant against charging an admission fee.
Time to put a fork into PR fest as well.
Get rid of all the events unless they're fenced off with an admission fee. Keep the vermin outside the venue.
I've enjoyed coming down to Chicago from Minneapolis a couple of times each year, but I think I'm going to skip it for awhile. It would be one thing to hang tough with the good people of Chicago against the barbarians, but I don't think your political leaders are willing to even put up a real fight.
Where am I going to buy my next $8 chicken Mcnugget on a stick?
It's a shame that a major metropolitan area like Chicago can't hold a festival...
Chicago Fest was the beginning of Taste of Chicago, and it was copied directly from Milwaukee Fest. JANE BYRNE CHARGED ADMISSION JUST LIKE MILWAUKEE, Jesse Jackson called for a boycott because charging a fee was discriminatory, and he was correct! Charging Admission deters people who are not there to enjoy the fest, and unfortunately that includes a lot of people of color. If you attend any of the festivals on the Northside, they charge you a "donation" to get in. And that donation keeps a lot of people who would be a problem out. So why does Taste not charge an admission? Charge an admission and many of the problems will stay out. If you can charge $5 to walk on Clark street which is a public way, then you can charge for the Taste.
>>>> 'Overall, however, attendance numbers for the festival – which was first held in 1980 — have been on a skid since the heyday of the mid-2000s. <<<<
Yeah, the 'heyday' -- when gang-bangers, criminal scum, and bands of roving Visigoths stayed the hell away. Back then civilized people and their families could safely go with their kids without fear of being robbed, beaten, raped, or shot.
I'll never forget when a Tourist got a stray bullet fired into his hotel room that came from some banger mutt who was at Taste. Afterwards Daley said something like: 'Gangbangers have a right to bring their family to Taste too.' Friggen idiot.
So thanks Shortshanks, you piece of shit.
Why are Chicagoans so fuckin Stupid? You have a serious problem. You've paid City Employees big money for years to fix those problems. You still have the same problems and they're getting worse. You are still paying the same people who have failed to solve those problems the same big money. Who are the Dummy's ?
They are Not Professional Problem-Solvers.
They are Professional Excuse-Makers.
They are also known as Democrats.
And the blind liberal public thinks it was actually cancelled because of "rain." Im ashamed to be an American sometimes, we have turned into a city and nation of naïve,spineless retards who believe anything shoved down our thoat, no wonder the world laughs at us. when I was a kid my dad use to say "Americans are dumb" I see what he means now, and he was right. The media, mayor, sup all lie to you and you brainless dumbies believe it. wake the fuck up, look around, illegal alien invasion, youth out of FUCKING control, we have millions for stupid, unnecessary proects but nothing to hire the 2000 cops were down. WAKE THE FUCK UP liberals and democrats. This city is FUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"When towns such as Naperville offer so much more for so much less, and not worry about being a victim of a crime..." Funny, the crime problem is undoubtedly the most important factor here, but politicians tap dance around it constantly and instead blame business owners (remember Moochelle Obama's rants about "food deserts" - grocery stores don't want to locate somewhere their employees are likely to be shot or robbed and delivery trucks will be 'jacked), weather, etc. It's why the Indianapolis Zoo relocated 20 years ago out of the 'hood - the animals in the cages weren't safe from the animals outside.
It was never worth the money. Burger king and McDonald s out sold everybody. High end restaurants went there in the beginning, overcharged people, lost money, dropped out. In the end it was robinsons ribs, mcdonalds, and some guys selling egg rolls. Not an event worth shit. No name entertainment. It is dead. Put a plastic fork in it.
Is that a decrease in the increase of last years attendees?
I stopped going to events at Grant Park (Blues fest, Taste, etc) when they started fencing it off and you felt like you were in a prison.
Chicago under the occupation of Rahm:
First teachers strike in over 20 yrs
Complete dismantlement of the Chicago Police Department, absolute understaffing, total breakdown
Crime statistics fabricated
Out of control crime and shootings
Homicides at an all time high
Dismantlement of the Chicago Fire Department
Middle class gone
Property value down
Property taxes up
City population down but more illegals on the way
Pension fund unpaid yet Rahm has $2,000,000,000. TIF funds that he controls
Aldermen who are marginalized and ineffective ( their own fault)
Worst publik skool systim in da country
An infrastructure that in in complete decay
Every city employee without clout is in a dead end job
The new city motto: " survive and escape"
The city bird : none they flew away and never came back...
The city after school activity: flash mobbing by the lake
The " Magnificent Mile " to " Run for your life mile"
And the official city response: " um, I don't recall, that's silly".....
Chicago now known as Chiraq, more deadly than Afghanistan, bravo Rahm you are king..........
If you charged 8-10 dollars to get into the Taste, the problems would not exist. look at Milwaukee and Naperville.
Maybe attendance was down because those of us who aren't in a gang didn't want to be assaulted by those who are...after all, some of us actually don't want to get shot up when trying to enjoy the summer. And have realized that Chicago is just a magnet for pickpockets, muggers, gangbangers, rapists, etc., even without the press coverage of same.
Nobody I know who attended had a good word to say about it.
I visited "Taste of Chicago" once and never returned. Obscenely high prices for mediocre food. The tickets to be used to make purchases from the food vendors were rigged, so that you wound up "eating" unused tickets. It was crowded, sweat and unsanitary. I am surprised that some visitors did not end up hospitalized for food poisoning. There were bags of uncollected garbage piled high and only a line of portable toilets on the grounds. I have visited cleaner stables.
In comparison, Milwaukee's Summer Fest is in an enclosed park with on site restrooms and every kitchen area is equipped with fixtures. Parking is near at hand. The freeloaders and criminals cannot roam the grounds unless they pay admission to gain entry.
Good riddance to this civic disgrace.
There was a taste?
014 said...
NOW get rid of Puerto Rican Fest.
Save the taxpayers over 1.5 Million in police services each year
7/15/2014 03:26:00 AM
The P.R. Fest is slowly dwindling in size. Let's face it the neighborhood is changing for the better and the P.R. population down there is moving out. Pretty soon Screwy Louie Gutierrez will be gone because his people will be no longer in his district.
Rahm and Garry are doing for Chicago what Obama and Eric the Red are doing for the nation. Good democrats all.
Charge admission? That's racist.
And the bangers don't have money? please, if not an i-bond the $$ is at the station before the paper is done.
call it what it is...a shit city.
Anonymous said...
"When towns such as Naperville offer so much more for so much less, and not worry about being a victim of a crime..." Funny, the crime problem is undoubtedly the most important factor here, but politicians tap dance around it constantly and instead blame business owners (remember Moochelle Obama's rants about "food deserts" - grocery stores don't want to locate somewhere their employees are likely to be shot or robbed and delivery trucks will be 'jacked), weather, etc. It's why the Indianapolis Zoo relocated 20 years ago out of the 'hood - the animals in the cages weren't safe from the animals outside.
7/15/2014 11:47:00 AM
Naperville charges $15 admission just to get in. Their police is out there in force. They do a good job on security and keeping the shit element at bay. They ought to take over Chicago City government. Good job Naperville. Two rib dinners plus sodas were $20, not two lousy ribs, half a slab each. Selection from about 8 rib joints at least. Fuck Chicago. Plenty of free parking plus shuttle buses from all the outlying parking lots. What's not to like? I took a ride on the ferris wheel with my wife and I saw the Sears Tower from the top and laughed. Chicago, never again.
Anonymous said...
And the blind liberal public thinks it was actually cancelled because of "rain." Im ashamed to be an American sometimes, we have turned into a city and nation of naïve,spineless retards who believe anything shoved down our thoat, no wonder the world laughs at us. when I was a kid my dad use to say "Americans are dumb" I see what he means now, and he was right. The media, mayor, sup all lie to you and you brainless dumbies believe it. wake the fuck up, look around, illegal alien invasion, youth out of FUCKING control, we have millions for stupid, unnecessary proects but nothing to hire the 2000 cops were down. WAKE THE FUCK UP liberals and democrats. This city is FUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/15/2014 10:24:00 AM
Police I heard from said that a worker at a vendors booth was standing in water and got energized when she grabbed an electric cord of some type and almost got herself kilt by electricity.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Remember Riverview?
7/15/2014 06:21:00 AM
Yes.
Name one thing about the Taste thats any good..
OT: Went down to Gun Registration the other day to register a new duty carbine (Sorry Court). On the registration form there was a spot to put in my Social Security Number. I left it blank and turned the form in. The gun registration officer told me that without putting the number in, he could not accept my application. I informed and showed him section 6.11 of the Contract with the City that states, "The Social Security Number of an officer covered by this Agreement shall not be disclosed and shall not be included on documents, except those essential for payroll or compensation purposes." This has been in effect since 01 Jul 07. I put in my number on the form and then returned to my district and put in a grievance. I called FOP and informed them of my actions. Yesterday I was informed by FOP that they had contacted the City and we will no longer be required to put our social security number on the gun registration form. Fine, thank you FOP. However there are thousands of old forms that have our social security numbers on them as well as computer files! I requested that all old forms have our social security numbers redacted and computer files erased. The collection of these numbers has gone on since 2007, seven years after we got it prohibited by contract! If in your job you know that social security numbers are recorded for purposes other than allowed by contract, please let the Lodge know!
JANS, Kevin C. 024 Unit Rep
Joe Henry whose brothers were Chicago police was the sole reason the taste was so successful . After a brief disagreement with one of the so called bosses Joe was dismissed the next year. Class act who was there and reached out to help everyone . Such a shame !!!
I heard the best attendance was when Jackson boycotted it
The decline of the Taste of Chicago is due to the mobs of black kids shooting and fighting.
That's a fact, not an opinion.
It's time to get rid of the Taste of Shit.
Yes. And River View closed too after the savages took it over.
The P.R. Fest is slowly dwindling in size. Let's face it the neighborhood is changing for the better and the P.R. population down there is moving out. Pretty soon Screwy Louie Gutierrez will be gone because his people will be no longer in his district.
7/15/2014 03:02:00 PM
...or because he's in Federal custody.
"Taste Like Detroit". I love it!!! Best laugh in along time. Stupid Rhambo wants to lay waste to the "Taste of Chicago" cause it has Daley's fingerprints all over it. He wants to kill the taste by letting it self destroy, then "Rebrand" the name and leave his signature on it. As if having his name on every city document wasn't enough. For such a petite man, he has a HUGE ego.
Police I heard from said that a worker at a vendors booth was standing in water and got energized when she grabbed an electric cord of some type and almost got herself kilt by electricity.
So now we close down all fests,concerts or outdoor activities when it rains or do we just not allow the use of electricity.
Not a smart idea to grab an electrical cord if you are standing in water
Well, 'bye!
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