Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Taste of Chicago Begins This Friday

For Sloopers the Taste of Chicago is a mixed bag. Some love to wander over to Grant Park, enjoy some great food and soak up the summer weather. For others, the massive amounts of people that invade the area proves to be a big inconvenience and headache for two straight weeks.

For us, we love the musical acts that play for free. Starting this Friday, the fun begins. Some of the highlights that we're looking forward to seeing are Robert Randolph and the Family Band (Sunday, July 4th), the Steve Miller Band (Saturday, July 3rd) and a blast from the past Bell Biv Devoe, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Rob Base and the one and only Salt-N-Peppa (Friday, June 25th):



So if you're around with nothing to do, brave the crowds and enjoy a unique and occasionally fun Chicago Summer tradition.

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

Word to the wise: check the Taste calendar and avoid WGCI night at the Taste. My family and I decided to walk over to the Taste last year on a random weeknight evening, only to discover that it was WGCI night after we were knee-deep in a cloud of pot smoke and f-bomb dropping teenage gang bangers. It was the worst "chicago experience" of my life and the first time that I was frightened for my kids' well-being. My wife's purse was snatched, my infant's stroller was knocked over numerous times by absolute out-of-control thugs pushing their way through the crowd, and my 4 year was repeating the f-word and n-word for weeks following that night (and yes, unlike the parents of any of the animals at the Taste that eveing, I punished my kid every time he repeated those words and talked to him about right and wrong behavior). Not to mention I had out-of-town relatives with us that eveing who now have a perpetual bad impression of this city.

Anonymous said...

this is the week we leave the city. unfortunately The Taste attracts too many delinquents. Stay away...stay far, far away!

Anonymous said...

This is a great week for Chicago! I typically stay on the outskirts of the fest and enjoy the music and some food items...

to Anon, thanks for the obvious advice, and how did you get stuck among this mob? And with a kids and a stroller? You might be better off not going to the taste again. It's not just WGCI night (which brings a racist tone) but ALL nights where there are too many people there. Visit in the afternoon and get the heck out of there with your kids & stroller before you get hurt!

Anonymous said...

I agree with the first two anons. This festival is now a total nightmare and is usually a good time to 'escape' the city. Thugs and gang-bangers far outnumber decent citizens looking for a nice family experience. To me, just about every night could be WGCI night; however, I completely agree that WGCI night is extremely violent every year. It's a sad scene and makes you weep for the future of this great city.

Anonymous said...

Heh, I just noticed that vegetarian is misspelled "vegeterian" on the front cover of the Taste brochure. Oops!

Anonymous said...

Has anyone else noticed a recent uptick in tagging on light poles, street signs, mailboxes, garbage cans, electrical boxes, etc?

Seems like I see more and more each time I take my Saturday morning stroll around the Sloop. A CPD friend indicated that this is the way gangs start to "mark" their territory for drug trafficing. Sad. So, please either remove said tagging if it is on your personal property or call 3-1-1 to report asap. As a community, we need to send a message to these people that wasn't sent to them by their own communities just south and west of here: we will NOT tolerate this!

Also, now that the Taste has started, be aware of throngs of youth streaming towards Grant Park from Ickes, Hilliard, Long Grove, Bronzeville, etc. if you see loitering and drinking going on, CALL POLICE before it turns into something worse.

Anonymous said...

As a ten year resident of the South Loop, I have to say that the this time of year is a major pain in the ass and it's gotten worse over the last few years . . . nothing like having my street treated like a dumpster/toilet

Anonymous said...

It is sad to see so many pessimists in the South Loop. ...The Taste is a "pain in the ass"? "this is the week we leave the city"? "Every night is WGCI night"?
These are comments posted by closed-minded perpetually-scared people that might be better off in North Barrington rather than the South Loop!
This is a great week for Chicago and I will continue living my life normally regardless! I am amazed that my neighbors would have this privileged attitude... not real southsiders I guess...

Anonymous said...

Pessimists with bad attitudes? Are you kidding me? Since when is it pessimistic to not want to be harassed by drug-dealing, gang-banging, do-nothing, welfare blood-suckers while out at a neighborhood festival with your family? Why is it wrong to want to live in a neighborhood where I don't have to worry about my children being shot while playing in a park because they happen to be nearby a corner that some gang-banger tagged as "his"? In my opinion, any "true south sider" should be absolutely, positively sick and tired of picking up the paper every Monday morning to read about 30+ shootings all over the south side the previous weekend! Telling concernced citizens to "move to North Barrington" is the wrong attitude! If all concern citizens decided to simply give up the fight and flee this neighborhodd, the south loop would turn into "North Englewood" in a heartbeat.

Anonymous said...

If the polls on this blog are any indication, the negative ones are not in majority. I suspect the positive ones, if they're like me, are just sick of arguing with the few but vocal negative posters here.

Anonymous said...

I stopped reading the paper years ago, and stopped watching the local news all together. The mainstream media is scarring and scaring your mind.

You probably should get out of the southside. We typically keep our eyes open, question strangers and loiterers on our block, and stay closely involved with our neighbors and communities. When you live among millions, there are going to be a few crazys to deal with. I find it healthiest to stay positive, smile as you pass a stranger and watch your back!

Anonymous said...

Just got back from seeing Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys at Taste and it was VERY mellow. Of course I didn't go near the food stalls, I only go to hear the bands I wanna see. Food is overpriced and the crowds over that way can be horrible. But it was all good over by the Petrillo band shell.

Anonymous said...

I heard that the show was a whole lot of fun and the crowd was really great. This is a line-up that you rarely see on one stage.

Anonymous said...

I did a walk through the Taste and over half of the food items provided come out of a fryer... NASTY! It would be refreshing to have healthier choices available. For years, this is a huge profit making event for the restaurants involved and the city. Patrons of the Taste are the only ones that lose out. How does that work?

Anonymous said...

Although I'm not one of the pessimists, I must state that I am continually shocked by the way folks on this blog attack people who raise valid concerns over safety and quality of life in the south loop. It saddens me when neighbors tell neighbors to "move out of the neighborhood" if they don't like gang bangers and graffiti. As a property owner and 25 year resident of the south loop, I don't want to see either my safety or investment compromised. Face facts: your property value dissipates when you have thugs hanging on the corner and cruising through the neighborhood with gangsta rap blaring from low-riding vehicles. And the truth is, you see way more of these types during the taste. That's not being a pessimist, that's being a realist.

Anonymous said...

I walked by at 7pm, and the crowd didn't look bad at all. I took my out-of-town family on Friday when it opened, and we navigated around easily, and the food was mostly excellent.

I think most of the comments here come from those that attend on the weekends during the evening hours. It's definitely more crowded, and not when you should be going if you hate crowds or have kids, but that's true of just about any festival, not just Taste.

I agree with Anonymous June 29, 2010 1:10 PM, we all live in the big city, and anytime you're in a crowd you have to watch your back. Chicago is no different than any other city, and I enjoy this time of year when Taste is going on.

Anonymous said...

South Loop residents that are most concerned about their "investment" might be better off cashing-in now before the "gang-bangers" blaring gangsta rap from low-riding vehicles atttack! Wow, did you really say that? Actually, there are few places in any metro area where you won't find gangbangers or loud music...or low riders. I think North Dakota might be for you... unless you are afraid that all of the meth-heads might effect your "investment". Stop focusing on your money and look at how great it is to live in the Sloop, gangbangers and all!

Anonymous said...

Graffiti! Loud Music! And Low-Riders! Oh My!

This is getting old. I'd really enjoy it if the discourse on this blog didn't constantly devolve into a discussion about people who don't conform to the standards of some anonymous commenter(s) on this site.

I think we can all agree that graffiti, gangs, and violence are things we would rather not see in our neighborhood. But to act like the South Loop is some gang-infested hellhole, like you are in so much danger every time you leave your house, is just not accurate.

Ok, so there's graffiti. There's loud music (gasp!) There's garbage in the streets. There are homeless people and gangs. So what?! Call the Graffiti Blasters. Attend community meetings. Grab a can of paint. Pick up some garbage. Buy some ear plugs. Try to be part of the solution, instead of sitting in front of your computer, constantly complaining. Or, just shut the eff up.

I honestly don't understand why you live in the South Loop - or in any urban environment - if you are so disgusted by these issues. Guess what? There are millions of people living in this city. And not everyone is going to think and act just like you. Get over it already.

Anonymous said...

And right on que, people start attacking concerned citizens. Unreal.

Let's see how funny your mocking statements seem when you become a victim of random vandalism or violence.

Anonymous said...

There is a big difference between "concerned citizens" and "paranoid citizens". Don't play the victim; no one is being attacked, just reminded that a positive attitude is what makes successful urban living. Calling out gangbangers and low riders is blatantly racist and uncalled for. The "investment" that we should focus on is patience and understanding for members of your community... no matter how different they might be.

Oh, and thanks for this terrible quote (threat?), "Let's see how funny your mocking statements seem when you become a victim of random vandalism or violence." I hope that made you feel better...

Anonymous said...

Go talk to the residents of Gresham, Auburn, Grand Crossing, Englewood, Austin, Bronzeville, etc. I bet every single one of them, if they could, would go back in time and "call out gangbangers" for what they are before their neighborhoods were destroyed and turned into war zones. It's called "hindsight" and "learning by example.". Successful people (and succesful neighborhoods) employ both concepts.

Anonymous said...

If you honestly think gangs are going to take over the South Loop, where the fucking mayor lives, then you truly are as ignorant as you sound.

Anonymous said...

WGCI night and a stabbing! Sounds like a great night out for the entire family!

Anonymous said...

are you excited that this happened?

Anonymous said...

Hate to say it; but, the "Pessimistic Anon" was absolutely right. WCGI night ended with a "brawl" and "melee" (words used by both the Trib and Sun-Times, not me) which spilled out of the Taste onto south State street and end with police in riot gear ripping gang-banging thugs off of each other while three lay stabbed and wounded in the streets (and who do you think is paying for the health care rendered to these three?). This is most definitely an "I told you so" moment for our concerned citizens. Now I know why streets all over the south and west sides look like war zones. These animals are ruthless! And, not surprisingly, not a single person over 21 (i.e. a PARENT) in the entire throng! Aren't there curfew laws that were violated?

I'm also impressed how all the newspaper and TV stories which covered this "event" ended the same way: no one is in custody for any of the stabbings. Beautiful. Don't snitch prevails and perpetuates again!

Anonymous said...

it could have been much worse... you missed a great opportunity for an even better "I told you so" moment... I feel sorry for you.

The CPD did a great job managing hundreds of thousands of people this weekend, the kids that were injured are going to be okay. I hope they received quality health care, although you think that "ruthless animals" should be left in the street? Get a grip!

Anonymous said...

In another "event" that was over-shadowed by the gang-related stabbings on WGCI-night, the three thugs arrested during the following evening's melee are featured on page 9 of today's Sun-Times. Get this: these three animals attacked a family, including a 13-year old girl and a 4-month old baby (!), because the family "was in their way." Unreal! There are mug shots of all three on page 9. Take a close look. Make sure your children don't "get in their way" while walking home from school or going to the park, or they'll end up in the hospital as well.

Anonymous said...

Good point. I'm disgusted by what society has become. The same people that are living off OUR tax dollars are repaying us by terrorizing OUR neighborhoods. Even worse is the fact that while these occurences received media coverage, there were likely countless others causing problems for anyone attempting to enjoy the Taste.

Not surprised that one of the arrested thugs is a CTA bus driver. Maybe that's why the CTA seems so unconcerned with gang tagging and piles of sh!t all over CTA bus and rail stops.

Anonymous said...

Good point. I'm disgusted by what society has become. The same people that are living off OUR tax dollars are repaying us by terrorizing OUR neighborhoods. Even worse is the fact that while these occurences received media coverage, there were likely countless others causing problems for anyone attempting to enjoy the Taste.

Not surprised that one of the arrested thugs is a CTA bus driver. Maybe that's why the CTA seems so unconcerned with gang tagging and piles of sh!t all over CTA bus and rail stops.

Anonymous said...

Please don't stop your ranting, it's very entertaining...

the society that you want to live in ended in the 50's. You might feel better making a few lifestyle adjustments... like northern Canada.

Anonymous said...

Once again, thanks "neighbor" for responding to the legitimate gripes of a concerned citizen by telling him/her to "move to northern Canada.". Nice. And classy. I'm sure you condone the murder of the CPD officer in the parking lot of the police station at 61st street this afternoon by a gang-banging thug "because this isn't the 1950s anymore."

Further proof that this hood is not that far off from being "northern Englewood" within a few short years.

Anonymous said...

Further proof that this hood is not that far off from being "northern Englewood" within a few short years.

About time.

Charles J said...

Take it easy...we have alien 'visitors' every year during the Taste of Chicago. Please continue to call police for loitering, graffiti, etc. Compared to any other part of Chicago, the South Loop is still the most beautiful, well-maintained area.

Anonymous said...

The importance of calling police to report loitering and tagging cannot be stressed enough. These seemingly insignificant offenses lay the groundwork for other serious crimes.

Loitering leads to lawlessness. Groups of teens standing around a street corner after curfew (YES - chicago DOES have curfew laws!) are undoubtedly up to no good. Further, the tagging must be reported and removed immediately. As a neighborhood, we must not allow these thugs to "mark" our streets as theirs.

And for those of you so inclined to mock your neighbors for "freaking out over loitering and graffiti," I urge you to speak to the citizens of Gresham, Englewood, Bronzeville, Lawndale, etc. They will tell you how nice their neighborhoods were prior to the infiltration of gangs and drugs.

Anonymous said...

"Further proof that this hood is not that far off from being "northern Englewood" within a few short years."

Sorry, but this is so detached from reality, I don't know what else to say.

Anonymous said...

After reading these comments I think I may want to move out of the south loop... I'm realizing I'm surrounded by racists and bigots, and that's very scary.

Anonymous said...

How is complaining about gang violence "racist"? Maybe that's why more people don't complain - out of fear that shallow-minded neighbors automatically label you as a racist if you demand a violence-free neighborhood. I guess that's why certain parts of this city, which are predominately of one ethnicity, look like war-torn countries!

I also find it odd that you're scared of so-called "racists" but have no problem with armed street thugs. Maybe you're racist.

Anonymous said...

Anon, complaining about gang violence certainly is not racist; however, when it is accompanied by the racist language and generalizations so commonly found in this thread, it pretty clearly fits the definition of racist.

Shame on you for accusing the other commenter of being a friend of "street thugs" without any evidence. Your statement seems to suggest that fighting crime requires making all other issues secondary, including confronting the bigots in our midst.

MarkChicago said...

Once again, the thug sympathizers come out in force playing the race card. I will agree with you that generalizations will not get us anywhere, but statistics and real events don't lie. It's not a race issue, it's about identifying problems and threats to our safety. People use real, current events to analyze and predict, this is not racist or irrational. It's clear which neighborhoods enable disregard for civility and enable savagery. Ignoring the themes playing out in our community will not solve anything, but only add you to the shameful group, the local media included, who deliberately ignore race (and religion).

Anonymous said...

Maybe if we convert some of these failed condo projects to Section 8 housing it might help the situation?

Anonymous said...

According to Mark, apparently anyone who confronts a bigot is a "thug sympathizer." I'm glad he brings up statistics, though. Statistics show that violent crime is decreasing in Chicago and that the majority occurs within a few blocks on the west and south sides. May I remind you that this a blog about the South Loop. I don't see a whole lot of thugs, but I sure do see a whole lot of bigots commenting on this blog.

MarkChicago said...

Projecting-racism Anon...where are the bigots on this thread? I will assume you have checked your statistics and use the following logic:

All white people don't like to get mugged or murdered, 50% of murders and muggings are committed by black people...ipso facto...all white people are racist.

Anonymous said...

Sloopin - A Bigot Blog.

Sloopin - A blog devoted to all that is and could be racist in the South Loop.

I think I've had enough of these racist conversations. Since Sloopin' never wants to comment, I'm forced to believe Sloopin' supports this garbage. Do you hate black people too Sloopy? I guess I won't be supporting your blog by buying a T-shirt. I certainly don't want to be associated with many of the people that constantly comment on this blog... It's bad enough they live in my neighborhood and are constantly giving us South Loopers a bad name with their bigoted comments.

Tim said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Mark, regardless of whether you're being facetious or not, I'm not exactly sure what point you're trying to make with any aspect of that logic.

Do you even live in the South Loop? Certain information on the web seems to indicate you're from one of the other neighborhoods you constantly bring up. If that is the case, please stop projecting your hood's problems on mine.