Bryan W. Alaspa 1More Chicago Seasons
July 1st 2009 13:38
While not long ago I mentioned that Chicago really only had two seasons (Winter and Construction) the fact is that isn’t entirely true. What we have here in the Windy City is the regular four seasons and then some man-made sub-seasons. We are in the thick of two of those right now. The first is the “Taste of…” season and the second is “block party” season.
The concept was simple at first. There was this thing called Chicago Fest and it was downtown. They blocked off the area and the streets around the massive park area known as Grant Park. I believe at one time it also expanded into the huge finger extending into Lake Michigan known as Navy Pier. For all intents and purposes the Fest was very lame. I never knew a single person who went to the damn thing and the reports on television from those who did go were that it sucked.
Then, somewhere along the way, someone got the bright idea to switch from a generic fair type of deal to an event that required a major Chicago pastime – eating. Why not a festival that was just about food? Well, with that Taste of Chicago was born and it has been holding strong and assaulting stomach linings for a long time now.
Well, with the success of that the surrounding communities did what most people do when something is successful – they copied it. Soon, other “Tastes of..” began popping up. Now, every suburb has one and, even more alarmingly, every neighborhood in Chicago has one. There is the Taste of Elmwood Park and the Taste of Park Ridge and the Taste of Whatever. Soon there will be the Taste of Bob’s House and it will be held in his driveway. Why not? If it works for the rest of the city why not some guy named Bob?
The celebrations go down to the block level here. If there is one thing Chicagoans love more than going to “Tastes of…” it would be blocking off streets and having those inflatable bouncing castle things set up in the middle of the street. I grew up on a block that never had these things. All around me my friends would rave about their block parties, but the ancient people who lived on my block when I was growing up never wanted to have one. Thankfully, many of them moved away or died, and now younger people live on the block on which I grew up. Of course, now I have no desire to attend a block party, but better late than never.
Both ends of the block get shut off and kids get to, literally, run in the street. Neighbors are supposed to get to know their neighbors but, from what I see, most of them just invite over their families and friends and then sit out in front of their homes with those people instead of interacting with their neighbors. Some seem to take the opportunity to have their family reunions there.
There is often a band which is usually comprised of some middle-aged wannabe rockers who have yet to give up the idea that they are never going to be in a successful band. There’s nothing like playing in the streets while little kids ride their bikes into your microphones and try to shout into them when you aren’t on stage, right folks? Rock on!
So, if you are visiting Chicago, I suggest you take in the Taste of Chicago. They do have great food and it’s fun and they have real rock bands playing. Unless you live on a block and actually like your neighbors, I suggest you forget about the block parties.
The concept was simple at first. There was this thing called Chicago Fest and it was downtown. They blocked off the area and the streets around the massive park area known as Grant Park. I believe at one time it also expanded into the huge finger extending into Lake Michigan known as Navy Pier. For all intents and purposes the Fest was very lame. I never knew a single person who went to the damn thing and the reports on television from those who did go were that it sucked.
Then, somewhere along the way, someone got the bright idea to switch from a generic fair type of deal to an event that required a major Chicago pastime – eating. Why not a festival that was just about food? Well, with that Taste of Chicago was born and it has been holding strong and assaulting stomach linings for a long time now.
Well, with the success of that the surrounding communities did what most people do when something is successful – they copied it. Soon, other “Tastes of..” began popping up. Now, every suburb has one and, even more alarmingly, every neighborhood in Chicago has one. There is the Taste of Elmwood Park and the Taste of Park Ridge and the Taste of Whatever. Soon there will be the Taste of Bob’s House and it will be held in his driveway. Why not? If it works for the rest of the city why not some guy named Bob?
The celebrations go down to the block level here. If there is one thing Chicagoans love more than going to “Tastes of…” it would be blocking off streets and having those inflatable bouncing castle things set up in the middle of the street. I grew up on a block that never had these things. All around me my friends would rave about their block parties, but the ancient people who lived on my block when I was growing up never wanted to have one. Thankfully, many of them moved away or died, and now younger people live on the block on which I grew up. Of course, now I have no desire to attend a block party, but better late than never.
Both ends of the block get shut off and kids get to, literally, run in the street. Neighbors are supposed to get to know their neighbors but, from what I see, most of them just invite over their families and friends and then sit out in front of their homes with those people instead of interacting with their neighbors. Some seem to take the opportunity to have their family reunions there.
There is often a band which is usually comprised of some middle-aged wannabe rockers who have yet to give up the idea that they are never going to be in a successful band. There’s nothing like playing in the streets while little kids ride their bikes into your microphones and try to shout into them when you aren’t on stage, right folks? Rock on!
So, if you are visiting Chicago, I suggest you take in the Taste of Chicago. They do have great food and it’s fun and they have real rock bands playing. Unless you live on a block and actually like your neighbors, I suggest you forget about the block parties.
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