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Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Taste of Chicago 2014 | July 9-13 | general info, & accessibility tips for People with Disabilities & Seniors

The information posted is from various sources, and updates will be posted as available ...




Taste of Chicago

Welcome sign at the 1989 Taste of Chicago

In 1980 a group of restaurateurs approached the Mayor of Chicago with the idea of a food festival on the Fourth of July, and Taste of Chicago was born. Inspired by a “build it and they will come” attitude, a $150,000 budget, and confidence the event could attract 75,000 people, plans for the one-day food frenzy got under way. The festival was held in a three-block area of Michigan Avenue bordered by the Chicago River and the upscale stores and buildings that were then beginning to grace the Magnificent Mile; and between the architectural wonders of the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower.

It was a huge success, (250,000 attended the first “Taste,” and food and soda sales grossed $330,000).
[I might be getting old, I was at the first taste...Jim]

The Site

Due to the overwhelming response from the people of Chicago, a larger space to accommodate even more people and restaurants was deemed necessary and in 1981, Taste of Chicago was moved to Grant Park (Chicago’s “front yard”).

Grant Park is centrally located, easily accessible to public transportation and parking, and is identifiable to citizens and visitors as the center of the Grant Park Cultural community which includes the Art Institute, Adler Planetarium and Shedd Oceanarium, Field Museum, Cultural Center, Michigan Avenue and State Street Shopping. The use of Grant Park as a venue would also afford utilization of the Petrillo Music Shell, originally designed for us by the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. This would handily give access to a stage, dressing rooms and showers for performers, as well as seating for thousands of people.

Description of Taste of Chicago

The Taste of Chicago that evolved from that steamy July 4th in 1980 is one of the largest tourist attractions in Illinois. This free- admission festival, now in its 33rd year, is the place to be, infusing the city with a spirit and attracting lead stories each day in newspapers and on television.

It is an impressive scene. Colorfully decorated food booths surround the outside kitchens of more than three dozen restaurants from all over Chicago, which now include Pop-Ups, three booths featuring new restaurants each day, that are also new to Taste. Exotic aromas permeate the air and no visitor leaves a food booth empty handed.

Last year’s “Taste” attracted more than one million visitors from all over the city, the suburbs, the Midwest and the country.

Taste underwent a major transformation in 2013 with several new areas that highlight our vast culinary community. In addition to Pop-Ups, the event features Celebrity Chef du Jour, a specially designed air-conditioned dining experience where patrons can receive a sit-down, three-course meal prepared by noted chefs such as Graham Elliot and Stephanie Izard.

The Family Village presents special activities for kids, while the Bud Light Stage offers the best in local and regional music, covering a variety of genres.

For festival goers who want to satisfy more than their appetites, a popular attraction is the Dominick’s Cooking Corner where local chefs, guest stars and our celebrity chefs demonstrate their wares and confide the secrets of their culinary success.

A star attraction in addition to Chicago’s vast culinary offerings are real stars from the music industry who perform on the main stage at the Petrillo Music Shell. Over the years the lineup has included multiple Grammy winners including such stars as Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder and Wilco.

Summer in Chicago is built around one event each year, Taste of Chicago, and continues to capture the favorites and the future of Chicago’s restaurant and dining community.

The 2014 Taste of Chicago will take place July 9-13




Sights, Smells and Sounds
The big attraction? The food, of course! Chicago-style pizza and hot dogs as well polish sausage and dozens of other ethnic specialties are the star of the show as over 70 restaurants from around Chicagoland offer up more than 300 of their menu's best dishes to an appreciative audience.
Admission is free to Taste of Chicago, although "Taste Tickets" must be bought to purchase food and drinks during the 10-day bash (cash is not accepted.)

2014 Concert Lineup
Other events during the annual summer festival in Grant Park include free performances of live music at the Petrillo Music Shell, as well as other stage venues featuring local as well as nationally-known big name performers.

The official Taste of Chicago concert lineup was announced on April 21, 2014 with tickets going on sale in mid-May. Concert price admission has jumped recently to $50 for tickets in front of the Petrillo Music Shell. A majority of seats on the lawn beyond, with a capacity of 30,000, remain free.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS: CLICK HERE


The Taste of Chicago lineup includes:

July 9: AWOLNATION with Valory
July 10: Janelle Monae with Gary Clark Jr.
July 11: Nickel Creek, Emmylou Harris, Parker Millsap
July 12: Jeff Tweedy (solo) with more artists TBA
July 13: Aloe Blacc with the Wailers




Robert Plant - Whole Lotta Love - July 12, 2013 at Taste of Chicago



Taste of Chicago - Plan Your Visit
Location & Hours
Grant Park (Jackson Blvd. & Columbus Dr.) Chicago, IL 60604
July 9, 10 & 11: 11am-9pm; July 12 & 13: 10am-9pm
Ticket sales end at 8:30pm




Accessibility


Each Taste of Chicago booth has an accessible counter.

Accessible seating tickets are available to purchase for the evening concerts at the Petrillo Music Shell.


Transportation

Where is the transportation drop off and pick up located? For Paratransit and vehicles transporting people with disabilities, the location is at the southeast corner of Monroe and Columbus.

Where can I park? Parking for the public at Taste of Chicago is located at the Millennium Garage; entrance is on Columbus.

Assistance

What materials are provided to people with disabilities who come to the Taste of Chicago?

ALDs (Assistive Listening Devices) are available at the southeast corner of Columbus and Monroe
Sign language interpreted performances
Braille and large print versions of the brochure are available at the information booth at the southeast corner of Columbus and Monroe



Admission

Entrance into the festival is free admission.

Food and Beverage Tickets

Food and beverage tickets are sold in strips of 12 tickets for $8 (includes $2 charge for Taste amenities). Ticket sales end at 8:30pm.

Smaller "Taste of Portions" are available at each food vendor and are between 1-5 tickets.

FULL LIST: 2014 Taste of Chicago Restaurants

Five-day restaurants:
  • Abbey Pub & Restaurant
  • Bacino’s of LIncoln Park
  • Beat Kitchen
  • Billy Goat Inn
  • BJ’s Market & Bakery
  • Bobak Sausage Co.
  • Caffe Gelato
  • Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill
  • Chicago’s Dog House
  • Churro Factory
  • Connie’s Pizza
  • Eli’s Cheesecake
  • Franco’s Ristorante
  • Gold Coast Dogs
  • Iyanze
  • Kasia’s Deli
  • Lawrence’s Fisheries
  • Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
  • M Burger
  • Manny’s Coffee Shop
  • Mariano’s
  • Oak Street Beach Cafe
  • O’Brien’s Restaurant
  • Original Rainbow Cone
  • Pazzo’s Cucina Italiana
  • Ricobene’s on 26th St.
  • Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs
  • SpritzBurger
  • Star of Siam
  • The Fudge Pot
  • The Noodle Vietnamese
  • The Savoy
  • The Smoke Daddy
  • Tuscany
  • Vee-Vee’s African Restaurant
Pop-Up Restaurants
Wednesday, July 9 – Jin Ju, Mayal Sol Latin Grill, Brasserie by LM and Restaurant Veneno de Naya
Thursday, July 10 – Jin Ju, Stan’s Donuts & Coffee, Brasserie by LM and Punky’s Pizza and Pasta
Friday, July 11 – Riva, Stan’s Donuts & Coffee, Kamehachi and Punky’s Pizza and Pasta
Saturday, July 12 – Taco Join, Sol de Mexico, Kamehachi, Garifuna Flava: A Taste of Belize
Food Trucks
Wednesday July 9
South Columbus, near the Bud Light Stage: Bridgeport Pasty, Cheesie’s, Gino’s Steaks Truck, Pork Chop, Taquero Fusion, Ms Tittle’s Cupcakes and Windy City Patty Wagon.
Butler Field at the Petrillo Music Shell: Giordano’s, The Fat Shallot and Starfruit Cafe.
Thursday July 10
South Columbus, near the Bud Light Stage: Bridgeport Pasty, Cheesie’s, Chicago Cupcake, Chicago Lunchbox, Gino’s Steaks Truck, Jerk and Windy City Patty Wagon.
Butler Field at the Petrillo Music Shell: Bombay Wraps, The Fat Shallot and Starfruit Cafe.
Friday, July 11
South Columbus, near the Bud Light Stage: Beavers Coffee and Donuts, Bridgeport Pasty, Chicago Lunchbox, Harold’s Chicken, Jerk and The Fat Shallot.
Butler Field at the Petrillo Music Shell: Cheesie’s, Giordano’s, Ms. Tittle’s Cupcakes and Pork Chop.
Saturday July 12
South Columbus, near the Bud Light Stage: Beavers Coffee and Donuts, Bombay Wraps, Chicago Cupcake, Gino’s Steaks Truck, Harold’s Chicken, Pork Chop and Taquero Fushion.
Butler Field at the Petrillo Music Shell: Giordano’s, Jerk, Pork Chop and Starfruit Cafe.
Pure Leaf Celebrity Chef du Jour 3 to 4-course dinners on Buckingham Fountain Plaza
July 9 – Chef Art Smith, TABLE fifty-two and LYFE Kitchen
July 10 – Chef Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia – Fear no Art’s The Dinner Party hosted by Elysabeth Alfano and featuring actor George Wendt and others.
July 11 – Chef Paul Virant, Vie and Perennial Virant
July 12 – Chef Erling Wu-Bower and Chef Amanda Rockman, Nico Osteria
July 13 – Chef Matthias Merges, A10, Billy Sunday and Yusho
Tickets for the dinners are $45 at TasteofChicago.us. The chefs will also give a FREE demonstration at In the Kitchen with Mariano’s pavilion the day of their dinners.


FAQs

1. What items are prohibited from being brought onto festival grounds?

  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • BBQ Grills (Open Flames)
  • Fireworks or Explosives
  • Illegal Substances & Weapons
  • Pop-up Tents/Canopies
  • Beach/Picnic Umbrellas
  • Flag Poles
  • All Pets (except Service Animals)

Failure to comply with the above may result in entry being denied. All containers will be subject to search. Bicycles may not be ridden on festival grounds.

2. Can I bring a folding chair and blanket into the festival? Yes, but folding chairs are not allowed in the seating area of the Petrillo Music Shell.

3. Can I bring a tent into the festival? Personal tents and canopies are NOT allowed at any lakefront event.

4. Can I bring my dog with me into the festival? No. For your dog's protection and for the public's safety, all dogs (except service animals) are restricted from the festivals and you will be asked to leave the festival with your dog. (This policy is supported by the Anti-Cruelty Society.)

5. Is there an admission fee to get into the festival grounds? No.


Public Transportation

The following streets will be closed during the Taste of Chicago:
Columbus from Monroe to Balbo and from Balbo to Roosevelt (Balbo is open to traffic).
Jackson from Michigan Ave. to Lake Shore Drive and Congress from Michigan Ave. to Columbus.


Where is the transportation drop off and pick up located? For Paratransit and vehicles transporting people with disabilities, the location is at the southeast corner of Monroe and Columbus.

Parking
If you are driving, park directly under the action at Millennium Garages. Visit www.millenniumgarages.com for details.

Biking 
Bike parking is available on the perimeter of Grant and Millennium Parks. Visit the Chicago Bicycle Program for maps, safety, and other information.


Visitor Information

Information on Chicago's Visitor Information Centers .

Petrillo Music Shell Seats

How do I purchase a ticket for accessible seating?
 http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/EventListings.action?pl=taste&orgId=147622

What are the requirements to purchase these tickets? A limited amount of general admission accessible seating will be provided in the front rows near the main stage as well as seating disbursed throughout the rest of the seating area for people with the following types of disabilities:
  • Individuals who use wheelchairs
  • Individuals with disabilities who are ambulatory, but use mobility devises such as walkers or crutches
  • Individuals who are ambulatory, but who are unable to stand during the performance
  • Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and need unobstructed sightlines to the sign language interpreter
  • Individuals who are blind or have visual impairments that require seating in close proximity to the stage
Is the lawn seating accessible? Yes, the lawn area for the Petrillo Music Shell shows is accessible and FREE to the public.

Map

Assistance

What materials are provided to people with disabilities who come to the Taste of Chicago?

ALDs (Assistive Listening Devices) are available at the southeast corner of Columbus and Monroe
Sign language interpreted performances
Braille and large print versions of the brochure are available at the information booth at the southeast corner of Columbus and Monroe

#Resources: 
Taste of Chicago 2014 - Check out official information from Chicago's city site including this year's schedule, photos, maps & directions, parking information, history and fun facts.
Taste of Chicago - Time Out Chicago - What's hot at Taste of Chicago, plus how to get there, parking information and related Chicago travel resources.
Taste of Chicago - Wikipedia - Detailed overview with fun facts and historical details, popular vendors and entertainment with related references and resources, photos.

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