It’s what Chicago does best and that is eating a lot of food. I attened the taste of Chicago for the first time in a few tears and you know what; not much has changed. I believe this to be a good thing. With all the budget cuts flying around the city it was nice to see the city still intact. There were rumor they were going to charge for admission, but I happy to report this is not the case. All you have to do is buy tickets and bring a healthy appetite. And for twelve tickets for eight bucks it’s still a reasonable price. Especialy if you ever tried to eat in this city for eight bucks. But I want to offer a few helpful tips to make the fest as pleasurable as it can be.

First thing I can say is go early. Start around noon or one it will make all the difference in the world. For starters the place is still clean. This includes water fountains, toilets, and the vendors. Plus you avoid the gigantic crush of later afternoon people. This usually includes teenagers showing off for girls, and surbubannites who stop and stand in the middle of people walking. It’s the little things that will grate on you as the day plays out. Another benefit of going early is the vendors are still in a good mood and have lots of samples. Samples means you get to save your ticket for that giant turkey leg; a personal favorite of mine. A few more helpful hints to make the fest a littl better for you and whoever yourwith. Skips the bands. This fest is about eating. Not to mention one of the side effects of the buddget cuts is the fest can’t pay for big musical acts they usually have. It’s all right watching the bands just means getting food spilled on you, bad views, and even worse acoustics. And it takes away from prescious food eating time.

The other key is to walk the fest first before you start spending your tickets. Nothing is worse than plunking down all your tickets and then seeing something you would have wanted even more. So make a mental note of the places you want try and then after seeing the whole place start eating. Also I want to recommend you try the taster choices. Most booths have a sample of there main dishes for three or four tickets. This way you save money and eat more. It’s a win win. One last thing I would like to share. Make sure to eat out of your comfort zone. Nothing annoys me more than seeing people lined up at Home Run Inn Pizza. It’s available in supermarkets people. Why are you overpaying for something you can get anytime. With so many great choices try something you just might never have again. Just one more way to make the taste all the more memorable; so remember have fun and don’t forget to bring some extra napkins.