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| The Taste. (CBS Photo) |
Posted: Monday, 06 July 2009 8:23AM
Another Taste of Chicago wraps, with smaller attendance
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CHICAGO (CBS) ― They came and they ate and ate and ate.
Another Taste of Chicago is in the books. Now comes the annual tallying up of all those ears of corn on the cob, popcorn-sicles, and boiled crawfish that were consumed at the annual food fest.
There are no estimates as to how much food has been sold so far. That will be figured out after all the tickets have been counted. We do know a little more than three million people have come out to enjoy the food fest over the past 10 days.
And that number is down by about half a million from last year's attendance. Organizers say the economy is to blame, but nevertheless, people are still coming out to enjoy the Taste.
Amid all the eating, there's dancing, singing, and performing at the Taste. There really is something for everyone at the 29th Annual Taste of Chicago.
Taste attendee Betty Ramirez thought the event was wonderful.
"Got a beautiful day out here; it's the last day and I'm having a great time," Ramirez said.
This year's Taste is different from years past. Instead of being completely open, fencing surrounds the event. There are four entrances for crowd control. This has helped police. A teen was spotted and arrested after trying to enter the Taste with a shotgun. Five other people were arrested outside Taste grounds for carrying illegal weapons.
'We were able to monitor the folks and what they were bringing in and how they were getting in," said David Kennedy, deputy director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events. "It's a better control for us."
Another difference is food vendors are now on the curb, instead of the center of the street.
"There's a lot of people here," said Taste attendee Monika Bibb. "It doesn't seem as crowded because of the way it's laid out."
Taste attendee Nichelle Valentine said the current setup is better.
"It just seems like there's a lot more room to roam – usually it's everyone's in lines just trying to make it through," Valentine said.
Taste goer Dallas Bibb agreed.
"I think it's a lot better," he said. "It's more family friendly."
Sunday was family day at the Taste. By the way, in case you're wondering, the food favorites are still the turkey leg and corn on the cob.
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