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[title]New year, same Taste? More or less. But Rahm and company are shaking things up a little with a few modifications.
The Taste of Chicago is shorter.
The Taste lost $1.3 million for the city (i.e., taxpayers) last year, and incidents of violence at the Taste in 2011 are one of the many factors (on top of overpriced, sub-par food options) that have contributed to low attendance in past years. In an effort to make the Taste more safe and profitable, the city cut the festival down to five days last year and is continuing with a five-day fest in 2013.
It no longer takes place over the Fourth of July.
Following last year's model, the city is holding the fest July 10–14, 2013.
Food trucks have been (kinda) invited.
Evening concerts at the Petrillo Music Shell will feature food served by seven Chicago food trucks, including the three licensed cook-on-board trucks in town. The city has yet to announce which trucks will be participating. The trucks will park just east of the lawn seating at the pavilion and will serve food from one hour before the concert begins through the end of the show. The trucks will accept the standard Taste of Chicago tickets and will offer three or four regular items and two "Taste" portions. (Taste tickets are sold in strips of 12 for $8.)
Fun. is headlining
Read more about the headliners (including Jill Scott, Robert Plant and Neon Trees). Seats are $25 and go on sale May 15 at tasteofchicago.us; the lawn is free.