Marc / June 28, 2005 1:36 PM

Cheaper food, fewer people, more comfortable temperature outside, more veggie-friendly options, fewer shootings, &c...

Benjy / June 28, 2005 1:55 PM

More variety in vendors from year to year. It always seems like 90% are repeats from previous years.

Thurston / June 28, 2005 1:56 PM

It would be great if the pricing (in tickets) would all for the 11 or whatever tickets you buy to buy one 'entree' and a drink, or an entree and a smaller plate, with no tickets left over and no need to buy more.

Huckle Cat / June 28, 2005 1:58 PM

I actually really like the Taste and look forward to going every year (the crowds and the heat make that Rainbow Cone even better). But cheaper food certainly wouldn't hurt.

Erica / June 28, 2005 2:21 PM

If I didn't live/work so close, the Taste would not be much of a destination for me, personally. The bands this year, like always, are for the rich baby boomers who can justify the traffic, parking and expensive food vendors that everyone's eaten at a million times (the rental space is so expensive that only the big-names with a budget can afford it).

I wouldn't change it, though. It is what it is. They have smaller "tastes" in the surrounding neighborhoods for my demographic that feature small, mom-and-pop restaurants.

Naz / June 28, 2005 2:25 PM

Fine with the price but why not make the portions a bit larger? I suppose the point is to "taste" things anyhow.

It's too warm out to be walking around hundreds of people with hot food jostling and crowding each other. Sounds like a cranky time (for me anyway).

The music does look good this year.

Gabe / June 28, 2005 2:38 PM

Less people and less expensive would make the Taste more appealing. The carnival smell of hot garbage and too much sweat I could also do without.

Overwrought / June 28, 2005 2:52 PM

Less people, NO strollers, and a guarantee the temps won't break 80 degrees. In other words: I want the impossible.

I do like the "tastes" option. I've been able to try a lot more in prior years with tickets leftover.

More seating off the street might be nice too.

Paula / June 28, 2005 3:03 PM

I seem to remember a seating crunch the one time I went about 15 years ago, but maybe they've worked that out by now. It would be nice to see some of the more deluxe port-johns too - I'd even be willing to pay to pee somewhere that was guaranteed to be clean and non-stinky.

JP / June 28, 2005 3:11 PM

Better cracking down on pervs. I have been felt up or had my ass "accidentally" grabbed every time I have gone to the Taste. I didn't know I was going to be on the menu.

bam2 / June 28, 2005 3:19 PM

I don't mind the crowds per se, but could do with fewer idiots! and a perhaps a stiff breeze off the lake.

Ian / June 28, 2005 3:46 PM

For me, Taste is no reflection on Chicago’s excellent restaurant scene and local produce available at our farmers markets. The mayor must need a few extra air miles by now, send him to Melbourne, Australia to take a look at what they are doing. Maybe that will provide some inspiration and give us a real food festival.

e_five / June 28, 2005 3:50 PM

More shade. Better places to sit. Better trash and/or litter cleanup. Fewer of the same kind of vendors and more room in between stands.

Flynn / June 28, 2005 4:04 PM

I think one of the problems is that most places offer good options, but only one of them is "taste" size. I wish places would offer everything they're selling as a taste size so I don't have to fill up on something I'd rather eat but can't get in anything but a full meal size.

Leelah / June 28, 2005 5:16 PM

I agree with the idea of having more taste portions.

And if they gave away some free lotto tickets, that would be cool, too.

Natalie / June 28, 2005 8:14 PM

Ugh. I am trying to think of ANYTHING that would make Taste worth the time, energy, and money. I would go to Taste if...
...there was a way to spread out all the people
...I knew I could discover something NEW and INTERESTING
...servings were smaller and used fewer tickets
...I was 10 years younger.

Ron / June 28, 2005 11:53 PM

More cowbell

paul / June 29, 2005 2:19 AM

Delivery.

Strawberry / June 29, 2005 8:01 AM

A ban on strollers. Everyone's ankles will be thankful.

curtsy / June 29, 2005 8:09 AM

Curbside colonics.

steven / June 29, 2005 8:39 AM

If they made tickets cheaper on weekdays I might consider going. And make sure everyone takes a shower before being admitted.

Ian / June 29, 2005 8:54 AM

Apologies. My rant above was meant to contain the following link : Melbourne Food Festival

flowfeel / June 29, 2005 9:14 AM

Less garbage, lower food prices - that would do it!

consigliere / June 29, 2005 9:24 AM

Hold it in Naperville.

Benjy / June 29, 2005 9:50 AM

it's be nice if the taste size items were always the signature item for the restaurant. I remember some offering pretty boring taste sized items.

Also, I hate the whole extra ticket thing. Why can't the city make tickets that are good for all Grant Park festivals? So that leftover Blues Fest can be used at the Taste, etc. They're all the same price...

sarah / June 29, 2005 10:02 AM

I haven't been to Taste since the time I had to climb over a fence to keep from getting crushed to death up against it due to the crowd surging through a narrow path to the el.

A cop even tried to give me shit for being in a "restricted area" aka the other side of the fence. I just pointed to the scrum and walked away.

I will never go to the Taste again. And all the stuff about tickets and price and chains are true. I wouldn't mind a giant turkey leg, though.

Eric / June 29, 2005 1:04 PM

All jerk chicken, all the time. Plus free beer.

Anthony / June 29, 2005 2:20 PM

opening Columbus Drive

Mike / June 29, 2005 3:27 PM

I'd love it if they held the Taste from July 32nd-46th.

Pedro / June 29, 2005 4:03 PM

"insert bitter comment here"

Hoss / June 29, 2005 4:25 PM

Move it 90 miles north and call it Milwaukee Summer Fest.

Becky / June 29, 2005 8:12 PM

1. Fewer pizza restaurants.
2. If a ban on strollers can't be enacted, have at least one stroller-free day.
3. Require restaurants to feature each item (within reason) as a "taste portion."
4. Move it to mid-September, when it isn't so hot for the attendees as well as for the workers.

Nick / June 29, 2005 9:31 PM

Make it bigger! I would like to see an extra street or two taken over by more food booths.