Yesterday, the mayor (finally) responded to the gang violence at the Taste this year. "We had 3.5 million people. It's only one shooting—and all of the sudden, you're describing it as chaotic. It's not chaotic. ... This is very safe," said Daley. The mayor, who was at an Academy of Achievement conference in Florida when the shootings took place, said that the police were present at the Taste, but were powerless to stop the violence.......

Columbus Drive is safe for cars once again. Taste of Chicago is done for another year and city officials are declaring it a rousing success. As though they would say anything different. The annual food fest drew an estimated 3.56 million people to the lakefront, quelling city fears that high gas prices, a sluggish economy and the intermittent outbreak of gunfire would keep people at home. That's a lot of staycationers, people. Photo by terminal......

Photo of a "safe" crowd at the Taste by JOE M500 Police Supt. Jody Weis went on damage control yesterday, assuring reporters that "[the Chicago Police Department] will do everything we can to keep this place safe for our visitors and our friends. The safety at the Taste is undisputed." Well, besides the shooting the other night. Or the two other incidents of gun violence at the Taste in the past four years. Or the......

There have been a lot of things said on this site about Taste of Chicago over the years. There are over 750,000 people who head downtown every year to sun, frolic and get their fill of giant turkey legs and corn on sticks. 'Course, that isn't all Taste of Chicago has to offer; even with Chicago Gourmet set to launch in September, Taste is still the food event for the everyman. For those of you......

Mayor Daley and his Office of Special Events were very serious when they required each of the sixty-five vendors participating in this year's Taste of Chicago to offer one healthy item on their menus--to show that the Taste wasn't just some "disgusting food festival." And they are very serious allowing Billy Goat Tavern's qualifying healthy item to be...potato chips. "Some of the restaurants had a difficult time with this. But I say, if you......

New city Aviation Commissioner Richard Rodriguez said yesterday that some of his goals are to improve the food offerings at O'Hare's concession stands, as well as adding live music: [Rodriguez said,] “We’re known for great jazz and great blues. We’re known for sports and…great food. How do you make the Chicago airport system reflective of that? How often do entertainers have an opportunity to come and play given concerns with safety and security? It’s very......

Our summer to-do list just got better: Get a tan. Ride our new bike. Listen to a live performance of “Part Time Lover” while eating 10-ticket pizza with 3 million people! Stevie Wonder is set to return to the Taste of Chicago on June 28, twenty long years after the last time he played our little local tourist trap festival of food. As always, the Taste of Chicago will take place from June 27 to......