Got a Taste for sports?
You may have just thought Taste of Chicago was about eating assorted fried food on sticks, but this year's food fest will again feature a sports pavilion where you can get your heart rate up and burn a few calories.
"There's something to be said about keeping active," says Jennifer Kramer, director of sports development for the Mayor's Office of Special Events. "When you burn a few calories, it kind of lets you eat what you want."
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 26 through July 4; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 5
Grant Park (main entrance at Michigan and Congress)
Free. Food and beverage tickets sold in strips of 12 for $8
(312) 744-3315
The sports pavilion started two years ago when Kramer says she came up with the idea because she thought the annual food fest needed a healthy component.
"I wanted to get people active, and then there is the fact that Chicago is such a sports town, it was such an obvious omission."
"Meet and Greet" events with select members of the Chicago Bears (June 27), the Chicago Bulls (June 29), the Chicago Blackhawks (July 1), the Chicago White Sox (July 2) and the Chicago Fire (July 5) will no doubt be high on the list of "must dos" for sports fans.
Now that Chicago tax payers realize they might be on the hook for the bill should Chicago land the 2016 bid to host the Olympic games, it probably doesn't hurt the mayor to have an Olympic component at Taste to spur interest in winning the games.
"There will be several interactive areas for both children and adults to learn about Olympic events and other sports," Kramer says of the World Sport Chicago/2016 Interactivities area of the sports pavilion.
Among the athletes announced at press time: Michael McCahey (fencing), Connie Moore (track and field) and Montell Griffin (former WBC Light Heavyweight champion boxing). "We will be featuring a different Olympic athlete every day," Kramer says. "They will be on hand to answer questions and give demonstrations."
Also in the pavilion area, you'll be able to get in a little playing time with various sports activities including basketball and volleyball.
For a complete schedule of sports events and athlete appearances, as well as a full schedule for the World Sport Chicago/2016 Interactive Activities events, visit www.tas teofchicago.us.