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Win a Nikon CoolPix AW100 digital camera {Gadling}
Feb 6th 2012 9:52AM I am in the market for a new camera after returning from Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas. Would love a waterproof one!Surprised that I haven't heard of this one before.
Travel writing: how not to do it {Gadling}
Sep 1st 2011 12:35PM Meh. What's the purpose of this? Not sure many songs could withstand a skewering in front of an audience primed to dismiss it as trite. Seems the lesson here is to not write travel articles like songs. Or to not create anything lest someone use it to clown you in the future.
I mean, could Lady Marmalade or Imagine or even The Star Spangled Banner withstand this kind of scrutiny? "And the rockets’ red glare," [pause for laughter] "the bombs bursting in air," [wait for guffaws] "Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there". [await standing ovation].
Dunno. In a bad mood.
Probably shouldn't even post this. [posts it]
Taste of Chicago tells vendors from outside Chicago that they are no longer welcome {Gadling}
Apr 17th 2010 10:25AM Chicagoan all of my life.
Preferred seating for the pavillion is silly.
But I agree with returning to a Chicago focus.
The Taste is a great event, but over the years it changed considerably. My understanding is that it started out as a way to highlight Chicago restaurants. You went to the festival, you had a small "taste" of a restaurant there, and that prompted you to seek out that restaurant later. Accordingly, the price was such that you could go to several vendors and hopefully get a real sampling. Many vendors complained about the costs of participating in the event.
But nowadays, many restaurants sell what amounts to full meals, and in most cases, sell them at full-meal prices. And that has led to the event going from a loss leader to a profit center for several restaurants. I suspect that is why restaurants from the suburbs can make a go of it--they're not there to drum up business--they are there to make money. Of course, any business they do drum up then goes to Riverside or Berwyn or wherever. Great places, but I'm not sure how that helps Chicago.
Not sure why you think a Chicago festival that focuses on Chicago vendors will discourage tourists from visiting Chicago.
But you're right about Milwaukee's Summerfest--it's great. And the suburbs have a number of great festivals. But when I go there, I don't go for Chicago's Harold's Chicken or Eli's Cheesecake.
