Taylor Street Festa Italiana

What: Taylor Street Festa Italiana
Where: Little Italy
How much: $8 suggested donation
How to get there: Damen bus #50

For the first time this summer, I did not pay the suggested donation. Upon parking the car, Bart and I checked our pockets, coming up with $8 total, only half of our suggested donation amount. Boldly, we approached the front station. "Um, we didn't know it was this much, we only have four dollars each..." I muttered. The attendant immediately said, "Oh that's ok, it's just a suggestion, anything you can give is appreciated." We gave her our half- fares and entered. And that's the end of me ever paying to get into the festivals. From now on, I'm just walking in.


The Taylor Street Festival was... Italian. Italian food, Italian people, Italian singing, Italian art, Italian memorabilia, little old Italian men. And Roman statues! I hear there was some entertainment with men dressed as Roman soldiers too, but somehow we missed it. Most of the food sounded delicious, however we were left cash-less. One of the most entertaining things I saw were the old ladies dancing to the band and later listening rapturously to Opera.

If you were so inclined, there were vendors selling shirts for everyone, such as the onesies proclaiming newborns "Italian Stallions" and the glittery camis for the "Italian Princess".

There was an unusually large police presence, although they didn't appear to be doing much. this gaggle of officers stood around talking for as long as I stood there to watch them. And the few black officers were the only people of color at the entire festival. Chicago is a very diverse city, but you wouldn't have known it from this fest. In all, a good time was had. After the fest we headed to Cleo's and had delicious Spinach and goat cheese pizza for dinner. So that's still Italian, right?
Stayed tuned for Retro on Roscoe!