Be sure to stop by the first annual Uptown Windy City Ribfest tonight starting at 5pm. The street fest runs through Sunday till 10pm at Lawrence and Broadway. There is a $5 suggested donation for entry. View the full entertainment list here. See you there!
From EveryBlock's list of "special event food licenses" issued for the 4700 block of Broadway, we're sneak-peeking that some of the vendors/rib chefs will be: El Campeon, Chicago Classics, Chicago BBQ Company, Bar B Que Bob's, Uncle Bub's BBQ & Catering, The Kettle Kabin, The Cupcake Gallery, and Famous Dave's BBQ.
Looking north on Broadway from Leland. Broadway is closed from Leland to Lawrence. There's a new tent city in Uptown!
And the stage is going up right now.
awesome.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Alderman Smith is there and we can all ask her why The Riviera and Uptown Theatre have both been sporting hideous Building Diapers for two years... when I see all the residential buildings in the area having working done on their cornices.... Is JAM Productions paying for her re-election or what?
ReplyDeleteOh yea, and JAM has not removed the grafitti that has been on the Uptown Theatre for over a year either.. now that is a good neighbor...
ReplyDeleteWell SuperHero... Alderman Smith can answer half of your question (regarding the Uptown) but you'll have to ask our dearly beloved Alderman Shiller about the Riv.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bradley, I thought that was in Smith's ward... my bad!
ReplyDeleteI will be happy to ask Ms. Smith about the state of the Uptown.. and would be even happier to discuss with Alderman Shiller about the Riviera, and oh, I don't know.. maybe about all the shootings and crime in 46... if I happen to run into her this weekend ... lol..
SISTER HAZEL!!!
ReplyDeleteFor as much fun as "Gotcha with an Alderman" could be, I'm just happy that living here for 12 years has finally paid off. Here's to hoping the Ribfest shows Uptown in a new light. Maybe, in spite of our elected officials, people will see Uptown as a place to be instead of a place to avoid!
ReplyDeletePlease don't shoot at us! We are not in a gang..I promise you we just like ribs.
ReplyDeleteWhat's Famous Dave's doing here? That's a national chain that's currently running a really bizarre TV ad. (Dave and a bunch of pigs are driving in a car, presumably with dinner at Famous Dave's as the destination. Poor little piggies probably don't realize that THEY ARE the dinner!)
ReplyDeleteI was under the impression that this was a festival for LOCALLY-OWNED rib joints!
Don't be hatin' on Famous Daves Lassie. While it's true that it's now a national chain, it's beginnings (according to their website) are very Chicago. Moreover, they franchise. A franchise could be very locally owned...like maybe where the El Polo Loco, nee Burge King was.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, "Famous Dave" was born in Chicago and is of Choctaw and Objibwe descent. Given the number of Native Americans who have called Uptown home and the American Indian Center here there is actually a good chance that "Famous Dave" has some kind of Uptown connection. Anyone know more?
ReplyDeleteLocal Lassie, I'm sure some local rib joints would have been given a space at the rib fest if they stepped up -- however, it is hard for them to do so financially. Do you SEE those %50k + meat smokers behind a majority of the rib vendors? Do you understand the amount of finances that a road smoking team would require? Not to mention storage for all of the food, etc. Its a huge undertaking and unless someone stepped up and donated to the smaller rib joints in Chicago for this purpose, then I'm sure they are perfectly happy staying local. It costs a lot.. you don't just walk your meat up to a rib fest, grab some people to help along the way, and start a' cookin'. BTW, Texas Thunder isn't local either.
ReplyDeleteI meant "$50K smokers". As in $50,000.00 + :) My bad.
ReplyDeleteNo to make too big a deal of it, but did anyone else find the revolver-shaped smoker a bit dis-settling?
ReplyDeleteAnyone know if dogs are allowed?
ReplyDeleteDogs are allowed.
ReplyDeleteThe pooch and I drifted through this afternoon, with no problem.
Note: there is a pony ride adjacent to the Broadway Building.
So, if your pup is spooked by small horses, you might want to avoid that area.
Dogs are allowed at ribfest.
ReplyDeleteStop by the Sharp As A Tack booth in the Family Section! We will be playing a ton of games and telling everyone about our upcoming camps, workshops and events!
ReplyDelete