Another from the Strib: “The annual Fourth of July bash in downtown St. Paul has new owners who are promising to revamp it — but not relocate it. … One major difference right out of the gate for Taste ‘09 will be a $10 ticket price instead of the usual free admission, but the tickets will come with a voucher for $10 worth of food once inside. The main reason for the admission price, the new owners said, is to improve security at the event … The new owners say they will be going for more current and credible acts, namely in the rock and country realm but also including hip-hop and R&B, genres that Maddox’s crew repeatedly ignored despite its popularity with African Americans and music listeners under the age of 40.”
I go but every couple of years (much like the State Fair), and I think I’ve only attended one or two Tastes for music performances. I might attend more often if the variety of “taste,” for which the event was named, were more varied and less Fair-like (e.g. deep-fried anything).
Bring on the spring rolls, satay, tapas, and various other finger-food goodies from our plethora of local restaurants!
13 Reader Comments
3:52 pm
From the accounts I read, Ron Maddox will still be working for the new owners as manager.
I know Ron. To call him a “colorful character” is putting it mildly. He still sends me VIP tickets for the Taste every year, even though it has been years since we hired him for a project.
4:07 pm
Went there once. Taste of Minnesota? — it was just stand after stand of grunt food.
4:09 pm
I ate a grunt once. A little salty, but terrific mouth-feel.
4:11 pm
Max, grilled or boiled?
Glad to see they realize the music sucked and needs to be upgraded.
4:12 pm
It was the first place I ever tried Frickles. I’ve been in love ever since.
I went to a wedding at the Taste of Minnesota. It was the first and only wedding on the capitol grounds, I believe. The bride and groom had their first date there, got engaged there, so they got married there. Maddox arranged the whole thing and I think it was free.
4:14 pm
How about a night of small-combo, instrumental jazz? Maybe The Wolverines or Debbie Duncan. Some band from Chicago…
4:15 pm
Oh, I love this news! I did enjoy tasting Flat Earth beer for the first time there and seeing my first Gear Daddies show. But I look forward to something besides cheese curds and onion rings. Not that there’s anything wrong with either.
4:17 pm
IMHO I would say that grunts are best grilled.
4:19 pm
Tried some of the Surley beer awhile back, Surley Furious and Surley Cynical. Kinda expensive for four beers.
Know what it tasted like? — beer.
4:23 pm
Mmmmm grilled grunt bacon…
4:38 pm
Grunt bacon, lettuce & tomato sammich.
GBLT – ha! Just joshin’.
8:17 am
I think it’s much more likely that we’ll get better music at the taste as opposed to better local food.
I don’t see local restaurateurs Diverting staff and energy on a Friday/Saturday to Harriet Island.
Although getting Famous Daves, Buffalo Wild Wings, and maybe someone from one of our bigger local chains might be possible.
2:25 am
Yummmmmmmmmm.
