by Jorge Barrera
June 27- July 5, 2008
As one of the most diverse cities in the world, Chicago is known for its myriad cultures and neighborhoods. As a celebration of this diversity, the Taste of Chicago has been a very popular festival, as it brings all of the different cuisines into one place: Grant Park. From June 27th to July 6th, millions of people gathered to enjoy the culinary creations of hundreds of Chicago’s restaurants. From the famous Chicago-style pizza to more exotic dishes such as alligator, every visitor had a chance to find something to their liking, or at least experience the diversity that this festival brings.
Even when ‘The Taste”, as it is known by locals, is a food festival, there are many other activities and diversions. The easiest one to spot is the bright Ferris wheel in the center of the festival, but there is also live music, sports activities, and of course the fireworks display that culminates the festival.
Despite so many activities, tucked away near the south end there was a tent which housed what to many was a surprise. Three rows of chess boards, surrounded by two giant chess sets, and a calendar full of chess activities, were the oasis of many. Some attendees were happy to take comfort in the shade, and play a friendly game with their friends, others preferred to wait and try their luck with the giant chess pieces, while yet others played with the “knights” in the front.
There were many chess activities throughout the week. A few blitz tournaments in which participants only had 5 minutes to finish the game. There were also a couple chess puzzle solving contests, where contestants had to find the best moves in a game played by chess master years ago. Also there were a few simultaneous exhibitions with one of the Renaissance Knights master players, in which one of the Renaissance Knights players matches up against many different players at the same time, making one move at a time for each game. To top it all off some of the expert players held chess workshops in which players of all skills could learn a thing or two.
Amongst this chess playing haven, there was also information about the Renaissance Knights different programs, such as developing chess programs in schools, summer chess camps, and upcoming prize tournaments. Also, there was some information of upcoming and past events, and for the keen observer there was the chance to win a chess computer in a raffle.
The feedback from all the visitors was overwhelmingly positive. There was so much enthusiasm, that although the Renaissance Knights tent was scheduled to be at The Taste for only a few days, a two day extension to bring chess to the festival every single day was almost obligatory. Everyone had a great time, from the beginner to the advanced, and from the young to the old. There were a few challenging games, in which tensions rose, and there was also many games in which more casual players just wanted to enjoy their time at The Taste.
It is clear that chess at The Taste was a very successful event. With so many different people, and so many different food and activities, this festival has really shown how diverse Chicago is. And yet, as it was evident, this culturally diverse group has made chess one of the things that they clearly have in common, just as having a good time on a hot summer day in Chicago’s Grant Park.
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AUGUST 10 - 14, 2009
