There weren't as many tasters in Grant Park this summer. Perhaps a rainy Fourth of July played a role in keeping attendance down at the year's Taste of Chicago.
Officials say more than 3.3 million people showed up for the 10-day festival, but that's down from 3.5 million last year. That's about 6 percent fewer attendees in 2009.
Before Sunday's sunny closing day, attendees who weren't scared off by weather were treated to not only delicious local fare, but a collection of great perfomances, including a hometown blues sensation Buddy Guy, The Waco Brothers, The Afrodisiacs, and The Counting Crows.
They are all great acts, but not quite the same caliber as previous years: Sheryl Crowe and Erykah Badu in 2003, Melissa Etheridge in 2004, John Mayer in 2007, Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder in 2008, to name a few.
So was it the lineup? Not our call.
Even organizers don't blame this year's downturn all on the weather. The sluggish economy likely played a role, as well.
Police say an increased presence in Grant Park helped keep things relatively safe and orderly, with about 30 arrests reported in the course of the event.
Local
Safe, orderly and slightly soggy. The show must go on.
Send your Taste of Chicago pictures for our collection to iSee@nbcchicago.com
What do 3.3 million people eat during a festival centered on food? A lot.
Here's some numbers, provided to us by the City of Chicago:
Cheeseburgers
53,000 servings
Cheesecake
111,960 slices
Corn on the cob
135,760 ears of corn
Egg Rolls
15,000 servings
Empanadas
30,000 pieces
French Fries
48,000 pounds
Funnel Cake
41,000 pounds
Gator Sausage on a Stick
10,000 servings
Gelato
12,500 servings
Goat Meat
10,000 gallons
Gyros
10,000 pounds
Homemade Potato Chips
31,000 pounds
Hot Dogs
37,350 servings
Hushpuppies
10,000 pounds
Italian Ice
45,000 scoops
Jerk Chicken
128,000 pounds
Mustard Fried Catfish
41,000 servings
Pierogi
75,000 pieces
Pizza
240,000 slices
Popcornsicles
15,000
Pot Stickers
200,000 pieces
Prime Rib Quesadilla
2000 pounds
Ravioli
189,000 pieces
Ribs
76,000 pounds
Samosa
20,000 pieces
Sausages
69,000 servings
Steak
44,000 servings
Tacos
49,600
Turkey Legs
140,000 pounds
Watermelon Slices
35,200 slices
