Thursday, September 23, 2010

After Taste

Surprise, surprise, the Taste of Minnesota ownership group owes money to the city of St. Paul for use of Harriet Island, and has other unpaid bills as a result of their failed effort to convert the Taste of Minnesota to a music festival.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, read this.

I have no idea who owned the Minnesota food festival prior to Andy's group taking it over a couple of years ago, but if it survived for more than two decades, they must have been doing something right.

The unpaid bill for leasing St. Paul park space could result in the festival losing its claim to Harriet Island. That wouldn't be a bad thing, but I'm not sure where they'd move it, assuming they'd try to keep it going.

Here's an idea, why not the Minnesota State Fair grounds?

The fairgrounds have plenty of space for vendors, a decent amount of parking and a perfect facility for big time musical acts. The grounds are too large, actually, and not ideal for a food festival, but I think you could make it work without too much difficulty.

I have often wondered why the grandstand at the fairgrounds isn't used for more summer concerts. We've been told the Twin Cities lacks an amphitheater for summer concerts, so why not the grandstand? But I digress.

The future of Taste of Minnesota is in question. Some people think it's done after its failed 2010 experiment. I won't go that far, but if it does return next year, it will be dramatically different than the 2010 version, which left a bad taste in most everybody's mouth.

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