June 26th, 2010 
Everyone knows there are iPhone, iPod and iPad applications for just about everything. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine there would be an app for the Taste of Chicago 2010. Quite honestly, when I read the news on it, I was a bit skeptical. I just wasn’t expecting much.
Boy was I wrong!
I tested this application last night and it is amazing. The program runs seamlessly and it provides info that is valuable to both out-of-towners and regular Taste-goers. Here is a brief rundown of the software’s main features:
1. Food Menu: A complete listing of the Taste food vendors sortable by restaurant name or vendor number. It also includes the complete Taste menu for each restaurant.
2. Lineups: For visitors who may not know, the Taste always offers a huge music and entertainment line-up, with performances on each day of the festival. This feature provides the complete calendar line-up, which is searchable by calendar day. With a single click, you can add a performance to your Apple calendar, you can visit the artist’s website or their iTunes store.
3. Now: Imagine, you’ve just arrived at the festival and you don’t really know what to do first. Press “now” and you instantly have information on everything occurring right then and there. This feature allows you real-time access to the line-up of performances, cooking demonstrations and other activities.
Other cool features include a GPS map and integrated Tweets from the Taste committee. This app definitely gets the three pump rating from me.
If you have never been to the Windy City and you were still undecided about whether to visit this awesome place, think again! We have an app!
The Taste of Chicago occurs from June 25 – July 4 at Grant Park.
Download the official application here.
I heard about the iPhone application also. I have an Google Android phone (G1), so I looked for an Android app and didn’t find one. I decided to write an Android app for the Taste fest and make it available. Maybe someone else has or will make ones for Windows mobile and Blackberry too, but at least the iPhone and Android phones (G1, Droid, etc) are covered.
Jason, that’s so cool that you are developing an app! I have an Android phone as well (I tested the app on my Ipod). Did you make it available for this year’s Taste?