Music in the Parks

A particularly late Friday night made for a lazier than usual Saturday, and, by extension, a fest-filled Sunday. I doubled up, visiting two parks--Wicker and Lincoln-- for the final day of each.

Having promised a friend I'd do Lincoln at night so as to see Sugar Ray (throwback!), I headed to Milwaukee Ave around 2 pm. Per fest fashion, the street was blocked off, forcing attendees to enter by way of a gate, inevitably being guilted in to the $10 donation (or is it an admission fee? It's all very hazy with these things). Once inside, I had the run of overstock bins set outside on the sidewalk outside the bigger stores, and perused the many craft stalls. We stumbled upon the techno stage where a mid afternoon dance party raged, complete with close-eyed dancing, head banging, and reverberating pavement.

Taste of Lincoln Ave certainly had its own dance party, though something tells me it was (unlike Wicker Park's) helped along by the fall of darkness. The bands at this fest were of the theatrical variety, from the 80s cover band (bedecked in full face paint, wigs, and black pleather), to the Too White Crew with its obviously ironic renditions of rap/hip hop classics like "Baby Got Back."

Sugar Ray was the cherry on top of this entertaining convection. His countless thank yous and reminders of his age complimented his 5 Red Bulls deep energy level nicely, moving even the most skeptical listeners to bop along to his summer-lovin lyrics.