The Taste of Bloomington - 2012

The Foodie Husband and I braved the crowds once again this year to see what the best of Bloomington had to offer at the Taste of Bloomington.

Normally, I'd prefer to arrive early in order to avoid the crowds, but my dear husband had looked at the entertainment schedule and he asked that we delay our arrival till later in the day so that we might listen to a certain band that he wanted to hear.

I was more than happy to oblige him.

 We arrived about 6:30 at the entrance along the B-Line trail.

 To the back of the line we go!

 Admission is $6 per adult with children under 12 getting in free.

Most food items are about $3 each.

Adults over 21 who wish to purchase alcoholic beverages must show ID at the gate and get a bracelet.

 While my husband went to the alcohol tent, I went to Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack and picked up two barbecued pork ribs for my husband.  Price: $3.

 Then I stopped by Macri's and bought a pork tenderloin sandwich for me for $3.

 We found a curb to sit down on and ate our food and drink our drinks while listening to the band that was playing at the time.  It sounded like they were a polka band.  

 Then it was time to move on and get more food before the next band took the stage.

I must confess that I "cheated" and got a food that I've had before,

but I just love these fried dill chips from Scotty's Brewhouse.  What can I say?  They really are that good.  I don't remember the cost.

Plus, this late in the day it was often difficult to get into to certain restaurant lines, so sometimes one had to compromise.

 The Short Stop is actually located in a gas station in town, but they are acknowledged as having some of the best barbecue in town.

We had their pulled pork barbecue at a recent Master Gardener picnic.  It was very good.

 

The Foodie Husband bought an ear of corn from them, but by the time I got to him, he had eaten most of it, so I have no pictures of it.

 The last food item I got was from Chapman's Restaurant.

It was a Smoke House Slider with a special BBQ sauce.

This was a pork slider.

Chapman's is a good restaurant and I really wanted to like this sandwich, but it had a strange burnt taste that I just couldn't get around.  That burnt taste was just off-putting to me.

Sadly, with 53 vendors and with having to pay for each food item, it was impossible to try everything on offer.

As it was, I left feeling satisfied and knowing that there are many more restaurants in B-town that I need to try out.

 Hot air balloons!

 Pretty!

 I can't decide if these people have the right idea or if they are missing out on all the fun.

 The north stage.

 We are sitting on the steps in front of the Showers Building while the band tunes up.

 Oops, I've lost my husband.

And then I found him.

Thank goodness for cell phones.

He had wandered to the front of the stage to watch the Hairbangers Ball.

This band is the reason we had delayed our arrival to the Taste of B-town.

 They are from Chicago and play the music of the big hair bands of the 80s and 90s.

 I don't remember the last time the Foodie Husband and I had this much fun together.

 We danced and sang along to songs like "Girls, Girls, Girls," "Living on a Prayer," "Dirty Deeds," and "Sweet Child of Mine."

 And because I find it interesting to watch people around me,

I looked around and saw the other adults singing and dancing...

 and the children standing around and looking at their parents like they were crazy.

Good times.  Good times, I tell ya.

 Finally it was time to leave.

We passed by the Jazz Bloomington players.

Nice.

 On the way back to the car we walked a couple of blocks along the B-Line.

We found another brain!

 It's brain #4.

 Apparently this brain wants to remind us to eat our veggies.

It was a fun evening.

Thank you, dear Foodie Husband, for suggesting that we go and listen to the Hairbangers Ball.

It was a blast!