By noon Friday, thousands roamed Syracuse’s Clinton Square and the blocks surrounding.
The two days of the annual Taste of Syracuse is the most popular downtown festival.
It’s about people.
Click any photo in a gallery for a description. Click the bottom right photo for an enlarged slide show.
There are decisions to be made, so folks stroll before they flock to the eatery to pluck down the dollar for the sample-sized food of their dreams. Of course, the food stand proprietors hope that leads to an order of bigger proportions and price.
Big Mike Fiss, at the center of attention.
It’s about personalities.
I heard a friendly voice call me over to the Galaxy Communications booth, where morning show host Big Mike Fiss ws greeting listeners with his team of Rick Gary and Cindy Humble. Mike and I have known each other through three decades of working in the Central New York media industry. He’s been and MC of the Syracuse Area Music Awards, producer of a popular Christmas music album series, and all-around kind gentleman. Later, he made sure to say hello to my dear wife Karen, calling her exactly that because he reads about her here. Happy Saturday, Big Mike.
If you are a fan of the show Food Truck Wars on the Food Network like MDW Karen and I, the bright theme of the vehicle hosting the Military Moms is familiar. Karen saw it first. They came to Tyler Florence’s series from nearby Fort Drum, just outside of Watertown, some 80 miles to the north of Syracuse. It was good to see food lovers lining up to support their samples.
A rich Syracuse sound.
It’s about music.
Three stages are filled with sounds, local and national.
I caught Shakedown Revival. Behind the drum kit sat Susan Royal, a former colleague of mine at the Big Daily. Sue is a serious player.
Music lovers can catch some big deals today, including a Blues, Brews and BBQ segment featuring Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin. The headliner is classic rocker and TV star Bret Michaels. All can be found at the Taste of Syracuse site.
From Dominicks and Prime, respectively.
It’s about the food.
MDW Karen and I grazed a bit for our Friday lunch. We started with chicken riggies from Dominicks and a Bang Bang shrimp from Prime.
Yum for a dollar.
Other bites included a chicken salad roll for Karen, two pierogies at full price for me, fruit salad and an empanada for both …
Have fun today, folks.
Do you have an eat-em-up sampling event near your house? What’s the best food you’ve ever been served for a buck?
What would you want most from what you see here?/em>
Mark Bialczak 
Syracuse always has the coolest stuff! The closest thing I’ve found here is on First Fridays when the food wagons park around the park downtown, but those are all full price. I want some of your pierogies! 😉
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I’ll save one for you, Rachel. Hell, I’ll buy you a full order. ❤
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Now this is my kind of gathering, Mark! Great photos. Was there a beer tent?!
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Yes, Angie McFly. This is the Northeast. Beer tent included. ❤
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Good to hear 😀
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I’m a bit behind in my blog reading Mark and suddenly I see blog entries for the Bialczaks on Cape Cod. Whew! What? What? So I had to came back and see what happened – little did I know it was the annual pilgrimage. I remember last year’s and it just doesn’t seem a year ago.
Anyway, I love food and music festivals but i haven’t made time to go to many in the last few years. i should start again. Great post Mark – I like those community postings.
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Thanks, Paul. You have your circumstances about the festivals. The bus travel and all. I’ll write ’em up so you can enjoy. 🙂
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Looks and sounds like you had a blast.:)
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Yes, we go every year, Gibberina. 🙂
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You party animal you
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Yeah, that’s me. Woof!
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Aha!
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Mmm, pierogies! 😛 Looks like a really good time!
We have both a strawberry festival and an Italian festival. They are both delicious, but also, crowded like whoa! I prefer to hit the State Fair for the food, because at least then, a million people are spread out for miles 🙂
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Yes, the crowded factor is a minus, Joey. Our state fair is really, really jammed, too, the game to play there is picking the right day and hours for food-tasting. 🙂
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Looks like a fun event!
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Lots to eat, Merril. And listen to. People watching, too. 🙂
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Wow, my face made your blog, I am thrilled!! It was cool, as always, seeing you in the flesh (and your “dear wife Karen”) at the Taste!
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Let the g.o.o.d. times roll, and of course, the f.o.o.d. ❤ ❤ ❤
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We are rolling along. Thanks, Tess! ❤
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I really like events like that. You can get full and happy for a five spot. Well at least content.
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Yes, a real throwback, Benson! 🙂
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Yes, pretty smart to offer the food for a buck when there’s so much competition. Vendors can sell someone on a $1 sample. Personally I try to stay away from buck and under menus at fast food places but this is a bit different.
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This is different, yes, Marissa. They want to draw folks in to spend more not only at the Taste, but to come to the brick-and-mortar places the rest of the 365. 🙂
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Exactly, and offering small quality portions rather than just skimping and offering substandard ingredients.
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On my to-do list 🙂
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Doesn’t it look good, Vonita? 🙂
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It looks like fun. And I love fun! And food. Ah, I shld update my love / hate challenge to include just that! 🙂
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Off the list!
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Lol, ok! 🙂
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this looks great and i love food and community sampling events like this. all worth a dollar any day. and yes, ‘it’s all about the people.’
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You have great things and great people in Ann Arbor, Beth. I love reading about them and seeing them from you, one of the very best. ❤
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Looks fun and delicious. Love the photos!
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Thanks, PJ! Yum Yum.
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Love these events, so much to taste.
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Yes, I had to limit myself, Dora. I knew we had a six-hour car trip afterward. 🙂
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I love taste events like this Mark. We have several here each year. It’s a great way to taste something you’ve never tried before without risking a lot of money. Bonus if you like it and get to add it to your future meal choices! ❤
Diana xo
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It is a big bonus for small risk, indeed, Diana. Of course Calgary has some great one, I’d bet. ❤
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It feel like you know every person in Syracuse. I don’t have that kind of outgoing personality, which is probably why I admire it so much.
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I know half the people, Scott, and I’m trying to meet the other half. 🙂 Thanks for your kind words, my friend.
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Looks like fun.
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It’s a good time, Amy. Thanks.
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This kind of event is right up my alley! Looks like so much fun!
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Oh, you’d be having a blast with all of it, Hollie. 🙂
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