BY TIM HEALEY
Chicago may have lost in the bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics, but the city has gained some free coffee.
Food Archives
Rick Bayless shares Top Chef victory on Twitter
Since winning "Top Chef Masters" on Tuesday, Rick Bayless posted many tweets and twitpics to show us how he has been congratulated on his latest achievement.
Wicked Fun: Wicker Park Festival
Let the neighborhood partying begin, Wicker Park Festival starts this Saturday! On north Milwaukee Avenue (between North Avenue and Wood Street) the two-day fest will feature performances from over twenty different indie music groups, some of the tastiest foods from local eateries, arts, handcrafts, and family activities.
Featured TwitPic: The View from Above
@juliealexandra posted this TwitPic with the caption, "Why yes, I am eating at the top of the Hancock Tower."
Giant Twister game at Millennium Park today
According to Chicago tweets, Millennium Park is hosting a massive Twister game, along with free wine tasting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sounds like quite the Chi-town lunch break!
A chance to meet President Obama
Chicago native Michelle Michalenko, a chef at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, had the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama today -- and she provided live observations via Twitter.
Taste of Chicago reviews are in
The 2009 Taste of Chicago may have ended yesterday, but thoughts about the event continue to stream in today in the Twitterverse.
Twitter users are discussing both the good and the bad of Taste, and some controversy is also making the rounds.
(TwitPic posted by @hinamesmichelle)
Crowds gather in Grant Park for holiday weekend
If you dared to venture to the loop this weekend, you witnessed how wild Chicago can get in the summer time. But for those of you who still haven't gone out of your way to taste Chicago and see the fireworks, let Breaking Tweets Chicago be your eyes and ears on the scene.
BT Chicago contributing editor Craig Kanalley and correspondent Maria Khan survived the large gathering that is July 3rd in Grant Park and lived to tweet about their adventures.
Celebration begins for Fourth of July in Chicago
One of Chicago's craziest weekends is upon us and if you're still not sure what kind of activities to partake in, Metromix Chicago has the "schedge" laid out for you.
Most of the city has the day off today, and locals are tweeting up their weekend plans. Take a look and you might find some ideas!
Local chef, reality TV contestant fond of Twitter
Local chef Rick Bayless, a "Top Chef Masters" contestant on Bravo who specializes in Mexican cuisine, has become big on tweeting. He's also found a quite following on Twitter, with more than 6,000 followers and a recent Chicago Tribune article tweeted 89 times today alone.
What Chicago is Tasting-Monday
Chicagoans are buzzing about their Taste of Chicago plans on this Monday afternoon. The question on some minds is what to eat when they get there.
Here is a sampling of the suggestions from the Chicago Twitterverse.
Free Broadway in Chicago concert this evening
A free Broadway in Chicago concert will be held tonight from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Petrillo Music Shell as part of Taste of Chicago. Jersey Boys and Mary Poppins could make an appearance, says Michael Lehet over at "What's a boy to do?".
Taste of Chicago 2009 gets underway
The Taste of Chicago is back. It starts today at 11 a.m. in Grant Park.
As one of the country's largest food festivals, Chicagoans and tourists alike look forward to sampling some of the best cuisine the city has to offer, but this year the Taste is slimming down. According to WGN Radio, there will only be 54 food vendors this year compared to last year's 63.
Festival organizers say vendor participation decreased in an effort to better control city traffic and was not related to the economy.
Per Chicagoist.com, all 54 food vendors are required by the city to "serve a minimum of two 'taste-of" portions,'" as part of the festival's emphasis on healthy eating. Some vendors will even team up with festival sponsor Humana, and display a "Healthy Choices" logo on their tents to promote the cause.
The Twitterverse doesn't seem to mind any of the changes. It's been buzzing about the return of the Taste of Chicago since yesterday.
Here's some of the first Taste tweets today.
faliec getting ready to take my kids to the taste of chicago
funsherpa Prevent food coma, go early! Taste of Chicago opens today, 11am $8/strip of 12 food/drink tix. Grant Park, can't miss this!
HomeRunInn Anyone attending the Taste today? Check out HRI at Booth 23 and tweet us your experience!
MzFabRicia THE TASTE starts today....who going with me????? I wanna eat up everything;-P
@janrx posted this TwitPic of the soon-to-open scene, which he encountered along his bike path:
Related link: Taste tips for parents at Wee Windy City
Are you going to Taste? Tweet your thoughts from the event or afterward to @BTChicago. We'll be compiling tweets as the event goes on.
Starfruit offers frozen treats at new Lincoln Park location
Twitter-savvy Starfruit Cafe (@StarfruitCafe) is no longer just in the West Loop. It has opened a new location at 2142 N. Halsted St. in Lincoln Park.
The new site is "just in time for the hot weather," notes Leah Zeldes of DiningChicago.com. It offers its renowned "delicious and healthful frozen kefir," a yogurtlike treat with fruit toppings, as well as kefir smoothies. Kefir is a "creamy, effervescent dairy beverage" popular in Europe, according to Zeldes.
@StarfruitCafe is active on Twitter and it frequently interacts with users.
Local Chicagoans are tweeting their love for the newest local chain.
stephiann At Starfruit with Val. @ShelleBelle5716, are you jealous?
zeldes Dining #Chicago: Cool off with kefir at Starfruit:
Just in time for hot weather, Starfruit Cafe.. http://bit.ly/KgfNh
JulieSmolyansky @GinaSpot Hey Gina, its @starfruitcafe LOL, good thing i searched "starfruit" to see who's talking about it. Did you like it? tennis today?
GinaSpot 1.5 hours of tennis in THIS crazy heat?? Time for a visit to @starfruit since I'm in Lincoln Pk. Julie? You there?
@mattsland posted this TwitPic on Monday of a blueberry frozen kefir from Starfruit Cafe:
Frozen kefir from the new Starfruit in Lincoln Park. Blueberry topped with granola & yogurt chips.