The Uptown Arts District was full of hustle and bustle Saturday August 4, 2012. It was due to the 3rd Annual Taste of Michigan City which started at noon and would not end until 11pm that night! There were booths set up by local restaurants lining both sides of Franklin Street serving all sorts of delicious edibles like pizza from Albano’s, sushi from Little Tokyo and crab cakes from Kelly’s Table! This writer was lucky enough to sample a few of those crab cakes. Yes readers, it’s tough work, but I do it all for you.
Kevin Stantz was helping to serve the fare at the Kelly’s Table booth. Kelly’s Table, owned by Patricia Molden, serves French American cuisine. “We’ve been with the Taste since it began,” Stantz said. “We like to come out, promote the community and have fun! This definitely has an impact on our business.”
To find out more about Kelly’s Table, visit their website by following this link or “like” them on Facebook!
There were 17 local restaurants that took part in this year’s Taste of Michigan City. There were other attractions and activities to enjoy that day as well.
“We had a bike cruise, live entertainment, a beer garden with local breweries and wineries, a family area and there will be a boat parade later tonight,” stated Tiffany Bley, Executive Director of the Michigan City Mainstreet Association. “All of the funds made today will help us continue a Façade Grant Program.”
The Michigan City Mainstreet Association (MCMA) was created in 1991 and its job is to create promote and the revitalization of Michigan City’s historic downtown district, as well as the north end of the city. It was the MCMA that was in charge of The Taste of Michigan City. The Façade Grant Program that Bley mentioned is designed to help downtown business with the improvement and beautification of the exterior of their buildings.
“The downtown has been dying for this,” said Shem Khalil, Vice President of the MCMA. “We are reviving the downtown. There’s also an Art Walk on the first Friday of every month.”
There are many things that happen throughout the year in Michigan City’s downtown district that many people don’t know about.
“It’s nice for people to know we’re here,” said Moe Mroueh, Chairman for the Taste of Michigan City. “There’s art, food, theater…lots of activities.” Mroueh is also the owner of the local restaurant Sahara and had a booth set up at the Taste ready to serve some of the restaurants’ delicious Middle Eastern cuisine to the eagerly awaiting patrons.
To find out more about the MCAC, The Taste of Michigan City, Michigan City’s downtown district and other events in that area, click here.
Sponsors for the Taste of Michigan City included Cintron, GIS and Horizon Bank.
Click here for our complete photo gallery of the Taste of Michigan City!!!