Tuesday, September 27th, 201 6 |

 

ae@technewsiit.com

Goose Island block party closes out Chicago festival season

Kori Bowns
TECHN EWS WRITER

Goose Island Beer Company’s
annual 312 Urban Block Party has become
an event many Chicagoans look forward to
at the end of the summer festival season. This
year’s block party took place last weekend on
September 23 and 24 on the block surrounding
Goose Island’s Fulton Street brewery on the
city’s near west side.

In contrast to previous years where
tickets to the event were sold in advance, this
year’s block party only offered tickets at the
door. Instead of a fixed ticket price, attendees
were suggested to donate $10 to a choice of five

Chicago charities, including Chicago Canine
Rescue, Chicago Parks Foundation, Greater
Chicago Food Depository, Foundations of
Music, and Chicago Blackhawks charities.

Upon entering the closed-off streets
for the event, beer tokens were sold by Goose
Island staff. Each token was $3 and could
be traded for any of the beers offered at the
festival. Multiple nationally-distributed Goose
Island beers were available such as Green Line,
312, and Honkers Ale, as well as a selection
of Chicago and taproom exclusives, like The
Illinois, OMG, and Lolita.

312 Urban Block Party also
drastically upped its food offerings from last
year. In a similar fashion to events like Taste of

Chicago, a few popup restaurants were set up
in addition to a small handful of food trucks.
One major highlight was Hot Doug’s, a beloved
Chicago staple that closed its brick-and-mortar
store in 2014. Bruges Brothers food truck also
had a consistent line of customers eager to try
their gourmet french fries. Another option
that might be more familiar to the Illinois Tech
crowd was Kimski, a Korean-Polish fusion
restaurant opened by the popular Maria’s bar
in Bridgeport.

No block party would be complete
without a strong lineup of musical acts, and
the 312 Urban Block Party delivered. As in
previous years, a smaller local stage as well as a
main stage filled the atmosphere with music all

evening long, with DIs filling in between sets.
Against Me! and Dawes were the headlining
acts on Friday and Saturday, respectively, but a
dozen other acts drew consistent crowds.
Goose Island’s fifth 312 Urban Block
Party was another huge success for the popular
Chicago brewing company. Toward the end
of Saturday night’s festivities, the event was
at capacity, with a long line wrapping around
the block still waiting to get in. Those who
attended this year’s 312 Urban Block party
had the chance for one final weekend of good
weather, good food, good beer, and a laid-back
festival atmosphere to close out the summer.

 

 

Photos by Kari Bowns