Official, all-inclusive review of the Taste

Went to the Taste of Cincinnati yesterday.  If you've never been - and I haven't been for years - it's basically a giant gluttony-fest lining 6 blocks of downtown Cincinnati.  So like, all the local restaurants have trailers or booths or portable things set up so you can pay like $5 (on average) to sample their goods.  Also sold is beer, both local and more encompassing, soft drinks, way-overpriced wine, margaritas, juice and water.  Oh yeah, and there are a few rides and balloons and blow up spidermen and such.  Bands, hoola-hooping chicks, giant bottles of Dawn dishwashing liquid.  You know, typical festival junk.

Also, there were lots of little samples - Oceanspray juices, flavored water, iced coffee.  And you could get a complimentary picture dressed as a Chiquita banana.  It seemed like only kids were doing this, otherwise, I would have loved to embarrass Jill & Bob by participating.

It was H.O.T.  I was pretty much drenched in a sweet, sweet layer of perspiration the entire time.  So much so that my caring friends had to comment on my heritage several times.  Also, the event was well-attended.  Humanity came out in droves.  There were times that I totally felt more intimate with complete smelly strangers than I really cared to be.

So, I consumed a very good beer:  Sam Adams Summer Ale.  Which is nothing new to me, since I dig it most anyway.  And I consumed a really shitty beer (just cause I was thirsty and it was close):  Miller Lite.  It took me a while to drink the Miller.  I also had delicious veggie spring rolls and my very first california roll!  The sushi was delicious!  And I cannot wait to try more.  Nom nom nom nom nom!  However, I got really full, and the heat and the sluggish walking through crowds of sllllooooowww movers left me totally not wanting to eat any more.  Jill & Bob, though, continued with deep fried Twinkies (the sight of which absolutely made my stomach turn) and gyros.

The best part...the part that was most fulfilling for me, though, was the people.  So many different life forms.  Many, many aliens.  Some carbon-based life forms as well.  A LOT of spandex.  Many maxi dresses.  Lots of footwear that was questionable.  Great tattoos.  Strollers galore.  Terrific bits and pieces of conversation captured as I walked past groups of gluttonous drunkards.  Enough with the describing, let's get to the meat!  Pictures!

A bit of the crowd for you.  My token hold-the-camera-up-in-the-air-and-click shot:

I did not use these, but I'm sure they were lovely and had a fresh scent:

Here's where I got my spring rolls.  J&B both got the seafood noodle stuff and they gobbled it right down.  I forgot to take a pic of the menu at the sushi place, since I was so excited to be trying it for the first time.  

I envied the kids being strolled and pulled around in wagons.  They could sit back and relax.  And enjoy their Batman dolls in comfort.  Saw some pretty damn cute kids at the Taste.  Too bad they'll grow up and turn into the Humanity we'll explore next.

So, there were some fun and interesting-looking folks to note.  And I gotta have that guy's shirt:

Do I need to say anything about either of these two chicks in the front?

This is what it looks like when you do yardwork in boots all day and not wear sunblock.  Bob.

Much like Bob's legs, there were some hot, hot, fine, surly men at the Taste.  

This little peek of belly skin gets me so crazy!

Also,

And:

I'm sure you're hungry at this point, so here are some deep fried Twinkies.  That stuff on top?  Not ketchup.  Totally raspberry sauce.  Not that I thought it was ketchup.  At all. 

I saw a family all wearing Ed Hardy tshirts.  Isn't that sweet.  I also got to walk behind this girl for a bit.  Lucky me!  I know what I'm getting as my next tat, and now I have a pic to take in!!

Also, I never thought to wear such a hugely supportive and well-covering bra with a spaghetti strap tank.  Good thing my eyes were open to fashion trends.

STOP!  CHARMIN BEAR!

Pots of boiling....stuff.  Jambalaya?  Gumbo-ish? 

The bracelets I wore.  I was so hot and tired at this point. I particularly enjoy the heaty-spotchy redness on my arm. (please don't mind my scratches and marks...I'm clumsy and never careful)

And finally, just because I like the guy holding up the clock:

Pretty good review, right?  Hope you enjoyed!  :)