Pilsen and the Fiesta Del Sol

Hi all -
I am visiting Chicago (from Boston) for a few days starting this Saturday. it's my 2nd visit, and I'm excited about checking out Pilsen. In my pre-trip research, I see that Pilsen is hosting the 'Fiesta del Sol' this weekend. Any food experience with this?

My experience is that these things can go either way - great street food, or crappy sausage vendors.

If it's iffy, I'll just wait until the weekend's over before heading down there. I'm going through the many Pilsen posts to try to decide where to go! Sounds like a lot of good stuff. It will be hard to decide - I may have to graze...

Also - different guides have different things to say about getting to Pilsen. I gather there are some iffy neighborhoods nearby, but I'm assuming that if I hop on the El and get off at 18th St. I'll be ok?

mikejp wrote:Hi all -
I am visiting Chicago (from Boston) for a few days starting this Saturday. it's my 2nd visit, and I'm excited about checking out Pilsen. In my pre-trip research, I see that Pilsen is hosting the 'Fiesta del Sol' this weekend. Any food experience with this?
My experience is that these things can go either way - great street food, or crappy sausage vendors.

I'm a long time Pilsen visitor and have never been tempted by the lure of that particular festival... then again, street fairs are generally not my thing... I wouldn't be surprised if there were some good food carts and stands there and, with you, I'll look forward to seeing posts from others who have gone to the fair.

If it's iffy, I'll just wait until the weekend's over before heading down there. I'm going through the many Pilsen posts to try to decide where to go! Sounds like a lot of good stuff. It will be hard to decide - I may have to graze...

Pilsen has quite a few good places, though it's only the tip of the iceberg of Chicago's Mexican offerings. Still, very nice neighbourhood and well worth an extended 'graze'. I would try these:
1) birria at Reyes de Ocotlan
2) Carnitas at Uruapan or Don Pedro or...
3) Nuevo Leon for norteño (tacos de Sabinas!)
4) Bombon for pastry/cakes etc.
5) Mi Cafetal or Jumping Bean for a good café to hang out in for a while
6) Fine Arts Museum

Also - different guides have different things to say about getting to Pilsen. I gather there are some iffy neighborhoods nearby, but I'm assuming that if I hop on the El and get off at 18th St. I'll be ok?

Pilsen has some crime -- there are sections where gang activity is noteworthy -- but in my (considerable) experience, it's a good, friendly neighbourhood. Taking the El should be fine -- on the weekend there's also a Trolly shuttle during the day for free -- but be advised that taxis don't go there much. El and/or buses will work.

Antonius

Ever since the Fiesta del Sol was moved off of Blue Island Avenue years ago, I've thought the festival an embarassment to the Mexican/Mexican-American community in Chicago (and to the Pilsen community). I think it's one of the least worthy neighborhood festivals to attend. On occasion, though, I've had a decent meal from one of the food stands (of which there really aren't that many), but those have been few and far between. I've gone back, and back again in hopes that it'll change - but I don't see any indication that it will.

I cant speak for the festival because ive never been, but where I can lead you to go for a great snack is La Cebbolitta. If tamales are your thang, this is the place, the best store bought tamales in the city. Depending on how many you can eat go half green and half red, just be ready to go back the next day.

La Cebollita
(312) 492-8443
1723 S Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60608

If you're on the near south side this weekend, you might also want to take a look at the Bash on Wabash (1400 S. Wabash). This is a fairly new street-fest and I don't recommend the food (The first year they had some interesting Polish fare, but the second year only deep-fried yuck), but (a big BUT) this year Lonnie Brooks will be performing at 8:00 Saturday, and if you want to hear some good blues this should be good venue. Here's the schedule:

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/even ... 6626.event

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Though it was a bit warm yesterday, I ventured out to Maxwell St. and, afterwards, to Fiesta del Sol in Pilsen. I was incorrect when I said earlier in this discussion that I didn't think there were many food booths aat the Fiesta - there were lots, maybe more than any other type of booth. Here are some photos, and commentary, about what I saw:

2006 Fiesta del Sol Poster



Some of the food stands



Sunday afternoon attendees



Fantastic-looking pastries from a bakery I've not been to yet



Food from the Yucatan



Tacos de Cochinita Pibil



There was a lot of product promotion



Wheels of Fortune were popular - with a lot of product give-away



Miss Chiquita

[img][img]http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2838/15ks6.jpg[/img]
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Fruit Drinks Galore



Piña Colada's (without liquor)



Happy being Mexican

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The Fiesta included a large carnival-like midway with rides and games, an assortment of city/state agency representatives to answer questions and offer help for various problems and an assortment of entertainment that didn't appear very professional. There was also a very heavy police presence. No alcoholic beverages are sold at the event.

Bill wrote:Though it was a bit warm yesterday, I ventured out to Maxwell St. and, afterwards, to Fiesta del Sol in Pilsen.

Bill,

Looks like a good time, great pictures. From your second picture I see pambazos were available. I should have gone, not only do those seem to be quite scarce in Chicago, but of the few places that make them I never had one I've liked.

Don't suppose you tried a pambazo from that stand.

Enjoy,
Gary

Gary, no, I didn't try one of the pambazos. I'd eaten some tamales at the Maxwell St. Market, and then some tacos de cochinita pibil at the Fiesta, and was a little full (I'm not a big eater). Much of the food at the Fiesta looked greasy, and not too enticing - and I took a pass . . . probably because of the heat (the thought of the grease and heat (air temp) combined was uninviting). Many of the food stands were family operations, or a presentation by people who concentrate on catering. I'd seen mention on the site plan for the Fiesta of Nuevo Leon having a booth, but never did come across it. The booth of La France Bakery at 55th & Kedzie Ave. did catch my attention, in particular, and I think I'll head over there soon to check it out.