the melrose park feast

although the present day feast is a slim shadow of what it once was I like to go because it brings back many fond childhood memories for me. Like the guys in the (d-word)T-shirts closely guarding the "gambling tent" next to the church. How many kids today can say that they teased gosh darn real gangsters and all they got was a fist shaken at them and cursed out in italian? Or the fact that an adult could slip certain vendors an extra buck and get a healthy dose of booze in their"virgin" fruit drink. have any of you hounds ever gone to this curious festival? I was going to run through it quick tomorrow and then go back sunday when the parade of our lady happens after 12 o clock mass. You can relive the godfather if you like and put money at the feet of the statue but they are looking for 20 dollar bills minimum. anyway if anyone is going give a holler

Have we gotten so politically correct that we can't call a Dago T a Dago T?

Far preferable, imho, to the name that t-shirt style goes by in current parlance: wife beater.

Rather be [or be with] a Dago any day.

Giovanna

Giovanna,

My 14 year-old daughter has a collection of what she calls "wife beaters." She would not think of using the word "dago." But hey, it's Oak Park.

Hammond

Well, of course, in Oak Park a racial slur is unforgivable, but the other is just reifing your suspicions about the dominant white male patriarchal paradigm.

But then, I always thought it referred to the way Ditka referred to facial hair-- Da Goatee.

I have attended the Taste of Melrose or Melrose Feast or whatever they call it once a few summers back. The parking situation is horrible, and is not very easily accessed by public transportation either. Only being half Italian, I felt a bit out of place but still managed to have some good fried dough (although I will admit, I'm partial because my next door neighbor runs the stand). It was as crowded as the Taste of Chicago with less places to escape because the whole place is fenced in. Scary. I also felt that a lot of the stands had the same food. If you missed pizza, calamari or calzones at the first 10 booths, don't worry, because you can get it at 10 others.

The rule of politeness that my mother taught me was that it's OK to use ethnic slurs when they refer to an ethnic group that you're a member of, but not otherwise. So I guess it's OK for me to refer to a Dago T, but could never use the n-word, or the p-word [even when telling a joke, anymore] or the xyz-word.

Wife beater is still much more offensive to me.

And you're right, Mike:

DOWN WITH PATRIARCHY!!!

Just Goggled It:
Taste of Melrose Park Sept 3,4 & 5, 2004
1000 N. 25th Ave.
Went last year and this struck me as what the taste of
Chicago should be like. Small sampling of stuff you
might not get to try anywhere else, that is if your dining
companions are unadverturious. Definitely plan to go this
year. Bring salt & pepper packet and the bottom half of
a case of canned pop to get your stuff to a table.

Now what are you guys talking about this weekend?

Hi again
Just to avoid the confusion i will try to explain, the feast this weekend is the feast of our lady of mount carmel. its been going on in MP since I was a kid. it is a similair feast to the one depicted in the godfather movie complete with parade of statue thru the streets. As I said in my first post it is a shadow of what it used to be but still is a nice carnival with some of the old time people participating, many cooking the food in their house kitchen and bringing it to the homemade stands set up on the street in front.

The feast around labor day weekend is the taste of melrose, it started when all the other burbs started having fests and is at the community center off of 25th. when it started they hgad a strict rule that no item was more than 1.00 and it was great. that has been lifted and prices are rising but it is still a pretty cool place to go.

It's-a that time again.

I'll be there watching the statues and eating the fried dough and squid (and lately some pretty decent tacos) on this Sunday (July 12, 2009) afternoon.



Photo by David Hammond, at the Taste of Melrose Park, but they're there for the Feast as well

The Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, now in its 116th year, honors the Virgin Mary.

After a novena -- nine consecutive days of prayer -- the Feast culminates Sunday (July 12) in a procession through the streets with the statues of Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus.

This year the statues will wear new crowns made of melted gold from the crosses, watches and even wedding bands donated by parishioners.

The tradition of the Feast began in 1894 when Melrose Park resident Emanuella DeStefano prayed to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel for the life of her dying husband.

DeStefano's husband survived and, in return for the favor, DeStefano established a feast in honor of "La Madonna del Carmine."

This year's outdoor festivities -- with food, rides and games -- will be held today through Sunday, with live entertainment each night.

When: July 10 : 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.
July 11 : 12 p.m. - 11 p.m.
July 12 : 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Price: Free Event Phone Number: 708-344-4140 http://www.olmcshrine.org/
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel 1101 N. 22nd Ave.
Melrose Park, IL 60160 708-344-4140

I haven't been to the feast since high school when I was dating an Italian girl.

Sounds like a good choice for Date Night tonight.

From what I remember it was a carnival with food stands.

as a full-blooded eye-tie, i prefer the term "Italian American T-Shirt".

thanks.

For those who attended, please let us know what you sampled and thanks for posting about this festival. I will start planning for next year...