music we love – taste of lincoln avenue

As a street festival with a mission, Taste of Lincoln Avenue left no stone unturned at this years TOLA. Between the craft fair, the food and the kids fair, this was the place to be for families!

TOLA is a fundraiser for the Wellington Community, hence the suggested $10 donation at the gate. Proceeds go to local schools, libraries and various after school programs. In the past 26 years, TOLA has raised $2.2 million for the community! Chicago blessed us with a warm weekend and the Lincoln Park families were out to enjoy it.

With two of our locations on Lincoln Ave., this is a community we know and love at Sine. This is a neighborhood full of families and we’re sure everyone appreciated the free entry into the Kids Festival. Despite being free the kids festival was packed with activities, there were inflatable rides and a petting zoo. Everywhere you looked there were chubby cheeks stretching into smiles. The craft fair was extraordinary as well, definitely adding something extra to this street festival.

Of course, we cannot leave out the lineup. As each set was only 45 min to an hour, TOLA was able to pack in some really great acts. Our favourite was Sunday evening, Wedding Banned, kept the crowd rocking into the night with their 80’s and 90’s covers. They were named “Best Wedding Band” by CBS Chicago last year and truly lived up to that title.

These people look like a fun time!

Wedding Banned seemed to transport the crowd to a different time, perhaps to the reception halls where their young families truly began. Maybe all the moms and dads were just happy to be kid free for a moment and listening to hair metal again. And as their name would suggest, they are available for weddings! After a steamy set, the festival let out around 10 pm. Leaving the community empty and quiet, just as it was before. But with the promise of a soon-to-come sizable donation in the air.

Vivian Ellis is a Salon Coordinator by day and stalker of music by night. When not performing herself, she works at the historical iO theatre. Providing lights and sound for many a comedy shows.