[Tim]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2012/0...e4992722154.txt

MICHIGAN CITY — Anyone who wanted a global cuisine perspective only had to meander down Franklin Street Saturday at the third annual Taste of Michigan City.

From American barbecue to duck with blueberry glaze; from pizza and ice cream to sushi and Indian fare, the 17 vendors at this year’s event put out their best dishes.

“This is our third year and we are growing,” Hesham Khalil, vice president of the Michigan City Main Street Association, said.

The Taste of Michigan City this year featured booths from new and seasoned vendors, such as Chef Kevin Stantz, of Kelly’s Table, who was serving duck with blueberry glaze and escalloped mousse crab cakes to patrons. Stantz said Kelly’s Table has taken part each year. Taste helps promote the restaurant and is great community spirit, but there is a third reason. “It’s a fun day,” Stantz said.

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New restaurateur Glenn Neal, of Nayla’s Barbecue, saw taking part as a chance to tell the community about his barbecue. He took over the former Smoky G’s and was serving up some ribs and pulled pork barbecue. A single father, he renamed the business after his daughter Nayla. Whatever the taste, folks attending the event satisfied their taste buds and were well entertained. First on the musical agenda was House of Blues performer Mississippi Gabe Carter, whose guitar melodies set the mood for almost 12-hours of entertainment. Others in the entertainment line-up included Deb Sawyer, Half Pint Jones and Selective Recall. Street performers, such as Frank Birdsall, who kept the children entertained with his balloon artistry, did their part to create the kitschy street festival atmosphere in the 400 block area of north Franklin Street.

“We came into town because of the Columbus ship replicas,” said Brian and Heidi Sexton, of Warsaw, Ind.

But when they looked at all that was happening here, they decided a stop at the Taste of Michigan City was in order.

The couple are originally from Valparaiso and try to make it back into the area when they can.

A new event this year was the bike race. Khalil said 28 riders took part, choosing between two routes.

A smaller route, five miles, one from Washington Park to Franklin Street and a longer route 30-mile route that took riders from Washington Park to Streibel Pond, to Creekside Park and back to Franklin Street.

“For a first time event, participants said it was very good,” Khalil said.

The bike race was a fundraiser to support the Main Street Association’s enhancement projects, such as bike racks planned for the uptown area, association president Sharon Wright said.

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What a great story! I love reading about good things happening in Our Fair City. Okay - duck in a blueberry glaze didn't have me calling my travel agent - but this looks like a real success!

[MCRogers1974]

We missed the event this year. We arrived just as the storm was rolling in. I believe this will become another large event for the downtown area.