Dress: H&M (straight size/last season) | Purse: 88-eightyeight (part of the platinum gift bag at theCurvycon)

 

The Taste of Chicago opened Wednesday in Grant Park and what better way to kick off Chicago’s free annual food fest than with The Illinois Lottery The Roots Concert.

Petrillo Music Shell was a perfect backdrop for this party by the lake.  The day started off real stormy and I thought the concert was going to be a wash. *insert sad face emoji*.  The skies cleared up and my blogger boo and guest Keyonda of arealurbanmom were able to have  a great time.  A little birdie told me that there might be a special guest performing with the opening act so I told her to come early so we could get good seats for the concert.  I went to The Illinois Lottery Erykah Badu Concert last year and I know that good seats fill up fast.  With Chicago’s own Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment opening for the world famous band The Roots I know the seats would be at a premium.  After we secured our place we popped over to the The Illinois Lottery tent.  At the Illinois Lottery’s tent we were treated to some amazing food and drinks.

I did some mingling with other Chicago Bloggers and met with some city of the Chicago employees.  We talked about memories of coming to the Taste of Chicago from years past.  That made me dig up some old pictures of my past Taste of Chicago experience with my family

(Above pictures) Taste of Chicago pictures from 2007

 

 

They ushered us to our seat as Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment began to take the stage.  Donnie and The Social Experiment being the four-member songwriting and production unit that began as Chance The Rapper‘s backup band.  Donnie Trumpet, born Nico Segal, is the group’s trumpet playing leader.  His music spans several genres hip hop, jazz, blues, rock and soul.  Donnie showcased a few songs from his debut album Surf.  The was met with widespread acclaim from music critics who praised its varied musical circles.  The crowd was rocking to their smooth sounds.  The little birdie was right.  There was a very special guest.  Chicago own Chance The Rapper came out and blessed the crowd with a few of his hits.  Keyonda went nuts.  She’s a hug Chance The Rapper fan.  The group offered a touching moment when they stopped the music for a moment of silence to honor father of five, Alton Sterling.  He was repeatedly shot by Baton Rouge police officers after he was pinned to the ground.  Donnie said “Music heals all wounds.”

 

Just when I had wiggled to I just couldn’t wiggle anymore The Roots came out.  The legendary Roots Crew, consists of Black Thought (MC), Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson (drums), Kamal Gray (electronic keyboards), F. Knuckles (percussion), Captain Kirk Douglas (electronic guitar), Damon Bryson (sousaphone) and James Poyser (electronic keyboard) formed in 1987, in Philadelphia, PA.  The four Grammys time winning Roots are one of the best known and most respected hip-hop acts.  I’m happy the Roots came to Chicago because I wasn’t able to attend “The Roots Picnic.” The Roots showed why  Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon made them the house band.  They were AMAZING!!!  There was no sneaking out early to bet the crowd.  They had me to the very last second.  I don’t know which was the best moment.  When they had Taraji P Henson and Jussie Smollett of Empire come out I was heeeeyyyyyy.  Then Jussie Smollett started singing and I was floored.  He has such an amazing voice.  They then did a tribute to the late great Prince.  The Roots left me in my feelings.  Then individual members of the band preformed solos.  I was out done.  The Roots were the icing on a prefect day.  My feeling leaving The Taste of Chicago was simply #luckiseverywhere!

 

Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his daughter partied with us.

Thank you again Illinois Lottery for having extending an invitation to this years Taste of Chicago.  You can find out more about The Illinois Lottery here http://bit.ly/1HxmS2w and  The Illinois Lottery #luckiseverywhere campaign here http://bit.ly/2016Lucky.  You can also use social media hashtag #luckiseverywhere #IllinoisLottery to keep the party going.