Eats, Beats, Artistic Treats

Taste Addison turns up the flavor to celebrate 30 delicious years

Spring in North Texas means Taste Addison, the beloved festival that turns Addison Circle Park into a foodie and music-lover's paradise for one special weekend.

This year, that's April 25-27, and the event also marks Taste Addison's 30th anniversary. So of course the festival is doing it up big with a vibrant blend of culinary delights, musical performances, and artistic experiences, offering an unforgettable weekend for attendees of all ages.

Tasty bites
Come hungry to Taste Addison, because the area's top restaurants are bringing their best samples and full-sized dishes in a variety of cuisines.Festival-goers can satisfy all palates by exploring several dedicated food areas:

Texas Lottery Chow Hall: An outdoor dining hall with over a dozen food stalls offering signature dishes and "Taste Bites."
Tasty Truck Stop: A selection of sweet and savory options from various food trucks, conveniently located next to the Bite-Sized Backyard.
Pop-Up Restaurants: Experience the ambiance and flavors of Addison's restaurants through both indoor and outdoor pop-up venues.
WorldEats Street: A culinary journey offering tastes from Thailand, Mexico City, the Islands, and more.
Tasting Hut: Enjoy complimentary samples from various exhibitors, vendors, and restaurants.

Find the full food line-up here.

Beverage experiences
Complementing the food offerings are several ways to sip, savor, gulp, and guzzle:

The Lawn: A dedicated area for beer enthusiasts to enjoy a selection of brews — features a great view of the Main Stage, too.
Speakeasy: A hidden gem offering spirits and food; purchase a flight to discover the password for entry.
Corkyard: An area where attendees can enjoy wine pours accompanied by live entertainment.
Mocktail Demonstrations: Beyond the Bar will host unique alcohol-free mocktail demos throughout the weekend, complete with free samples.
Perfect Pair: This ticketed experience takes you on a 45-minute pairing session of chocolate and whiskey, sponsored by Yelibelly Chocolates and OKI Bourbon— what could be better?

Sunday brunch
On Sunday, indulge in a three-course brunch menu paired with brunch cocktails.The experience includes access to a cigar lounge, private bar, and indoor restrooms.

Musical performances
The festival's Main Stage has an exciting lineup of musical acts planned, including Silversun Pickups, Hoobastank, and Wade Bowen.

Additionally, the NRG WorldBeats Stage will feature cultural performances from talented musicians and artists, showcasing a diverse array of cultures.

Photo courtesy of Taste Addison

Taste Addison's 30th anniversary festival is April 25-27.

Family-friendly activities
Activities for everyone await:

Carnival and Midway: Enjoy classic rides and games located in the Conference Centre parking lot and on Festival Way.
Sip & Stroll Art Walk: See the work of some of the region's most talented artists.
Studio 24 Silent Disco: Dance to music from live DJs with provided headphones in this unique experience.
Cultural Performances: Experience diverse performances on the WorldBeats Stage.
Blue Dot Spot: Jugglers, fire artists, puppets, magicians, and more will appear to amaze and entertain.
BlackBox 30: Watch alluring silk aerialists move to the resonating sounds of live jazz.
Shoppers Row: Browse apparel, jewelry, specialty food items, and so much more.
Bite-Sized Backyard: A dedicated area for children featuring interactive activities and entertainment.

Stay a while
Looking to extend your experience? Hotel packages are available, with each stay including four general admission tickets and a commemorative 30-year Taste Addison poster.

Get your tickets
Tickets are on sale now, with presale prices set at $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and $20 for a weekend pass.

At the gate, tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for kids. Something major to note: Weekend passes, VIP 3-Day, and group tickets are not available at the gate.

Special promotions include a $3 discount on admission with the donation of three canned goods, benefiting Metrocrest Services, and half-off admission for veterans.Additionally, all kids aged 6-12 enjoy free admission on Sunday.

addison concerts food festival taste addison video promoted

Movie review

Tantalizing teen comedy Summer of 69 is more nerdy than naughty

Photo courtesy of Hulu

Sam Morelos and Chloe Fineman in Summer of 69.

There was a trend in the late 2010s/early 2020s of bawdy comedies featuring teenage female protagonists, including Blockers, Booksmart, and Yes, God, Yes. Those types of films seemed to go by the wayside in recent years, but they’re making a comeback with the new film Summer of 69.

Abby (Sam Morelos) is a high school senior and video game streamer who has had a crush on her classmate Max (Matt Cornett) for her entire childhood. When she learns that Max has recently broken up with his longtime girlfriend, she’s determined to make her move. With advice from a confidant that Max likes a certain sexual position, Abby sets out to learn as much as she can about it, including hiring a stripper, Santa Monica (Chloe Fineman), to help her.

Coincidentally, Santa Monica is facing a situation where the club at which she works, Diamond Dolls, will be closed if the owner doesn’t come up with $20,000 in a week. Abby, who comes from a well-to-do family, seems to offer the perfect solution, and so the two agree to a week of lessons for that amount. Naturally, all sorts of complications arise, as well as the two women forming an unexpected bond.

Written and directed by Jillian Bell, with help from co-writers Jules Byrne and Liz Nico, the film is both suggestive and innocent at the same time. For all of the talk about sex and innuendo, having the nerdy and inexperienced Abby at the center of the film ensures that the story remains relatively chaste throughout. That includes scenes at the strip club, where Bell makes the choice to show almost no nudity.

Most of the humor of the film stems from Abby’s lack of experience, highlighted by her having “sexual” fantasies about Max that never actually get to the sex part. The juxtaposition between Abby and Santa Monica is also used for laughs, although Bell and her co-writers make sure to include a side story for the dancer that makes her into a three-dimensional person.

What ultimately makes the movie succeed is the way it keeps its characters relatable. Many high school films feel the need to play into a bunch of stereotypes, but those are kept to a minimum here. Instead, Bell upends expectations by delivering honest - sometimes to a fault for the characters - dialogue that acknowledges the spectrum of sexual realities for high schoolers, a version that differs from insatiable horniness of some other teen comedies.

Morelos, one of the stars of Netflix’s That ‘90s Show, makes for a charming lead, someone who can convincingly take her character from awkward to confident over the course of the story. Fineman, best known for her current stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, complements her well, showing her comedic prowess in a number of physical scenes. A supporting cast that includes Nicole Byer, Paula Pell, Alex Moffat, and Natalie Morales keeps the energy level high.

Despite its titillating title, Summer of 69 is much more sweet than naughty. Like most coming-of-age movies, it’s about a girl who’s trying to figure out where she fits in the world. The answers she finds aren’t always the ones she was expecting, but in the best possible way.

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Summer of 69 starts streaming on Hulu on May 9.

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