For generations, food festivals have offered cities a way to put local restaurants, businesses and community life on display. One of the best-known examples is Taste of Chicago, which debuted in 1980 after its organizers drew inspiration from a short-lived food event in New York City in the late 1970s.
East Grand Rapids has a smaller-scale version of the idea — and one with a distinctly local twist.
The annual Taste of East returns Wednesday, Aug. 19, bringing restaurants, retailers, artisans and neighbors together along Wealthy Street in Gaslight Village. The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and, perhaps more than anything, is an opportunity to experience the area’s social district in action.
Wealthy Street, between Lakeside Drive and Croswell Avenue, will be transformed into an evening gathering place, with restaurant booths offering samples of food, beverages and desserts. Live entertainment will be featured near Regatta Plaza, while yard games and other activities give families a reason to stick around…