Posted August 4, 201014 yr These photos were taken in the first hour of the 2010 Youngstown Italian Fest, during the lunch hour of Friday, July 30. The large crowd early on helped cause a record turnout for the event -- more than 52,000 people for the weekend! Most of the people at the Italian Fest during Friday's lunch hour were downtown office workers, judging by their attire and/or ID badges. In the recent past, there weren't that many downtown office workers to create this kind of turnout. But the growing number of jobs downtown and elsewhere in the city no doubt help bump up this year's crowd to the new record. I was there following a morning meeting downtown, so many of us from the meeting wandered into the festival to get lunch.... The rides weren't yet in operation as few office workers were up for a puke on the Tilt-A-Whirl.... OK, so it wasn't all food from The Boot. Some ethnic specialties, such as these from Hungary, were available too! The building behind is the Realty Tower which was converted to apartments a year ago.... The tent at left had lots of tables where visitors could sit and eat and avoid the hot sun in this excessively hot summer.... Youngstown's tallest, the Central National Tower.... You mess with me, you mess with La Famiglia! Leo's Ristorante had a popular stand at the fest (their cavatelli is very good, as are their sidewalk sandwiches -- I had both!). Didn't get to try Ziggy's though.... This shot gives a good view of the large crowd already starting to find its way into the Italian Fest. Not sure if that guy is carrying rope or sausage.... Looking west down the "wall" of buildings along Federal Street.... Central National Tower above the smoke and "flame" from the fest.... The welcome banners are always out downtown.... OK, please remember these next two photos in January. While this work was unbearably hot in July, it will be a pleasant memory when it's 10 degrees out... Central Square is a "monumental" place to hold the Youngstown Italian Fest.... Just in case it wasn't hot enough outside, you could always set your insides on fire with some of Guy's hot sauce on these ribs.... Looking south on Market Street.... Which way to the restrooms, officer? The economy must be better in Youngstown... paying for a soft pretzel with a $20 bill? Maybe that is a good definition of success (as suggested by the pretzel worker's shirt).... I was in Youngstown for a meeting to bring passenger trains back to the city. Mission accomplished.... Hope you enjoyed the Youngstown Italian Festival 2010. Stop in next year! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
August 4, 201014 yr Yay-town! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 5, 201014 yr Everyone loves a good summertime festival. Didn't realize elephant ears were of Italian origin ;)
August 5, 201014 yr Go, Youngstown! Still a grand downtown, good to see it coming back to life. Let's hope the progress continues.
August 5, 201014 yr Everyone loves a good summertime festival. Didn't realize elephant ears were of Italian origin ;) Didn't you know? Orecchio di elefante is a classic Calabrese dessert. ;) I didn't have one this year, but my favorite treat is the Poor Man's Caramel Apple. Start with a sugar-cone bowl with some vanilla ice cream, and top with diced apple, caramel, chocolate syrup, and crushed peanuts.
August 7, 201014 yr That they had such a bign turnout sounds mucho cool: .... more than 52,000 people for the weekend! This must be one of the big summer festivals for NE Ohio. For once a high-turnout ethnic festival that isn't Irish/Celtic (or German)! So, are there Polish festivals in the Cleveland/Youngstown/Pittsburgh area?
August 7, 201014 yr That they had such a bign turnout sounds mucho cool: .... more than 52,000 people for the weekend! This must be one of the big summer festivals for NE Ohio. For once a high-turnout ethnic festival that isn't Irish/Celtic (or German)! So, are there Polish festivals in the Cleveland/Youngstown/Pittsburgh area? Wow, 52,000? How many days was it? I wonder how that compares to the Feast of the Assumption in Cleveland? Bet a lot of people find their way to both festas.
August 7, 201014 yr That they had such a bign turnout sounds mucho cool: .... more than 52,000 people for the weekend! This must be one of the big summer festivals for NE Ohio. For once a high-turnout ethnic festival that isn't Irish/Celtic (or German)! So, are there Polish festivals in the Cleveland/Youngstown/Pittsburgh area? Wow, 52,000? How many days was it? I wonder how that compares to the Feast of the Assumption in Cleveland? Bet a lot of people find their way to both festas. According to the local rag, there were actually 58,000 people. It was Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Where are the hot chicks this year? LOL, KJP was there during lunch, and the beauty pageant didn't happen until later in the evening.
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