Festival Update: Bash on Wabash On Hiatus;New Motor Row Craft Beer and Wine Fest

We received an email yesterday and found out two new things.

First off, it sounds like Bash on Wabash is on hiatus this year (via bashonwabash.org):

We are taking a break this summer to focus on promoting other South Loop events. We hope you will support us in celebrating “100 years of Willie Dixon” and other events to be announced!

While this event has had mixed reviews, it has been consistent.  They have been going for 11 years - pretty impressive.  As a reminder, the event was run by Greater South Loop Association.

Don't fret, because a new event just down the street is launching this year:

It's historic. It's a Chicago and U.S. landmark. And now the Motor Row District on Chicago's near south side will be home to the inaugural (and very 21st century) "Motor Row Craft Beer & Wine Fest" on the Saturday and Sunday of this year's Labor Day weekend. 

Built between 1905 and 1936 and featuring unique architecture that housed car showrooms and repair shops, the Motor Row District catered to Americans' then-newfound love of the automobile. The fabled district was comprised of several blocks of South Michigan, Indiana and Wabash Avenues just west of McCormick Place. Today it's a gentrifying neighborhood that's also home to at least three of Chicago's hottest new craft breweries. 

At Motor Row Craft Beer & Wine Fest, in addition to its historic South Wabash location, visitors will be able to buy tasting passes to sample both microbrews and wines as well as purchase blended cocktails. In other words: there will be something for every taste! And, being a Chicago street fest, there will also be plenty of food, live music, arts & crafts and more. 

Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 5-6
Time: 1pm to 10pm
Daily Location: On Wabash Ave between 16th and 18th Street, Chicago
Beneficiary: Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance

As you can imagine, the event has a variety of local suppliers including two of our resident breweries, Motor Row Brewery and Baderbau Brewery.  While the event doesn't really feel unique (say like Lit Fest), we can imagine that it will do well - after all drinking in the streets of Chicago seems to be a popular summer activity.

(Hat tip:  EH!)