Saturday, October 5, 2013

Media's Food Festival Could Be HUGE WIth A Little Vision!

Get the crowd into it
I think the Media Food Festival which is tomorrow, needs to up its game.  There was a time this didn't have crafts associated with it and was a regional hit with people looking to tryout the best food in the area.  Remember the historic battles for Media's Best Crab Cake?  The former Little Inn reigned supreme, but New Orleans Cafe and Packy's held there own at the time too.

The problem with infusing crafts with this event is that I'm not sure if it's a food festival with crafts or vice-versa.  It's a bit confusing and watered down.   Truthfully, if you squint your eyes tomorrow it won't look or feel much different that the Super Sunday we had a few weeks ago.  That had both food and crafts, which I think doesn't do well when so close on the calendar, so this should be something unique.  Maybe in the future do it on Saturday in conjunction with the Jazz Fest?
Make it entertaining and social


Media needs to think this through to revitalize and spice up what was a BIG event and still could be.  If they could also include wine/beer tasting, cooking demos, produce markets, they could have a hit on their hands like West Chester has become known for.  Perhaps a beer garden with live music like the Broozers?  Who by the way will be playing at Joclyn's tomorrow afternoon.

Media's Iron Hill brewery has a brewfest each May that draws hundreds for food, beer and entertainment.  The tickets sell out fast and there haven't been any available at the door for purchase in years.  Even if Media did wine from some of the local wineries, I'd have to think that would be huge hit right off the bat.  I think it could draw in a broader sponsorship too.  Something new, different and a change from Super Sock Sunday with Food.

Folks, Media has tremendous potential everywhere you look and if elected Mayor, I will bring the enthusiasm, dedication and vision that I know will enable us to be one of the best places to live in America!

Tedman




15 comments:

  1. Great idea! I stopped going to Media's food festival in favor of WC several years ago

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  2. I agree. 2 yeas ago was the first time we attended the Media Food Fest (having just moved to town) It was nice. Nothing overly special but we wandered around and the kids had some fun on the inflatables. Last year the food fest was disappointing. So many crafts, not enough food, just boring for a "food fest". We attended West Chester's restaurant festival and,WOW!, we were amazed. It was huge, packed and unbelievable. We are thinking of forgoing Media's food fest this year and going to the chili cook-off in WC instead. Its a shame because we think Media is fantastic but some of these "fests' are dull or repetitive. Super Sunday has more of a feel of a junk market. IT needs to be infused with some Clover Market type atmosphere.

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  3. I could not agree with you more! For it to even be called crafts is a stretch- its crap on a table....the fine arts and crafts festival is a highlight for me each year, and thats where the crafts should be..not at the food festival!

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  4. tedman, where can i get a sign for my yard to support you?

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  5. When the food festival began many years ago it was just food from local Delaware County restaurants with low prices ( nothing over $ 7.00 ) with the restaurants best fares and wine and beer sold by the venues .

    It was an event to try new foods from places not in Media .. it did very well for many years . I do not believe crafts have a spot in a "Food Festival " . There used to be bands playing on either end of State Street , on Vets Square , Plumstreet Mall , and on many other corners .

    It was Great ... to many things have changed for the worse in this town . The Super Sundays are a disgrace , and what is with the Town Talk taking the proceeds from these events .. they are from Pittsburg ??

    Time for someone like you to make this town what it once was .

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  6. Radnor has a very successful wine and jazz event, Media needs its leadership to work more closely with the local businesses and restaurants as the MBA is too political in its own right and has just as many tired and uninspired leaders as the Media Borough Council. New leadersh, new ideas, new Media...about time!!

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  7. This may be the first time I've agreed with an ATM post. Right on.

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  8. So many ideas have been proposed to the MBA over the years that do not get the consideration they deserve. They have been presented with ideas like Chilli, Bar b que, and October fests that would at least offer something new to the stale offering served up year after year.
    The current mayor claims economic development as a major component of the job yet he never attends MBA meetings. Has anyone on the current council presented MBA with new ideas about events they could host? I remember davidson critizing the non profit event held 2 years ago as a waste of tax payer money, yet he has spent big $oney litigating dam and making technology upgrades. We already know that stein has done nothing as mba liason, just shows how little interest the mayor and council care about state street. Ted will push for long needed changes to the mba and how Media markets itself in the future.
    DO you really want a 70+ yr old tired disinterested mayor or an energetic change agent leading Media in the future? Tedman has my vote.

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  9. Totally agree! Stopped going a few years ago. No room to walk down the street, too many non-food vendors. And whats with people always bringing their dogs to these events? I have a huge nice dog but I leave him at home. Who needs dogs all around food?
    They should find some open space to set up. Get rid of the moon bounces. I have kids and don't usually go because I wind up watching them rock climb for two hours. Make it a food and wine/beer fest. Get rid of all the other stuff. If you want to take your kids to moon bounce there are amillion places and festivals that offer that all weekend.

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  10. Agreed, Enough "crafts" and bring in the resaurants and wineries and make it a food festival. A local competition would bring some excitement. Somebody nail all these comments to the mayor's and MBA'd door like the 95 Theses. Some of these vendors just don't get it....keep the portions small and the prices low so we can sample. I know your roast beef sandwich is delicious and a deal for $5, but most just want small samples and small prices!

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  11. Dogs were outlawed at all State Street event this year. I used to love bringing mine to stroll along the trolley tracks (and far from food) on DUTS nights, but the Food festival always seemed like an event where you should NOT bring your dog -- except maybe after closing!

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  12. Seriously, the food was rather uninspired this year (all of the booths were either from borough restaurants that I eat at regularly anyway, or had similar cuisine to them so as a Media resident there was not much out of the ordinary for me). And then some of the craft vendors weren't selling crafts as much as flea market junk (which was ridiculous considering that DCCC had a flea market going on today that they could have sold at)

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  13. Stopped by the Fest for a minute today. Saw way too many "craft" tables and also saw dogs. There needed to be much more food/wine etc and less junk. The dog issue is ridiculous. Events like these are not the place for dogs. Even DUTS still had dogs this year. There is no way to keep a dog far from food or children at these places. I don't care how "nice" or "well behaved" your animal is, it's still an animal and you have no idea how it will react in noisy, crowded areas filled with food. No one else loves your dog like you do so do that dog a favor and take him places he can enjoy and no one has to worry about him.

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  14. This year there were more Dogs than any other year before at the Food Fest - I know the Dogs can't read the "No Pets" signs - But why is it not enforced the organizers or Police ?

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  15. I've been frequenting the food festival, and all the others (super Sunday, etc), for over 30 years. It has lost it's appeal, and the "crafters" they choose to bring in are oftentimes people selling junk and/or knockoffs of real products. It has become very impersonal, and it disgusts me. I miss the days of honest crafts, not dollar store junk!

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