A Taste of Greater Danbury Celebrates the End of Summer

A Taste of Greater Danbury, the City’s super-sized food fest draws a 15,000-strong crowd, hungry for great food, music, and family fun.

This year’s summer festival, hosted by CityCenter Danbury, will be held on Saturday, September 12th, noon to 10:00pm, and Sunday, September 13th, noon to 7:00pm, on the CityCenter Green (at Ives Street). Admission is free.

Danbury’s official close to summer promises more than a dozen food vendors, Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot celebrating the music of Billy Joel, and new this year, Ives Street will be programmed with Family and Children’s related vendors and entertainment (sponsored by Fairfield County Bank). So, what’s not to “Like”?

And while you’re nibbling, listening, and chatting with neighbors, friends, and visitors, take a taste of Downtown Danbury, a great place to live, work, learn, and play. Parking is available at the Patriot Garage at 21 Delay Street (adjacent to the Green) and the Bardo Garage, nearby at 10 Library Place off Main Street. For updates, visit Taste of Greater Danbury on Facebook.

Tastes (at nominal cost) include Jamaican beef, chicken & spinach patties (Babu’s Jerk Joint), pastries & baked goods (Brewster Pastry), soft pretzels & churros (Danbury Ice Arena), baklava & chili dogs (Delavinia’s Deli), empanadas & ceviche (El Sabor Ecuatoriano), orecchiette broccoli rabe, penne au vodka & stuffed eggplant (Gallucchi’s Catering), jerk chicken & fried pork (Green Island Chicken & Grill), bacon mac-n-cheese & smoked turkey legs (Hog Wild BBQ), Italian ice (Italian Ices of Connecticut), meatball sliders & Nutella pizza fritte (Mima’s Meatballs & More), fried dough & cannoli (Nick’s Restaurant & Catering), smoked turkey chili & Kentucky Derby pie (O’Deen’s BBQ), wraps & panini (Paradise Foods), shish kebab & fried Oreos (Romy’s BBQ), tacos & guacamole (Salsa Fresca Mexican Grill), pad Thai & spring roll (Thai Awesome), sundaes & sorbet (The Ice Cream Guy), popcorn & candy cotton (Tri-Town Toys), and chicken teriyaki & fried clam strips (Two Steps Downtown Grille).

Celebrating the music of Billy Joel, headliners Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot will take the stage at 8:00pm on Saturday night and 2:00pm on Sunday afternoon. Also performing: Saturday’s opening act The Doug Wahlberg Band, country artist Tim Charron at 2:00pm Saturday, and a Taste tradition, Phil LoPresti, closes out this year’s Taste. Be sure to visit Curious Creatures, Stone Street Tye-Dye, Sand Art, and Super Sized Inflatables. Non-profits and local shops will be on hand as well.

The Taste of Greater Danbury is sponsored by by Union Savings Bank, Ventura, Ribeiro & Smith, Danbury Parking Authority, Danbury Cultural Commission, Family & Children’s Aid, Non Profit Rental Housing Corp. (NPRHC), Promise for Children Partnership, Savings Bank of Danbury, Star Distributors, Dental Associates of Connecticut, Danbury Arena, Fairfield County Bank, and Wells Fargo. For information about Taste of Greater Danbury and other programs and services, call CityCenter Danbury at (203) 792 1711 or visit citycenterdanbury.com

ABOUT MIKE DELGUIDICE & BIG SHOT
Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot perform all of Billy Joel’s greatest hits and even some of the lesser known tunes that only a true die-hard would know and appreciate. They also include songs in their set from other artists like Paul McCartney, Elton John, The Beatles, Journey, and songs from Michael’s original CDs. Billy Joel fans will be excited to know that this tour features members of Billy Joel’s band: guitarist Tommy Byrnes, drummer Chuck Burgi, and the newest member of Billy Joel’s Band, Mike DelGuidice, a well known Long Island musician-singer-songwriter.

Tommy has been with Billy for the last 25 years, and Chuck has been Billy’s drummer since 2005. When A-plus star hired Mike, he was included in all of Billy Joel’s iconic Madison Square Garden dates. Performing Billy Joel’s music, he is a dead ringer sound alike. He even had Billy himself fooled. “That’s me…I know my voice…That’s a tape…but it was this guy…Mike DelGuidice...,” said Billy Joel in a New York Times interview. “…they had a hard time convincing me it wasn’t me. It’s uncanny!!” Also joining them is John Scarpulla, an original cast member of Billy Joel’s Broadway musical Movin’ Out.

The other members of the band are: bassist Nick Dimichino, singer Carmine Giglio, and pianist Alexa Ray Joel, Billy joel’s oldest daughter and the first child of model Christie Brinkley. Six amazing musicians that you will not want to miss! So, what’s not to “Like”?