OK this has to rank up near the top of the list in odd gigs for the Gin Palace Jesters as we are used to playing smokey honkytonks but we were called upon to play a private party for the City of Chicago Mayor's Office of Special Events. The premise of the event was the Mayor's office invited all the local and regional media outlets to lunch and entertainment to promote the official opening of the Taste of Chicago. There were alot of Radio and Television folks there recording and filming and the Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago was there to make an official statement inviting one and all to the good food and music that happens at Grant Park every year and to eat some lunch and listen to the Gin Palace Jesters before continuing his busy schedule. It's rumored Mayor Daley loves country and western music and is responsible for starting the Chicago Country Music Festival at Grant Park every year. We thank the Mayor for that.

This event took place in a very large tent right at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois. This is a bad picture of the tent taken from the stage. At this point the caterers and sound crews were setting up as were the Gin Palace Jesters.

This is Buddy with our newest "Honkytonk Fool", Upright Bassist Casey Stockdon. It was his first time playing with us and he never once complained about wearing a goofy red shirt and colonel tie. He also got to meet the Mayor of a large American Metropolis. It can only go down hill from there!!!!

I'm not sure what to say about this photo except..".Here's Buddy!"

Here's the Hillbilly Caruso getting some hydration intake. It was a beautiful sunny and breezy 75 degrees that day.

This feller here is Kent Rose. Due to the relatively short notice of the gig, Mike Medina was unable to arrange his schedule to play the gig so not wanting to miss the opportunity to meet the Mayor we called the very capable "Voice of the Prairie", Mister Kent Rose to strum the guitar and belt out a couple of numbers. He heard there was free cheesecake involved so he jumped at the chance and did a great job. Kent Rose has a great voice and plays all around Chicago so keep your eyes and ears open for when he's playing and go see him. Thanks Kent.

Here is Mayor Daley telling folks about the fine events the Taste of Chicago has to offer. We tried to arrange it to get him to speak out of the Gin Palace Jesters' mic stand but his people astutely brought their own podium. On the far right is Erin Bauer from the Mayor's Office of Special Events who was responsible for booking the Gin Palace Jesters for 3 gigs in 3 weeks. THANK YOU ERIN!!!

"Cousin" Buddy, "The Voice of the Prairie","The Hillbilly Caruso", Mayor Daley,"Pennsylvania" Dave & "The Barefoot Boy". Thank you Mayor Daley.