This weekend was rich in examples of how Boston events woop ass on Chicago’s versions. Never thought I’d say that, but it cannot be denied.

POR EJEMPLO:

1) Phantom Gourmet Food Festival kicked the crap out of the Taste of Chicago.

Whereas Taste of Chicago is a profit-driven claustrophobia-inducer, the Phantom Festival was an unbelievably generous set up with a hundred restaurateurs giving out HUGE samples of their finest wares. For a reasonable $30, you could enjoy a ridiculous amount of high quality food, from homemade pickles to pulled pork sandwiches, to FULL SIZE HUGE CUPCAKES from Boston area’s finest bakeries.

2) Hub on Wheels was more enjoyable than Bike the Drive.

I saw more gorgeous oceanfront AND went through more of Boston’s finest parks today than ever before. I love me some Lakeshore Drive, but Hub on Wheels was a much more satisfying way to see an entire city in one morning. It offered a route directly through the most pretty parks and obscure waterfront areas that you’d never otherwise see.

44 miles later, I almost don’t feel bad for consuming 44,000,000 calories yesterday. But good gawd the bowls of pumpkin custard and lobster mac ‘n’ cheese and grilled ham ‘n’ muenster sammies were worth it. Three cheers for Boston!

These were just the TAKE HOME SAMPLES I found in my bag after I waddled paddled home from the food festival. Un. Real.