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NewsFriday, August 24, 2007 9:03 PM CDT
Hot August Nights offers food, drink and music today
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BLOOMINGTON — The inaugural Hot August Nights — with food, beverages and bands — gets under way at 2 p.m. today along a two-block stretch of Main Street.

The free event, sponsored by the Pantagraph and Downtown Bloomington Association, will be between Market and Jefferson streets. It will run until 11 p.m.

Vendors representing a variety of Bloomington and Normal restaurants will offer generously sized food samples for $1 to $3. A liquor tent will have mojitos, margaritas, beer and wine, and a Pepsi booth will have soft drinks and water.

Providing entertainment will be Sister Groove from 2 to 5 p.m., Jury’s Out from 6 to 8 p.m. and Bottle of Justus from 9 to 11 p.m.

The entertainment stage will be located at the Main-Market intersection.

Participating restaurants are Show-Me’s, Reality Bites, Rosie’s, Elroy’s, LaGondola, Maggie Miley’s, Lancaster’s, Central Station Cafe, Duffy McKaw’s, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Kelly’s, The Grand Cafe, Corn Palace and Rhino’s.

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Reader comments on this story - 11 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Why not block out wrote on Aug 25, 2007 11:12 PM:

" the entire street and allow adults that are old enough to drink to do so. Make it so after 9:00 or so you have to be 21. "

to normal resident wrote on Aug 25, 2007 7:16 PM:

" I love children, but the family friendly thing has gone too far! You can't even go out to eat anymore without kids whining, crying, running around, etc. because parents are too CHEAP to pay a babysitter. Go out alone sometimes, it's good for a relationship!!! "

Status report wrote on Aug 25, 2007 5:43 PM:

" We went to Hot August Nights this afternoon - I think it goes on until 11 tonight. It was very crowded even at mid-afternoon, but the cooler weather made it very quite pleasant. There was a great variety of food, way beyond what the Normal poster called "cheap bar food". We have gone to the Normal Corn Fest in the past, but this thing in Bloomington has lots more variety and is nicely done. The beer is confined to a separate tent, so it is not a problem for families. "

To Normal Resident wrote on Aug 25, 2007 5:29 PM:

" Why does EVERYTHING have to family-friendly? I'd personally like to eat out, fly, go to pro ball games, etc... without being surrounded by your brats. "

Excited wrote on Aug 25, 2007 2:14 PM:

" I'm really looking forward to this. It should be fun now that the weather has gotten a bit cooler. It's a refreshing change of pace to have TWO worthwhile events going on in B-N the same weekend! "

LH wrote on Aug 25, 2007 12:02 PM:

" if you have read the articles over the weeks... this has been advertised and talked about. it started as something smaller and grown into this... which I personally think is great. Is it going to be the Taste of Chicago - no, but I am glad to see the town offering something and plan on going to support Bloomington. No reason in a town of this size, we can't support the Corn Festival and this. "

Normal resident wrote on Aug 25, 2007 10:54 AM:

" Mmmm.. Bloomington's downtown is focused on the beer tent while Normal's is focused on the family atmosphere. While there is beer in Normal's Cornfest.. it is limited to the restaraunts/bars in the downtown area. Not out where the kids can be exposed to it. That's why the Bloomington downtown will not survive other than having some bars. It is geared towards drinking and carrying on. "

Mmm Bar Food wrote on Aug 25, 2007 8:12 AM:

" Variety in Bloomington/Normal? Granted I love Elroy's but I hardly think planning a festival around what's mostly bar food and cheap spaghetti is really going to draw a huge crowd. "

Way to go!! wrote on Aug 25, 2007 7:56 AM:

" Nice planning! So now it begins, the competition between Uptown Normal and Downtown Bloomington. Corn Fest is this weekend as well. Why would the Bloomington planners do this? Also, the advertising for Bloomington's event has been poor. Had I known about it sooner, I would have gotten a babysitter. But we are going to Corn Fest with the kids. "

ES wrote on Aug 25, 2007 12:54 AM:

" What? Why did not Shenk offer the Chocolaiter? He will be out there with his camera to be sure. "

J wrote on Aug 24, 2007 10:25 PM:

" I'll bring the Imodium A-D. You bring the Tums. I'm sharting as we speak. I can't wait!!! "

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