Considering the fact that we knew nothing of the event until shortly before the street-closed signs popped up, the Taste on Main Festival was – well – tasty! A caravan of Tulsa food trucks rolled into the Rose District Saturday morning during a light rain shower that was predicted to end by noon.
It did not.
Surprisingly, folks turned out despite the wet conditions, which may have provided an incentive to eat faster, and our store awning proved to be a popular spot early on protecting gyros, Brownie’s Hamburgers, and Not Your Grandma’s Cupcakes. There were plenty of other menu items offered by vendors that lined both sides of Main for the two block stretch.
When the rain ran its course in the early afternoon (and the televised OU-TU football game was ended), the Rose District quickly filled with a fun-and-food-seeking festival crowd. There was a lot of food-truck fare in a lot of hands, and balanced on laps along Main Street. When Kristen arrived, she dragged tables and chairs from the shop to accommodate the diners. (She is always the gracious hostess.)
Meanwhile, I had every intention of playing wingman for Dustin at the sidewalk beertap, but a steady stream of visitors kept me behind the counter inside the shop. He held his own, and – despite the hectic pace – seemed pleased to have a small crowd lined up waiting for a cup o’ Boulevard Wheat draft.
It was on my personal agenda to snap a few photographs but, unfortunately, there was never a free moment until the crowds began thinning out after 9pm. It was a long day, but I’ve discovered that time spent in hectic activity passes quickly. (The achy muscles not so much.)
We met a lot of folks, many of whom expressed a desire to return during the week to sample our lunch fare (which is served Monday through Friday, 11am to 2pm, for those of you who have yet to drop in.)
Being surprised by the nearly-unannounced event was a little bit like having the circus rumble into town and set up the bigtop tents in the dark of night. In the morning, the astonishment at the colors and sounds is quickly overtaken by the pleasure of the experience. It worked out well, after all.
In fact, if the food-truckers would like to come back and do it again soon, I’ll volunteer to make up a poster to hang in the Rose District shop windows as advance publicity.
If they’ll promise to let me know – in advance.
Come visit!
McHuston
Booksellers & Irish Bistro
Rose District
122 South Main St. Broken Arrow OK!