The Best Weekend of the Year: 2010 Compass Taichung International Food & Music Festival

By Douglas Habecker
Translated by Naomi Lai

Back in 2004, when Compass Magazine organizers conceived of the idea to hold a special one-off international food festival to mark the publication's 10th anniversary, they had no idea that they were creating an annual Taichung tradition that would grow to become much bigger than the original event. But that's how good things often happen, through a mixture of chance, encouraging results, enthusiastic support and a bit of vision of what could be. The major success of last year's unprecedented two-day event, which drew an estimated total crowd of about 16,000, was the culmination of this progression, and this year's Festival aims to build on that.
For those who wonder why it's held in May each year, the Compass Taichung International Food & Music Festival is still used to mark the magazine's birthday. Just as important, though, is its role of underlining the magazine's purpose--introducing all that Taichung has to offer when it comes to dining, nightlife, entertainment, culture and much more.

This year's Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 22-23, from 2 to 10 p.m. at the same outstanding venue as the past two Festivals--the Art Museum Parkway, opposite the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, specifically the square formed between WuQuan West 3rd and 4th streets and WuQuan 5th and 7th streets, where most restaurants and other establishments of this popular destination are located (see Art Museum Parkway Map on p.32, or separate Compass Taichung Map). The Parkway's management committee, together with the Taichung city government, has been a faithful partner with Compass in holding this event, as a means of promoting its dozens of resident businesses and wonderful environment, enjoyed by residents and visitors year-round. The parkway committee will also be promoting its just-opened "Lohas Platform" information/service center (59, WuQuan 7th Street, 2F; tel. 04-2375-5482; 9 am-8:30 pm), which will be open to Festival participants all weekend with free toilets, souvenir sales, wheelchair rentals and other services.

Other major sponsors making this year's event possible with their support include Taiwan Beer, Columbia Consulting Co., Corning, and Sunny FM89.1.

As the event name makes clear, the prime focus of attention remains two-fold. There will be roughly 50 vendor booths selling the best Taichung has to offer in international food and drinks from almost every corner of the globe, sold by an equally eclectic variety of hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops and other businesss. Once again, Official Festival Beer Sponsor Taiwan Beer will be promoting and selling its latest cold, thirst-quenching products at a special tent. A smaller number of booths will also feature a diverse variety of other services and products, from gym memberships to sunglasses and tarot card readings. Besides sales, many businesses use this event as an opportunity to hand out specials, coupons and other promotions, making it an ideal chance to get a headstart on dining/nightlife explorations around town.

A sampling of some businesses already committing to participate in this year's event by this edition's press time include: Bagels & Beans, Becker Tarot Readings, Colette Patisserie, Cosby Saloon, Dumpling & Noodle Restaurant, Esslingen German Gourmet Food Shop, Finga's Base Camp, Free Bright Eyewear Co., Frog Pub & Restaurant, Full House, Hotel ONE, Howard Prince Hotel, Lippolis Gelato, The Londoner, Mr. India Indian Restaurant, Orgasmo Cafe & Bar, Pasta and Pizza Buena restaurants, PJ's Cafe, Punch Coffee, Seiko Riceballs, Shanghai 1924 restaurant, and World Gym.

Of course, what keeps many folks at the Festival all afternoon and evening is the great original live music, ably organized by Festival Music Coordinator Patrick Byrne each year. Byrne, undoubtedly one of Taiwan's most plugged-in music organizers and a accomplished musician/performer himself, once again brings together a wide range of music from foreign and local bands, mostly based in central Taiwan but also hailing from elsewhere on the island. This year, festival-goers can anticipate more rock, jazz, funk, blues, country, punk and other styles from a line-up that includes (at press time) first-time appearances by bands/artists like 2 Acres Plowed, Native Space, Aurora, Cameron De Las Vegas, Russel Rogers, and The Infinite Minute, as well as favorite Festival returnees like 'Round Midnight, The Moneyshot Horns, Three Day Bender, .22, Reider, and Andy Goode/Nick Fothergill. In May, leading up to the big weekend, be sure and check Festival information around town or on www.taiwanfun.com for the latest updates on performing bands and schedules.

Each year's Festival offers something new or unique from previous events. On Saturday between 4 and 5 p.m., a colorful Oriental Fashion Show will be staged by Hungkuang University's Department Applied Cosmetology & Graduate Institute of Cosmetic Science on the Parkway, just adjacent to the main Festival area, giving foreigners and locals alike the chance to view the latest in Taiwanese couture creations.

Although it is commented on each year, it must be stated again that one of the most unique facets of the Festival is the extremely diverse crowd of visitors it attacts. While it is the broadest and largest annual gathering of foreigners, the majority of participants remains Taiwanese of all ages, who come out to enjoy one of the city's largest international events, and to discover or re-discover the global culinary, musical and cultural journeys they can enjoy today without ever leaving this city's limits. That attribute alone makes the Compass Taichung International Food & Music Festival worth organizing year after year, and helps it to continue to improve and grow with time.

GETTING THERE
As noted above, the easiest way to find the Festival venue is to check the provided maps. From the main entrance plaza of the National Taiwan Museum of Natural Science on WuQuan West Road, Section 1, head south for two blocks on either WuQuan West 3rd or 4th streets and you'll come to the main event area. In addition to streetside public parking, three are large parking lots at the museum and a five-minute walk away on CunZhong (TsuenJung) Street (see Compass Art Museum Parkway Map), just off of MeiCun Road. Inquiries about the Festival may be directed to Compass Magazine at (04) 2358-5466 during weekday office hours.

Time: May 22-23 (Sat-Sun), 2-10 pm