Trouble at Tasty Tuesdays


Mark Baratelli, of The Daily City, gave me a tip that a food truck event in the Milk District was being shut down by police. He said that all the proprietors in the neighborhood were behind the event since it brought in a crowd. Apparently a business in the neighborhood did complain and there were reports that Code Enforcement was there. In Miami, food truck corals draw huge crowds to the trendy gallery district. I immediately drove over to see what was going on. As I approached the Milk District, I noticed a food truck driving away. The event was called Tasty Tuesdays and involved food trucks in a parking lot at the corner of Robinson and Graham. There was a small crowd of 20 to 30 people milling about. Some people were finishing off plates of food. Two police cars were parked in the middle of the road blocking traffic. Officers stood in the road with their arms crossed waiting for the food trucks to pack up and leave. Melissa's Chicken and Waffles food truck closed up and pulled out of the parking lot as I sketched. A camera man from Fox 35 News started shooting video.

Saigon Sizzle on the left side of my sketch packed away a table and supplies and then backed out of the lot. I asked  the guy who was helping guide the driver why they had to leave. "The police say we are blocking traffic." he said. "We assumed the organizer had all the right permits, but I guess not." Slowly the crowd disappeared as the sun set behind the T.G. Lee's Milk towers. A mosquito kept tickling my left elbow. I rushed to finish the sketch before I lost all my light. The Flattery, a black food truck was parked on the sidewalk and was the last to leave.

Tasty Tuesdays in The Milk District had this to say on Facebook, "One of the businesses on the street complained one too many times. Worst case scenario, next week the trucks will be in the Spacebar/Sandwich Bar, Etoile Boutique/Milk Bar, and Doggy Day Care parking lots. Best case scenario, we're back on the street - we will keep you all updated. Small businesses for the win!"
I drove home and had a hot dog for dinner. I was starving.

- Analog Artist Digital World




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