Blog Most-favored-sister status: Using the Sister Cities International Festival to pick favorites 

Anyone who’s ever taken a moving walkway at O’Hare should be at least marginally familiar with some of Chicago’s sister cities. Launched following Eisenhower’s “People-to-People Initiative,” the program is aimed at fostering world peace through city-to-city relationships. While that might seem a little far-fetched, the city’s fully bought in to the program, taking on 28 sister cities in all.

This week, the city is hosting the fifth annual Sister Cities International Festival. Held at Millennium Park, the event amounts to half international food court, half street-fair-style shopping. Not all of the cities are represented with booths (looking at you, Athens, Greece), but those that are both thrive and flounder with international flair. The A.V. Club shlepped the worldly path and picked the best (and rest) of the fest.

Mexico City, Mexico
Festival presence: Carbón, a taco and burrito joint located in Chinatown. E&J Designs, a generic-ish jewelry stand. Casita Azul Folk Art, a really amazing higher-end folk-art store in Evanston.
Most-favored-sister status: Pretty solid. Not only is Mexico City better repped than any other sister city at the fest, Casita Azul is one of the better shopping destinations in the tent. Through a partnership with the Huichol Center, it has traditional artists working on lovely yarn paintings and insanely intricate beading in the booth.

Galway, Ireland
Festival presence: Because I Like It, a booth selling knitwear and Celtic jewelry
Most favored sister status: Not too shabby. Yes, it’s summer now, but those scarf and hat sets look mighty warm for winter. Plus, the merch is mom-friendly, for a little early Christmas shopping.

Warsaw, Poland
Festival presence: Kasia’s, the Polish deli in Ukrainian Village and purveyor of finer grocery-store pierogis.
Most favored sister status: Deliciously favored. The $8 polish platter is one of the best deals at any street fair.

Shenyang, China and Shanghai, China
Festival presence: Two dubiously “Asian” retailers: Jan Lee Design, selling polymer clay jewelry, random beads, and crappy scarves, and Oriental Arts Center, selling jade rings, jade Buddhas, and cheap folding fans.
Most favored sister status: Not great. Most of the crappy jewelry and thin scarves were probably made in China, yes, but their chintzy quality doesn’t rep well for these cities. Plus, jade Buddhas? So cliché.

Busan, Korea
Festival presence: Bowl Square, a food vendor normally located in the city’s newish French Market.
Most favored sister status: Not horrible. The food’s plentiful, cheap, and creative. The bibimbap is stocked with veggies and rice, so it at least feels healthy-ish.

Delhi, India
Festival presence: Mata Traders, an Andersonville boutique specializing in fair-trade and women-positive goods.
Most favored sister status: Stylish! With bold jewelry and swingy little dresses and jackets for sale at very reasonable prices, this booth reps India with a touch of sass. If only the fest had an Indian food booth, too.