Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel made a surprise visit to the Warren Junior Scholar activity tent at the Taste of Chicago on Saturday, June 25, 2011. The newly-elected mayor stopped by at about noon with a TV crew and observed the 10 Warren Junior kids play each other and other chess enthusiasts. The typically engrossed chess players were speechless and stopped to greet their celebrity visitor. Emanuel chatted with the parents and asked the Warren Scholar kids about chess. Jimi Akintonde, who will be entering Chicago’s Whitney Young High School this fall as a freshman, told the mayor that chess is fun and challenging, and that he’s enjoyed being part of the Warren Junior Scholar program. 

Emanuel shook hands all around and posed for pictures, but turned down an invitation to play. “I am sure the kids are better than me,” he said. This is the sixth year that the ICA Warren Junior Scholar program has hosted an activity booth at the Taste of Chicago, but the first year they were paid a visit from Chicago’s mayor! (Pictured at right: Warren Scholar Matthew Stevens with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel)