The release of the movie Public Enemies, a film about one of Chicago's most notorious gangsters John Dillinger, has renewed interest in Chicago's gangster scene. Springing up around 1920 after the passing of Prohibition, the likes of Al Capone and John Dillinger quickly rose to power in the seedy underworld and conducted brazen crimes. Reaching their peak in the latter part of the decade, they slowly faded away after the 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933 and they lost a major source of their income, illegal alcohol. Even though the gangsters of the era were only around a relatively short time, they certainly left a big mark on Chicago's history. If you would like to go back and visit Chicago's gangster past, here's my list of various gangster tours and historical places.

While for many "healthy eating at Taste of Chicago" is an oxymoron, for those that don't want to fully partake in the gluttony there are options to help you keep the calories and fat on the lower side. Even if you're not on a diet, if you're in for the long haul then consuming 5,000 calories in Chicago's hot and humid summer weather is not the best idea.

So Taste sponsor Humana has put together a list of some healthier food choices being offered by various vendors like grilled shark, chicken tacos, and fresh fruit and compiled them on a handy healthy eating map. Not surprisingly for a festival devoted to eating there aren't a ton of good-for-you options, but there are enough that you can still partake and not leave feeling hungry.

The world's largest food fest Taste of Chicago begins today, and it is estimated to attract 3 million visitors over the next 10 days. While there's certainly standard fare like fried foods and the ever popular BBQ turkey legs, Taste has some more adventurous options like chana masala, grilled slipper tail lobster, and shark veracruz, so be sure to wander around a bit before choosing which spots to eat at. And if you're looking for the most indulgent thing at Taste may I suggest visiting the Hashbrowns booth (#16) which will be serving a "Maxwell Street Burger" -- a hamburger patty topped with a pork chop, polish sausage, and grilled onions. Defibrillator paddles not included.

• What: Taste of Chicago 2009
• When: June 26 - July 5, 2009
• Where: Grant Park
• Admission: Free

Want to burn off some of those massive quantities of calories you're planning on ingesting at Taste of Chicago? Then sign up for the Race to Taste. This 5K run or 2 mile walk takes place on the Sunday of the opening weekend of the world's largest food fest. There's still time to register -- entries are being accepted online through midnight on June 24. Your $30 entry fee gets you a t-shirt and a strip of Taste of Chicago tickets.

• What: Race to Taste
• Where: Columbus and Balbo Drive, Chicago
• When: Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 8:00 a.m.
• Cost: $30 per person