-Chicago
-The aging Americana talents of Jane Jockell will not grace Feast Fest after 2013.
Jockell, 55, said she was aiming to "slow down" from the hurried pace of FF life and to return to full time devotion to her Chicago restaurant.
"These past seven years with Feast Fest have been absolutely amazing," Jockell said in an email, "and this decision was incredibly difficult to have to make. However, in 2012 I felt significant wear on my abilities and a significant inability to tend to my eatery," which, Jockell explained, was in murky financial waters. "While thanks to Feast Fest I could retire today, STOP was my creation that I poured my life into, and it breaks my heart to see it struggling to fight off closure." Therefore, this situation, coupled with her aging and the fact that her children have all grown up and moved on to college, reportedly motivated Jockell to "be able to return to full time service at STOP."
Jockell assured that she would participate in FF 2013 on Nov. 28, saying she would put "as much energy and vim into the enterprise as I always have." "It is my dream to help this event reach the promised land of 100," she said, but confirmed she would not be re-signing her contract when it is slated to come up for renewal in January.
Jockell signed a three-year extension for Feast Fests 2011, 2012, and 2013 on Jan. 28, 2011, after several weeks of intense negotiations. "I want to assure everybody," she said, "this does not have to do with contractual disagreements, this does not have to do with any tensions within the event. I have been thrilled with my time here and I am very saddened to leave, but this was entirely my decision."
Head Scouter Jim Dall seemed taken aback by the announcement late Thursday. "We were on good terms with Mrs. Jockell and had been prepared to re-sign her in January to another multi year contract. However, we certainly can respect and understand her decision."
"Mrs. Jockell brought Midwestern bread-basket values to the kitchen in a unique style that will be very hard to emulate without her," said Event Manager William Vanderbilt. "We are incredibly saddened to hear of her departure from our event, but this will serve as a token moment to look back on all the great things she did in her seven Feast Fests--eight by the time she will retire--and this will give us the opportunity to root for her harder than ever when she steps out onto the floor for a spectacular farewell performance this November."
