Big Apple BBQ Block Party

The past two years I have had the privilege of attending one of the most enjoyable (and delectable) festivals in existence. The Big Apple BBQ Block Party is an event organized by uber-successful restaurateur Danny Meyer that invites the best barbecue restaurants in the country to bring their smoking rigs up to Madison Square Park in New York City to cater an informal gorge-fest. The event has drawn crowds of over 100,000 patrons per year in its seven year existence and seems likely to break that mark this year as word of its delicious fun spreads.

So why am I posting about this now, eight weeks before the event?

Currently, you can purchase "Fast Passes" that enable the bearer to queue up for the 'cue in a special, significantly shorter line than the general public. Purchasing a Fast Pass will commit you to buying at least $100 worth of food and drink over the festival weekend, but this pass can be split amongst as many friends and/or strangers as you wish, so you don't have to stuff only your own face to use up the credit (though I likely will...).

If you don't purchase a Fast Pass, you can either

wait in line (often very long lines for the best places) with the uninformed, or find someone like me who is willing to share their access with you. Either way, I can't recommend highly enough that you get yourself to New York City June 7th and 8th and experience one of the best events of the year.