Big Apple Barbecue Block Party 2005

[Jason Perlow]

Admin: The 2003 BABBP thread may be found here. The 2004 BABBP thread may be found here.

For those of you who didn't notice it, here is the line-up for the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party '05

[sammy]

I wonder why they can't get anyone from Kansas City to come.

Does anyone know if they tried but invitations were declined?

[Pork Neck]

no sweatman's????????????

[kurl]

Yay Smokie-O's. All of you who passed up on Snoot the first time around should try it this year. Smokie-O's is brilliant (though what they can do with pork steak and rib tips is even more virtuosic than what they can do with snoot).

[Jason Perlow]

This just in:

Bryan Bracewell of Southside Market & BBQ in Elgin, Texas & Mike “Sarge” Davis of Whole Hog Café in Little Rock, Arkansas have jumped on board.

[danfishe]

Will the flow/traffic control or space be different than last year? I have enjoyed the event very much in the past, but the traffic problem has gotten progressively worse.

[smgarsh]

I really enjoyed the event last year but they should hold it on a different street. That tiny street above the park is to small. It was very difficult to move around.

If possible, I hope they would use Madison Ave. It's wide and long enough.

[wannabechef]

Or they could make use of the entire park. Spread the booths all around the perimeter.

[juuceman]

or you could show up early and skip the lines..

[wannabechef]

Yeah - that's what I did last year. But I had to rush around to all the booths in under 15 minutes to taste everything! (that was after getting screwed and coming later in the day on the first day) If it's possible to spread the event out more and make it more comfortable for all throughout the course of the days, I think they should.

[Bux]

Definitely need a strategy. It's going to be hard to pull myself away from Mike Mills' and Ed Mitchell's offerings to try the new guys. All I can say about the pig snoots, is what I've heard from most other people -- "They're interesting. I'm not likely to return now that my curiosity is satisfied."

[kurl]

As someone who's actually in St. Louis a lot of the year, I can attest that that seems to be many of the locals' reaction to snoot as well. Smoki-O's offers a rib tips and snoot combo that comes with perhaps 6-8 pieces of snoot and no one ever even has a desire to finish that. The snoot pieces usually end up distributed one-or-two each to the rest of our party. Snoot is definitely extremely unique and 'interesting' but it seems definitely too rich and yet too unsatisfying to be anyone's favorite thing or regular order at Smoki-O's. Still, it's great that it even gets around to New York once a year.

[Jammin]

Looks like the organizers are trying a few things to manage the crowds a little better this time around... Below offer is available through American Express for Gold Card customers (and those of higher level of course)

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BIG APPLE BARBECUE BLOCK PARTY

Get Tickets Before the General Public and Special Access!

The third annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party returns to Manhattan this summer. The community event will feature mouthwatering barbecue from 10 of the nation's top pitmasters, live jazz, blues and bluegrass, distinctive beverages, films, and seminars with BBQ experts. General Admission is free, but with Gold Card Events, you can purchase the Bubba FASTPass* before the general public. Exclusive benefits include access to the American Express Bubba Tent, special food lines, gift bag with souvenir merchandise, and reserved seating for the seminars**.

Madison Square Park (New York, NY)

Saturday, June 11 & Sunday, June 12, Noon-6PM

$102.50 (for 2 adults and children) – includes shipping & handling

Tickets on sale now!

To order, call 212-447-7479 ext. 112

Box office hours: 10PM – 6PM

Please mention GOLD CARD EVENTS when ordering

For more information, please visit www.BigAppleBBQ.org

Tickets available only via phone

*Can be used at food, drink, and merchandise vendors – worth $120

**First come, first served basis. Please note: Seminar seats will be held only until 10 minutes before start time.

[picaman]

Below offer is available through American Express for Gold Card customers (and those of higher level of course)

I just got this--I think it's a great deal as one pass can be used for multiple people. The Bubba Tent is priority seating for passholders.

Hate to be a bit elitist, but after waiting in those lines last year, and especially after not getting any pig snoot, it's an investment I thought was wise.

Jamie

Edited May 19, 2005 by picaman (log)

[donbert]

I just got this--I think it's a great deal as one pass can be used for multiple people. The Bubba Tent is priority seating for passholders.

←

Can you clarify what exactly you get for this? Is it just for priority lines/seating for 2 adults? Or does it give you credit towards food as well? When you say that one pass can be used for multiple people, do you mean it can be used for more than 2 adults or that once could in theory give the pass to someone else so they could access faster lines/seating?

Thanks!

[picaman]

Can you clarify what exactly you get for this? Is it just for priority lines/seating for 2 adults? Or does it give you credit towards food as well? When you say that one pass can be used for multiple people, do you mean it can be used for more than 2 adults or that once could in theory give the pass to someone else so they could access faster lines/seating?

Thanks!

For ~$100 you get $120 in food credits which can be used by 2 adults + children, plus all the listed benefits. I didn't ask for exact details, but armbands were mentioned so I assume they are working on a way to eliminate passing your benefits around.

Jamie

[donbert]

For ~$100 you get $120 in food credits which can be used by 2 adults + children, plus all the listed benefits.  I didn't ask for exact details, but armbands were mentioned so I assume they are working on a way to eliminate passing your benefits around.

←

Ok, Just ordered this myself and got a couple more details. What you get for $102.50 is a gift card with $120 food credit on it which gives you access to a faster line for food, a gift bag with a t-shirt and hat, and two wristbands.

The card is all you need to get in the faster lines and there's no limit how much food you can order so it's not limited to just 2 people. The wristbands get you into the reserved seating area for seminars and the "AmEx Bubba Tent" where they have tables and chairs in the shade so you don't have to compete with the masses for a place on the grass.

Also the card can be refilled at the event should you run out of money on it, but still want access to the faster lines, and everything is good for both days.

[Mayhaw Man]

The Bubba Tent is priority seating for passholders.

←

The Bubba Tent? And they make you pay extra for that?

Hell, come on down! I can put you in a tent full of bubbas anytime you want, and I won't even charge a fee. We've got Bubbas to spare. Maybe I should let some of them know that there is a special place for them up there in New York. It might add some local color to the event.

[picaman]

Also the card can be refilled at the event should you run out of money on it, but still want access to the faster lines, and everything is good for both days.

Now that's good info! I have a feeling I'll be purchasing a lot of BBQ, and not only for myself. Thanks for following up.

Jamie

[picaman]

The Bubba Tent? And they make you pay extra for that? 

Depends on your viewpoint. I'd have probably spent $100 anyway, so by buying the pass I get $20 in free BBQ plus access to the tent etc.

Jamie

Edited May 19, 2005 by picaman (log)

[juuceman]

ate at Blue Smoke last night.. paid with my Amex and the waitress mentioned that they were selling the passes.. i'm interested in seeing how many of the ez-passes they wind up selling..

Edited May 20, 2005 by juuceman (log)

[Fat Guy]

In addition to the Bubba Fast Pass, there is also a preview party (for AmEx cardholders) at Blue Smoke the night before that is open to the public. It’s a tasting of all ten pitmasters' dishes, visits with the pitmasters, music from Texas band Chapparel, and escorted tours to the pits on Madison Avenue, where all the pitmasters will be setting up, getting their smokers going and smoking the ribs, whole hogs, etc. Tickets $150: 212-447-7733.

[rooftop1000]

It seems in past years there was more discussion and planning in here

anything going on?

anyone going?

do we have a secret signal to identify each other

tracey

[Fat Guy]

One thing we're going to try to do this year that will be a little different is that we're going to make a movie. Ellen Shapiro, Sam Kinsey and I are going to be working the event -- from Friday setup through Sunday knockdown -- with a Mini-DV camcorder. We're hoping, afterwards, to edit together a short (maybe 8-10 minutes) movie about the BABBP for distribution over the web.

If anybody would like to assist with the project, we're looking for three kinds of help: 1) If you own a Mini-DV camcorder (we're only planning to work with Mini-DV footage, so it has to be this type of unit) and would like to help shoot "b-roll" footage, we think the more volunteer videographers we can get the better. Please contact me or Sam (slkinsey) privately if you have a Mini-DV camcorder and would like to participate (or if you have a Mini-DV camcorder that you'd like to lend to another Society member for the weekend), so we can brief you on the specifics of the project and work on a shot list for you. 2) If you have professional video editing experience and, even better, access to better equipment than my crummy old PC, we could definitely use some help with editing during June and July. 3) If you work for or own a company that would like to sponsor the project, please contact me or our head of fundraising Steve Klc.

Other thoughts: If you're planning to eat seriously, you're crazy not to get a Bubba Fast Pass. I've ordered two of them for my family. If you've got the financial resources, definitely attend the Friday night AmEx event. Also don't forget to check the seminar and events schedules -- there's some interesting stuff going on, and you may find that I'm moderating one of the panels on Sunday. The live music is also a great break from the meat rush.

[juuceman]

Other thoughts: If you're planning to eat seriously, you're crazy not to get a Bubba Fast Pass. I've ordered two of them for my family. If you've got the financial resources, definitely attend the Friday night AmEx event. Also don't forget to check the seminar and events schedules -- there's some interesting stuff going on, and you may find that I'm moderating one of the panels on Sunday. The live music is also a great break from the meat rush.

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i don't understand how friday night is working.. is takes hours to smoke the food.. i'm assuming the permit to close down madison ave won't be until friday night, and i'm pretty sure they'll be waiting to load the space ASAP.. so how exactly are they going to have the pitmaster's food at blue smoke?? and why would anyone pay $150 for samples of this, when you can have all you want on saturday and sunday??