Gothamist: Gothamist Eats At The Second Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party

JMM

Mon, 21 Jun 2004 17:44:14 -0500

As an event professional and Memphis native I wanted to kill myself (or really the event organizers). A great event ruined b/c of HORRIBLE planning.

Les

Thu, 17 Jun 2004 14:19:40 -0500

Let me add to the dismissives. What total chaos it was... I waited 45 minutes on the "supposed" Salt Lick line to find out at the last minute, or 10 feet from the goal, that there was another line to it. While trying to merge in front, I was pushed out by bunch of guys from the other line, with jeers even. I screamed "f**k you!" with a finger, in total frustration. Yeah, it was too Lord of the Flies for me... Such great idea ruined by such lack of execution.

Homer Fink

Wed, 16 Jun 2004 10:55:37 -0500

After seeing David Cross and Mark Maron I didn't think my day could have gotten any better. I was right. Disorganized mess is the kinder, gentler way to describe. Huge bummer. Let's hope someone with a clue starts a rival festival --- Virgil's, Brothers...can you hear me?

michelle

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 22:33:38 -0500

Daybird, I'm not sure you know what you're talking about. At least half the people in line for Saltlick had some affiliation to the state of Texas. I was with a group of 5 people from the Austin area who waited in line an hour both Saturday and Sunday just to get a taste of BBQ from back home.

K. Thor Jensen

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 18:45:43 -0500

Man, we were burned by the brisket - meat was way too tough and mealy, but the sauce was nice. The Memphis ribs were fucking excellent. It took us nearly 20 minutes just to find the end of a line - any line - to get into! What a mess. ROPES, people!

KeithS

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 17:40:43 -0500

'Soviet shoesalesmen' is about right. My ladyfriend and I were also among those who showed up, gaped at the chaos, and shuffled down the block to the Rodeo Bar for a margarita, then to Blue Smoke for ribs, corn bread, and collard greens. I was excited to see Steingarten and Calvin Trillin, but like the rest of the event, the panel was terribly organized. The mics weren't loud enough to hear further than 15 feet from the stage, and Calvin Trillin looked epically bored, like he would rather have been anywhere else on earth. Is anything more frustrating than a great idea so poorly executed?

Daybird

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 13:52:35 -0500

New Yorkers wouldn't know good BBQ from their mother's moustache. You simply cannot get it here, apparently even when they bring it in from out of state. And by the way, there weren't any midwesterners there to hand your tickets too. Nor any southerners. People who grow up near good BBQ wouldn't be seen at an NY BBQ roundup unless they have been forbidden to leave the city.

mike c

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 12:53:08 -0500

I too was one of the disgruntled folks Saturday, mouth watering, cue-pons in hand, with no desire to take part in the madness (where were the ends of the lines??). I sold my tix to some unfortunate Midwesterners. Then I realized that I live around the corner from Daisy May BBQ, so what the hell did I care? Great day to be out though...

Alison

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 11:55:48 -0500

Based on the glowing reviews last year, I invited friends to join me this year. Due to the disorganization at the event I was really embarrased by the waits for coupons and for food. These people need to get their acts together. Spread the food trucks out more, open up more money to coupon exchange areas, etc. Ridiculous lack of organization put a huge damper on an otherwise great event (the food was dee-lish!) and a beautiful day.

c

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 11:51:59 -0500

what a mess. 1. waited 30 minutes in line for "'cue-pons" 2. walked over to 26th st to ungodly lines 3. said "you've got to be f kidding me" 4. only reasonable line was dessert, so we purchased a cobbler and root beer float - $8 (I received the LAST RB float - this was at 1:50 pm...didn't this begin at noon?) 5. returned to end of "'cue-pon" line to unload our remaining 32 tix 6. proceeded to dallas bbq

tien

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 10:31:46 -0500

shouldn't the nypd caption have read, "they nypd makes sure there is plenty of pig to go around"?

jeff

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 10:04:28 -0500

Being from the south, I definitely can get into some BBQ. The only problem is that is was a mess - the event. It's like going to a resturaunt and waiting longer to get the food than it takes to eat the food. The lines were just insane, and having to find the end of the line just to get started...that was a joke. I wonder if I can trade in my unused tickets at Blue Smoke, since they were the ones that put this Gong Show event on.

Spammy

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 10:01:39 -0500

One of the most poorly organized events I've ever been to. If they actually had real lines, more people could have gotten food. I went both days and couldn't even get near anything, while there were tables full of ribs waiting to be purchased. Very disappointing.

david

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 06:05:02 -0500

went on sunday, came in from new jersey, everything perfect.

lucasb

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 04:24:29 -0500

I live down near San Antonio, TX -- the Salt Lick is to my taste way substandard if you're looking for Texas 'cue. If you come down to the hill country, hit Bob's Smokehouse in East San Antonio, Davila's in Seguin, or City Market in Luling. Of course, being a Tarheel, I prefer the "real" barbecue that is shredding/picked pork in the vinegar sauce. Just hold the slaw, thanks. :-) Lucas

jaimew

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 00:21:04 -0500

another "whole hog" photo from the amazing Mitchell's pit at: http://www.fotolog.net/jaimew/?photo_id=7826992

Jimbo

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 23:01:13 -0500

We went and left as soon as we got there. I was not going to stand in an endless line to turn my money into coupons, just to stand in another endless line to turn the coupons into pork. I was so angry because it smelled so good, but it seemed to be staffed by Soviet shoe salesmen. This is the big leagues folks, get your act together. The park should not grant them a permit until they have a better plan.

boo hoo missed the q

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 22:28:13 -0500

so now where do we go if we want to eat bbq during a nyc street festival, any other recommendations so i can plan in advance???

jake

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 21:59:02 -0500

the only dish i didn't hit was the pork snout- can anyone describe how it tasted? i mean, i want to hear about the consistency, the flavor, and what sauce they put on it. and if anyone knows where i can get some snout in nyc, please let us know- i need some snout!

Jo

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 21:14:13 -0500

I was standing in line with my gf and we struck up a conversation with the woman next to us, who happened to be a professional event planner. She was amazed at the disorganization. I have to admit a lot of it seemed like common sense stuff, and I can't believe no one wrote a "lessons learned" memo at the conclusion of last years event. Those folks are clueless. Food was great, music was better than I expected, the weather was perfect. A very fun afternoon.

tammy

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 20:48:48 -0500

since ther was no line, i convinced myself to try the pork snoot.... thumbs down.

PatGav

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 20:20:42 -0500

I too, missed out on the 'cue for the second year in a row as I was out of town. At least it wasn't because I was massively hungover or (worse) still drunk from the night before. I will need to make sure I don't make any plans to be out of town in June next year.

rabbit

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 19:21:51 -0500

no joke- over an hour in line for a taste of brisket just sucks.

me

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 19:19:36 -0500

they need to get their shit together! what an organizational disaster. but delicious tho.

bbcuebert

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 19:14:44 -0500

Your pictures are the closest I got to the cue, sadly. When we were there on Saturday afternoon, those "entrance" signs were nowhere to be seen, nor was the cue. Woulda been helpful since the mob was totally confused and pissed. Cue-pons rans out midafternoon, too. There was a brisk exchange happening between disgruntled attendees selling their Cue-pons to hopeful eaters. I'm camping out next year to be first in line. See you there!