Urban, Not Suburban, Barbecues for Memorial Day

There are rare times when New Yorkers are jealous of their suburban bretheren; a Memorial Day weekend marked by barbecues galore may be one of those times. But New Yorker's are a resourceful bunch -- the majority of us may not have yards, but there's always a way to find a grill.

Water Taxi Beach is officially open for the season, bringing both barbecue and beach to city-dwellers; soak up the sun, sand, sports (volleyball) and food. Last year you voted the Butter, Onion and Pimento burgers amongst your favorites on their menu, but the joint also grills up a mean hot dog (both all-beef and vegan), and of course cold beer is always on tap. Visit their site for menu details and upcoming events.

Flatbush Farm is hosting a Memorial Day Weekend barbecue this Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. Pretend you have your own backyard (that you happen to be sharing with a bunch of strangers) while Chef Stephen Browning serves up shrimp pineapple skewers, grilled barn burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, cole slaw, grilled hot dogs, chips, and potato salad.

If you are lucky enough to have access to your own outdoor grill, the experts at DeBragga and Spitler give you the lowdown on popular barbecue cuts, while Grub Street guides you through a Hill Country DIY tutorial.

Finally, you can always head uptown for a slew of Memphis-style barbecue at Justin Timberlake's Southern Hospitality; better yet, get your fix at Dinosaur. And if you want to forego the barbecue all together, Paradou is offering up an unlimited champagne cocktail brunch in celebration of the long weekend. It's available Saturday through Monday, and reservations can be made here.

Wherever you end up, be sure to eat well and enjoy the Memorial Day Barbecue spirit.

Photo of meat at Hill Country Barbecue via La Mariposa's Flickr.