The scene at last year's Vendy Awards. (Tien Mao/Gothamist)

For the second year in a row, the annual Vendy Awards will be held on Governor's Island. But it's not all about the food this year. The Vendys will be introducing the "Most Heroic Vendor" award, which director Helena Tubis tells us could go to anyone from the guy who called the cops on the Times Square bomber to the one who remembers your complicated coffee order every morning. "In recognition that we work with all street vendors, we wanted to go beyond recognizing culinary achievements," she said.

The Vendys, taking place on September 24th, is a fundraiser for the Street Vendor Project, which represents 10,000 vendors across the city. There will be five to six judges of the competition, the first of whom is John T. Edge, who will publish his book "Truck Food" this fall. Anyone can nominate a vendor, so if your fruit guy helped you across the street or if you can't get enough of the spekuloos at Wafels & Dinges, let them know.

Early Bird tickets are available now for $80, but once those run out it'll be $95. But if you buy tickets before May 31st you'll be entered in a lottery to become the 2011 Vendy Awards "Citizen Judge," where you'll sit with the rest of the judges and help choose a winner! Just make sure to starve yourself for a few days before.