For a sweet weekend, head to Rockaway Beach 97 for Honey Fest, a day-long "celebration of the amazing pollinators who make the five boroughs their home." Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. and running until sunset, browse dozens of honey-related vendors selling ingestible honey products, beeswax cosmetics and informational items about local bees. There'll be arts and crafts for the kiddies, a honey-tasting contest and special eats from local spots like Caracas and Rippers, plus Mike's Hot Honey, the most delicious spicy sweet stuff on the planet.
On a different beach-front scene, the 33rd annual Great Irish Fair of New York brings all things Emerald Isle to Surf Avenue and West 21st Street on Coney Island. From 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the sounds of Irish music fill the streets, step dancers flick their feet and vendors sell Irish-related goods to the browsing crowds. There'll be food, of course; neighborhood pubs will be recreating their venues on the Fairgrounds, selling foodstuffs for al fresco eating. Entrance to the fairgrounds is $12 with 100% of the net proceeds donated to a charitable fund for the benefit of Brooklyn and Queens Diocesan Catholic Elementary Schools.
For a river-front fete, check out Sunday's Taste Talks All-Star-BBQ, an end-of-summer gathering at East River State Park. It's also a who's-who of hip NYC chefs including Mission Cantina/Chinese's Danny Bowien; rapper and food connoisseur Action Bronson; ramen master Ivan Orkin; and Thai impresario Andy Ricker. There's plenty of meat on the menu, naturally, but Brooks Headley of Del Posto fame will also be serving up his wildly popular veggie burgers, which have seen foodiots lining up when he opens his pop-ups. Tickets to both sessions are $40 and include munchies from all 14 stations plus extras like a dessert cheese table.
