There’s plenty of smokin’ good ’cue at annual BBQ block party in Madison Square Park (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Madison Square Park
23rd to 26th Sts. between Fifth & Madison Aves.
Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Admission: free; $10 per plate of barbecue
Fast Pass: $131.72; Big Wig VIP Package: $288.53
www.bigapplebbq.org
www.madisonsquarepark.org
The immensely popular and ridiculously crowded Big Apple Barbecue Block Party is upon us, as pitmasters from around the country gather in Madison Square Park and serve up some damn fine BBQ. The fourteenth annual event, being held June 11-12, features some old favorites as well as some up-and-comers: Mike Mills and Amy Mills of the 17th Street Bar & Grill from Murphysboro, Illinois; Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q from Decatur, Alabama; Patrick Martin of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint from Nashville, Tennessee; Garry Roark and Leslie Roark Scott of Ubon’s Barbeque from Yazoo City, Mississippi; Scott Roberts of the Salt Lick BBQ from Driftwood, Texas; John Wheeler of Memphis Barbecue Co. from Horn Lake, Mississippi; Sam Jones of Sam Jones Wood-Fired N.C. Whole Hog BBQ from Winterville, North Carolina; Joe Duncan of Baker’s Ribs from Dallas, Texas; Ed Mitchell and Ryan Mitchell from Wilson, North Carolina; and local purveyors Jean-Paul Bourgeois of Blue Smoke, Charles Grund Jr. of Hill Country, John Stage of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and Billy Durney of Hometown BBQ. The lines can get extremely long, so the best way to enjoy the event is to go with a bunch of friends, get on different lines, and then gather somewhere in the park to devour your meal (while also checking out Martin Puryear’s new installation, “Big Bling”). Each plate of ’cue will run you ten bucks. The FastPass is back, where for $131.72 you get access for you and one guest to the express lanes and $100 worth of food, drink, and merchandise; the Big Wig VIP Package grants you that in addition to access to the VIP tent and private VIP area with open bar and snacks, for $288.53. Saturday’s music lineup consists of the Demolition String Band at 2:30 and Bernie Williams & His All-Star Band at 4:00, while Sunday’s roster is Josiah & the Bonnevilles at 2:30 and David Ryan Harris at 4:00.