New York is known for a variety of things, one of which is the diversity of culture (and therefore food) that the city holds. Yet amongst that great diversity, barbecue, and the southern state of mind that is often associated with it, is not on the forefront of one's mind when thinking of the New York food scene. The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party changed that this last weekend with its appearance at Madison Square Park. On June 11th & 12th, Madison Square Park transformed into a watermelon eating, boot wearing, toe-tapping, finger-licking good time — open to whoever wanted to drop by.
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The streets surrounding the park were lined with barbecue smoke pits, each filled with delightful scents that escaped to entice the public in. Each plate was marked at $10; the price was no excuse as far as picking your dinner went. Sure you could choose between St. Louis ribs or brisket — or heck, just go for both — but you couldn't take the easy way out as to which pitmaster you would side with. That meant long, thought through comparisons of what you saw from the sidelines. Would you choose the chef with the fastest knife skills, or would you align yourself with the methodical pulled pork placer? Or perhaps you were starving, and just needed food stat — that's also acceptable.
Live music accompanied the event, with the Flatiron building standing majestically to the side of the stage. It just went to show that New York is not a stranger to festivities, and will always make space for people to celebrate how they so desire. It may have been a crowded park, but it was a crowded park full of happy, (and sweaty), individuals, enjoying the sunshine, an ice cold beverage, and the free entertainment. It was an unconventional block party — there was no backyard baseball game — but it was a New York block party, conventionalism had no place.
The Big Apple Barbecue was a good time for the neighborhood, and surely livened up the humid weekend. But the real purpose of the barbecue — a fundraiser for the Madison Square Park Conservancy — allowed New Yorkers (and stray tourists) to come together for what New York is all about: Community. The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party brought people together not only to enjoy a delicious meal, complete with coleslaw, but to celebrate a cause bigger than themselves. If ever you hear someone say that New Yorkers are cold and unable to care, consider The Big Apple Barbecue, and remember the fun, food, and bigger purpose of this summery event.
