Mefites Eat Barbeque and Watch Bernie Williams' Band!

posted April 22, 2016 7:52 AM | |

Sat June 11 at 2:00 PM, the pedestrian plaza next to the Flatiron Building opposite Madison Square Park

Madison Square Park, Madison Ave, New York, NY, USA (Map & Directions)

Do you like BBQ? Looks like June 11-12th is this year's Big Apple Barbecue Block Party (the website appears to be under construction, as the 'About' page is full of lorem ipsum, but a bunch of us stopped at last year's festival during the 'walk the length of Broadway' meetup, and it was pretty good). Maybe for before or after a museum visit or walking the High Line or something?
posted by oh yeah! at 5:04 AM on April 23, 2016

As luck would have it, we're going to be in NYC (Manhattan) from June 2 to 9! We see Hamilton on the 7th, and we see Shuffle Along on the 4th - we're definitely free on the 8th with nothing concrete planned as yet.

We're still planning what else we're going to do - these things involve a combination of walking, parks, museums, food and drink. I was thinking of posting a meetup invite for us as well.

Definitely on the list is the Tenement Museum, and we're likely going to do MoMa (been before, would definitely go again) at some point. Will be arranging a touch tour for that so Mr. Conspiracy can feel up some modern art.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:45 PM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

Hope you enjoy your time in NYC, ChuraChura! I wish I could go to the zoo with you but I will probably be at work that day. I would recommend checking out the NY Botanic Garden while you're up there, if you have time; it's pretty awesome.

I would most likely be up for a meetup during the evening or on a weekend day, but sadly I'm limited to something pretty stationary since I'm having knee issues. Don't feel the need to plan around me, though. I would put in a tiny plug for a stop at Coney Island Brewery, since you mentioned Coney Island. Went last year and it was very nice (and near my train line...).
posted by ferret branca at 5:19 PM on April 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

Oh, that looks awesome, ferret branca. My uncle is a lifeguard on Coney Island and I'd love to meet up there.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:46 PM on April 23, 2016

Seconding oh yeah!'s Big Apple BBQ recommendation. That was fun. (and *waves*)
Mandolin, good timing on seeing Shuffle before Audra leaves for a few months.
I'm up for Coney and second the Zoo recommendation.
posted by TravellingCari at 6:34 PM on April 24, 2016

OK, well, my uncle going to a music festival that weekend and won't be lifeguarding. So, unless there is mass interest in heading to Coney Island, I have no particular ties there.

Is there a preferred meetup borough?
posted by ChuraChura at 6:08 AM on April 28, 2016

I prefer Brooklyn but I know there is often some pushback from those not fortunate enough to live in our hipsteriest of boroughs. :)
Are there any particular types of food and/or drink you're in the market for? (I saw you mentioned bagels; it's a bit of a trek for you but Terrace Bagels is super tasty and really near Prospect Park, plus it's just down the block from one of my favorite drinking establishments, The Double Windsor.)
posted by ferret branca at 10:17 PM on May 2, 2016

Well, I dropped the ball on this, and probably won't make it out to Brooklyn, alas. BUT if anyone's around Manhattan and wants to grab a drink next week, shout at me here or on twitter or something!
posted by ChuraChura at 12:48 PM on June 1, 2016

How about the Big Apple BBQ on the 11th then? With maybe a fallback position to a Flatiron/Chelsea bar should the park be too crowded or hot?
posted by oh yeah! at 3:54 AM on June 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Sounds good - and !!! Bernie Williams' band is playing??? Does meeting around 3:30 work?
posted by ChuraChura at 8:08 AM on June 2, 2016

(the only way will be closer to what 13-year-old me imagines as a perfect weekend is if Scott Brosius and Audra McDonald show up!)
posted by ChuraChura at 8:12 AM on June 2, 2016

I'm not shelling out for the Fast Pass or VIP tickets, I'm just going to take my chances on finding a line with a not-insane wait time, since that worked fine last time. So, if the Bernie Williams Band goes on at 4:00, and the BBQ runs from 11am-6pm, I think we might want to aim for earlier than 3:30 to be sure of finding food in time before the band goes on, in case the vendors start to run out of food towards the end of the day/lines get long/people have train delays. Maybe 2pm? And we should pick a rendezvous point outside of the park - the pedestrian plaza next to the Flatiron Building opposite the park will probably be pretty crowded, but feasible.
posted by oh yeah! at 8:59 AM on June 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Sounds good to me! I'll go ahead and call it - thanks for the idea!
posted by ChuraChura at 10:20 AM on June 2, 2016

Hey, folks, how's it looking for tomorrow? Forecast says rain, but looks like it will be of the sudden thunderstorm variety in the late afternoon/early evening rather than an all-day thing. Might interfere with the live music, but I assume the food won't be affected.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:00 PM on June 10, 2016

I'll pass, since there's a chance of hail. Sorry.
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:35 AM on June 11, 2016

Oof, I woke up with a bad headache, probably barometric pressure triggered which means it won't lift until the weather breaks. I guess it's back to maybe/no for me too.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:24 AM on June 11, 2016

If Sunday turns out okay, maybe we could catch David Ryan Harris' set.
1 day of BBQ out of 2 is better than none...
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:50 AM on June 11, 2016

Sorry for the meetup-fail, Chura Chura, you're going home on Sunday, I think? I hope you had a good visit otherwise.
posted by oh yeah! at 2:31 PM on June 11, 2016

I had a great trip; sad to miss everyone, but if you're ever in Ohio for some reason, say hi!
posted by ChuraChura at 9:27 PM on June 11, 2016