Via press release from Union Square Hospitality Group, the numbers are in on the 2008 Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, Danny Meyer's annual fundraiser for the Madison Square Park Conservancy and the mother of all fat food blogger chow-downs. First, what Meyer wants you to know most, the event raised $82.5K for the park. Next, mark the calendar, for the 2009 event will take place June 13th and 14th, 2009. Most of the rest of the announcement is here below, including a by-the-numbers look at the impressive display eaters put on in 2008.
SNAPPLE BIG APPLE BARBECUE BLOCK PARTY RAISES $82,500 FOR MADISON SQUARE PARK CONSERVANCY
Dates For Next's Year's Event Announced - June 13 & 14,
Madison Square ParkOctober 16, 2008, New York - The 2008 Big Apple Barbecue Block Party raised an unprecedented $82,500 benefiting the Madison Square Park Conservancy. Event organizers, including co-founder/restaurateur Danny Meyer, gathered at Madison Square Park yesterday to present a check to the event's beneficiary, the Madison Square Park Conservancy, the organization responsible for the beauty, ongoing maintenance and programming of this historic park. On hand to accept the donation were NYC Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Madison Square Park Conservancy President Debbie Landau.
'Cue fans will also be pleased to know that dates for next year's Big Apple Barbecue Block Party are June 13 & 14, 2009, from 12:00 - 6:00 PM, in Madison Square Park. Event organizers are confirming pitmasters and other details now. To get the news first, please visit www.bigapplebbq.org and sign up for our online newsletter to find out who will be cooking, jamming and speaking in 2009, as well as information on FastPasses and other event details.
ABOUT THE 2008 EVENT
The Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, held on June 7 & 8, 2008, featured the country's top pitmasters, a roster of renowned BBQ experts, a rollicking music line-up and a premiere group of world-class sponsors including title sponsor Snapple, as well as Every Day with Rachael Ray and American Express. A record 120,000 'cue lovers flocked to the event, consuming 53,876 pounds of meat despite a blazing heat wave...THE STATS
The event lasted just two days, but the attendees consumed an impressive amount* in spite of soaring summer temperatures:5,800 lbs beef ribs
2,520 lbs whole hog
6,489 cans of soda
8,460 lbs baby back ribs (5,500 pounds more than in 2007!)
400 lbs chicken thighs
16,224 bottles FIJI water
4,746 lbs beef brisket
7,713 lbs coleslaw
32,448 bottles Snapple
10,920 lbs pork butt
33,464 lbs hamburger buns
110 gallons Brunswick stew
2,700 lbs fresh ham
35,486 lbs sliced bread
12,000 hush puppies
1,500 lbs sausage
3,918 lbs baked beans
2,000 brownies
12,125 lbs pork ribs
(4,000 pounds more than in 2007!)
21,980 cups of beer (almost 9,000 more cups than in 2007!)
1,700 root-beer floats
· Full Coverage: The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party [~E~]
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