The schedule for this was intense. The offerings were pretty impressive but I would make a few…read morerecommendations. -The program shouldn't run until 11pm on a weeknight. Things didn't start on time and with no time to snack in between people were hangry. -Select a location with food options OR create significant breaks between showings. - Start on TIME. This is my biggest pet peeve with events. I show up 10 minutes before. While others aren't as courteous, it is beyond rude to have me sitting somewhere waiting because things are running behind. -Consider the audience and their attention span. If that means being more selective then be so and create a shorter program. Overall, the program seems promising and I look forward to the next round BUT will be more realistic about my needs.

When the name of the festival is "Bowl of Pozole", you kind of what that to be the star of the…read moreshow. While, the festival as a whole did have roughly 10-12 stations serving different types of pozoles. There were only two standouts. However, if you were there for the booze which was heavily mezcal but also included unannounced tequila, vino & cocktails. Then you my friend are in a really good place. The two standouts of bowl of pozole are: 1) Oxomoco - I expected Michelin star restaurants to bring it and this Michelin restaurant did not disappoint. It was the ONLY bowl of pozole I eaten twice. Very nice lady in the lime green blazer representing the station. Definitely will visit their restaurant when I get the chance to. You should too. 2) Taco Guey - Known for tacos but surprisingly brought out some really good pozoles. I ain't mad at that. Will pay a visit to their restaurant as well. The festival space was...well spacious. The outside space had a few stations for tacos, elotes, pre-mixed cocktails in cans and ample seating/fresh air. Inside the venue however was much different. The lighting was a bit odd since the lights were only spot lights that kind of ran in rows and left most stations especially the pozole stations in the dark. Why? With press, bloggers and those taking photos this made it extremely hard not to use flash or other distracting devices to make the photos pop. Now, if you had bought the VIP tickets which gave you that extra hour before general admission. I suppose that would have allowed you to take photos/videos in better lighting. However, I thought it would have been better to provide such lighting throughout the event. Just one man's opinion here... The booze was flowing...oh was it flowing. It is never wise to mix alcohol/liquor but you almost couldn't help it. Mezcal, which was the star attraction of the festival second to pozoles sort of got trumped by a few tequilas and mix drinks it seems. That is not to say that the mezcal wasn't noteworthy. Overall, I had lots of fun and I really liked the vibe of the festival. Fan.

The years I have left to live have been shortened. Don't worry, it was my fault, and I'm okay with…read moreit! Why? It's all about the bacon. It's hard to turn down the opportunity to consume nonstop bacon and bacon dishes for three hours and not think you'll live a little less (did I mention three hours of beer drinking too?). But hey, at The Bacon and Beer Classic, you gotta embrace the moment, one pig at a time. This event was back at the end of April and my second year attending. Citi Field houses all the bacon and beer goodness and spreads things out amongst the main field level as well as the highest concourse. By doing this, the crowd control worked pretty well, though nothing with oodles and oodles of people roaming around is ever perfect. Enough setup. Let's eat. And eat and eat and eat and get to a point where quite possibly, you don't actually want to consume any more bacon. I know, it sounds crazy, but there is such a thing as a "bacon wall." While on that edible adventure, the possibilities ranged from creative main dish concoctions, to a variety of bacon strip flavors, to sweet and salty dessert options. It's just everywhere and sponsored by a ton of NYC establishments (Bareburger, Blue Smoke, BarBacon, etc.). And just when you thought you couldn't eat anymore, you wash it all down with some quality brews. The BABC grabs plenty of local breweries from Long Island to the Burroughs and beyond. Sampling each beer in the most awesome tasting glass ever (the resemblance of a mini red solo cup, ceramic style, with the event logo on it) only adds to the fun. Despite all this pig and hops greatness, there are a few downers to the festivities. Lines can get lengthy which puts a damper on your ability to try everything, especially when some food and drink spots run out of samples way before the end of the night. It's best to go with the flow and get what you can from whatever's available. In the end, you'll still be full of pork. Overall, The Bacon and Beer Classic is a mouthwatering, thirst-quenching extravaganza that is worthy of the trek to Citi Field. If you're a vegetarian, this may not be the event for you. But if you're a fan of the pig and his drink of choice (beer, of course), then plan on coming next year. There's a good chance I'll be back, even if it does continue to lower my years. It's just hard to say no to that much bacon. You'll see...

Very well organized event!!! Paid for VIP for that early entry. Was able to get on to the field…read more(not the grass!) and take pictures and see what it's like up close. Cons were that the people who set up blocked off one size of stairs going up and down which was beyond stupid because then each time you go up and down you run into people going the opposite direction. I didn't see the point of that at all. The food was amazing!! The gyro and the pizza were my favorite. Loved that it wasn't ridiculously crowded because it was in a huge stadium. There was no one wasted to the point of passing out. Mostly responsible fun people and great food and beer!!! We took lyft and used a code to pay only $50 from Bergen county. Super worth it and got there 20 min early.

Absolutely delicious food from many great vendors. Definitely an experience that you shouldn't miss…read morewhen you are in NYC

If you love great barbecue, you need to be here. This is such a wonderful event . Award winning…read morebarbecue pit masters come to NYC from all over the country. This Big Apple BBQ Party takes place all around Madison Square Park, so as you walk around the circumference of the park, you have fabulous BBQ to enjoy. Madison Square Park is a few blocks long, at Madison Ave & 23rd Street to 26th, thru Fifth Ave, but you will usually also find more BBQ on Madison & 27-28th Streets. So there is A WHOLE LOTTA BBQ-ING GOIN' ON...and it is some of THE ABSOLUTE BEST BBQ. This year, I had some of the most delicious baby back ribs from MEMPHIS RIB CO of Mississippi (MS). Fall off the bone , perfectly WONDERFUL, ribs. That sauce...OMG, fantastic, with a perfect sweetness. THESE WERE PERFECT!! (Emoji with heart eyes) Next year, I want these delicious ribs again!! If you are planning to visit NYC, and you're a foodie, I suggest you plan your visit around the Big Apple BBQ. Check the dates on THAT WEBSITE. It is always on a weekend. I believe it is usually in JUNE. I want to attend next year, for sure! Last year was great & all the other years that I was able to attend--they were all great. My point is, this is ALWAYS A GREAT TASTING BBQ. So, try to attend, you'll be glad you did . AND--There is GREAT LIVE MUSIC, TOO!!! Free live music. Please check out the big Apple bbq website for more info. This is a fun, happy, yummy event & you should be there if you love great food & great live music. Mark your calendar....now, for next year...so you don't forget.

This was a great time! My only complaints / reason I'm giving it 4 stars and not 5 are that 1. why…read morethe heck is this event on a Monday night?, 2. Love their commitment to not canceling an event but would have loved if there was a rain date rather than rain or shine, and 3. I wish they let you buy individual tickets (not in increments of 5). Yes it was rainy and yes it was crowded (c'mon, it's times square after all) but still worth the trip on a work night into the city for a good time with friends and good eats (Lolz @ my friend holding my umbrella while I scarfed down food). They sell in increments of 5, so I got 10 tickets for $10 which is what they advertised for and later went back for another 5 tickets. Most foods cost between 2-3 tickets each... to me, 10 was too few tickets and 15 was too much (thus why I would have liked to buy 10 and then get single tickets from there). If you really want to make the trip worthwhile and sample enough, go for 15. Restaurant vendors I sampled from: 1. Patzeria Perfect Pizza - Tortellini with prosciuutto in the sauce (3 tickets) 2. Schnipper's - Mac 'n Joe (3 tickets) 3. Carmine's - meatball (2 tickets) 4. The View - Swiss chard Ravioli with truffle sauce (3 tickets) 5. Crossroads - Pretzel with "gooey cheese" (3 tickets) 6. Bubba Gump Shrimp - Birthday cake dessert (1 ticket) Of all of them, I was most excited for the ravioli based on presentation but somehow ended up being my least favorite... too creamy (though I'd still want to visit that restaurant as it looks gorgeous, just would order something else). My friend and I thought the mac n joe was amazing (mac n cheese with sloppy joe) and that the pretzel w/ cheese was a great snack (mmm warm pretzel). Tortellini is one of my favorite foods in general so knew I'd like that especially with that sauce. Glad I got to finally try Carmine's- I've never made it there due to it being pricey but at least this event let me have a sample for a grand total of only 2 tickets! Hope to return next year, on a sunnier day!!

Finally came to the taste of Times Square and had a good time. I purchased 15 coupons for $15 and…read morewas able to taste a variety of dishes. The place was jam packed and I was supposed to meet some friends and was never ever to catch up with them. It's best to get their early because it was so crowded we could hardly walk in the narrow street to check out what each vendor had to offer. Since I didn't wait to catch up with my friends I just checked out the longest lines and figured the samples had to be good. I was able to sample some tacos, chicken wings, sliders and water for $15. The food was good but hard to manipulate and eat with the crowds. I wound up standing in a corner to eat my food or sitting on the sidewalk to devour my chicken wings. There were different areas of live entertainment and New Yorkers and tourists seemed to be having a great time. Next time I will come prepared and wear a small bag and get there early to check out more vendors and get more food items..

My family and I have been celebrating since 2003. We watch the parade then head over to one of the…read morepubs, just follow the pipes and drums. Last year we went to Stout NYC. We had such a wonderful time, Belhaven and Skullsplitters for us and 2 music sets by the Red Hot Chili Pipers. The first set was a bit tame but by the second one (11pm-ish) people were jumping around and singing. :) Definitely check this out.

Olive oil infused with CBD. Dried crickets integrated in granola. Micro plants harvested as salad…read more These were some of the innovative creations/wave of the now future I experienced at the Food Loves Tech expo at Industry City over the weekend. It was the 3rd annual and this bi-level exhibit was a delight to those who were in attendance. I was the fortunate guest invited by my friend who managed to snag a free pair of tickets via Yelp. There was something here for everyone. I enjoyed several albeit brief chats with the exhibitors regarding what was on tap for visitors. What about organic farmed raised Rainbow Trout? Sounds like an oxymoron since wild caught is what's suggested for seafood but these were organic and involved a detailed series of steps on how they're caught. It was also one of my favorite samples. In addition, wine (i particularly loved St. Francis Chardonnay, named after St. Francis of Assisi), yogurt, salad, beer, meat for the eager carnivore (venison, bison, pork, duck and beef. Did not try as I do not eat red meat), olive oil & other snacks. One of the coolest exhibits was a photo booth whereupon the image was applied on a latte. Talk about innovative. This was a 3 day event that seems to be gaining popularity. Attendance could vouch for it. If you didn't catch it this year, I'm sure it'll be back bigger and better next year. A few tips---no coat check, some exhibitors' products wasn't available for purchase, very few sample give-a-ways and last--no bottled water available in sight. After a good amount of sampling, we felt like two camels in a desert--in need of water. Despite these few hiccups, this was an enjoyable expo held at the perfect space/location. Real nice.

Thanks to Katey & Yelp for providing me with 2 tickets to this expo!…read more Food Loves Tech hosted a number of businesses that value sustainability and innovation in the food and drink space. From rainbow trout to wine and ice cream, this expo had a little bit of it all, and we were happy to sample. With 2 floors packed full of cool innovators, there's something for everyone. We spent about 2 hours here talking with business owners and trying out some cool bites. The only caveat, I would say, was that we were parched after taste testing everything and there was not a single bottle of water in sight. Just be sure to bring your own if you're coming here! We got some free goodies - tote bags, samples of Annie's cookies, peanuts, etc. Very cool! For those who are interested in purchasing tickets for next year, check out the website or Eventbrite. Tickets start at $55, I believe.

Harlem Eat Up 2016 was spectacular! My sister actually called up the Z100 radio station and won…read morefour tickets to attend this event, The Stroll level, which granted us five hours of all-you-can-eat-and-drink access. Right after, she called me up and asked if I wanted to go and, of course I said yes! I made sure to run in the AM, knowing I would be gorging myself on food and drink, like an overindulgent aristocrat would on champagne and caviar. We drove up, found parking close by and ran to the entrance. The line wasn't long but it didn't look like they were letting people in right away. Luckily there were plenty of staff member in the area, asking to see tickets and offering assistance. One of them mentioned that having a citicard would grant us quicker access and I had both my cards on me. We were expedited in and were able to skip the line. They scanned out tix, gave us our wristbands, stemless plastic wine cups and sent us on our merry way. When we entered the park, I was overwhelmed. We didn't know where to go first. Our access with The Stroll got us past the "velvet ropes" to the free side of the event. We got to taste everything as much as we wanted or as long as samples were available. Macy's had a fun karaoke lounge and stage where they served Basil Limeade and gave out swag like magnets, ear buds, pens and cookies. They had an emcee who was singing her heart out and getting people to join in and participate. There was also a very good sax played that I wanted so desperately to play the theme music from The Boondocks but I didn't get up the nerve The Citi tent gave trays that had a perfect little space for our Citi wine glasses which we used throughout the day. It made it a lot easier to juggle all of the food that was being thrown at us. My Favourites: The Cicel's Skuna Bay Salmon Ceviché Harlem Tavern's Seafood Ceviché Safari Restaurant's Tender ass Goat Seasoned Vegan's "Crawfish" in Garlic Sauce Melba's Restaurant's Fried Catfish on a mofo stick! Harlem Chocolate Factory's Whiskey Chocolate Tart Mountain Bird's Sticky Toffee Fig Cake Sisters Cuisine Masala Curried Potato & Chick Peas Row House's Chicken Liver which did not need the egg Chaiwali's Sweet-Spicy Indian Tea Biscuits Harlem Shake NYC's Catfish w/Grits and Honey Chicken Sandwich Babbalucci's Duck Pancetta Crostini & Escargot Crostini Vins de Bordeaux all wine everything Hendrick's Gin and their Negroni...errmahgerd Magic Maker Rosé Henry's Hard Ginger Ale Foodie Celeb Sightings: Scott Conant Maya Haile The free event was open to guests with tickets but the outer area also had vendors dotting the park. Those stalls were open to the public but there was a charge for all of the meals. I am unsure if there was an entry fee. We chose not to try those vendors out because, quite frankly, we were full with all the free fixings and didn't feel like dishing out money when there were plenty of samples to take and take and take. Hi. I'm greedy. Nice to meet you. This is a great event, allowing visitors to sample some of the wonderful variety of culture in the area. In recent years, Harlem has become even more of a melting pot with African, European, American, Asian and Latin influences. The culture is overflowing and one of the best ways to experience a new culture is through its cuisine. There was plenty of entertainment for the kiddies and aged grapes for the adult children, many of whom took full advantage of the free liquor and opportunity to act like complete fools! It was great and I hope to visit next year.