Edible Events: August

There are all manner of fun, food events taking place in New York on a daily basis — from lavish, charity-driven galas to crowded, walk-around tastings and an endless array of pop-ups.  But unless you have the time and money to party seven days a week, you’ll have to be somewhat discerning about what goes onto your calendar.  So here are just a few worthy food celebrations we recommend getting tickets (or making reservations) for now.

TONY’s Battle of the Burger (8/10): Where’s the beef?  At Pier 26, thanks to Time Out NY’s always anticipated showdown between 20 patty specialists.  Finalists won’t be announced until the magazine’s August issue, but contenders are plucked by popular vote from the city’s best steakhouses (Peter Luger, Keens), diners (Veselka, Tom’s), and even high end boites (Gramercy Tavern, EMP), meaning you’ll want a front row seat to test-drive what’s bound to be a serious assortment of top quality burgers.

Brooklyn Beer & Wine Fest (8/12): Tap-heads and cork enthusiasts unite at this annual alcohol tasting experience at Brooklyn’s Restoration Plaza.  Indulge in 15 assorted sips from over 60 wineries (Bully Hill’s Love Goat, Brooklyn Winery’s North Fork Blend) and breweries (Uinta’s Imperial Black IPA, Fullsteam’s Cack-a-Lacky Pale Ale), along with booze-absorbing bites courtesy of a collection of local food trucks.

Blues & BBQ Festival (8/19): This bittersweet culminating event to Hudson River Park’s summer-long, river-adjacent entertainment series pairs blues and roots musicians with some of the tastiest ‘cue this side of the Mason-Dixon line.  The Campbell Brothers, Dumpstaphunk and Sugar Ray and the Bluetones are all on the docket this year, as are smoked meat specialists Pig Beach, Dinosaur Bar-B-Q and Mighty Quinns.

The Margarita March (8/19-20): Since it might as well be the drink of summer, it only stands to reason the Mexican margarita has garnered its very own, weekend-long event.  $65 tickets benefit non-profit and charitable organizations, and cover the entire cost of tipples during this city-wide tequila crawl, with stops at Parkside Lounge, Wicked Willy’s, the Grisly Pear and more.

Kids Food Fest (8/26-27): Let the kiddies blow off some steam before they head back to school; and learn a thing or two while they’re at it.  Geared towards teaching families how to make educated food choices through fun and flavorful activities, the two-day lineup includes a Balanced Plate Scavenger Hunt, celeb-fronted mainstage demos, and hands-on cooking classes in the James Beard Foundation Future Foodies Pavilion.

Annual End of Summer Shuck-Off (8/26): As part of the Billion Oyster Project Exhibit, Governors Island will play host to city slickers hoping to get their last slurp of summer, with an afternoon full of music, games, and of course, oysters.  They’ll be available for straight-up eating, but it’s way more exciting to shuck your own.  Staff will be on hand to help neophytes break their way into the formidable shells, and whoever’s feeling confident is more than welcome to throw their hat into the Shuck Off competition ring!