2008 Vendy Awards are scheduled for October 18th from 3 - 7 p.m. at the Tobacco Warehouse in Dumbo. Tickets are now on sale for $80- not cheapass but the  proceeds benefit the Urban Justice Center's Street Vendor Project. To Nominate your favorite vendor today go to: 

http://streetvendor.org/vendys/nominate-your-favorite-vendor 

Tropical 128

Our cheapass choice for watch the Beijing Olympics is Tropical 128, located in Chinatown neighboring SOHO, 128 Elizabeth St New York. This bar/Lounge /sometimes Asian tapas joint is also a billiards paradise, definitely brings out the competitive freak in me. As if that isn’t enough to wet your Olympic appetite, enjoy the lush exotic theme of “Bora Bora, Thailand…” Boasts tropical128.com

Offering over eight sakes available during happy hour special from
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. & $2 beers!, 20 different brews (a reasonable $5 after happy hour), Blue Moon, Red Stripe and Brooklyn Lager to name a few. So grab couple of your politically correct friends and head to Tropical 128 for some friendly competition and for some fast friend making game of who can drink the most- my bets on the Korean.   

Food:
Chicken thigh and scallion yakitori skewer $2.50
Kobe-style beef $6
Edamame $4
Fried shrimp shumai $5

19 types of skewers are available, including some interesting choices like chicken gizzards and octopus balls

Rants and Rave
When your hungover after making friends with the Benetton crew, go to some dim sum with larger HD television, our choice is Chatham Sq. Restaurant 

As part of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival yesterday at the Flushing Meadows Park in Queens, men and women shoved as many dumplings in their mouths as they could for two minutes on stage. Both champs of the 5th Annual Chef One Dumpling Eating Contest won last year: for the male division, Joe Menchetti with 66 dumplings (breaking his record of 60) and Floria Lee with 38 dumplings (who couldn't top her last year's record of 43). newyork.seriouseats.com/2008/08/dumpling-eating-contest-winners

 The great Charlie Rose interviewed David Chang head chef and owner of Momofuku. Talking about his passion for food, inspiration and the way Americans view food. Take a look see, you might find it tasteful.

Last year Joe Menchetti from Connecticut finished  #1 eating 60 dumplings in 2 minutes, and representing Queens, Floria Lee   ate  43 dumplings in 2 minutes making her #1 in the women’s division. Both will return to the 5th Annual Chef One Dumpling Eating Contest on 08/03/08 to defend their records. And as for this cheapass dumpling eater, who ate 8 dumplings in 2 min placing last, is still undecided to reclaim her last place in the world of dumplings. To find out how to apply for this free feeding frenzy check out:

http://www.twinmarquis.com/chefone/contest_poster.html

OR RSVP to your VIP Invitation janetsai@chefonecorp.com
 

Pridefest is back for it’s 15th annual event, the LGBT is brining together local residents,  community leaders and business owners to celebrate in the streets. The location is new, @ Hudson St. between Abingdon Sq. & West 14th St.
Sunday, June 29th, 2008, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM 
 
So bring your pride and festive spirits. 

Open to all

For more info go to this link for more info: http://www.nycpride.org/
For tent and table rentals, please call 917-406-5363.
This event is free and open to the public. No tickets are necessary.

Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks
Beginning at approximately 9 p.m., Macy's will have fireworks being released from 3 separate locations around the city. There will be a patriotic flyover at 8 p.m. courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. If you're not in the area, NBC will broadcast the fireworks live beginning at 9 p.m. EST.
East River in Midtown
Fireworks will be launched from the East River, just off 34th Street. The FDR will be closed from 14th-42nd beginning at 7 p.m. for viewing. Pedestrians can access the FDR from 23rd, 38th and 42nd streets. You can also view from areas in Western Queens and Brooklyn where you can see the East River.
South Street Seaport
FDR will be closed beginning at 7 p.m. from the ferry terminal to the Pearl Street ramp. The Pearl Street ramp will offer the only pedestrian access to the FDR. Downtown fireworks will be visible anywhere that offers unobstructed views of the sky south of the Brooklyn Bridge, particularly on the Brooklyn Promenade between Jermone and Cranberry Streets and on Furman between Atlantic and Cadman Plaza West.
Liberty State Park
Located in Jersey City, viewing is best from Liberty State Park. Consult their website for details and directions.

Waterfall in New York City urban seascape may seem impossible but artist Olafur Eliasson has been commissioned by the Public Art Fund, consistsing of four monumental, man-made waterfalls. The Waterfalls are going to be at four sites along the shores of Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Governors Island, one by the Brooklyn anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge, one between Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn, one in Lower Manhattan at Pier 35, and one on the north shore of Governors Island.

The official start date is June 26 and will run till October 13, 2008. One would be able see them flowing from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from any of the 4 locations but if you like to see all four in actions catch them all by the NY Water Taxi. The company will be offering boat tours of the four waterfalls, “…running a special edition of our 1 Hour Harbor Tour designed for optimal viewing of these magnificent works of art. Departing hourly from South Street Seaport's Pier 17.”  www.nywatertaxi.com
 


To learn about the Waterfalls and Artist go to this link:
http://publicartfund.org

- How long have you been a competitive eater?

 

The dumpling contest, August 5, 2007, was my first contest. So, almost a year now!

- What made you decide to become a competitive eater?

 

I was a fan of competitive eating LONG before I started to compete. I always loved watching it; IFOCE star Patrick Bertoletti gave me the inspiration I needed to make the leap from just a fan to a competitor. International Federation of Competitive Eating--Patrick Bertoletti

- How do you prepare for up coming events?

 

Eat large salads and drink plenty of water.

- Are you going to partake in the hot dog eating contest for 08?

 

No. I'm not in IFOCE. You have to be in IFOCE (and sign their contract) to compete in Nathan's. I'm with the Association of Independent Competitive Eaters

- If not what are some other events you have lined up?

 

I did two contests recently, including one where I ate 4.46 pounds of strawberries in 7minutes. As for the future: Who knows? I do contests when I see one that looks appealing.

- What is your best record?

 

Hard to say, since contests vary in food and in time length. Probably the strawberries, which I mentioned above, or the cannoli contest I won last year (I ate 5 full-size cannolis in 2 minutes).

- What pays the bills?

 

I'm a Senior Accounting Coordinator for a T-Mobile (phones & services) wholesale distribution company.

- Do you have group outings with other competitive eaters? if yes how do you split the bill?

 

Even though I live in Brooklyn, I'm part of the United Eaters of Pennsylvania (UEPa), which is a group of competitive eaters that go out and do restaurant eating challenges from time to time. We each pay for ourselves, or sometimes the restaurant gets enough publicity from the event that they don't charge us. The last get-together, at the Niner Diner in Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania made local TV stations and newspapers.

- Last questions do you think I have a chance at breaking my record of eating 8 dumplings for this years dumpling eating contest?

 

Absolutely! Just pick up the bowl and hold it close to your mouth to cut down on the time it takes to get the dumpling to your mouth.

- OK one more what do you recommend for people who maybe wanting to explore what you do?

 

Find out when are where eating contests are, then sign up and compete. It's best to just "dive right in", then figure out if it's something you want to continue doing. Or, try doing a restaurant challenge. Many restaurants have something where if you eat a certain amount of their food in a certain amount of time, you get the food for free (or even a prize).

 

 

 

For more info on Jill Stoler check out her blog: http://missgluttonsbliss.blogspot.com/