Avoid Sticky Fingers With the VIP Pass to LA's BBQ Fest

May 6, 2009 at 2:24 PM | by Omri | 0 Comments

When last we wrote up the Santa Monica Pier, we alluded to the rotating roster of shows and events that go on throughout the year. The next one happens this coming weekend, May 9-10, and promises to temporarily silence the routine complaints that you can't get good BBQ in Los Angeles. For these two days, Southern and Midwestern BBQ will come to the westside in the form of the awesome Los Angeles BBQ Festival.

Only $10 per ticket gets you into the festival, where each heaping helping of BBQ heaven will cost you another $10. There's a $50 VIP option available—more on that in a sec—and if you pre-purchase either option online you'll get access to the festival an hour before the rest of the public; general admission is 1pm-6pm on both days.

Staffing the booths and pits will be perennial Midwestern giants like Kansas City's L.C.'s BBQ, local institutions like Venice's Baby Blues BBQ, and venerable Texas legends like Southside Market and BBQ. You pay your tenner and patiently wait until they take your plate and pour almost half a pound of BBQ on it. Don't forget beers, which will be $5 a piece and, since it's going to be a perfect 70 degrees plus the heat of the grills, you'll be wanting some of the $4 desserts.

Adding to the absurd beauty of a clear Santa Monica spring day, entertainment will be provided over the weekend by five different bands, one of which is a Beatles cover band. Even if the renditions are horrible, it's be interesting to see what four people are willing to entertain you at the cost of damning their blasphemous, sacrilegious, degenerate souls for all eternity. Seriously? Who tries to cover the Fab Four?

Anyway, the chowhounds seem a bit tepid about the festival for a host of other reasons, of course complaining about long lines and sometimes middling food. On the other hand, most of these frustrations can be avoided by arriving early and scoring the aforementioned VIP pass. Cut to the front of the lines, get a Cozmocard, and don a t-shirt that comes with the pass, therefore solving the waiting problem and any future spillage issues. Nevertheless, you've been warned; bring the handiwipes.

Related Stories:
· LA BBQ Fest [Official Site]
· Ferris Wheels, Burgers and Mischievious Octopi at the Santa Monica Pier [Jaunted]
· Food Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

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