Solber Pupusas wins the 2011 Vendy Cup (credit: NYSF)
Our High Holy Day, the 9th annual Vendy Awards, will take place this year on Saturday, September 7th.
Click through to find out how to nominate your favorite street vendor, how to buy Early Bird tickets, the 6 categories vendors will be competing in, and where the Vendys will be held. (Hint: not Governor’s Island.)
Solber Pupusas wins the 2011 Vendy Cup (credit: NYSF)
The Vendy Awards are our High Holy Days, New Years Eve and Thanksgiving all rolled into one. We’ve been going since 2009, sponsoring since 2010, and it’s always our favorite day of the year.
Now people in 6 cities around the US will be able to enjoy this great event. Damn, these guys are growing faster than my waistline at last year’s Vendy Awards.
Click through for the cities and dates of all 6 Vendy Award events this year, including how to get tickets for the first one, which is already on sale.
Saturday”s Vendy Awards were the 8th Annual and our fourth one, so we have some perspective.
In the past two years, things seemed electrified and almost tense. The lines were very long, and the competition aspect felt like it overwhelmed the event.
I’m not sure why, but this year’s Vendy Awards felt much more laid back. The lines were shorter than in the past two years, and the atmosphere more chilled out.
I don’t remember anyone setting up picnic blankets in the middle of the field in the past. This year the Vendys had the vibe of a big picnic.
Why were the lines shorter, and the feeling more chill?
Cinnamon Snail sweets (credit: NYSF)
Lumpia Shack wins Best Market Vendor (credit: NYSF)
Best Market Vendor is a new Vendy Awards category this year, and was the one we were least familiar with. We know just about all of the vendors in the Vendy cup, Best Dessert and Rookie categories, but we haven’t spent a lot of time at the various markets popping up around town.
That said, we did get to try all the Finalists, and Lumpia Shack was a very worthy winner.
Lumpia Shack (credit: NYSF)
Phil’s Steaks wins (credit: NYSF)
In our opinion, Rookie of the Year was one of the tougher categories to call. Last year, it was pretty obvious the Korilla machine was going to run everyone else over. This year, there was no clear favorite.
Click image for map 
