The 4th Annual Vendy Awards

Vendy Awards FAQ

What are the Vendy Awards (aka The Vendys)?

The Vendys are:

• An intense cook-off between the best sidewalks chefs in New York City.
• A festival of respect and gratitude for all vendors and everything they provide us-from your morning coffee (half-and-half, two sugars) to the $2 umbrella when you get caught in the thunderstorm.
• A fundraiser for the Street Vendor Project, a membership-based non-profit organization that stands up for vendors’ rights.

When and Where are the Vendys?

The Vendy Awards are on Saturday, October 18th, 2008 from 3pm to 7pm at the Tobacco Warehouse at Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in DUMBO Brooklyn. Take the F train to York Street, the 2/3 train to Clark Street, or the A/C train to High Street, and walk down to the water. Here’s a map:

How are the finalists chosen?

The finalists are determined by a public nomination process where people like you to tip us off about which vendors you think are Vendy-worthy. Nominations closed September 7th. This year’s finalists have been announced.

What happens at the Awards?

The event is structured an Iron Chef-style cook-off with guest participation. The finalists will be positioned with their carts around the location, cooking for guests and the esteemed judges . Beer and wine will be plentiful; tables and chairs will be scattered about for the food-weary. There will be music and performances and a raffle. We are also thinking about a dessert category this year. At the end of the night, after a short ceremony, one happy vendor will receive the Silver Vendy Cup.

What does my ticket get me?

Your $80 entry ticket is also a tax-deductible contribution to the Street Vendor Project, whose goal is to make sure that vendors are always a part of our city. whose goal is to make sure that vendors are always a part of our city. You also get all the free food you can eat from the city’s best street chefs and an open bar of wine, beer and soda.

Can I buy my ticket later or at the door?

Maybe, but we can’t promise there will still be tickets available. The event has been getting bigger and bigger every year, and this year we have strict limitations on the number of people the space will hold. Buy your ticket now to be safe.

I’m a member of the press. How do I get a press pass?

Please do not call or email the office; rather, send an email to Jaclyn Kessel at Jaclyn@BerlinRosen.com with your contact info and the name of your publication. Press passes are limited.

My company would like to sponsor the Vendy Awards. What should I do?

In four years, the Vendy Awards have become a classic NYC event that brings out hundreds of food-savvy guests and attracts international media attention. We are actively looking for corporate sponsors, big and small, to partner with us to make this event a success. Please write us at vendyawards@gmail.com about your interest in sponsoring the event.

How can I help?

We receive NO government grants and depend on people like you to make it all work. We always appreciate financial help; even if you can’t come to the Awards. Please go to the tickets page to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Street Vendor Project.We are also looking for dedicated volunteers to help plan and work the event. Please email vendyvolunteers@gmail.com if you are interested.

Why do vendors need an organization?

Vendors are poor people, usually immigrants, with little legal or political clout. NYC’s super-powerful real estate industry (who mistakenly believes that vendors compete with their store-based merchants) have managed over the last twenty years to 1) decrease the number of licenses, 2) declare many streets off-limits to vending, and 3) raise fines to as much as $1,000 per ticket for technical violations of the vending rules – like placing your cart more than 18 inches from the curb. The Street Vendor Project is akin to a union; we help our 750 individual members while providing a voice for the vending community as a whole.