Charlene Gilliam is a coronary heart and soul D.C. lady who was having a very good time on the thirty third Annual Large Nationwide Capital Barbecue Battle on Pennsylvania Avenue NW on June 21.
Whereas many attended the two-day occasion to partake of the quite a few nationwide barbecue choices that restaurateurs and pitmasters needed to supply, that’s not the explanation she paid to come back on June 21.
“I like go-go and after I heard that the Barbecue Battle was going to have go-go bands enjoying, I needed to come,” stated Gilliam, 63.
Gilliam stated she actually bought down when Too A lot Expertise Band performed the go-go rendition of the nation and western basic “Candy Dwelling Alabama,” dancing and jamming alongside to the efficiency.
“I’m not large on barbecue,” she instructed The Informer, “I simply got here to listen to the music.”
It was the Barbecue Battle’s repute for providing prospects good meals that introduced Edonia Thomas and Xavier Hicks from Virginia to the District for the occasion, for the primary time.
Thomas and Hicks had been ready within the lengthy line on the Style of Large Sampling Pavilion that featured small samples of meals from completely different eating places and distributors.
“I’m ready to style some good meals hopefully,” Thomas, a 26-year-old Alexandria resident, stated. “I do want there have been fewer individuals on this line, however it’s shifting fairly properly. I’m having fun with myself right here.”
Hicks agreed with Thomas.
“I needed to strive some good meals,” the 26-year-old from Fredericksburg stated. “I wish to strive some oxtail earlier than I depart. I by no means had that earlier than and I heard it’s good. In addition to, it’s one thing completely different.”
Partying on the Barbecue Battle
Gilliam was among the many 1000’s of people that got here to the barbecue and music show that occurred from third to seventh Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Regardless of the near-100-degree climate, individuals braved the climate to buy meals, go to vendor tents and pay attention to numerous genres of music.
The go-go tent, encompassing the Pepsi Lay Artwork to Go-Go Stage, was the place Gilliam posted that day. The set-up was positioned on third and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, in a small patch of land aptly named “Go-Go Park” for the occasion.
The tent had individuals sitting in chairs with some individuals standing round it listening and gently swaying to the music of such musical skills because the Junkyard Band, Huge Tony & Bother Funk and Be’la Dona.
Instantly to the left of the place the live performance was going down was The Arts to Go-Go Village, the place tents of artists and District authorities businesses highlighting the inventive skills of Washingtonians had been positioned.
Kristina Noell, the manager director of the Anacostia BID, helped to create the go-go village.
“There’s lots of inventive expertise in Anacostia, and we needed individuals who attended the Barbecue Battle to know that,” Noell instructed The Informer.
The District’s Workplace of Cable Tv, Movie, Music and Leisure (OCTFME) performed an integral position in touchdown the musical expertise stated Director LaToya Foster. Whereas Gilliam appreciated the leisure, she did have a gripe with the go-go setup.
“I want that they had extra space for individuals to bop,” Foster stated.
The Meals Expertise
Many Washingtonians know Teddy Carpenter as a domestically based mostly standup comic whose jokes and tales have individuals rolling in laughter. Nevertheless, on the Barbecue Battle on June 21, Carpenter was in a critical temper as he supervised his pop-up enterprise, Black Betty’s BBQ.
Individuals had been ready in line to order delicacies similar to brisket, brisket sandwiches, beef ribs, lamb chops, oxtails, barbecue wings, potato salad and coleslaw.
Carpenter’s workers labored at a near-frantic tempo as they sought to get prospects their orders in a well timed method. Regardless of the workload, Carpenter was happy at being on the Barbecue Battle.
“We’re completely happy to be right here,” he stated. “We’ve performed a few of the bigger festivals such because the World Pleasure, H Avenue and Hashish Pageant. Once we take part in these occasions, it’s the roll of the cube. For instance, we invested $18,000 on this occasion, however it’s my hope that we flip that $18,000 into $50,000.”
By collaborating within the Barbecue Battle, Carpenter stated he’s giving again in his personal approach.
“I’m using about 18 individuals to assist run this tent and that is about serving good meals to the individuals,” he stated.
Subsequent to the meals pavilion was the Large Contemporary Concepts Demonstration Stage that featured cooks and meals consultants. A well-liked presenter was Chef Wenford Simpson who delights his prospects and enormous following at B.B. King Blues Membership and Grill and the Highland Ballroom in New York Metropolis.
For his meals demonstration, Simpson ready a curry stew detailing the substances and cooking strategies. After the preparation, Simpson and an assistant handed out samples for the viewers.
Nevertheless, Simpson had greater than the delicacies to supply.
“Guys, imagine in your desires, don’t quit,” he stated. “I rose from poverty to make use of 196 individuals. If I can do it, you may too.”
As nightfall settled in, Gilliam seemed ahead to the efficiency of Junkyard Band. When requested whether or not she’s going to come to the Barbecue Battle subsequent 12 months, she stated “positively.”
“Hey, I’ll even strive some barbecue,” she stated with a mischievous smile.
