|
Harry J. Tutunjian
Mayor of Troy, NY |
CONTACT US:
One Monument Square, City
Hall
Troy, New York 12180
Telephone #: (518) 270-4401
Fax #: (518) 270-4609 Email:
MayorsOffice@Troyny.gov |
Mayor's Weekly
Message
May 2, 2008
We had a wonderful announcement yesterday
detailing the inaugural Troy Pig Out, a New York State
Barbecue Championship sanctioned by the Kansas City
Barbecue Society. Mark your calendars for Saturday
July 19th and Sunday July 20th for a party in downtown
Troy.
To kickoff the
announcement we had a cookout in front of City Hall,
and were joined by Tosca Chef Larry Shepici,
and Chef’s Solutions Jim Rhoads who are working
closely with the City to organize the Pig Out
On the third
weekend of July, the streets surrounding Monument
Square will be closed from Friday evening
until Sunday night, as competitors prepare for the
main competition, which will take place Sunday morning
and afternoon. We are expecting more than 30 barbecue “professionals” from
around the Northeast to compete in the inaugural event,
which has received the blessing of Governor David Paterson
and will be a New York State Championship.
We have raised the bar in the last four years when
it comes to creating special events to bring people
to Troy. Whether it is the River Street Festival or
the Chowderfest we look forward to teaming up with
enthusiastic business owners, merchants, and residents
to create excitement and buzz for Troy.
The Pig Out
will be broken down into two separate days of family
friendly fun. On Saturday, the City
will host the Backyard BBQ competition, featuring the “professional” enthusiasts,
as well as local competitors featuring restaurants,
neighborhood groups, individuals, and even your next
door neighbor. The cost of the entry for the Backyard
BBQ will be $25, and entrants will compete by grilling
in four different categories- beef, chicken, pizza,
and vegetables. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
After the Backyard BBQ, the fun will continue well
into Saturday evening on the streets of downtown, with
music, vendors, and family entertainment filling the
streets. The night will be capped off by fireworks
on the Hudson River. An announcement concerning musical
acts is expected in the coming weeks.
The Sunday portion
of the Pig Out will be the day that the New York
State Champion is crowned. With barbecue
enthusiasts travelling from around the area to participate,
organizers have created four categories- in addition
to Saturday’s grilling event- in which they will
compete. The entry fee for each category is $75, though
to be eligible for the Grand Champion and Reserve Championship
prize money, competitors must enter all four categories-
pork, chicken, beef brisket, and pork ribs.
The tournament is expected to give away more than
$5,000 in prize money.
Throughout the day on Sunday, visitors to the Pig Out
will get a sneak peek at what it takes to win a BBQ
Championship. They will also be treated to music throughout
the day, a variety of vendors, and a number of other
street festival amenities so that the entire family,
not just the barbecue enthusiast, can enjoy the day.
If anyone is interested in participating, applications
for the New York State Championship are available at
www.visittroyny.com and must be received by June 23rd,
2008. There is a limit of 45 teams. Applications for
the Saturday Backyard BBQ are due by July 1st, and
there is no limit to the number of teams.
Proceeds from
the event, which is sponsored by the City of Troy,
Tosca, Chef’s Solutions, and the
Troy Downtown Collaborative will be donated to The
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
I look forward to entering the Saturday competition
and seeing where I stand among the residents in the
Capital District that consider barbecue and grilling
true hobbies. We are excited about the possibilities
this event holds, and look forward to welcoming new
people to the City of Troy to see the exciting and
eclectic urban environment that exists here today.
Any vendors interested in participating in the event
should contact Chef Rhoads at 518-423-1194 or Jeff
Buell at 518-270-4554.
It should be
an exciting week! Don’t forget
that the 3rd Annual Striped Bass Fishing Tournament
takes place this Sunday!
Have a great weekend.
If you have any questions, comments,
concerns, or complaints, please do not hesitate to call
me (518) 270-4401 or e-mail the Mayor’s
Office.
Harry J. Tutunjian
Mayor of Troy
|
