May 27, 2013 By Bill Parry
Today is the Broadway/Astoria Festival and visitors will find top quality food and music at the western end of the 12 block street fair—which runs along Broadway, between Steinway and Crescent Streets (11 am to 6 pm).
This year, the Strand Smokehouse (25-27 Broadway) has organized a big event that will feature live music and a barbeque at the western end of the fair between 29th and Crescent Street.
“The western end of the fair has always been treated like the red-headed stepchild,” said Adam Steiner the manager of the Strand Smokehouse adding, “underutilized and totally forgotten.”
This year, the organizers of the 12 block street fair have given the Strand Smokehouse the ability to take control of one of those blocks and incorporate it within the fair.
A stage will be set up across from The Strand Smokehouse’s front porch between noon and 6pm where Nick Blademire & The Hustle, Beechers Fault and The Sheriff will headline.
At 6pm, the live music will move into the restaurant and play for the rest of the evening.
Over 20 local vendors will join the Strand Smokehouse party, including Astoria Bier & Cheese, L.I.C.K. NYC and Queens Kickshaw.
“When I heard they were doing it I was elated and impressed,” said Queens Kickshaw owner Ben Sadler. “Strand Smokehouse is thinking outside the box bringing some new energy.”
Sadler believes the festival lacks local roots because the organizer and most of the vendors are from out of town.
Sadler will bring the Kickshaw’s 3-wheeled rickshaw full of macaroni and cheese and iced coffee. “We’re going to kick back and enjoy the music and our neighbors,” said Sadler adding, “I’m from San Francisco and it reminds me of that vibe.”
The Strand Smokehouse opened last November with Queens-born chef and pit-master John Zervoulakos’ smoked lamb, beef cheeks and duck pastrami drawing rave reviews.
“We’re the new kids on the block,” Steiner said. However, that didn’t stop us from getting all these businesses together, and hopefully we make it an annual event.”
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