Twin Smokers BBQ Gets Saucy at Atlanta BAR-B-Q Festival August 14 and 15

Atlantic Station turns into a smokin’ hot barbecue spot this weekend when Twin Smokers BBQ and other Atlanta eateries pull out their signature barbecues at the seventh annual Atlanta BAR-B-Q Festival Friday, August 14 from 4-10 p.m. and Saturday, August 15 from noon-8 p.m. The Travel Channel recognizes this annual event as one of the top 10 BBQ festivals and competitions in the U.S.A. Pro and backyard teams vie in wing and barbecue competitions. Live music and chef-driven cooking demos flow each day, and Kids Korner gives tykes a place to expend energy. Complete schedule online. Wings are king at Friday night’s T.G.I. Wings sampling, giving way to extensive pro-am ‘cue action at Saturday’s Taste of the Pig sampling. The Bourbon Experience barrels in for bourbon lovers as a separate ticketed event. General admission tickets are $6 in advance and $10 day of show. Buy barbecue and samples directly from participating restaurants, vendors and teams at an additional cost. Bourbon Experience tickets are $30 each. 

New York Butcher Shoppe Sponsors Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival

In a deal sealed over grill and flames, New York Butcher Shoppe is sponsoring the Backyard Division cooking competition in this year's Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival on Saturday, October 1. Sure, there's a pro league, but New York Butcher Shoppe's heart is into helping aspiring BBQ pitmasters grill to their greatest potential with top-quality meats. New York Butcher Shoppe is providing all of the meat and a $25 gift card for each of the 20 teams that may make up the Backyard Division. They're even judging teams for the most creative name and will pick up the $200 entrance fee for their winning choice. 


The New York Butcher Shoppe also is providing the meat for the "Anything Butt" competition on Friday, September 30. For more information on the festival and competition, visit the event website. The New York Butcher Shoppe has three locations in Alpharetta, Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, and they're on Facebook, too.


New York Butcher Shoppe: Dunwoody at 2458 Mt. Vernon Road; 770-399-6328. Sandy Springs at 4969 Roswell Road; 404-303-0704. Alpharetta at 5354 McGinnis Ferry Road; 678-624-0047.

Bar-B-Q Lovers Rejoice!

The Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival will be taking over Turner Field's green parking lot from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. this Saturday, September 12. There will be inflatables and rides for the kids as well as live music by the Running Wild Band, Antonia Lawrence, Neal Cooper, Frankie's Blues Mission and the Riki Brooks Band. Professional and backyard barbeque cooks will be competing for cash prizes in their respective categories, and the pro winner will get to sell his or her barbeque at a Braves game in 2010. Braves legend Otis Nixon will be there to chat with fans and sign his new book "The Catch." As a promotion, festival organizers will be giving away free barbeque sauces, rubs and grill accessories to those who have RSVP'd on the event's Facebook page. Admission to the family-friendly festival area is free.