The Vendy Awards (The Vendys)

About the Vendy Awards

• What are the Vendy Awards?
• When and where are the Vendys?
• How are the finalists chosen?
• What happens at the Awards?
• Which Awards will be given out this year?
• Can I help choose the Vendy winner?
• What does my ticket get me?
• Can I buy my ticket later or at the door?
• What comes with each of the Donor Packages?
• Are kids welcome? Do they need tickets?
• How do I get to Governors Island?
• Will t-shirts and aprons be sold this year?
• I’m a member of the press. How do I get a press pass or arrange to interview the people who organize the Vendys or individual vendors?
• My company would like to sponsor the Vendy Awards. What should I do?
• Can I volunteer at the Vendys, or help organize this year’s Vendys?
• How can I help support the Street Vendor Project?
• Why do vendors need an organization?
• Who did the website and artwork?

Now in its sixth year, the Vendy Awards are:

• An intense cook-off between the best sidewalks chefs in New York City for the Vendy Award trophy and the title of Vendy Award winner.
• One of New York City’s most beloved and widely anticipated food events, and its premier street food showcase.
• A festival of respect and gratitude for all venwhodors 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 will take place on the afternoon of Saturday, September 25th, 2010, noon to 5:00 pm on Governors Island, which is in the heart of New York Harbor, and is easily accessible by ferry from both Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can find more information on Governors Island here. Ferry schedules will be posted later this spring. You may bring your bicycle (bikes are allowed on the ferry and bike parking will be available), and rental bikes are also available. The Vendy Awards location is a 5-minute walk from the ferry. Please note that cars – and pets – are not allowed on Governors Island.

Governors Island is open from 10-7 on September 25th. The Vendys run from noon to 5:00 p.m., and we encourage you to come early and/or stay late!

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How are the finalists chosen?

The finalists are determined by a public nomination process where people like you tip us off about which vendors you think are Vendy-worthy. You can nominate your favorite vendor here.

What happens at the Awards?

The finalists are stationed with their carts cooking for Vendy attendees, who eagerly wait on line, and the judges, who meet the vendors and enjoy the food. Beer and wine will be plentiful; tables and chairs will be scattered about for the food-weary. There will be music, performances and a raffle. At the end of the night, after a short ceremony that includes naming the People’s Taste Award winner, one happy vendor will receive the Silver Vendy Cup and the title of 2010 Vendy Award winner.

Please wear comfortable shoes! While each year we work to reduce the length of the lines, standing in line is part of the Vendy – and street food – experience (unless you opt for our new “table service”). We do not know if any marriages have come out of people waiting on line together, but we do know that many friendships have been born as people patiently and hungrily wait for their chance to sample the finalists’ food. Let us know if you met your spouse or boy/girlfriend at the Vendys!

Which Awards will be given out this year?

Our judges will award one finalist the Vendy Cup and title of Vendy Award winner. Additionally, Vendy attendees will vote to choose the People’s Taste Award winner from the finalists. Both the Dessert Category and Rookie Vendor of the Year are awarded by audience vote.

Can I help choose the Vendy winner?

Attendees choose our People’s Taste Award winner, chosen from the field of Vendy cup finalists. Audience members will also choose winners in the Dessert and Rookie Vendor of the Year categories.

What does my ticket get me?

You get all the free food you can eat from the city’s best street chefs and an open bar of wine, beer and soda. A portion of your $85 entry ticket ($70 through May 31st; $85 from June 1 – September 24, or until we sell out; $100 at the door, if available; $175 with table service) is a tax-deductible contribution to the Street Vendor Project, whose goal is to make sure that vendors are always a part of our city.

Can I buy my ticket later or at the door?

Buy your ticket now to be safe. The event has been getting bigger and bigger every year, and in order to keep the lines manageable, we need to limit the number of tickets sold. Last year we sold out before the event and there were no tickets available at the door.

What comes with each of the Donor Packages?

• The $200 Silver Donor package includes 2 tickets and your name on the invitation, program and website.
• The $500 Gold Donor package includes 4 tickets to the Vendy Awards, a listing on the invitation, program and website, an opportunity to meet the judges, and a photo of you with the Vendy winner and Vendy cup.
• The $1,000 Platinum Donor package includes 8 tickets, a listing on the invitation, program and website, an opportunity to meet the judges, your name announced at the podium during the awards ceremony, and a photo of you and the Vendy winner and Vendy cup.

Are kids welcome? Do they need tickets?

We love kids and kids love street food. Children under 8 do not need a ticket, and tickets for kids ages 8-12 are half-price ($35 until May 31, $42.00 in advance, $50 at the door if available, $85 table service).

How do I get to Governors Island?

Governors Island, in the heart of New York Harbor, is easily accessible by ferry from both Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Here are directions to Governors Island. You may bring your bicycle (bikes are allowed on the ferry and bike parking will be available), and rental bikes are also available (link). The Vendy Awards location is a 5-minute walk from the ferry. Please note that cars – and pets – are not allowed on Governors Island.

Governors Island is open from 10-7 on September 25th. The Vendys run from noon to 5:00 p.m., and we encourage you to come early and/or stay late!

Will t-shirts and aprons be sold this year?

Yes! We will have t-shirts and aprons on sale at the Vendys. You can buy designs from past years at the 2008 and 2009 Vendys stores.

I’m a member of the press. How do I get a press pass or arrange to interview the people who organize the Vendys or individual vendors?

Please do not call or email the office. To arrange interviews, send an email to Anna Deknatal at Anna@berlinrosen.com. To request a press pass, send an email to vendypresspass@gmail.com by September 15. Please include your contact info and the name of your publication. Press passes are limited and we will let people know by September 20.

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

Now in its sixth year, the Vendy Awards has established itself as a classic NYC event that brings out hundreds of food-savvy guests and attracts local, national, and international media attention. We are actively looking for corporate sponsors, big and small, to partner with us to make this event a success. Please contact us at vendyawards@gmail.com or (646) 602-5679 about your interest in sponsoring the event.

Can I volunteer at the Vendys, or help organize this year’s Vendys?

We are always looking for dedicated volunteers to help plan and work the event. Please email vendyvolunteers@gmail.com if you are interested. People love volunteering with the Vendys – many 2010 volunteers have already signed up, with some returning for their fourth year. Spaces are limited, so don’t wait until the last minute.

How can I help support the Street Vendor Project?

We receive NO government grants and depend on people like you to support our work. We always appreciate financial help, even if you can’t come to the Awards. You can make a tax-deductible contribution to the Street Vendor Project at the Streetvendor site.

Why do vendors need an organization?

There are more than 10,000 street vendors in New York City — hot dog vendors, flower vendors, book vendors, street artists, and many others. They are small businesspeople struggling to make ends meet. Most are immigrants and people of color. They work long hours under harsh conditions, asking for nothing more than a chance to sell their goods on the public sidewalk.

Yet, in recent years, vendors have been victims of New York’s aggressive “quality of life” crackdown. They have been denied access to vending licenses. Many streets have been closed to them at the urging of powerful business groups. They receive $1,000 tickets for minor violations like vending too close to a crosswalk — more than any big businesses are required to pay for similar violations.

The Street Vendor Project is a membership-based project with more than 750 active vendor members who are working together to create a vendors’ movement for permanent change. We reach out to vendors in the streets and storage garages and teach them about their legal rights and responsibilities. We hold meetings where we plan collective actions for getting our voices heard. We publish reports and file lawsuits to raise public awareness about vendors and the enormous contribution they make to our city. Finally, we help vendors grow their businesses by linking them with small business training and loans.

The Street Vendor Project is part of the Urban Justice Center, a non-profit organization that provides legal representation and advocacy to various marginalized groups of New Yorkers.

The Street Vendor Project is funded through by member dues, a few private foundations, and generous individuals like you. Join our list of supporters.

Who did the website and artwork?

Greg Takayama did the web work, and the art and design were done by Sean Finocchio and Niko Courtelis teamed up on the design. If you see anything strange with the site, drop Greg an email at gregtakayama@gmail.com.