Foodie Weekend #2: Extended Memorial Day Edition

Do not attempt in your apartment.

Break out the grill cuz it's Memorial Day Weekend! Or...if you'll be in NYC, forget that, because the NYPD & the FDNY don't take kindly to fire-escape grilling! So, if you're not escaping to the Hamptons on the new "Cannonball" train or even the time-tested Jitney, then see below for a plethora of ideas to partake in. The weather may not be perfect, but it's still better than winter, right?!

Thursday, 5/23:

Elastic City Spring Benefit will raise money for the arts with your tickets and donations, all while providing entertainment, cocktails, and dessert from Babycakes! There will also be a raffle and silent auction to include goodies from Shakespeare in the Park and pieces from some of the featured artists. 7:30pm.

Saturday, 5/25:

Free food, drinks and SOCCER at an undisclosed location! Heineken International presents a viewing of the UEFA Champions League Final with a lot of bonuses involved. Of course, it's a super secret party and the only way to get in without great connections is through the internet. You can email Askmen.com tweet @ThrillistNYC with #FakeWembley and why you think soccer is cool. And I'm sure there are other ways to get in there too...if you find them let me know. :)

Brooklyn invades Manhattan with the opening of SmorgasBar at South Street Seaport! The people who bring you Smorgasburg and The Brooklyn Flea are now bringing some much-needed attention and and dough back to the badly hit Sandy vic. There's a long list of great Brooklyn reps that will be setting up shop and selling their wares for the benefit of all. Plus there's a couple new bars in the are that you should check out while you're there, like Watermark.

Sunday, 5/26:

BBQ alone, is so common, how about BBQ and hip-hop? Check out RUB-A-GRUB at the Do or Dine backyard in Brooklyn. Pre-sale tickets are out, but you can show up early and get your tix at the door! Performances will be headed up by the legendary Ali Shaheed Muhammad, from A Tribe Called Quest. And your food will be supplied by Food Network Star winning chef of Do or Dine. If I weren't busy with an Arrested Development Netflix-a-thon, I'd do this for sure!

Monday, 5/27:

With a full weekend of classic mainland grilling, it might be easy to forget about our lonely island to our west, you know, Hawaii. But Andrew Carmellini's hotspot The Dutch is taking it tropical by offering a Memorial Day Luau at the restaurant from 12pm to 9pm. There will be a prix-fixe lunch until 5pm and a family style dinner from 5-9pm. Classic Hawaiin dishes will include suckling pig and tuna poke. This might be a rare chance to step inside the place without a forever-long wait! Aloha!