The New York Inquirer: What Beats Street Meat?

by Andrew Bast

Sunday night? I was at the 2nd Annual Vendy Awards at St. Marks Church. Yes, the Vendys. What, didn't you hear?

Certainly you've heard by now, because it was the event of the weekend. The Vendys packed all the punches of a star-studded award show. Celebrities. Rushing crowds of flashing cameras. A glistening trophy. And actually, a step above the rest: melt-in-your-mouth arepa and spicy-to-the-core street meat.

Crowds streamed in long, jovial lines from each of the four carts in the church's garden. Tickets were $50 (tax-deductible). Beer and wine were served in plastic cups.

The Vendys are sponsored by the Urban Justice Center Street Vendor's Project. As Michael Wells, who sells art on 125th Street between St. Nicholas and 8th Avenue in Harlem and also serves as UJC's Chairman of the Leadership Board told The Inquirer, the main goals of the program are to legislate for vendor's rights, to combat fines, and to improve translation services and court representation for vendors throughout the city.

And as far as advocacy goes, it seems tickets and fines are the chief problems street vendors face.

The UJC Street Vendor Program prides itself on having recently met with the Mayor's office, an unprecedented feat, and a surprising one considering that New York City is host to more than 12,000 vendors.

The Vendys made it readily apparent that UJC is forging a new path to labor organizing. Sunday night, there was so much press present that early in the evening one had to wonder if there weren't more reporters, camerapeople, and photographers than actual ticketholders. But then you looked to the back of the Dosa line.

In addition, the competitive setup and celebrity air of the event raised the profile of street vendors considerably more than any single court victory ever could.

Important side note: yes, the Department of Health inspects your local cart, so grabbing a chicken pita with everything means you're getting fare prepared with standards higher than some of the city's finest restaurants.

So who won? The only thing you really need to know is that Maria Piedad Cano, a.k.a. "The Arepa Lady" of 79th St. and Roosevelt Ave. in Queens was robbed. Pure and simple.

But sticking with the official votes, Thiru Kumar, "The Dosa Man" at Washington Square South and Sullivan St. came in second place. And the cup went to Samiul Haque Noor from "Sammy's Halal" at 73rd St. and Broadway in Queens.

Okay, that was one damn good pita.

(Photos by Inquirer staff photographer, A.M. Bast.)

Chime in below: where's your favorite street vendor in the city?