The Morning After Brunch “Survival Guide”
The 2nd annual “The Morning After Brunch” food festival is THIS weekend. And one of my favorite bloggers, Black Girls Who Brunch, raved about the first event so naturally I had to go. Like most big events you have to do a little extra planning to get the best experience. Sooo. … I decided to put together a Survival Guide for my Broke Foodies!
The Guide
Transportation
The event is at Bayou City Events Center Pavillion. I researched the site and found out that the parking is abundant at this location! That’s sweet music to festival goers’ ears. HOWEVER, if you will be drinking. Please, please, please call an uber or lyft. It pays to keep yourself and others safe. Splitting with your crew also cuts the cost.
The Early Bird Gets The Worm
…OR in this case, the mini sample of shrimp & grits. Follow the 5 minutes early is on time rule for this event! The Morning After Brunch was a huge hit last year and some vendors even ran out of food before the festival was over. That being said, I’m sure it will be even bigger and better this year. Prepare for lines or better yet, splurge on a VIP ticket ( I didn’t though – I will definitely report back on if I think it is worth it or not in my recap).
Keep Your Hands Free
Pockets, backpacks and over the shoulder bags are a must! But remember, less is more. Keep valuables & trinkets at home. You need both hands to taste samples, hold your brunch cocktails and take super cute Instagram photos with your gang. That’s a lot of hand multi-tasking !
Think #StretchyPants
The forecast for this Saturday is sunny with a high of 90, low of 70. Although most of the snacking will be done under a pavilion, you’re still going to want to dress cool and comfortably. I know it seems idea to wear your super cute high waist shorts and crop top from Urban, but this is a FOOD festival, not a MUSIC festival! Flowy shirts and stretchy pants are going to be your best friend! You will thank me later when you’re 10 samples in and 4 cocktails down. I’m personally probably going for a Kylie Jenner athleisure look.
Pace Yourself
No one likes that one friend who gets too wasted wayyy too early in the game. There will be plenty of time for cocktails. Just make sure you get a few samples in your belly first and alternate cocktails with a glass of water to stay hydrated.
Scope Out The Scene
Grab a map and bring a sharpie or pen to mark off the places you absolutely must try with your squad. Map out your route and try to stick to it! I personally like to start from the back then work my way up and out. Also, mark important points like restrooms, exits, and bars.
Be Friendly!
No one likes a Debbie downer, a rude customer, or a complainer. Stay positive and be fun! Spark up a convo with the vendors, make a new friend in line, or take a picture with your favorite food blogger. You never know who you could meet!
Squad Up
In the event that you and your bffs get split up and can’t find your way back to one another, it’s smart to make an “escape” plan. When you arrive, decide on what time you’re leaving and where you’re meeting up.
Don’t Follow The Crowd
When the festival doors open up, most go-ers will congregate towards the front of the venue. Be a trend setter and start at the back of the event. You’re sure to find shorter lines and more samples this way.
Keep it 100!
The last survival guide tip is simple. Make sure your phone is charged and at 100% for the event. The same goes for your camera too! Gotta have that battery charged to snap chat, Instagram, & Facebook all the deliciousness you’re devouring !
Tickets are still on sale for $35 until Friday! If you are planning to attend, don’t wait. Buy your tickets now before they go up to $45. I mean that’s $10 you could be saving for lunch.
