#EndlessBBQ v3.0 Parking & Details

For today’s installment of #endlessBBQ, please park at Perrone Plaza as indicated on the map below. Some have asked what to bring- you don’t *have* to bring anything, but if you’d like, bring beer and/or side dishes. Oh, and a swimsuit and towel if you want to swim. Show up around 3:30ish- or later- and we’ll see you there!

#endlessBBQ 3.0!

We’re having #endlessBBQ v3.0 this Friday afternoon, hopefully after the @NASAJuno launch and Tweetup. Show up Friday afternoon around 3:30 for the next installment of the most epic gathering of space tweeps ever!

116 Via Havarre
Merritt Island, FL 32953

Bring, drinks, food, donations!

#endlessBBQ v2.0 Video

Here’s a great video of the event made by the very talented Dennis Bonilla, @harbingeralpha. Thanks, Dennis!

Success!

We made this amazing sign with the magnetic LEDs that @thinkgeek sent us

We are overwhelmed at the wonderful response to #endlessBBQ v2.0 and thrilled that so many of you were able to make it. We had a great time, and from the sound of things, most of you did too. Our best guess at how many were in attendance was around 250. That is based on us going through 160 name badges, 25-30 improvised name badges when those ran out, 36 staff and sponsor badges, and dozens more with no name badges at all after we ran out of the improvised ones.

Even with that many people, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, despite the heat and evil mosquitoes. Not surprisingly, the local sheriffs made an appearance once, but it was only due to cars parked on both sides of the street. Once they were moved to our auxiliary parking lot, everything was fine. There was great food, amazing live music, a wonderful DJ, swimming, #endlessBBQ and space swag giveaways, and more. What made the event truly epic was the people who were there. Everyone was friendly, cooperative, and just downright pleasant. Special thanks to our staff who really worked hard at cooking, cleaning, serving, shopping, setting up, DJing, performing, supplying and setting up equipment for streaming video, and more. We also want to thank those of you who brought swag to give away, created glittery shuttle body art for guests, lugged heavy camera gear and took amazing photos and videos, brought a huge telescope, built an impromptu microphone stand with a tiki torch, fan, and duct tape, and so on. You all rock.

#endlessBBQ v2.0 is underway!

The event has started! Join us, or watch live streams here.

How it all began

#EndlessBBQ is a recent tradition, only as old as the last shuttle launch, so you may wonder how it came to be. It began very low profile, as a simple BBQ at @herrea‘s house just after the first launch attempt of  STS-134 was scrubbed. As we prepared to go to the barbeque, it was a comment made by @natachac, something about how it would be an endless barbecue (as @herrea‘s parties tend to go on until the wee hours) that stuck in my mind. When we arrived, I spread the word- “we’re calling this the #endlessBBQ” and the tweets started flowing. It was a great event, and the next night those of us who were still around gathered at a different location with all the leftovers, and again the next night. On the fourth night, the #endlessBBQ moved to my house, though all that was left to eat was a bunch of hotdogs.

So, we’ve decided, for an event to officially qualify as part of our ongoing #endlessBBQ, some food items from the last event must carry forward. Don’t worry, we won’t have old, rotten food, we’re going to bring the leftover ketchup, mustard, and relish from the original event to keep it going. We’ll have to remember to save something this time to carry forward for the next one. I’m hoping this is just the beginning of a long tradition of launches and barbecues. With Juno launching next month, GRAIL after that, then another SpaceX launch and then MSL, there will be plenty of opportunities!