Red, White, and Blues: America's Favorite Summer Barbecue

If the hot summer sun and the letters - B B Q - have your mouth watering...you ain't the only one.

Thousands upon thousands of barbecue hungry people will be lickin` their fingers this weekend on America's front lawn. The Safeway 15<sup>th</sup> Annual 2007 National Barbecue Battle begins this Saturday, June 23<sup>rd</sup>, on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. This smokin` hot event begins Saturday at 11 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m., bringing the flavor back on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Delicious demonstrations and savory samples will satisfy your every summer barbecue desire. Get close to the fire as experts battle in flippin` the flavor or cool off to the sounds of the blues.

If tastes of juicy chicken, pulled pork, and spicy ribs isn't enough to get you there, perhaps exhibits like the NBA Nation Tour and Disney's Ratatouille Tour will make you grab your kids and go. Activities including Jumpworks and Sun Trust's Rock Climbing Wall provide a thrill for kids of all ages. Plus, games, magicians, and prizes are guaranteed to keep everyone happy.

Worried about being too hot?

There will be plenty of tent coverage at the event and with Heineken as one of the many sponsors, you are sure to stay refreshed with an ice cold beverage of your choice.

Both Saturday and Sunday are packed with musicians providing wonderfully-barbecue-appropriate tunes. There will be three different stages allowing over thirty different great bands to play throughout the Barbecue Battle weekend. Local popular radio stations will also have sticky fingers as they broadcast right from the heat of the battle. Jazz, Blues, R&B, and other variations of sweet summer music will keep your toes tappin` and your soul at ease. If you are taken over by the sweet and smoky scented, first weekend of summer, can't stop eating the BBQ, kind of aura despite your best efforts to prepare for your upcoming beach trip, just follow the music to the Washington Sports Club sponsored stage and see if they have a exercise plan for your post-barbecue-binging needs.

Before You Battle: Tips from an Area Insider