GoogaMooga 2013: The Eatening

Hope you guys don't want Umami Burger. Photo by Mary Dorn — Hope you guys don’t want Umami Burger. Photo by Mary Dorn

Hi guys, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the Great GoogaMooga 2013. You can check back here for plenty of pictures of bands and a few updates on what’s going on in the park. Here’s a few things to know:

-beers are $7 or $8 at the normal beverage tents, but the selection is a little small. There’s a larger beer tent, but you need to buy tickets for that, for $1 each, with beers in there going for $3 or $4. We’d recommend paying cash, the credit card machines were already a little janky. You also have to buy a $2 reusable cup, because uh…it makes the craft beer taste better.

-if you bring an empty water bottle, there doesn’t look to be anywhere you can actually fill it up, with the only water fountain in the festival area behind the press area

Is there meat? Yes, plenty. In fact, here’s a veritable wall of pork products

Pork, as far as the eye can see — Photo by Mary Dorn

Security was tight around the Hamageddon. Photo by Mary Dorn

With any luck, by highlighting "Community" this year, there'll be fewer Charlie Foxtrots — With any luck, by highlighting “Community” this year, there’ll be fewer Charlie Foxtrots. Photo by Mary Dorn

Lee Fields and the Expressions get the day off to a funky start. Photo by Mary Dorn

A WORD ABOUT THE BEER TENT

On the left, $13 of beer. On the right, $4 of beer. Photo by Mary Dorn

Be aware that if you’re going to try to get the craft beers, to make sure you only ask for a size that only costs thee of four tickets. No one’s very clear about it, and the next thing you know, you’re paying $13 for the small amount of beer seen above. No one should have to suffer that fate.

Raising the next generation of foodies, thanks to the crab cake sandwich from Jeffrey's Grocery. Photo by Mary Dorn — Raising the next generation of foodies, thanks to the crab cake sandwich from Jeffrey’s Grocery. Photo by Mary Dorn

Lady Rizzo, shortly before eating her glove. Photo by Mary Dorn

Aaaand she's eating it — Aaaand she’s eating it. Photo by Mary Dorn

Taking shelter under the Hamageddon. Photo by Mary Dorn

The Roberta's Ren Faire let's you live out your Game of Thrones fantasies. Photo by Mary Dorn — The Roberta’s Ren Faire let’s you live out your Game of Thrones fantasies. Photo by Mary Dorn

Sharon van Etten, undaunted by the drizzle. Photo by Mary Dorn

FOOD BARGAINS

While you won’t find anything super duper cheap here today, it’s not all $16 lobster rolls and $10 grilled cheese. The best deal we’ve food so far is the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que platter (above), which gets you a large sandwich, cole slaw and beans for $11. It’s what you might even call a reasonable deal

A look inside the Bilderberg Group meeting VIP Cocktail lounge. Photo by Mary Dorn — A look inside the ~~Bilderberg Group meeting~~ VIP Cocktail lounge. Photo by Mary Dorn

For those of you who were told to go back to Ohio, Little Wisco set up a mini-Wisconsin. Close enough. Photo by Mary Dorn — For those of you who were told to go back to Ohio, a few restaurants set up, Little Wisco, a mini-Wisconsin. Close enough. Photo by Mary Dorn

Remember kids, you're never too old to sit on someone's shoulders. Photo by Mary Dorn — Remember kids, you’re never too old to sit on someone’s shoulders. Photo by Mary Dorn

How this... Photo by Mary Dorn — How this… Photo by Mary Dorn

...becomes your food porn. Photo by Mary Dorn — …becomes your food porn. Photo by Mary Dorn

Pearl and the Beard, on the Joe's Pub Stage. Photo by Mary Dorn — Pearl and the Beard, on the Joe’s Pub Stage. Photo by Mary Dorn

UPDATE IV: It stopped raining, thank god

Plenty of laughs to go around at the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. Photo by Mary Dorn

The Bao Haus' fried chicken bao death trap. Photo by Mary Dorn — The Bao Haus’ fried chicken bao death trap. Photo by Mary Dorn

There's always room for tacos. Photo by Mary Dorn — There’s always room for tacos. Photo by Mary Dorn

God damn you summer, will you just get here in earnest already? Photo by Mary Dorn

It's a rule of any music festival: you simply MUST have people bouncing beach balls. Photo by Mary Dorn — It’s a rule of any music festival: you simply MUST have people bouncing beach balls. Photo by Mary Dorn

6 Comments

Tamara May 18, 2013

Going tomorrow. I plan to take some great pictures. Can’t wait

May 18, 2013 at 8:35 pm

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J_O_R May 18, 2013

This looks lame. Have two GA tix for tomorrow, but after seeing these pics and this post, I don’t think I’m gonna go. This looks like like just a over-the-top and extravagant and pretentious and expensive street fair for hipsters. I think I’ll have a better time and get my money’s worth by going to one of the restaurants that are here, maybe Vinegar Hill. Wow. Thanks for posting, regardless.

May 18, 2013 at 10:49 pm

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NC May 19, 2013

The three hours I spent at Googa Mooga yesterday were sort of fun, but ultimately it’s little more than a gussied up, Manhattan-esque Brooklyn Flea. Seeing as how I can do the same thing any weekend for less money and without a roster full of loud, shitty bands, I’d rather Prospect Park just be left alone by SuperFly Entertainment.

May 19, 2013 at 11:13 am

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Richie May 19, 2013

looks incredibly lame…pretentious-fest with overpriced foodstuffs

May 19, 2013 at 7:46 pm

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catwolinski May 20, 2013

Yikes, tough crowd on this comment list. If you’re not into hipster fairs (and fares), maybe don’t get tickets for them?

I for one attended with free entry thanks to a kind gentleman on the other side of the fence, and my biggest takeaway: Umami burgers. Admittedly overpriced, but also, TDF. That’s my new acronym for “to die for” that I made up just now. Where can we find those bad boys outside Googa Mooga land? DROOL.

May 20, 2013 at 12:59 pm

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- catwolinski May 20, 2013
  
  Just read the featured photo caption…I DID want Umami burgers. I thought I was original, and now I’m embarrassed (but I still want them).
  
  May 20, 2013 at 1:02 pm
  
  Reply