College is a time of individual discovery—defining who you are and who you want to be after interfacing with a changing world and your roommate’s radically divergent experiences. And despite the reality that mine is sequestered in a congested city boasting an annual minimum of three months tundra, I have found a true love in barbeque.

It all started when my freshman year suitemate purchased a small, shiny, foldable grill…on sale in November. After successfully evading inspection fines for a few months, we began our weekly illegal grilling.

Sure, I, Jersey native, enjoyed a periodic barbeque with hotdogs and cheeseburgers and sometimes even chicken—but the person I was then is not the person I am now. Together, my suitemates and I experienced the joy of grilling just about every type of meat we had the resolve to request from the dining hall staff or carry the mile back from the nearest shady supermarket chain. And over the years, I have secretly fallen in love.  

As yet unaware as to my penchant for lightly charred meats, my D.C. friends continue to ask me what I’m doing this weekend…

This weekend is Safeway’s 16th Annual BBQ Battle, and barring insane shifts in weather or the unexpected onset of vegetarianism, I will be there (though not on both days as that would be overkill).  

For $10.00 you can get your tickets in advance and bask in the personal satisfaction of donating to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, listening to random live music, savoring numerous special sauces, and as many free samples as you can grab from the official Safeway tent. That definitely qualifies as a good way to spend a lazy afternoon. And with celebrity chef appearances and a smorgasbord of scheduled events, it is certainly the ultimate destination not only for those fond of BBQ, but connoisseurs of a related art form—people watching.