Harlem Brew Fest Cuts Ties With 'Fyre Festival of Pizza' Founder

HARLEM, NY — A festival created to show off Harlem's emerging craft beer scene has severed ties with the founder of the doomed New York City Pizza Festival — which has been dubbed the "Fyre Festival" of pizza.

Ishmael Osekre was working for Harlem Brew Fest in a social media role before being asked to step down, organizers of the Harlem festival confirmed with Patch.

"Given the the sensational news story what would you do?" Harlem Brew Fest organizers wrote to Patch.

The Harlem Brew Fest will be held Sept. 30, according to postings on Eventbrite and Facebook. The event is billed as a "celebration of community and craft, and a toast to Harlem's Neighborhood Original beers." In its first year, the festival is expected to feature at least 50 beer brands, unlimited sampling, and live entertainment such as a DJ and step performance.

The event, organized by Harlem Brewing Company, will likely avoid the pitfalls of Osekre's Bushwick parking lot pizza festival. Harlem Brew Fest is being aided by the Harlem Business Alliance — which has a proven track record of organizing events in the neighborhood — and lists a number of local and international brands already committed to the festival.

The festival will be held in a 12th Avenue space between West 133rd and 135th streets between noon and 9 p.m. according to am Eventbrite page.

The New York Attorney General's office announced that it will investigate the 'Fyre Festival' of Pizza after angry party guests complained they paid $75 to eat cold pizza in a parking lot.

Attendees of the New York City Pizza Festival in Bushwick uickly took to Facebook last weekend to complain of the cold slices of pizza and "warm red wine that tasted like ass" served to them in a "shady parking lot."

On Tuesday, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman asked the bitter pizza-seekers to file complaints on his website. A spokesman also confirmed prosecutors had reached out to organizers and opened an investigation Monday.

Several patrons announced they would file a lawsuit on a Facebook group created for pizza party victims.

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