New to Meat Week? Let us be the first to extend a greasy hand. There are no rules to Meat Week, but there are a few traditions that have evolved over the years. Here's what you need to know:

• Schedule:

  The Captain & First Mate publish a list of 7 different BBQ restaurants in their city. 8 Nights, (Sunday through Sunday) 7 restaurants, (both Sundays take place at Sonny's). In places without Sonny's, we celebrate the last night with a BYOBBQ at a gracious Meat Weeker's home, so everyone can pick up food from their favorite restaurant or grill their own.

• Best-Of's:

  Each captain organizes the voting for their own city, usually rounding up votes for the following categories: Best Sauce, Best Service, Best Sides, Best Atmosphere, and Best All-Around. To maintain a certain level of fairness, only those who have attended 4 nights or more are asked to vote.

• Meat Week Honors:

  Awards chosen by the leaders for those who have a special place in this year's Meat Week. These are usually different each year. Years past have included an award for the person who came every night or the one who had to walk the farthest to enjoy meat. Your best Meatographer might also receive an award. These are presented, along with the Best Ofs, on the last night.

• Meatography:

  A picture is taken of each individual person who attends, each night they attend. There is also a group photo taken beneath the restaurant's sign each night. Check out the gallery archives for entertaining, sauce-stained poses.

• Hype Week:

  During the week leading up to Meat Week, those involved in and those excited about the coming meat storm create graphical and video meat-hype that is plastered about the Internet to warn others that "Meat Week cometh."

Share this joyous holiday season with your friends and loved ones!

Yours in Meat,
The Admirals