NYC, Ep. 4

June 7, 2006—In a battle too bloody for photographs, Opium’s annual Literary Death Match in the Park featured Opium’s own going head-to-head, as founding editor Todd Zuniga outraced executive editor Elizabeth Koch in the Trash Bag Race finale.

The only bloodless shot.In the most incestuous event Opium would ever be a part of, the LDM in the Park (as part of Open City’s wonderful Park Lit series) featured Opium’s own Todd Zuniga, Elizabeth Koch, associate editor Heather Kelley and two-time Opium print writer, Shya Scanlon.

In the opening round, Scanlon refused to shake Zuniga’s hand, gamesmanship that wouldn’t pay off. He read from a set of exquisite poems, but Zuniga’s “Hand Ball” which caused a stir from all the profanity was voted the winner by judged Ben Greenman (New Yorker), Dennis DiClaudio (Comedy Central) and all the way from London: Opium’s soccer pundit, Ben Mainwaring.

In the following round, Koch stole votes with her hilarity, narrowly squeaking by the stunning Kelley, whose performance was deemed “possibly the best I’ve ever seen” by Mainwaring.

For the ultimate prize, Zuniga and Koch stepped into giant trash bags for an “urban sack race.” Koch led around the first leg, but Zuniga’s controversial shoulder bumped her to the outside--he won easily.

“This is the greatest moment of my life,” Zuniga admitted.

See all the photos of this event here!