Yelp Community Blog

DC Elites be: yelpy to Close Out January '09!

Yelp Elites, old and new, came out to party it up and boogie on down at the be: yelpy 80s dance party, hosted by Be Bar! Grooving to the mixes spun by the famed DJ Kuhmeleon, yelpers and their dance partners hit the floor in their neons and leg warmers.  Need photographic evidence? We have in spades, thanks to our fantastic photographers, Jane K and Robinson A.

Providing us with some liquid courage, the smoking hot bartenders at Be Bar offered up some delicious yelptinis served with Emperor Vodka. The Emperor Napoleon was there himself, surrounded by an entourage of his Elite admirers.  Meanwhile, Peroni beer cooled things off for the hot and sweaty dancers.  And Sweetriot's chocolate nibs supplied us with some chocolate decadence and the sugar high to keep on dancing.

If you missed the action yourself, scope out the other recaps by attendees of last night's soiree, or the buzz on Yelp Talk

     

A Classy Night with the Minneapolis Yelpers

On Thursday night the Minneapolis Yelp Elite Squad kicked ’09 off to a classy start with wine, tasty appetizers, and mingling at the Armatage Room. It was hard for most of us to tear ourselves away from the quiche, lamb, cheese, and other fabulous appetizers Armatage Room had on display. And just when we were stuffed to the max Armatage Room surprised us with some incredible desserts! My oh my…aren’t we spoiled yelpers? Beyond indulging us with incredible food Armatage Room provided some very nice wine options cause it’s not a true Yelp party without a few cocktails!

Highlights included live accordion music, thanks to the oh so talented Patrick Harrison, and a bag full of art supply donations collected for Free Arts Minnesota. New elites, including Dolly V and Lindsay C, will now be sporting their new elite t-shirts. Dan S was the winner of the night by winning the raffle for 2 tickets to attend the upcoming Oscar Night. And there’s still an opportunity for someone to win the Armatage Room contest since everyone had the opportunity to submit a future event idea.

Thanks again to Kevin and Ruth from the Armatage Room for letting us take over their space and filling our tummies. And thank you to the 09 Yelp Elite Squad for all the fun. Click here to share your stories from the evening.

      

B-Rock-BQ Yelp Elite party at Phil's BBQ!

Last night, San Diego yelpers enjoyed their first Elite party of 2009... and boy, was it a good one!

Roughly 200 Yelp Elite superstars took over the new events center at legendary Phil's BBQ. Arguably the finest BBQ operation in Southern California was serving up riblets, BBQ chicken sandwiches, pulled pork sliders, onion rings, macaroni salad and more! Needless to say, it was a sloppy, delicious mess.

We couldn't have put this event without the help of our amazing sponsors:

U4RIK Vodka, Trumer Pilsner, Shiner Bock (voted America's favorite BBQ beer), Toronado for bringing down two delicious kegs of craft beer, local brewery Ballast Point, Caffe Calabria coffee, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, DJ/musician John Kunis, yelper Madison B for snappin the party pics... and of course Chad and Phil HIMSELF, of Phil's BBQ for letting us take over their space for two solid hours.

For more pictures from the event, click here!

Portland Elites Tap the Taproom!

The Portland Yelpers brought it strong to Yelp Taps the Taproom at the MacTarnahan’s Taproom in NW Portland last Wednesday night to help celebrate the release of MacTarnahan’s spring seasonal: Sling Shot Extra Pale Ale!

The Taproom set Yelpers up in their V.I.P. Highland Room with a great appetizer spread, passed heavy apps, a beer tasting bar with an array of MacTarnahan’s and Pyramid beers, and another bar pouring all-you-can-drink Sling Shot EPA, Pyramid Hefeweizen and MacTarnahan’s Amber Ale.

Yelpers partied it up, enjoying their first event of the 2009 season, an endless supply of three great beers, and eating fish n’ chips, chicken and steak skewers, pork sliders, sausage plates, grilled veggies, shrimp skewers, chips and dip, and key lime and chocolate pie. It was an all-out spread, folks, and these guys did an amazing job.

Yelpers racked up the goods on Wednesday night, starting with some great shirts and other Yelp gear for 2009.  We also raffled off a whole bunch of premium tickets to Blue Note recoding artist concerts as part of Yelp's sponsorship of the upcoming Portland Jazz Festival in February!  Beyond these great prizes, MacTarnahan's raffled off some Sling Shot and MacTarnahan's Amber shirts and some growlers of beer, and every Yelper got to take home a cool MacTarnahan's logo pint glass with a coupon for a free dinner!  We even raffled off the first official Portland Yelp beer bong! That's quite a haul!!

Everyone in Portland was stoked to see the fabulous Miss Laura N. of international Yelp fame show up for a guest celebrity appearance as well. It made the night!!

 

A HUGE thanks goes to Derek Svensen, Mark Carver, Michael Ernst, Lynette Doan and all of the amazing staff at the Taproom and IBU.  Huge thanks also to my wife, Hilary B for all of the hard work (folding shirts, taking photos, moral support) in making this event a total success!

For a quick recap of the night’s festivities, check out the reviews and the photos.

Until we meet again…

SYOY

Don B

Boston Elites on Sensory Overload!

   

On a frigid Monday night, Boston Elites donned their most dashing duds and strutted over to Aura  Restaurant in The Seaport Hotel for an evening that catered to the delight of all five senses. Think dashingly dressed guys and gals, fine wines from around the world, decadent food pairings, the enchanting music of a five-piece jazz band and a mini massage lounge to keep things feeling fine.
 

With all of the wines coming from the surplus of this past weekend's Boston Wine Expo, Elites were among the first in the world to sample these delicious wines that haven't even hit the stores yet. While Shaina G sipped the Crios Torrentes, Blair H got his nose all up in some italian red. Paired with sweet desserts, spicy snacks, savory dishes and a plethora of cheeses and antipasti, there  was a flavor profile for everyone. And for those who don't dig vino, like Jessika D, there was also a station with fancy Harpoon beer! 

As the sweet sounds of jazz wafted through the room, we waved goodbye to Argentina-bound Erica S  and said hello to newly Elite Anthony R, Purvi R and Liana K, as Elite-Event first-timer Arestia R danced a little two step! Outside in the massage lounge, Amanda H felt the knots melt away into sweet, sweet relaxation.

 

Many, many heartfelt thanks to the amazing, knowledgeable and professional staff at Aura Restaurant and the Seaport Hotel for catering to our every food and wine need with swift style. A standing ovation for the selected members of The Beantown Swing Orchestra for providing the music that really set the mood. And a round of applause goes out to Michael Moore and company, of Moore Massage, for nixing all those kinks! And as always, our eternal gratitude to Yumiko F for taking good care of the door and to Miriam W for lending a hand all the way from NYC!

 Incase you need another dose of sensory satiation, check out the official photos, snapped by our very own Tatsu I, and be sure to use your Aura gift card on your return trip! Don't forget to add your own see, hear, touch, taste and smell experience to the already ample array of reviews!

Here's to keepin' it classy, Boston!

Cheers,
Leighann F.

Chicago: yelpers + cozy coffee shop + games = HOT!

Game on, Yelp!

The Chicago Yelp Elite Squad gathered on a frigid Saturday afternoon at Noble Tree Coffeehouse for a session of board games, cozy (spiked) coffees, sweet treats and intense competition. Stepping in from the cold, guests were greeted promptly with a "Hot Joe" shot, consisting of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, coffee liqueur and cream...warmed them right up! 

Then straight up to the second and third floors to explore the expansive, vintage coffeeshop sprinkled with games, tables & chairs, desserts and friendly faces. Props to Jennifer B and Ryan L for winning the raffle prizes, a bottle of their preferred sponsor liquor and a Hoosier Mama Pie gift certificate. Sounds like a winning combo to stay warm for the next few months, guys! 

Many thanks to our host, Noble Tree Coffeehouse in Lincoln Park for providing ample caffeine, cozy nooks, cool decor and lots of space to curl up and escape the winter doldrums! Hoosier Mama Pie Company (serving "chess" pie among others) and Pastries Not Potatoes (Trivial Pursuit cupcakes, Pac-Man cheesecakes, Domino brownies and tic-tac-toe sugar cookies, say wha!?) were also on hand providing enough sugar to keep the whole crowd buzzin'! Ah, and don't forget the tasty drinks served up courtesy of Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, Rain Vodka and Dr. Cherry Schnapps (mmm, with hot cocoa!)...warm and toasty!

Dan Gin and Matt Ginger documented the intense bouts of Scrabble, Monopoly, Partini, Catch Phrase, Trivial Pursuit and many others...click here for Dan's pics, and here for Matt's! Also, check out what yelpers had to say about the first ever Yelp Chicago board game night...

SYOY, gamers!

Colleen C

Yelp Chicago Community Manager

 

Beehived & Skinny-tied Yelpers Abound in OC

Orange County yelpers rocked their finest Don Draper and Joan Hollaway duds while sippin' on some fine martinis Thursday night at Park Ave.

The folks over at Park Ave were amazing hosts, constantly passing around steak skewers, mushroom bruchetta, and even the 50's classic - pigs in a blanket. Yelpers, like Shaun S, preferred feeling swank with an IS Vodka martini (or, hey, even a Chimayo Tequila margaritini!) in hand, while others, like Jason A, completed the Mad Men vibe by puffing the night away on some cigars from The Cigar Guys.

Somebody worked some magic and made the weather gorgeous just for yelpers that night (it was probably Nancy C's fabulous pink beehive wig)...there was nary a sweater in sight. The Johnson Account rocked the night away with some sweet covers of everything from Britney's Womanizer to the latest MGMT hit. Some yelpers have all the luck - Ryan M, San Diego's own Bill P, and Hannah K took home some awesome prizes from Mad Men DVDs, gifts cards to mod gift shop - OTTO, and of course a dinner at Park Ave.

A big thanks to Antonio, our rockin photographer, from LovinLife, who documented the whole night for us - check out all the evidence on Yelp's Flickr page.

Until next time...

SYOY!

New York Yelp Gets Inaugural at Country!

Obama-mania hit Manhattan last night as yelpers--both Elite and non—strutted their swanky stuff at Country on Madison Avenue celebrating a new president in the White House and a new year for Yelp! Early birds Ki G and Chun L lunged towards the bar to snag the first of many Saaga Vodka’s Dirty Dicks distributed throughout the two floors of the expansive space. DJ’s Andrew & Andrew of East Village Radio had Stephanie M breaking out the “robot, booty bumping, other assorted ridonkulousness” and Mel F performing the in place booty shake all night. Not to be outdone, the scantily clad seductresses from Sugar Shake Burlesque worked up a sweat and got Jeremy G and Ethan C feeling All American. After hitting the coatcheck Cara A shot downstairs to down a Saaga “Barack Obama” while Natasha L lingered with our Barack O in Denisimo Photography’s Obamabooth (check out some photobooth escapades here!)

 

As the dancefloor was heating up, Jeff C slipped downstairs to munch on “parsnip puree, tuna tartlet, the swordfish skewer, confit, cheese, charcuterie” complimentary of Geoffrey Zakarian's kitchen at Country. Joining him in the Lifebooker & Spa Chinois “Change We Can Believe In” manicure room was Preethi C sipping on cocktails from the Indie Liquor Room next door. Another boozed up politico, Daniel P, camped out at the Castries Crème table while Melody H sampled tastes from Luna Sueño, LOFT Liqueurs, Kasteel Cru, Coole Swan, Domaine de Canton Ginger and Rhum Clement. After that alcoholic array everyone was surprised that despite nip slips and stair stumbles, no yelpers managed to knock over the delicately balanced acrobats from Imaginaerial who snuck out of the corners in red, white and blue! Ever the charitable yelper, Alyvia M celebrated the presidential inauguration with a hand-rolled cigar at the Little Cigar Factory Station downstairs after donating some hard-earned dough to the St. John’s Bread & Life team.

In fact, yelpers donated enough cash to buy 15,000 hot, nutritious meals for the St. John’s Bread & Life Soup Kitchen in Brooklyn. Now that’s a change we can believe in!

For those who missed out, check out the photos, gossip and reviews of the event!

Yelp Miami on Pacific Time

Pacific Time was the perfect setting to kick start the year with some of Miami's latest and greatest yelpers. Once at this Design District favorite guests noshed on a cornucopia of goodies including sweet and spicy popcorn shrimp, pizzas, and miso chicken skewers. The biggest hit of the night came in the form of liquid libations as yelpers discovered Miami's newest cocktail sensation Pacific Time's blood-orange mojitos. This citrusy twist on the traditional favorite was a hit with all.

For those who missed out, check out the reviews and pics snapped by Jipsy aka the NefariousGirl herself.  Haven't had enough? There's more recap on Talk!

Cheers to keeping it local in '09 and to a year full of magical events like this one!

SYOY,
Maria A
 
 

Seattle Yelp pleY'd at the Ballroom in Fremont!

Seattle Yelpers came out in droves to pleY at Yelp Seattle's Open Party at The Ballroom in Fremont last Thursday night!

The Ballroom equipped Yelpers with free pool and Wii, and with some great tunes to jam to, Yelpers couldn't help but have a good time at this massive pleYdate! Russel L and Will L enjoyed pleYin' pool while Rebecca R and Kyle S hit up the Wii.

Yelper/ DJ Won M tore it up on the tables and partygoers could simply not resist cuttin' a rug on the dance floor. Just ask Carly L and Riss J how much fun cage dancing is... We have a feeling they'll be able to tell you.

SeaTown Yelpers imbibed on Laughing Buddha's Mango Weizen & Purple Yam Porter, Ballroom Vodka Lemonades, and Ballroom Bourbon Gingers and noshed antipasto platters and The Ballroom's infamous 28" pizza pies... Add in the DIY ice cream sundaes, which Annie J claimed was the reason for her attendance, and we had ourselves a real party.

Noisemakers and party hats aside (Yes, we had those too), it was a pleYdate we'll always remember!

A big thanks goes out to the awesome folks at The Ballroom, Laughing Buddha Brewery, Photographer Ben Haley, and DJ Won for making this night possible!

For more evidence that this was a rip roarin' good time, check out the reviews and more of Ben's photos here.

Until Next Time Seattle,

SYOY!

Katie S