Yelp Community Blog

DC Elite Kick Off Yelp Drinks Week at The Park at Fourteenth!

Yelp Drinks Week is almost here!!

And what better way to kick-off Yelp Drinks Week than with a premium open bar at one of DC's most exclusive and swanky venues, The Park at Fourteenth.

On Friday, February 26th, The Park lifted their velvet ropes to host the DC Yelp Elite Squad as they enjoyed all you can drink while chowin' down on chicken sate, sliders, BBQ pork tarts and curry pastry puffs. When they were not nibblin' on hot bites, they were washing it down with shot glasses full of candy or dancing to the beats of well-known local maestro, DJ Madhands.

Big shout out to Nate H, who enjoyed the RoTD and his first Elite event all on the same day! Rebecca S, Paul L and Antonio M were also Elite newbies who rocked the party like old pros! I'm proud to report that no one tripped down the red carpet.

A massive thank you once again to The Park at Fourteenth. Between the velvet roped VIP treatment, open bar and presidential-like security, they really took care of us. Be sure to check out photos of the event from Yelp newbie, Terrance Williams.

If you were unable to attend the event, hopefully we will catch you during Yelp Drinks Week!

Until next time, SYOY!

Tara L

Austin Yelpers Go Green!

Yelpers made folks green with envy (Easy joke? Eh, we'll take it) this Thursday Fado Irish Pub smack in the middle of downtown A-town.

Because SXSW is such a huge event, and St. Paddy's Day falls right in the middle, it usually doesn't get all the yelpy attention it deserves. Call it a preemptive St Paddy strike, but no better time than the present  to break out our best green garb and drink like the Irish. And on the first legitimately temperate day in what seems like ages, 230 Austin yelpers gathered on a sweet outside patio wearing various and sundry shades of green to ring in St. Paddy's a little - ok, a lot -- early.

The folks at Fado plied us with mini burgers, cheese dip, quesadillas and traditional irish boxties. Meanwhile, yelpers were sip sip sippin' on some tall frosty Heinekens.  Between, the drinks, the food and the raffle, everyone was nigh well satisfied when...(drum roll please) Fictionist showed up! This band took a day out of their Louisiana tour to stop in and play our party. They entertained and amazed us for a good 45 minute set at the end of the shindig. 

It was another day in Yelp paradise for Austin elites, who as always came dressed to the nines. Luck o' the Irish indeed!

LA's Baguettes, Burgundy and Biere avec Yelp!

Parlez-vous Yelp?

LA East elites indulged in a ménage à trois of samplings at the Baguettes, Burgundy and Biere avec Yelp fête on Wednesday, February 24. Taix French Restaurant provided an ambiance full of l’amour, serving up fancy fare that had everyone saying “oui oui” to seconds (and thirds)! Short ribs, coq au vin, ratatouille, fromage galore, including an endless baked brie wheel, and a little peach tart and chocolate mousse action resulted in everyone leaving with their top button undone.

             

Live music filled the air and a surprise French Polynesian dance ensemble performance inspired "oh la la" gasps. Guests quenched their thirst with Kronenbourg 1664 and were educated on the makings of a fine Burgundy, both red and white, imported by Vineyard Brands from Monsieur Mike Taix himself. Baguettes, berets and a sparkling Eiffel Tower combined for a belle backdrop that had guests clamoring for their picture perfect moment. A big merci to Santiago Valencia for capturing the elegance (and silliness) of the evening so beautifully, and entertaining us all while snapping away!

               

In addition to snagging edible baguettes to recreate the magic of the evening back at home, a few special attendees won gift certificates from Venokado, Taix French Restaurant (for a part deux) and Lola's (winner Carrie D and beau Brian were celebrating their 9th anniversary that night)! C'est magnifique!

             


The reviews can be found here and the phenomenal photos ici!

À bientôt!

Katie B

LA East Community Manager

 

East Bay enters a new Era!

In the balmy evening of yesterday, yelpers gathered at Era, Uptown's sophisticated new art bar and lounge! The crowd was teeming with "Hot Stuff" and "You're Cool" folks in the house. Jason B celebrated his birthday and first elite event sipping on VeeV Açaí Spirit and grooving on the dance floor, while the lovely Camille K fell for the Ketel One and Harlem libations shook up by Era's resident mixologists. Jenny L couldn't get enough Combier Liqueur D'orange, and happily puffed away on Ploom smokeless tobacco.  Marti L couldn't have been more pleased with the nibbles provided by Farley's East. Sit tight, lady – in just a few weeks their nosh will be served up during happy hour!

It was a feast for the eyes as well as the palate, as airbrush artist Clay Chollar decorated the dermis canvases of Elite models! Tammy C was adorned with an eye to the soul, and Ting A inspired with a gorgeous Cypress tree on her shoulders and back. Lensmaster Oliver N captured all on Flickr here!

Special thanks to Jessica T, Drink Me Magazine, Gairy and Kevin at Era and all you yelpers who joined in on the festivities! Should you like to share your thoughts, write on, folks.

Until next time...

Enjoy & SYOY!

 

Silicon Valley Elites Wine and Dine at Shokolaat in Palo Alto

It was all about fine food, fine wine and spirits for Yelp Elites and guests on Monday night at Shokolaat in Palo Alto. The intimate French restaurant was a perfect space for everyone to cozy up and be exposed to the culinary magic of owner and chef Shekoh Moossavi and her talented team. Guests gathered along the chef's counter and watched dishes being prepared in the open kitchen, and were treated to a decadent selection of food which included beautifully plated leg of lamb, ahi tuna tartar, mushroom & swiss cheese paninis, seared sea scallops, rack of lamb and mushroom bisque.

As everyone mingled about and noshed, Bluecoat Gin & Tonics were flowing, as were wines from Scott Harvey Winery. It seemed that no one was ever without food or drink throughout the night! When time came for the raffle drawing, our very own official photographer of the event, Victor C, was drawn as the winner of a bottle of Scott Harvey wine.

Towards the end of the evening, guests indulged in a delectable array of organic chocolates, made by pastry chef Mark Ainsworth. What a sweet ending to a sweet night!

To read more about the event, check out reviews here, and visit the Yelp Flickr page to peep all the photos!

Taco-Tasting for the Brooklyn Elite!

Last night the best of Brooklyn braved the pouring rain and arrived drenched downtown to warm themselves up by the fire and party it up at the Loading Dock!

We had our very own keg party in the beautiful gallery space with the Sweet Action and Righteous Rye from Sixpoint Craft Ales, and the Original Sin hard cider (pear and apple) really sweetened the special night!

With all kinds of tacos to taste, from carnitas to chicken to beef to veggie, we all got a chance to see what the Loading Dock was all about: good food and good times.

And of course, a big thanks to Forrest & Owen, the brains behind the whole operation, and the awesome staff at the Loading Dock for their hospitality!

Be sure to check out the pictures and reviews of the event!

Until next time, SYOY,
Peter D

Vancouver's Locals Only Olympic Rescue Vehicle

This past Olympic weekend, Team Yelp braved the onslaught of tourists, battled through hellish traffic and found parking all over Vancouver for a 30ft Rescue Vehicle, aka the RV, all to ensure yelpers got their basic daily food requirements: coffee, chocolate, chips and candy. 

Perhaps you saw the Yelp RV driving through the busy streets of downtown Vancouver, or heard our bullhorn spreading the patriotism...."If you love Canada: "Roar Like a Lion!", "Say Wayne Gretsky!", "Hug a Stranger!", "Give a fist pump!" and on and on. Or maybe you ran into the pajama clad street team who roamed Vancouver 'hoods with their Timbuk2 bags stocked with helpful recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Natures Path granola bars and Ethical Bean coffee shots.

Inside, Saul Good's Gifts, The Loden Hotel and Saakori palm leaf plates transformed our RV into a home. Yelpers like Mina B hopped on for a ride from one hood to another, or popped in for a snack like Hippy Chips from Left Coast Naturals and wasabi peas from Skeet and Ikes. Along with Frankies candies and CocoaNymph chocolates, everyone who visited left with salty and sweet treats!

Taking the gold were our lunch sponsors Nuba Restaurant and Wallflower, The Modern Diner. On Friday, Nuba spoiled Elites (and us) with plates of hummus, baba ganoush and mmm.. feta. Saturday's feast of virgin Caesars, sliders and wraps from The Wallflower kept us powered up all the way through the day.

It was a gold medal weekend all the way! Check out the action shots and read the first hand commentary.

This is team Yelp signing off with a big high five...Until next time, SYOY!
Crystal H

Dallas Elites: Jersey Shore Style at Eno's Pizza Tavern

The guidos and guidettes of the Yelp Dallas Elite Squad came out in full force last night to show off their mad hair poofs and Situation skills and enjoy a Jersey Dallas Shore party any reality TV star would approve! Elites and guests noshed bountifully on three different types of pizza and two kinds of salads, provided by the good folks at Eno's Pizza Tavern in the Bishop Arts District.

Gold chains, bronzer, fake tans, knock-off Ed Hardy shirts and tubes of hair gel were plentiful as everyone washed down the grub with locally brewed Franconia beer, San Antonio-based Hudson Ferus vodka and signature cocktails involving both sponsored drinks. Who knew you could throw beer and vodka together and make a tasty drink?! Throw in some fruit and you've got sangria!

A costume contest decided clear winners, but Nickie G, Shanna L, Katie C and her guest, David P, Lance H, Angela G, Lindsey R and others donned their best guido-esque gear and wicked praise for the creative outfits continued all night long. By the end of the party we were all fist pumping our way to Jersey! Gold tights anyone?  PS - The prizes for best dressed were copies of the MTV's Jersey Shore Season 1 DVD set, of course.

By the looks of the reviews and pictures, these Dallas guidos and guidettes know how G.T.L.!

Until next time, SYOY!
Nikki B

New York Elite: Bubbly Brunch at Bar Breton!

Ah day drinking: always a pleasure. Add in some mixing and mingling with some of New York’s most prolific and skilled writers and you’ve got a helluva Saturday afternoon brunch! In celebration of that crucial weekend meal Elites scooted up to the Flatiron for an ultra-exclusive, Elite-only affair at Bar Breton, a brasserie-style restaurant inspired by the everyday foods of award-winning chef Cyril Renaud's native Brittany. The incredible menu included brunch bites like smoked salmon galettes, Bar Breton mini burgers, French toast nibbles and chicken croquettes … just to name a few!

And when all those munchies worked up a thirst delicious California Korbel mimosas rounded out the day!

A HUGE thanks to the absolutely amazing staff (and chefs) at Bar Breton for hosting this excellent event at their hidden gem on 5th Avenue. Also make sure to check out the incredible photos courtesy of Mackler Studios. 

Click here to read the righteous reviews of the afternoon affair and as always SYOY (See You On Yelp)!

Cheers,
Jane K.

Yelp LA West's Wet And Wild Lu-Wow!

LA West Elites braved a looming rainstorm on Friday to head out to Yelp's Lu-Wow, an all-out Hawaiian bash at the Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach decked out in their tropical best.

   

After being decked with leis courtesy of the Hawaii Visitors And Convention Bureau, yelpers enjoyed island-flavored appetizers from Hotel Erwin's Hash restaurant and sipped on tropical beverages including guava coladas, hibiscus margaritas and pineapple mai-tais from sponsor Young's Market. For a non-alcoholic treat, Honest Tea served up refreshing tropical varieties as well.

While eating and drinking, there was plenty to be merry about as our lu-wowers admired the Hawaiian music and hula dancing of groups from the Polynesian Cultural Center, who had flown in from Oahu just a day earlier. A few lucky yelpers won free dinners at Hash restaurant, cocktails at High rooftop lounge and stays in Hotel Erwin's funky, luxurious rooms. 

Check out the reviews for the event here and photos on Yelp's official Flickr page and on the Venice Paparazzi album.

Aloha and mahalo!

Christina Y - LA West Community Manager

 

A Yelp Elite Flirty French Soiree at Left Bank in Menlo Park

Donning flirty red and pinks, chic berets, sharp suit jackets, and sassy heels, South Bay yelpers made it out to the elegant French inspired restaurant Left Bank in Menlo Park for an intimate night of flowing wine, abundant delicious bites, and scintillating conversations with fellow yelpers.

Guests walked through a large, well-lit and spacious lobby and made their way up an iron wrought staircase to a darling mezzanine, accentuated by a glistening chandelier, and adorned with fun Mardi Gras themed masks and beads. Some festive yelpers were still feeling the warm love from Valentine's Day and even brought handmade cards, and small Valentine themed gifts for other yelpers to enjoy and share in.

With light french music playing in the background, yelpers like CeCe C and Matthew J were able to indulge in a decadent feast of "toasted bread, brie, prosciutto, pate, salami, roasted veggies, seafood, cheese fondue, olive/goat cheese crostini, grilled ham and cheese sandwich, mussels," and more.  While nibbling on the constantly replenished and diverse spread of chicken drummettes with spicy cream sauce, salmon/scallop quenelle with lobster cream sauce, green mussel with garlic butter crust and other yummy bites,  Hannah C and Bobby I made their way over to see Don at Dee Vine Wine's to sample his exquisite white and red wines.
 
Once fully satiated with smooth wine and delectable hot bites, yelpers were able to gather round a large  screen and watch in amazement as their fellow yelpers were immortalized digitally through the impressive skills of Jon Casey of Jon Casey Caricatures. Throughout the night, he drew amazing caricatures of Anya R, Rita V, and many others, with ease, speed and with an unfaltering smile. Jon worked well into the night, capturing the likeness of yelpers through his steady hand and digital technology. He even had print-outs for people to walk away with!

The night began to wind down with a heavenly table of desserts including lemon tarts, chocolate fondants, miniature creme brulees, mini cheese-cakes, robust berries, and more. With friendly good-byes, yelpers claimed their "Out of this World" Yelp Elite lunch-boxes and joyously made their way home with full stomachs, pleasant wine buzzes, take-away portraits, and big grins.

A huge thank you to the amazing staff at Left Bank for hosting the night, Dee Vine Wines for pouring throughout the night, and Jon Casey for making the night that much more colorful!

To find out what others are saying about the eventful night - go here. To see pictures of all the festivities - go here.




 

Chicagoland Elites Get Their Hands On Some Hops!

Close to 100 Chicago suburban Yelp Elites and their guests gathered at new brewery/restaurant The Lucky Monk last evening to celebrate malts, yeast, and hops! In between pints of the signature flavor-packed IPA and smooth-as-chocolate Porter, guests noshed on all sorts of goodies.

 

Ahhh, the goodies. Our gracious hosts provided an artfully-arranged buffet of Margherita, Italian sausage, jumbo pepperoni and spinach and ricotta pizzas. And that was just the beginning! Party revelers also enjoyed the IPA brew nuts, chopped salad, hummus, and mini-burgers before taking to the chili bar consisting of Brew Pub and chicken-poblano styles of chili.

Bellies full and beer palates tickled beyond delight, yelpers mixed and mingled with familiar and new faces in the comfy yet sophisticated digs of the lounge area. VIP all the way!

Be sure to read the reviews and peep suburban photographer Rachel J's pics!

Until next time, SYOY!
Jelena Z

Yelp's On Beat

It may have been a cold rainy evening in Camden, but London yelpers know how to brighten the darkest of days. The hand-picked selection of London elites finest dancers (....?) descended on The Cuban for an evening of island fun and sexiness. The night was dedicated to Cuban deliciousness: Tasty tapas, mind blowing mojitos and sexy salsa. Oh and how we danced! 

      

Myles, the super cool bartender whipped up some of London's finest cocktails. We sampled classic and contemporary concoctions that were mixed with aplomb. They go down easy when there so good don't they? As well as drinks, Elites got to sample and enjoy yummy Cuban inspired food. Linzi M put it perfectly "The food was gorgeous." We tried potato bravas, crunchy nachos, gigantic shrimp and huge platters of foodie delight.

   

As the cocktails took effect and as our inhibitions fell away, Alastair, the Salsa Street Beat teacher supremo called us to the dance floor. It was time to salsa! With charisma and grace, Alastair led us in a packed 45 minutes of hot salsa fun. We twisted and turned, revelling in the moves we pulled off and sneaking a wry smile when we knew we looked sexy. Don't we always? It was fast, it was furious and as the temperature rose we might of unearthed a few salsa champions of the future. Fazan K after schooling up on a few Ricky Martin videos shook his bon bon to perfection. Jarkyn S for her first time was a natural, and Becky B, Alastair's first dance partner assistant did a tremendous job. Many of the Elites who had never salsa'd before shared Miguel G's sentiment. "I enjoyed the salsa lesson tremendously more than I thought I would!"

I'm sure we'll see a couple of you on Strictly Come Dancing soon. Look out Brucie, here we come!

SYOY

The London Yelp CM Crew 

Boston Elites Unwrap "Yelp in a Bokx!"

It my have been the day after Valentine's Day, but there was sure some love still lingering in the air at BOKX 109 American Prime, our first event in the suburbs, where 150 pink-and-red clad Elites gathered to celebrate their mutual affection for all things Yelp, including (but not limited to) mouth-watering food, strong cocktails, good company and booty-shaking tunes!

Taking one look at the menu for the evening, it's pretty obvious that the way to a yelper's heart is through the stomach. Dish after dish made its way from the open kitchen, including samples of porcini-dusted beef strip loin, lobster pot pie, mushroom dumplings and crispy goat-cheese truffles. To heat things up and loosen those hips, a beer and wine bar boasting Victory Beer, Chardonay and Merlot was on hand, as well as DonQ Rum with a specially-crafted menu, featuring the Coco Breeze, the Lemon Fizz and the Dark & DonQ, a favorite of Caitlin C.

With palettes pleasured and livers loved, the show was just getting started as Boston's own Justin Timberlake cover band, The Timberfakes, took the stage and rocked the house for a solid hour, blasting out JT hits such as "Cry Me a River," "Sexy Back," and that infamous diddy from SNL. Adding to their usual repertoire, they brought on the funk with a little MGMT and LCD Sound System! Want more of The Timerbfakes? Follow them on Twitter to keep up with the band and catch all of their upcoming performances!

To sweeten the evening, Yelp Elites took home some throw-back lunchboxes, and brought and exchange adorable hand-crafted Valentine's Cards. Be sure to check out all the reviews and pictures, snappy by our very own Sara S,  for some fun and festive visuals of this heart-throbbing night.

SYOY!

Cheers,
Leighann F

Phoenix Yelp's Blast of a Bachelor(ette) Party!

It sure was a howling good time at Howl at the Moon on Wednesday night, February 10th... Phoenix yelpers were in the house! With an appetizer buffet and risque cupcakes compliments of Butter & Me, luscious libations from Cruz Tequila and Dirty Blond Cocktails, and entertainment provided by "the World's Greatest Rock 'N' Roll Dueling Piano Show," plus lip print readings by Pam of LipStory, there was something for everyone!

Amber W and Dallas G were the bachelorette and bachelor of the evening and great sports they were... getting roasted on stage and all! Luckily, Adam Nollmeyer of acmephotography captured the evening on film. Pics are posted here. Want more juicy details? Check out the reviews and see what people are saying on Talk!

Thanks lastly to Dolce Salon and Spa for the raffle prizes that our lucky bachelor and bachelorette and a few others took home with them too!

'Til next time ... SYOY (see you on Yelp!),

Gabi M

Chicago Yelp Elite Misters Go Metro!

Just in time for Valentine's Day, around 150 Chicago yelpers made their way to high-end salon Mister 312 for an evening of pampering, music, food, drinks, fun. While we love the ladies, this event was all about the fellas. After all, Yelp Misters Have Style, grace and give good face — at least, they did by the end of the event!

Starting things off, the gracious hosts welcomed the Elite yelpers and their guests into a state-of-the-art facility filled with LCD monitors, vibin' music, fantastic lighting, and the comfiest barber chairs in the Loop. After a quick check-in, guests made their way to coat check and got a quick preview of what to expect for the evening: services! Our lucky yelpers were able to choose from five great services: neck clean-up; hot towel treatment, paraffin hand wax/massage, back/neck/shoulder massage, and/or a trip to the Groom Room with master barber Reggie!

As if this wasn't enough to keep these Elites occupied, there was more in store. Between services, these lucky Elites were able to dine on incredible focaccia bread, macarons and lemon squares from La Farine Bakery. Giordano's Pizza provided a deep dish (and thin) treat for the newly beautified. But, wait. There's even more! Etiquette mandates that one can't have services without tequila and pizza without beer. Luckily, these Elites had both. The terrific team from Modesto Spirits, Inc. kept the front room lively with Don Modesto margaritas and shots of their smooth tequilas: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. The cool cats of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer added man-cred by showcasing can after can of their American Style Premium Lager, PBR. Yes, you read right: pizza, dessert, hot shaves, and alcohol. This might have been man-heaven.

Photographic phenom, Dan Gin, caught all the action. You can see more pictures here. And, if the pictures don't tell the full story, check out reviews of the event here. Manscaped, massaged, waxed, and shaven (not to mention well-fed and thirst quenched), these Yelp Elite misters were all set to add romance to the upcoming Valentine's day holiday. Ladies (and gents), you're welcome!

Until next time, SYOY!

Johnny T

Yelp's Lonely Hearts and Modern Lovers Hug It Out!

The weathermen predicted 18 inches of "paralyzing" snow and warned locals to keep to their houses...but not yelpers and not Noble. Despite the impending "Snowmageddon II" (thanks Jazmin I), nearly 100 elites made it out to the Lonely Hearts and Modern Lovers party at Noble American Cookery!

The gorgeously woody upstairs area provided the perfect setting for buzzing elites. Just ask Julia N: "beautiful space, charming staff, and zippy drinks...this was pretty much a guaranteed knockout. The snow was falling, the jams were playing and the punch was flowing." Speaking of the punch, Noble's own Christian, concocted two fabulous organic cocktails; one even featured a new Theia Jasmine liqueur...yum! Keeping with the pro/anti Valentine's Day theme, love was clearly in the air. The self-serve punch bowls must have gotten yelpers in the mood because our resident photographer, Ferry, caught yelpers in the act!

Ravenous party-goers gorged on Noble's nibbles, like the duck ravioli and the shrimp bruschetta. Of course, this amazing event wouldn't have been made possible without Noble's hardworking staff (hats off!) and our wonderful liquor sponsors: TRU Organic Spirits, Canadian Club whiskey, and Philadelphia Brewing Company. Peep all the photos on Flickr, read the reviews here, and see what party-goers are saying on Talk! Don't miss next month's bash, Philly Homegrown; everyone's invited and it's sure to be a fresh party so RSVP now if you haven't already!

  

Until next time, SYOY!

Monica S

Philadelphia Community Manager

Show us your Yelps! Yelpi Gras in St. Louis...

On February 9, 2010, Yelp St. Louis hosted its first Elite Event, Yelpi Gras! Since Mardi Gras is such a big deal here in STL, it was only fitting to kick off the celebrations with a festive party of beads, boas and booze!

 

Yelpi Gras was kicked off with a bead exchange, where guests got to know each other a little better. Don't worry folks, we kept our shirts on! Elites and their guests also had the opportunity to decorate their very own pimp cup, which brought out the craftiness in everyone. And it just wouldn't be an Elite event without our fabulous schwag and lunch boxes; yelpers went crazy for both!

Molly's in Soulard, a Mardi Gras staple in the area, hosted the event with close to 60 guests in attendance. Here, Elites and their guests noshed on fried mushrooms, mozarella sticks, spinach artichoke wontons, and our favorite local fare: toasted raviolis. Guests washed down all of those tasty noms with Southern Comfort hurricanes and Bud Light/Bud Select.

 

Overall, the night was a huge success! A great time was had by alll... but don't take my word for it, read the reviews! And to see all of the event pics, visit the Yelp St. Louis Flickr page!

Looking forward to our next event. Until then, SYOY!

Abby S

Nish and Ruggy hit a Grand Slam!

You tell us; is this the line for our latest San Francisco Yelp Elite Event, or the 6:45am line for a Denny's free Grand Slam on Grand Slam Tuesday? (Don't mind the crappy iPhone shot)

As you might have guessed, it was indeed the line this morning outside the Denny's on 4th and Mission just a block away from Yelp HQ. Myself and my esteemed colleague, Mr. Nish Nadaraja, made sure we weren't merely spectators for a momentous occasion like a free $4.99 Grand Slam breakfast before much of San Francisco even had an opportunity to wipe the sleep dust from their eyes. After enduring a light rain that lasted around seven minutes and making friends with some of the regular Denn-izens, we were seated in roughly 30 minutes time.

We're not the type of guys that camp out for hot concert tickets, and waiting in line at some flashy club is completely out of the question... but going Gonzo and waiting one-half hour for a free breakfast that normally costs less than $5 was well worth the Hamilton we both dropped individually for a cab ride from our neighborhood of NOPA. While Michael Pollan might think otherwise, gobbling up a Denny's breakfast of two pancakes, two scrambled eggs, two strips of bacon and two sausage links at no cost before the sun rose from the east was the best decision we've made since celebrating St. Levchin's Day last Thursday morning with 8:00am bloody marys at Gold Dust in Union Square (possibly the subject of a future blog posting, in-and-of-itself). And if you don't believe me, check out ol' Nish's review of Denny's post-Grand Slammy!

 

Silicon Valley Yelpers PLEY at Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

On Saturday, January 30th, over 1,500 yelpers came from all over the Silicon Valley and Bay Area to resurrect their inner child at Yelp's Silicon Valley PLEY Open Party at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. It was an incredible night full of tasty drinks, delicious bites, hands-on activities, festive performers, and of course - amazing people.

 

Skyy Vodka was on hand throughout the whole event, shaking up fruity cocktails for everyone. Anya R was a particularly big fan of their Passion Fruit and Pineapplade, while yelpers like Danreb V  and Nadia L gushed over Dee Vine Wines' wowing Rieslings and Firestone Walker and Devil's Canyon Brewing Company's cold beer.  Honest Tea quenched Vicky T's thirst, with their refreshing fruity teas, before she proceeded to bust out her dance moves.

And the food! The savory food was not only phenomenal, and beautifully presented, but plentiful! Yelpers excitedly sampled Bistro Luneta's Crispy Pata, California Cafe's "tasty meat crositinis, Crunch Catering's "Ahi Tuna Crunchy treats", Ginger Cafe's "scallop wontons and dimsum," Dio Deka's "greek meatballs," Madera's "succulent sweetbread morsels," Morocco's "crazy-good lentil salad," Morton's' "steak sandwiches with horseradish cream," New Delhi's samosas, Pampas' "pork tenderloin and chocolate tort," Park Place's "juicy and flavorful pulled pork sandwiches," and Red Crane's "salmon tartare." 

For all of the sweet-tooths out there (and judging by the countless pictures of yelpers popping picture perfect cupcakes in their mouth, there are many!), there was a beautiful spread of artisan chocolates, icing topped cupcakes, and ice-cream sanwiches.  Cece C lauded Ana's Creative Baking's guava cupcakes, while Samantha R raved over Jen's Cakes.  Shannon N swooned over Dolce Bella Chocolates' unbelievable passionfruit chocolate, while Laura F melted over Shokolaat's Don Juan - an interesting combination of Anejo tequila, white chocolate, and lime-infused malted sea-salt. Yum! And of course - rounding off the desserts was KICKS Cookies and Ice-Cream with their "raspberry sorbetto and peanut butter cookie," which "go together like sunshine on a summer day," according to Sharon M.

 

In addition to all of the 150+ interactive museum displays such as the prominent bright red fire-truck in the lobby and the corn husk doll making station upstairs, yelpers Karen R and Melanie V were blown away by the out-of-this-world live set by the Bay Area's own Phenomenauts, a colorful Azteca dance by Movimiento Cosmico and an energetic hip hop performance by the ladies of Elemental Remix. While the DJs of Team Bluefield provided sweet body bumping beats, the local Pacific Art Collective, showcased their exceptional live art and also allowed yelpers to unleash their own creative juices on a huge community canvas. In addition to communal art, yelpers were able to form their own own rock-out musical groups with Rock Band and Guitar Hero classics on the The Busy Bus "Park & Play" Video Game Party Bus, parked in the front of the museum. Party on!

The night was unforgettable in every way, especially thanks to the The Laugh Box's candid photobooth pics, ZatPhoto and Gopher Hole Productions also managed to catch the action packed festivities for all those that were a little too pre-occupied with the flowing libations and delectable bites. Upstairs at the event Creative Labs were lending out their Vado HD cameras, so yelpers could capture all of the fun themselves. 

Thank you to all who were able to make it out to PLEY at the event, and especially to all of the incredible businesses who participated in this event and helped make it such an action packed night. And an especially big thank you to the wonderful staff at the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose for hosting Silicon Valley's biggest open party to date!

To share and read about all of the memorable PLEYful adventures just click here. Peep our Flickr and event page for all the fun pictures of the event, and watch this amazing footage of the event from Gopher Hole here!

Until the next event, SYOY!

Connie C