Yelp Community Blog: Yelp's Artoberfest At Mana Contemporary

On Saturday, October 13th from 3-6 PM, 800+ Yelp Elites, Yelpers and guests came out to Mana Contemporary in Jersey City for Yelp's Artoberfest. With 3 floors of art, music, food and libartions, this event was the largest and most rocking in Yelp Jersey history! As Astrid G who "took 3 trains and traveled across two bodies of water" to attend puts it: "The venue was funky and fun to explore." Monique S who came all the way from Brooklyn can't but thank Mana Contemporary "for providing such an awesome space. It was a multi-sensory extravaganza."

Not only did the space and the amazing art leave us in awe but, with over 20 local food and beverage sponsors, us Yelpers did not go hungry. Passing the smiling faces at registration, Yelpers were welcomed by Windmill's ginormous hot dogs smothered in richly delicious chilli and cheese, Cheeseboy's legendary grilled cheese bites and of course taco and torta samplings from The Taco Truck. The cool and crisp weather was a perfect setting for Jim Beam to warm the bellies with a tasting of their various whiskey flavors.

To keep walking, and check out another room, Yelpers were invited into the "Beer Garden" where four Jersey breweries were offering up brews to enjoy while taking in the current exhibit and listening to the sweet tunes played by DJ Marvilous. As Leo L lays it down: "The Beer Garden located outside by the main entrance was one of the main attractions of this event. Good cold beer provided by New Jersey Beer Co, Flying Fish Brewing, East Coast Beer Co, Climax Brewing, PLUS killer music, art, dancers and more good people! It was definitely a winning combination."

On the way to the elevator, why not enjoy the tastes of India, the Phillipines and the Mediterranean since you are passing by Taj Mahal, Matt & Meera, Max's of Manila, and the Hummus Bar, all whom brought enough food to feed a small country. Between the masalas, the Filipino chicken and rice, eggplant salads and much more, people didn't even realize that there was even a 4th or 6th floor to be had.

Cut to upstairs. Upon leaving the elevator, the beats from DJ Rob intice you to the SenseFOODability Cafe, whose pizza offerings were a highglight. Sharing the space by offering up some liquid gold included Spodee Wine and Senor Sangria. If all that sweet alocoholic sauce wasn't enough, Chef Charles NYC was serving up the most delicately delicious tuna tartar on rice crisps, Montclair's The Pie Store was filling people up with the most sweet and savory pies including the fall favorite, pumpkin. If that wasn't enough, the TLC famous Carlo's Bakery was a smorgasboard of sweet tooth delights.

Between all that food and drink, artists were on site in their studios giving us a glimpse into their creative worlds. Tiny D and The Ginger Twist, lovely Brooklyn Burleque dancers gave an incredible show in the Beer Garden while NY Red Bulls players Jhonny Arteaga and Tyler Ruthven came out to hang and take photos in the photo booth. A special thanks to Mrs. Bonnie Lautenburg for taking time out of her day and being on site at her 6th floor exhibit.

This event, from the businesses present, to all of you who made it out was a legendary time! Visit the Yelp Flickr page to see all the AMAZING pics from the event and the photo booth taken by Farooq Alihassan and David Byrd. Feel free to download but, don't forget to tag us on Facebook! Read some of the full reviews, or leave your own here!