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VANCOUVER DAZE VOL. 27: Yelp Elite Party at The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

VANCOUVER DAZE showcases and highlights the social life and scene of our beautiful city, covering all the misadventures and shenanigans at various cultural events, mixers, parties, meetups, and local happenings.

We fiercely promote all the fun times the city has to offer along with the interesting people behind them.

Follow more of my work/coverage over at RICKCHUNG.COM and on Twitter at @RICKCHUNG.

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VANCOUVER DAZE showcases and highlights the social life and scene of our beautiful city, covering all the misadventures and shenanigans at various cultural events, mixers, parties, meetups, and local happenings.

Volume 27: Yelp Tequila Sunrise Elite Party at The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina on Granville Street on July 26, 2011. Some photos courtesy of Yelp. More photos available on Flickr and Tumblr.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

It had been awhile since the last Yelp Elite event, not including the joint V.I.A. and Yelp Expo 86 celebration. That's because Vancouver has a brand spanking new community manager, the boisterous Robin McMillan (left with me and director of marketing Crystal Hendrickson).

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

For her first outing, billed as a "Tequila Tasting Throw Down", she kept it small with a fiesta at The Mexican complete with sombreros (one of which I totally stole), a deceptively durable piñata, Mexican beer and food.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Birthday girl Gina Argentina started things off, but Colene really went to town on the piñata and it got dangerous. She narrowly missed rifling me square in the groin on a missed swing. True story.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Eventually, we managed to break out the goodies inside for a Mexican-style celebration. As you can tell, I decided to pose for some increasingly unflattering photos with the most furled expression I've ever displayed.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

It sure was a party with some salsa dancing. Some complained about the warm, cramped conditions, and being hard to live up to some of past, "classier" parties of late. However, I really dug it, precisely because it was different and fun! I think it reflected the new CM's fun breakneck attitude and breezy nature. I expect things to only continue to build and excel from here.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

I had a blast even after the wildly different, more industry seafood and wine event I attended immediately beforehand in Yaletown. It was an big night.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

We had lots of fun in our silly hats posing and dancing to the band. The moustaches really added to the flare. Clearly Dennis was not impressed with my humourless sombrero glare. I thought yet another furled expression was a good idea for some reason. I blame the sombrero.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Obviously I didn't look as good or sassy as Yelpers Linzi McGlennon or Colene.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

The lovely and friendly Robin was sweltering in her poncho and got more casual as the night went on posing with Vincci.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

The snacks were excelsior too. I dig authentic Mexican food and heartened by more and more joints like La Taqueria, Salsa & Agave, and The Mexican.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

The night ended with a rousing musical medley and various of us Yelpers pitching in, but Colene went to town on the bongos and shakers.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y CantinaYelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

It was a blast. Things got better toward the end of the night with a little thinning out of the crowd for easier mingling and less sweaty times.

Yelp Vancouver Elite Party | The Mexican Antojitos y Cantina

The Yelp community in Vancouver is strong and an interesting, eclectic, fun bunch.

Mexican Fiesta 66Mexican Fiesta 77

IMG_7739Mexican Fiesta 30

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I look forward to more and the new direction Robin as CM will take our fair city's socially industrious community.