VANCOUVER DAZE showcases and highlights the lifestyle and cultural scene of our beautiful city, uncovering all the interesting things, misadventures, and shenanigans beyond social functions and local happenings. We fiercely promote all the fun times, food, culture, and entertainment the city has to offer, along with the creative minds behind them. Follow more of my work/coverage over at RICKCHUNG.COM and on Twitter at @RICKCHUNG. You can pitch me HERE.

Volume 53: Yelp Elites Party in the Rec Room at The Bimini Public House in Kitsilano on January 18, 2012. Photos courtesy of Aziz Dhamani. More photos available at Flickr.

After a full year and 52 straight weeks with V.I.A., we’ve decided to freshen things up. I’m now (dun-dun-duh) the LIFESTYLE EDITOR (insert Dr. Evil style air quotes here) and moving to must-see primetime on Thursdays.

I’ll still be covering events and will always be social, but want to diversify reporting on other stuff too in an effort to evolve my coverage. Basically, I’ll approach ideas and culture focusing on a more living and lifestyle point of view, hopefully. Anyhoo, on to the next adventure…

I renewed my Yelp Elite status and geared up to kick off the festivities in style with another sweet community party. For the uninformed, Yelp is a community social network with satellites in each city for the purpose of generating business user reviews. For these dedicated writers, referred to as “Elite”, the CMs throw a swanky theme party each month to foster the community.

To celebrate the reopening and The Bimini on 4th Avenue, the drinks were flowing at the new incarnation of the pub now under Donnelly Group management after it burned down. We sipped on burdock floats (like spiked root beer floats), orange crush martinis, and sour lemonades.

The theme was a 1990s style rec room or basement festivities full of games and laidback, casual, flannel fun. They broke out the Wii for some healthy competition and activities in between drinks and appetizers. I chomped down on sliders, mini hot dogs, and to die for truffle poutine. Yum.

It was, as usual, more fun times at this Elite event with a great atmosphere and ambience. The new members injected some needed fresh blood and expectations are high as Vancouver has particularly vibrant Yelp community.

Spotted: Colene, Deborah So, Sophia Cheng & Vincci.