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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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Obviously I didn't look as good or sassy as Yelpers Linzi McGlennon or Colene.
The lovely and friendly Robin was sweltering in her poncho and got more casual as the night went on posing with Vincci.
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.
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.
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.
The Yelp community in Vancouver is strong and an interesting, eclectic, fun bunch.
I look forward to more and the new direction Robin as CM will take our fair city's socially industrious community.
