YEE: Tour de Yards at One Santa Fe

Tour de Yards just might be one of my favorite Yelp Elite events yet. From start to finish, our amazing Katie B. and crew planned a wonderful evening that was well-paced, entertaining, and most of all, full of the best of the best, the elite of the elite, the crème de la crème of Yelp Elitedom. Have you ever met a more friendly, curious, adventurous and knowledgeable group of people than this group of Yelp Elites? Probably not. And it was truly a fantastic experience to get to know so many more tonight.

We started off with a meet and greet which was full of beer provided by Boomtown Beer as well as apps from ediBOL. What a lovely way to meet fellow Yelpers. A little beer to loosen tongues didn't hurt.

Then, on to a tour of One Santa Fe, a residential complex which at 90% occupancy, is still leasing until the inevitable condo transition. Lovely townhomes with some great views!

Our tour of the buildings helped us work up an appetite for dinner at ediBOL, featuring a lovely salad and a rice bowl. Truly, we were treated like royalty receiving gift cards to boot!

And then....on to a tour of Grow accompanied by a splash of champagne. Grow, which is still under construction, will soon be a grocery store for the residents of One Santa Fe. (I know.....Grow? ediBOL? Are you thinking what I was thinking? But, nope, no dispensaries to be found....)

Then, we were treated to some truly outstanding ice cream courtesy of the Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck. I loooooved my Earl Grey and Mint Chip combo. Delicious!

Finally, we finished up chatting and checking out our awesome swag before being kindly reminded by dear Katie B. that it was time to say adieu. Yelp, you outdid yourself with the Rescue Recharger, btw. Too cute.

Thanks so much, Katie B., and thank you fellow yelp Elites for being such a cool, curious, committed, and strictly awesome bunch of people.

What an incredible night!

First of all this was my first Elite event ever so I was very nervous and excited at the same time. I did not know what to expect since I had never gone to one not even as a guest. From the first moment I got there Katie B. was so wonderful on making me feel comfortable as if I knew everyone there.

The evening started at the fire pit area above Cafe Gratitude. They had beer tastings from Boomtown Brewery that is opening August 14th. I am not a beer person but the German beer that I had was incredible. Not strong but just the right amount of sweetness. Ben was super nice and helpful on letting us know how the beer would be.

We then walked over to One Santa Fe town-homes and had a tour of them which was pretty nice. They all have a nice view of Downtown LA. Afterwards we went to ediBOL which was my favorite part of the night. Andrea the owner of ediBOL was just amazing. She has so much passion on what she does and she shows it with her food. The food was incredible and as I let her know, I'm definitely coming back!

After we finished dinner we walked over to GROW that is opening in a few weeks or months. They were giving Prosecco (yummy one of my favorites!). Lastly we walked over to the Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck. I had the Banana Nut vegan ice cream omg amazing! i am definitely going to follow them around to try some more.

Thanks Katie B and team for planning out an amazing event. I am so excited to be part of this wonderful team and so thankful I got to experience this event especially meeting such awesome people!

Beautiful venue for the event. We were treated to a wonderful night at One Santa Fe.

We started off with appetizers from EdiBOL and drinks from Boomtown Brewery. Anything with cheese and pretzels is pretty much a winner in my book. The beer from Boomtown looked fantastic. I just couldn't have any since I gave up alcohol for now...oh stupid diets!

We then took a tour of the place. The units at One Santa Fe are beautiful and I bet it would be so fun to live there. When we got to one of the sample units, we were treated to different juices from Cafe Gratitude.

We then went over to ediBOL for dinner. They served us the miso peanut ramen as an appetizer. It was delicious and I wished that was the main dish. For the main entree, we had their BOLicious. It was a unique blend of flavors in a big bowl.

To complete our night, we had delicious ice cream from Van Leeuwen Artisan Truck. I had the vegan banana nut ice cream. OMG... So good!!!

Thank you yelp and Katie B for such an amazing night of food, drinks and fun!

This was a very very nice and beautiful Yelp event and it's great to meet up with all the other Yelpers.

Yelpers were welcomed at the One Santa Fe with gift bags and beer from Boomtown Brewery too loosen everyone's tongue. Little appetizer from ediBOL were served to not letting us starve.

We got a tour through the One Santa Fe apartments. It was "WOW". The apartments were incredible. And even better were the three choices of fresh juices, which were served in the flawless kitchen.

After that the group went to the ediBOL restaurant downstairs and I got lost. Luckily 2 girls who worked for that event (I think they were from that one agency) showed me where to go and I found everyone after 10min.

The ediBOL is such a nice fresh and new place. The dishes were really strong and I think that was just perfect for me.
And as that was not enough we got delicious ice cream from Van Leeuwen Artisan truck... and even more alcohol... champagne from the upcoming "GROW" store.

A perfect evening to meet all these businesses, to enjoy the food and everyone's company.

Thank You Katie.

My very first Yelp Elite Event in DTLA and it was awesome!!! I never knew this side of town (I'm usually around ktown) held a bunch of lil gems! Best of all, I got to meet new Elite Yelpers and got to enjoy the cool, breezy DTLA night while having some yummy food, beers, ice cream and getting a tour of the Sante Fe Apartments as well as their unique shops and restaurants in their "yard".

The first part of the evening was their meet and greet of new Elite Yelpers meeting for the first time and kicking it off with beer tasting courtesy of Boomtown Brewery as well as pretzel bread grilled cheese from ediBOL, which was served by the chef herself, Andrea. We also got our official Yelp swag too, woohoo!!!

Boomtown's own bartender for the night, Ben introduced us to two types of beer - the Belgium one, which was a red beer with a more sweet and citrusy taste. The other one was the Irish barley one - a little less sweeter and kind of bitter. I dig the Belgium one better. Also, the pretzel bread grilled cheese was a nice yummy addition while drinking beer.

Next, we checked out the Sante Fe Apartment - really nice place with amazing views of DTLA buildings and the one we saw had two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The apartments also have a gym and pool area with a common community room. They also have a main leasing office downstairs and you can rent bicycles too. We were also treated to Cafe Gratitude's pressed juices. My favorite was the spinach apple green juice - light, clean and refreshing!

After that, we got to try out another featured eatery - ediBOL. We were gifted with gift cards for future visits to there. We then got to sample the yummy Miso peanut ramen salad - that was my favorite! It was light and refreshing and not spicy, yay! We also got to sample the signature BOLicious rice bowl and my fellow Yelpers at my table couldn't figure out what the yellow pickled veggie was, and got to talk with Andrea as she made her way around and introduced herself and the meals to us. Turns out, it was pickled klorabbi - native Vietnamese veggie. Genius idea - really tasty! The BOLicious rice bowl was presented beautifully, but it was too salty and spicy for me.

Next, we checked out their men's shop - Wittmore. We got to sample some men's beauty products loot as well as meeting their adorable shop dog. Afterwards, we checked out GROW - a soon to be opened neighborhood market - kinda like a Sprouts or Fresh and Easy type. We got to sample some Prosecco champagne bubbly while getting a small tour of their shop still under construction.

Finally, we got to same Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream. I sampled their $10 ice cream sundae, which has one scoop each of chocolate and vanilla - topped with hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, cacao nibs, and walnuts. It was suppose to also have a Kirsch soaked Morello cherry, but they didn't have it that night and so no cherry on top. Though, the ice cream was awesome! So smooth and creamy and perfect for the night's end since it was getting a little warmer.

Lastly, before the night ended, Boomtown Brewery was there one last time, and we got to hang out at the patio fire pits to chill and recap the night before we got nicely kicked out by Katie B., lol!

Overall, this was a cool Yelp Elite Event - first time in DTLA, so stoked I got to come to this one. Thanks to Katie B., and the Yelp Crew, Boomtown Brewery, ediBOL, Santa Fe Building, GROW, Wittmore and Van Leeuwen ice cream for making this event spectacular, yay!!!! :D

One Santa Fe is one of those communities in which you move in and you never want to leave. From amazing townhouses with breathtaking views of DTLA (and a convenient location in the Arts District), to retail and food shops, to a supermarket, it's like your own mini-DTLA.

Thanks to Boomtown Brewery, ediBOL, and Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck for the amazing tastings! EdiBOL serves up some BOLd flavors with fresh ingredients. You can really taste the innovation. Such as, why aren't crispy poached eggs a thing? It should be, because it was fantastic! I'll be back for that miso peanut ramen.

Miss Katie B -- xie xie! Tai hao le!

Man, that Katie B.,, She can plan one hell of an event huh? I haven't been to a YEE for a while and I'm glad to be completely spoiled with beer, dinner, ice cream and a great view! We started off with an intimate rooftop patio gathering with a couple beers from Boomtown Brewery. Then we took a tour of a 2 bed 2 bath apartment in the Santa Fe apartments with a gorgeous view with a pretty penny of $3500 a month!

Dinner followed at EdiBOL where we started with a gorgeous peanut miso ramen salad that had some really great flavor. Then we got treated to an amazing BOLicious rice bowl that had many pickled aspects, a tempura poached egg, and delicious, fatty pork belly. Everything was super flavorful, slightly spicy and a great balance of sour, spicy, and salty.

Of course, the night is not over without some champagne at GROW, a local market that will be opening and ice cream from our own ice cream truck, the Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream. I got the ginger ice cream which was so refreshing and had a real ginger flavor. The night ended with us back at the nice patio and couches with a nightcap of beer to top of the night.

Couldn't ask for a better night this week!

I had such a great time touring the yards at One Santa Fe! The more of these events I attend, the more I find myself looking forward to the next one.

So, about One Santa Fe. Driving into it, I was questioning if Katie B. was sending me into a rough neighborhood to get rid of me once and for all, and then, I pull up to this interesting complex and feel like I'm about to have an interesting and fun evening!

The rooftop veranda is pretty cool with it's modern feel (oversized chairs, fire pits, and and awesome view of downtown Los Angeles.) The brews took a bit of time to figure out and I only ended up having the red which was pretty good (this coming from a guy who rarely drinks or likes beer!)

The townhouse we tour is a great size for young professionals. Again, a stellar view of the downtown skyline. Concrete floors and whitewashed walls. Very clean lines and nicely furnished. Juices in the townhouse were awesome!

We traipse over to EdiBOL and sit out on the patio on a warm summer eve. We dine on an appetizer bowl and an entree bowl. Both carefully thought out and delicious! I'll be using that gift card for sure!

We tour the upcoming grocery store sipping champagne and then grab a divine sundae from the Van Leeuwen Artisan ice cream truck which we enjoy back up on the veranda.

Made some new Yelp friends and enjoyed the vibe of One Santa Fe. Thanks for an awesome event Katie B!

Tour de Yards at One Santa Fe popped my Elite Event cherry and it was such an extravaganza, I couldn't sleep from all the evening's festivities!! I've stopped by once before at Cafe Gratitude, but saw this new live/play establishment in a different light. First stop was Boomtown Brewery, which isn't in the community, but within a 5-minute walking distance. They offered a red and Belgium ale, both super smooth and didn't give me beer burps. While we were having our beers, Andrea, the owner from ediBol, brought out a pretzel grilled cheese with whole grain mustard and grilled onions.

Meeting Andrea was probably the highlight of my night. I loved the way she talked about food--the experimentation that went into making her menu & recipes, how she found the ingredients, and the time spent to design and find the decor inside the restaurant. For dinner, she offered a cold miso ramen salad (very refreshing for al fresco dining), and a pork belly rice bowl. I thought that the pork and rice were too salty, but Andrea came out and explained her concept. With her Japanese heritage, she grew up on Kokuho heirloom rice, which she used as the base of the fried rice, and portioned it to add other grains such as quinoa. She also talked about all the different types of pickles she made to pair with the dish and how kohlrabi was the perfect root to soak in the juices (who would've thought kohlrabi??!!). And the tempura egg was also a wonder--battered so delicately, poached so smoothly, and cooked with a firm but a thick, runny texture. There was definitely a lot going on in this dish, but a lot of love and thought put in to bring everything together.

The extravaganza ended with a tour and cup of champs at the new market, stopping by Whittmore boutique (mostly men's items but I went back and bought something for my girlfriend), ice cream from Van Leeuwen truck (soon to have a storefront), and a night cap of more Boomtown.

We also got a tour of a town home-style apartment on the 5th floor of One Santa Fe. One of the bedrooms had a GORGEOUS view of the downtown skyline, with the purple and pink sunsetting behind it. The community also offered yoga and gym amenities, and self-serve, press-to-order coffee in the lobby. Definitely would never have to leave to get things done here!

Tour de Yards was an amazing event! I had such a blast meeting new people and connecting with my fellow foodies from Yelp Elite East.
This was my very first event where I don't already know someone attending. I must admit, I was a little nervous although I'm a social butterfly. Katie B. always makes you feel warm and welcomed like you are a valued member of the Yelp family. I truly appreciate that. As I anticipated, I met some fantastic individuals that made the evening fun and exciting.

I have not known the Arts District of DTLA like I do now thanks to this event. One Santa Fe is a beautiful community that I would love to live in if I could afford it. They have everything you would want in a luxury community with beautiful views of DTLA. The staff that showed us around was very sweet and welcoming, answering any questions we had. Side note, I wanted to jump in that pool so bad!

The gentleman from Boomtown Brewery was fantastic with his presentation and description of the soon to open brewery in DTLA. The beer we were able to try was perfect and I learned some new things about beer too. I can't wait to actually go once they are open.

My favorite part of the night, hands down, was eating at ediBOL. The weather was perfect for the outdoor seating we had. The service was phenomenal, including the mouthwatering food we were able to try. Meeting the owner, Andrea, and hearing her story derived from so much passion was simply inspiring. I am coming to eat here again ASAP!

The evening went by too quickly to say the least--happens when you are having a blast. I unfortunately had to leave a little early to pick up my wee one. Before I left I made a pit stop at Grow for some surprise Prosecco. If I lived at One Santa Fe I would be so excited for this walking distance grocery store. My kind of grocery store!

Thank you Katie for this event and thank you to all the vendors that participated in making this event happen!