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Yelp Elite Event at Jolly's Dueling Piano Bar
Category: Local Flavor Local Flavor [Edit]
2006 Chestnut StPhiladelphia, PA 19103
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(267) 687-1161
- Good for Kids:
- No
32 reviews for Yelp Elite Event at Jolly's Dueling Piano Bar
32 reviews in English
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Review from Bill M.
12/20/2009
This event had me hooked the moment from the moment I considered the prospect of ugly holiday sweaters and dueling pianos. And when I selected my festive mess of a sweater from the racks at Philly AIDS Thrift I was especially ready. and while mine was particularly horrid (Bonus points to Monica and her shoulder pads, and Jim for the worst holiday T-Shirt ever!), I wasn't the only one who dug up super tacky selections for the occasion (making this the best level of participation that I've seen so far!
Overall Jolly's wasn't my scene for a lot of reasons that people already covered (mainly the wait for drinks). But I definitely saw the potential and look forward to giving it a taking in a music battle during a happy hour, or giving their piano backed karaoke a try in the future. and the sweater clad crowd of awesome Yelpers that I got to catch up with more than made up for any issues that I had with the place.
The best thing about the night by far though was the piano players. they never missed a beat and managed to ply plenty of songs that I was in no way expecting. And of course I have to give them respect for honoring my requests for "Tiny Dancer" and "Bohemian Rhapsody"! so overall Jolly's gave this event some serious jollies!Listed in: The Highlight Reel
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Review from Dave H.
12/8/2009 1 photo
I was peer pressured by quite a few folks to come out, and I'm glad I did. Heck, I even lost track of time and had to get a ride home!
While I never did a shot with Monica (not this time), I did indulge with other friends. Thanks to those of you who bought me shots, and to those I bought shots for, I hope you enjoyed them! I tried a few of their blueberry drinks, and knocked back gin, vodka, and Godiva shots. Shoutout to bartender Dave.
The bar was packed to the gills, and mad props to those with the wacky light-up sweaters - I spotted two. Piano players pounded out tunes that brought me back to my childhood (or near it - can't reveal my age!), and Ferry did an outstanding job as usual capturing moments.[1]
Food was delish, what I could get ahold of - Jolly's pizza rocked - and I think I stole tiny breads off of someone else's anti-community plate. Oh well, I did my part saying hi to folks and giving hugs.[2]
Many thanks to Monica, Miriam, Ferry, and others for coordinating an excellent end-of-year event. Bravo!
[1] For those who saw, yes, that was me with Ferry's cam - I babysat it for a good ten minutes.
[2] If you saw me there and we spoke (even a little), feel free to friend me! Don't be shy! If you want photos that I took, message me.Listed in: Yelp Events
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Review from Jim h.
Folsom, PA
12/9/2009
Let me start by saying that Jolly's Duelling Piano Bar, is an extremely cool place, in a great location. Food looked amazing, staff was awesome, drinks were tasty. I recommend Jolly's for anyone looking to have a good time and is tired of the same old sports bar. Congrats, to Monica and Co, for putting together another great Yelp event.
That said, It was a little bit of a cluster f**k. We played a little game that night, called, " How Many Yelpers and +1s can we fit into a relatively small place?" I'm not going to fault the staff or the organizers for the difficulty of getting drinks, this is to be expected at any gathering of a large size, or when Michael W is involved. In light of a recent food faux pas, I will never touch any food at an event again, for fear that it belongs to someone ( but those mini burgers were adorable!) and apologies go out to anyone at the Franklin event, who those spicy peanuts belonged to.
The cramped space and loud music , while fun and awesome, was not really conducive to meeting and greeting, unless you like a new acquaintance's torso to be pressed against yours.On second thought, maybe it was perfect. But because i don't like to hand out criticism, without offering a solution, here goes....
2010 Yelp Board Game Fest! I'm seeing a rented out fireman's hall, cases of beer, chips and salsa, someones ipod hooked up to a modest stereo system, and tables and tables of board games. I can learn more about Ezekiel Z in a rousing game of Apples to Apples, than I could by shouting at him in a crowded bar. Making this come true will be my new years resolution. Anyone game? -
Review from Michael W.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
I'll never forget the first time I heard the only existing recordings of Alessandro Moreschi, the last castrato. I was fascinated by the idea that there was a moment in time when the young boys of poor families would be castrated in order to maintain their virginal, soprano voices before they could be ravaged by the onset of puberty.
My gut reaction was to be abhorred by this seemingly barbaric practice. Poor little guys, they never got to be real men (as we all know, you're not a man if you don't have chest hair). They were forced into a lifestyle solely for the edification of the church and their family. How could a society that engaged in such deviant practices dare to call itself civilized?
But then my professor played the recording and all of my righteous, 20th century indignation melted away. Alessandro's voice literally tip-toed out of the speaker, building steam with every note, luring us into a world long forgotten. It was simultaneously beautiful and mysterious, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia.
We sat in silence, enthralled by the rapturous voice lilting out from the record player. I have no comprehension of Italian despite my years spent toiling under the oppression of an overbearing Latin teacher, yet it was as if I could understand every word. Here was a man with a voice molded by the hands of the divine, preserved in its most natural, pristine state. Chills ran down my spine and I was rendered immobile. By the end of the first song, I had to remind myself to breath.
This is exactly how I felt last night as I stood double-fisting blueberry vodka drinks among a sea of horrible Christmas sweaters when the magnificently coiffed, middle aged piano man at Jolly's broke into a bewitching rendition of Lady Gaga's dance floor phenomenon, "Pokerface". I don't know who you are or where you come from, but you sir, have the voice of an angel.
They say that God works in mysterious ways and after last night, I'd have to agree. -
Review from Jessica T.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
To Jackie D. and her friends, I'm truly sorry that I ruined your night. I mistakenly thought the servers were dropping plates to be shared at each of the tables, and joined a booth that was already occupied. Again, I'm really sorry, I honestly thought the food at the tables was for the entire party to share and in retrospect should not have joined your table.
Throughout the night we had other tasty appetizers, some we ordered, others we did not and got to meet some friendly Yelpers. The waitresses and bartenders that I met handled the crowds really well, and the wait for drinks (strong, delicious drinks) was really short. The ugly sweaters were a great ice breaker and I was amazed with the sequins, beads and puffy paint I saw. The pianos were loud but great fun to watch.
Thanks Monica for throwing a terrific holiday party. -
Review from Michelle C.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
Oh boy, it is a damn good thing I took off today! Free vodka can be a wonderful yet scary thing.
The yelpers were out in droves, and all seemed to be in the holiday spirit. The piano players went a little heavy on the Elton John & Billy Joel tunes, but I was thrilled when they played my Ruby Tuesday request. So thrilled, in fact, that I showed my appreciation by dancing- all by myself. See what I mean about the vodka?
Things proceded to get wilder from there, as tequila shots were mixed into the night's libations. I even saw a couple girls thank Monica in the traditional holiday custom of flashing her at the end of the night.* I find that a heartfelt "thank you" typically works best, but who am I to judge?
Last night was a great ending to a year of awesome elite events. Happy holidays, everyone!
*Names will not be revealed in order to protect the innocent and/or drunk. ;)Listed in: Elite Events
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Review from Alexandra W.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
What an evening, yeah?
As always, thank you to Monica and Jolly's for providing us mere plebian Yelpers with fantastic FREE drinks and FREE food to share!
I got to meet some new cats and talk to those I already knew. New or old (not ACTUALLY old), you've always got a seat next to me!
I even saw a couple girls thank Monica in the traditional holiday custom of flashing her at the end of the night. -
Review from Lisa Q.
West Chester, PA
12/9/2009
Although there was a crush of humanity in Jolly's last night, I still managed to see all my favorites, meet people I'd been meaning to, and chat with a few fresh faces that caught my fancy. I had a great time, and it's overwhelmingly due to the sweatered and non-sweatered individuals who showed up. The venue itself provided as an adequate backdrop for the night...I liked the space and the concept of the dueling pianos, but it was a little too loud for my tastes. The piano players were entertaining and pleasantly corny (one whipped out a set of car keys and urged the crowd to jangle their own) but I couldn't help wishing they would shush already, due to a crescendoing headache. I briefly took up smoking as an escape from the cacophony inside.
The beverages were tasty...I unfortunately didn't get to nibble anything, but had no problem drinking my dinner. My santa hat off to those who donned such kitschy yuletide sweaters, I saw some great ones last night. Thanks to all who showed and of course to Monica for throwing together yet another great event!Listed in: Hobnobbing with the Elite
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Review from JACKIE G.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
Free vodka always wins me over, no matter where I have to go to drink it. Thankfully, I enjoyed Jolly's brightly lit, very crowded bar. My +1 ditched me to study for finals (what an overachiever!) so I braved the first half of this event alone. I like observing others, and this was a truly great opportunity to do so. I met a non-yelper who asked me how college was going (I graduated 5 years ago) and guessed my major to be "sports" or poetry. Then he asked me how my parents were doing. I love these interactions. If I knew weird old men frequented this place, I'da been here way sooner.
I also love the idea of dueling pianos. I imagine if I could score a date, this might be an idyllic place to go.
I was confused about the snacks. I think I ate someone's pizza? She wasn't too upset about it. Sorry if I did. It was good. The bartenders were overworked and seemed a little disgruntled. Sorry guys.
Free drinks means lots of drinking! The Pearl vodka was very good. Another class act event! Can't wait for more in 2010! -
Review from Julia N.
12/9/2009
Another fun party! I am finding Yelpers to be exceedingly good company, and based on the crunch at the bar, I estimate that there were about 383950 of yall there last night. I felt for the bartenders, who kind of looked like they were under assault as they churned out cocktail after cocktail, and for the vocal folds of partygoers, yelling "HEY! Are you (name) (last initial)??" over the din.
I think this was a big night for holiday sweaters. Their prevalence lent a delightfully festive air to last night's celebration, and I'm not gonna lie, I saw at least one that I would wear in public, outside of an ugly sweater party even. I will continue to mock these highly bedazzled, intarsia-laden garments no longer, and perhaps other attendees were inspired to reevaluate them as well. -
Review from Laura D.
12/9/2009
Can't say that I had quite as crazy of a time as some people unfortunately, but I enjoyed my Holiday Plum Fairy and joining the crowd. Jolly's is definitely a cool place and the ugly sweater theme is a classic. In fact this event was just a warm-up for me in preparation for the ugly sweater extravaganza I'll attend this weekend.
Can't wait for next year's events! -
Review from Zanna H.
12/9/2009
This was tons of fun. I think I saw almost everyone I know from the Yelp there and got to sing along with a lot of Billy Joel, Journey, and other piano driven hits. I grabbed a seat up front by the pianos and once the place got crowded I was a little stuck and unable to mingle as much but I didn't mind since Stephen H and his new wifey are awesome company. I squeaked through the mob scene that the bar became and said some brief hellos before going back to singing along with the dueling pianists. It was a fun time with great company. I will have to hit it up again some time, especially since the pianos were loud enough to drown out my horrific singing - there is a reason I skip karaoke outings.
Thanks for the fun time Monica!Listed in: Yelp Elite Event Reviews
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Review from Amy K.
Philadelphia, PA
12/10/2009
I was looking forward to this event for a while now! I was even more excited when we got there and saw the drink list and the food list that were both free. I was expecting more people in ugly sweaters but the ones I saw were awesome!
We found a couple tables in the back and set up there. We wanted to let the waitress do her job so we waited for her to bring us drinks. We did have to go to the bar a couple times because we didn't feel like waiting for her anymore but I think they were doing the best they could with how busy the event got. We also were some of the first people to order food (guac and chips and crab cake sliders.) We had to wait over an hour for them to come out. The third thing we ordered, the shrimp cocktail, we were told they were out of about 45 minutes after we ordered. The food situation was a bit messy. I will say, though, the guacamole was one of the best guacamoles I ever had. The crab cake sliders had potential, I couldn't even taste the sauce on it, if it hadn't been so busy I would have asked for extra sauce on the side.
The bartenders also seemed a bit grumpy, I was tipping them well - 5 bucks here, and a few bucks there, they would grab it right out of my hand and not say a word. Not very appreciative at all. Some people might not care, but I do and it can ruin a place for me if a bartender can't be appreciative and personal no matter how busy their bar is.
That aside, they did make delicious drinks. I had the "under the mistletoe" - pomegranate vodka, cranberry and tonic (I subbed tonic for the club soda) and it was good. It's actually one of my favorite after work drinks at the bar I work at. I also had the dirty martini which was good as well. The bartenders can make a good cocktail.
The piano players! Of course! It was a dueling piano bar. They were good. They were energetic and entertaining and interacted with the crowd a lot - or at least tried to. They played a lot of songs you'd expect and then songs like Lady gaga! So they mix it up. You had to scream over the music to talk to people, though. It's small in there so it gets loud.
I will be going back to check this place out on a regular night before I review the bar itself.
Also, I didn't get to meet too many new yelpers, we kinda got stuck in the back corner. I'm hoping at the next event I can mingle a little more. -
Review from Christopher R.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
This was another great Monica-organized event, even though I was kind of disappointed. When I heard "dueling pianos," I was expecting this... http://www.youtube.com...
Who knows, maybe that was going on in the back and I just missed it because the space was super narrow & crowded. Regardless, I did manage to entertain myself by witnessing the interactions between some old drunk barfly (who had apparently been at the bar pre-Yelp party) and my friend Joe C. At first, the barfly tried to talk to me but I blew him off and Joe was unfortunate enough to be his second choice. As their interactions continued, it became more and more apparent that this man intended to make a Philadelphia-based sequel to DELIVERANCE with my friend. I watched this with great amusement. Then, before consummating this special bond, the barfly just disappeared. I don't know where you went, but God bless you, you drunken old sot.
Right, back to the event...
The Holiday Blues tasted like blueberry soda. The Mistletoe one tasted like red Jell-O. The martini tasted like ice cold vodka. (These are all positive descriptions.) Celebrated the evening with Yelpers old and new, etc. Good times.Listed in: Yelp Elite
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Review from J P.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
Fun times but the place wasn't ready for the bumrush. I feel like shit complaining abotu having to wait forever for a drink but hey... They know what they signed up for right? The bartenders were a tad slow... I finally figured out that if I ordered drinks at the table AND went to the bar I'd increase my odds of getting a drink... It worked. I scored about 5 of them. The free food was good for bar bites. I tried the crabby patty thing and two different pizza slices. Nothing phenomenal but not bad either.
The dueling piano thing was cool. The guys played my two recommendations and that made me smile. It also got people stomping there feet and clapping there hands. All in all I had a good time. Free drinks, free food, and a room full of good times.
Not the best yelp event but still really awesome. 3 stars = A-OK
thanks again Monica! You rock! -
Review from Jason F.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
These parties are getting out of control. I love it. This place was like a bigger, straighter Tavern on Camac, with dueling pianists belting out our collective consciousness in song. The place was packed! All the bartenders (except one smiling, friendly gentleman) seemed incredibly dour. Yet despite the masses, I still managed to get drunk. Jolly's was the perfect place for a holiday party. Monica, you are getting too good at this.
P.s This Thursday is "Cougar Night" at Jollys. -
Review from Jamie M.
12/9/2009
Have you ever felt completely invisible? I have.
While the venue was dimly lit and held a fun air of an underground pub, I felt the service wasn't as great as it could have been.
The friendly girl handing out nametags assured us that the bar at the back of the room would be a good place to grab a drink, so my friend and I headed back that way.
We stood at the side of the bar for over ten minutes, got ignored. Then moved to the front of the bar and it seemed that everyone who walked up next to me was served. But apparently, I was invisible...maybe he was mad that I didn't partake in the ugly sweater contest? But it took roughly 20 minutes to get his attention to place my order.
Regardless, I finally got my drink, an "Under the Mistletoe" which I believe was supposed to be pomegrante, seltzer, and vodka. I saw him add at least 2 of the three ingredients, but noticed that he never mixed it. My first and only sip involved a mouthful of vodka, nothing else. I felt like I'd ordered a shot right out of the bottle rather than a mixed drink. The drink immediately went back to the counter. But hey, if you like strong drinks, then maybe you'd like those.
The appetizers looked good: a choice of pizza or tiny hamburgers, but since I got there on the later side, there was no place to sit to eat them, so I opted not to try.
I did enjoy the dueling piano players. I didn't catch any names but the guy sitting on the left by the door appeared to be playing lots of old favorites and by the judge of the people joining in on the chorus', I'd say this was an accurate observation.
It was a good venue; however the layout didn't allow for the number of people we had attend. It seemed like everyone else was having a good time. I'd come back just to listen to the piano guys; they weren't half bad!
Can't wait for the events in 2010!Listed in: Yelp Elite
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Review from Sara C.
Ferndale, MI
12/10/2009
Usually, waking up rather hungover in the morning after an elite event means it was a good one. And it was.
The drinks were yummy, my favorite being the lemonade/sweet tea vodka - I didn't try any food, but it did look good. The bartenders seemed a little frazzled, but they haven't been open thaaaat long. The crowd was huge, so I stuck to the back bar where I could watch the piano men play. I think my favorite moment was when they attempted "Poker Face". Oh, and did you notice Thursday nights are Cougar Nights? Ha....
I'll definitely head to Jolly's again for a non-Yelp night. Thanks to Monica again for a great party! -
Review from Jess M.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
My first trip to Jolly's was this wonderful event. It was tough getting service at the bar since there were so many people, Yelpers and non-Yelpers alike, but the bartenders were very friendly and mixed some great drinks.
The atmosphere was fun and lively, aided by the two dueling pianos smack in the middle of the room. A couple people got up from their spot at a booth and Yelper Jessica T. kindly ushered my boyfriend and I to sit. I had a great time chatting and meeting people, all while being served some delicious complimentary drinks and a vast array of tasty apps.
Another wonderful Yelp event. Thanks Monica! -
Review from Brian L.
12/18/2009
I feel bad about giving the event 3 stars, but I feel I must. I'm not ungrateful, I'm not a chooser. I totally appreciated the free event, and all the work Monica did to set it up!
I liked the idea of the place, the decor was right on, and the place was pretty cool. Different (but still good) is always a thumbs up.
The issues were that they only had one bar open (the front) most of the night, and when they opened the back one, they didn't have the full menu (the bartender was super cordial though, feeling bad he didn't have the right ingredients - I didn't mind)...but the main issue was...the 2 piano guys were UBER LOUD. I had to basically yell to have people hear me (yes, I have a loud voice, and when I know I have to speak louder, that's an issue). They weren't bad, but unless I'm at a concert, I would like to be able to speak to the people around me without the effort of a yell. Tone down the volume to where people know you're there, but not overpower everything in the establishment.
All in all, I liked the place/idea, but the major negative took away from an otherwise great event. Thank you! -
Review from Schuyler L.
Philadelphia, PA
12/20/2009 2 photos
Dec elite party as Hilary P's +1. What an AMAZING time!! The musicians played stuff everybody likes (i.e. Journey.) The staff was extremely friendly (see photo evidence, figure out if I had fun.... )
One observation: this place is decked out with top of the line world class speakers. Two QSC K12s and two QSC K10s. Definitely overkill in terms of what Jolly's needs, but the volume was absolutely perfect all night.Listed in: Yelp sponsored!
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Review from Phil P.
Philadelphia, PA
12/16/2009
Aside from all of the cliche Billy Joel renditions and the grumpy bartender in the back that thought it was a good idea to pick up ice with his hand after touching money, this event was a blast!
The drinks were great. I was particularly fond of the holidog. I'm a big iced tea and lemonade fan, and nothing is better than an Arnold Palmer...wait there is something better than an Arnold Palmer, one that gets me drunk!
The atmosphere of Jolly's was nice and the idea of dueling pianos is pretty awesome. The food looked good, but it didn't seem to be in abundance and I had just eaten dinner, so I didn't try any. I'm definitely going to go back to this place sometime because I had a really good time. It's sad that this was the last Yelp event of the year. -
Review from Adam C.
Philadelphia, PA
12/16/2009
Is it morally wrong to not absolutely rave about a Yelp Elite event? It seems ungrateful. I love going, I love that these places are willing to do this for us. But I think it's still important to honestly state how it compares to other events.
The dueling pianists were great. Entertaining, talented, with a great selection. Jolly's itself was fun and I think I'd go back.
My real problem was just the crowd - Elite events are too popular! I shouldn't complain, as my Elite status is likely on the line since I'm not the my prolific writer, but popularity does have its drawbacks. Really, though, I think it was the lack of food - been spoiled lately at Yelp events. And I can't really comment on the drinks - I'm not versed in the ways of alcohol enough to know if they were good or not. I do know it was really hard to get one, though.
Anyway, certainly another successful event filled with great people and fun music. And I hope I'm not a bad person because I don't think it was the MOST successful event filled with great people and fun music. -
Review from Matt J. H.
Philadelphia, PA
12/13/2009
My apologies for not writing a review sooner! As a matter of fact, I've fallen behind on reviewing things in general. I'm in the middle of moving in about a week and, when coupled with the Christmas frenzy, things are a bit hectic.
This was the most fun event socially so far, I'd say. I wasn't so into Jolly's. I understand that the wait staff was busy, but there were some attitude issues, and lots and lots of excessive waiting. The one waitress with the long, straight blond hair was exceptionally good at her job, it's worth mentioning.
The drinks themselves were pretty great, but then again, I'm easy to please when Sweet Tea Vodka is an ingredient of anything I'm consuming! The martini was good, but a bit over-olivey, and I had a hard time finishing it. I like chewing olives, but I don't so much like drinking the juice. It's overkill.
The dueling piano players were very nice, but the actual playing left a bit to be desired (it seemed like they were just playing chords and casually singing along rather than actually playing the songs themselves), and the song selections themselves were catered a bit toward the mid-life/B101 secretary/aunt crowd, with the exception of the Lady Gaga cover which is basically a novelty obligation in the wedding singer / piano lounge scene at this point anyway.
So, the social aspect and the drinks were great. The food and the entertainment, maybe not so much -- I think, to be fair, I need to give this place another shot on a non-event night to get a true feel for what they're like and what to expect, hence the perfectly neutral 3 star rating... for now! -
Review from Jackie D.
12/8/2009
i'm a CA girl so i have CA expectations of elite events. i really liked how the event was going at first. the pianists were awesome but then people ended up sitting with my friends and me. that's when everything went downhill and i can't even get over it since i think it was so rude the way they acted. i'm not even going to mention the names of these yelpers but i'm sure they'll figure it out themselves. oh, well.
as my friends and i were sitting there this guy comes walking by. he looked as tho he was talking to himself and then turned to sit down with us. then these girls come by and decide to sit with us too. later, we get our food. as i'm moving the food towards us (keep in mind it's food we've ordered since it was ordered per person not as a group), the guy reaches his hand in and takes some of our food. then the girl does the same and AFTER she picks up food and gives it to her friend, she turns to my friend next to her and asks "do you mind?" uhhhh.....YES we mind but we're not going to be rude like YOU and say no. c'mon!!!!! you ordered your OWN food. why eat ours.
that ruined the rest of the night and we decided to leave once we finished our drinks. needless to say...i miss my CA yelpers. -
Review from blake f.
12/10/2009 2 photos
i'm a glass-half-full kinda girl. ya know, always optimistic, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and quite literally, with a [at least] half full glass in hand at all times. it's ok. i embrace my role as unofficial yelp lush. so what better way to push myself further towards that ever-looming intervention than with another elite event featuring free booze?!
as i approached the bar for my first drink, i was offered a godiva liqueur shot by dave H. no one says no to dave H, so i happily obliged (thanks, dave!) and then read the menu of the nite's specials: holidog, holiday blues, under the mistletoe, plum fairy, dirty martini. over the course of the 2 hour event, i sampled them all 'cept for the last. what can i say? i like my vodka sweet. equally sweet were 2 of the 3 bartenders serving these bad boys up...the third one seemed to have selective hearing.
food looked tasty, but i opted not to partake and go with the liquid dinner instead. this made for much easier socializing with yelp friends new & old...and that's really the point of these here events, no? yes, it was crowded. yes, it was loud. yes, i ran out like 3 times to feed my meter (thanks to all who contributed to my quarter fund!) but gosh darn it, monica threw one helluva holiday party!
here's to my sobriety in 2010......hahahahahahahahahaha.......
ps. apologies for my lack of festive fashion. christmas ain't my thang, and i have yet to locate this lovely anywhere but the interweb: http://s2.buzzfeed.com...Listed in: elite.
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Review from Stephen H.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
I had a dream last night that I went to a magical place, and you were there and You were there. This place was so special that one piano would not do. Martinis were free and a man could order a Plum Fairy anytime he wished. The locals were so Jolly, that despite various faiths, everyone thought it was Christmas 1985.
Though the place seemed so real, it was too fantastical to be true. I dismissed it as a weird dream brought on by a bit of moldy cheese or a bad turnip.
Upon arriving to work, i quickly turned on my computer, and went straight to Yelp, to make sure Amada was still great and Genos still sucked. That's when I saw the thread for Jolly's elite Event. maybe that's what I did last night. I clicked on the Flicker link and scrolled through the 76 pictures, alas there was no evidence that I was there. I guess it was a dream after all, which begs the question, Where did I get this name tag and headache. -
Review from Yuri R.
Philadelphia, PA
12/10/2009
Black Eyed Peas rendered on a baby-grand, sweet tea vodkas, mini-burgers, gruesome holiday sweaters, and probably every Elite Yelper in Philly (and then some) - I call that an unqualified success. As always, our CM Monica knocked herself out, including donning her own gauche holiday knitwear, to put together a rousing good time. Jolly's is a comfy little space, bar and booth areas holding just enough clientelle to make it a interesting night out. Righteous peeps, funky vodka cocktails, and a welcome reincarnation of the dueling piano concept in Philly - another great way to ring in the season, courtesy o' Yelp and Jolly's.
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Review from Lee M.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
So this was my first Elite Event that I have been to and I am ready to go to another. After being MIA for a bit - I think I have proved I am still alive :)
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Review from David F.
Phoenixville, PA
12/9/2009
Cool place. The event was superb and the company was even better. We had a great time and it was great to catch up to all my friends on Yelp and to meet some new friends. The bartenders and waitresses had their hands full and they did a good job considering there was a ton of people and not much room to maneuver around. Of course Monica did a great job getting this event together and she deserves props for that (or maybe we should all send her our sweaters as a gift).
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Review from Michael F.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
What can I say that hasn't already been stated? Dueling pianos, tasty drinks, pretty people, & ugly sweaters! I always have a good time at these events and this was no exception. It seemed like nearly everyone I've met from Yelp came out last night and it made the last event of the year all the better. Apologies if my camera & I missed you & your undoubtedly awesome sweater, the place got incredibly packed incredibly quickly which made positioning myself for photos somewhat difficult. Till next time!
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Review from Ruth Y.
Philadelphia, PA
12/9/2009
To preface this review, this is ONLY regarding the food. I was the designated driver, and usually do not mind the role, since I do not drink much anyways. I know many of you wrote about how amazing the drinks were, and I am saying I am just not in the position to judge.
The place was packed (I know to some of you this is a good thing, but not for me). The weird part is that there was plenty of space further into the bar where the tables were, but everyone instead seemed to choose to want to stand around the bar area. The big problem with this was that ALL the free food was on the bar. This was a disaster given the fact that all the bar stools were taken and, as mentioned earlier, all the people were standing around the bar area. One could not get to the free food and ironically the people sitting near the bar (and food) did not seem like they were that intent on eating! This was just poor spatial planning. *sigh*
I read other reviews where people accidentally ate other peoples' non-free food. Let me apologize right now and here if that was the case; I even made sure to ask the organizers at the door if all the food on the bar was free. But I know at least one lady gave me kind of a dirty look after excusing myself to grab some food (I was really hungry!). The pizza, as Dave H. said was very delicious. I had a piece with ham and I believe goat's cheese. The crust was light and flaky. My only gripe is that this was hard food to reach over someone to get from the bar and was bad "finger food" as it tended to drip all over my hands. I also had what I believe was a crab cake burger (there were only 2 per plate at the bar). The crab cake was good with the perfect amount of tangy sauce (I think it was a doctored tarter sauce), but there was too much bread. I passed a spring roll to my guest, who said that it was okay, nothing special and the rice wrapper was too thick. I saw what looked to be homemade potato chips that I could not get through to and several other pizzas on the bar.
Unfortunately, people were so crowded around the bar, that I just could not get to anything else without being extremely rude, so we just gave up and left and had dinner at my favorite Ethiopian restaurant, Ethio Cafe. Next time, you all are invited to come with us, because THAT was a fabulous meal.
