Yelp Elite Event @ Dominican Joe

Elite '08

243

320

Allison P.

Austin, TX

The Highlights:
- Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse, reading from a review "Don't miss Homeless Wednesdays."
- Steve B's Whatachickin' story
- free Homeslice pizza and popcorn from That Popcorn Place
- the mild panic and mass exodus, when we all thought our cars were being towed. (but they weren't)
- Dominican Joe's for providing such a great space
- the Useful, Funny & Cool signs
- the gasp from the audience when Carrie C was introduced. She lives! And for the record, is really cute and super sweet.

The Low lights:
- No prizes for me :(
- Leaving the leftover Cheddar Popcorn in my car over night. No offense to That Popcorn Place, but that is a strong smell, and if you are queasy from drinking too much wine, that oughta 'take you to the edge' when you get in your car the next morning!

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Elite '08

75

58

Steve B.

Austin, TX

What a great night out!  This fun and wacky evening at Dominican Joe's (my new fave caffeination station)  really embodies the reason Yelp has become part of my life, my conversations with friends and family, a site I visit at least daily--it's the people.

The fact that we get together now and then makes Yelp a unique web experience--it's beyond the web, and instead a real, not just virtual community.  It's such a pleasure to see familiar faces, and meet new friends in a new setting.  It adds much to the panoply of reviews and talk I have already enjoyed online.

I think the "Meat Coma" review might be the funniest thing I have ever heard, but Camron's date stories, Chubby & the Home Depot discount and Jeff's F-Bomb saga were also highlights in a night filled with highlights.  Meeting Jessica and the birthday boy (cool shoes Ben!), seeing Carrie out in public with a smile on her face, seeing Geoff all the way from Corpus again, and hanging out with so many other cool fun people really made me glad I took a night off from the Pub.

Dominican Joe's is a really nice place, and I love the fact that they KNOW their coffee growers, as Don P was kind enough to explain.  I'll be back soon, after I finish the tasty pound o coffee I won in my favorite part of the night--me winning something.  Most excellent shenanigans my Yelper pals--let's do it again soon.

Thanks to all the cool sponsors, like Home Slice and That Popcorn Place and all the prize donors too--I now think even more highly of each of your businesses.

PS: 4 stars because I wish it went on longer.

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Elite '08

1803

1103

Andrea R.

Chicago, IL

First, I want to apologize to everyone for my bartending skills last night. I'm sorry I spilled a few times, had to ask all of you to open the wine bottles for me, and drank all the white wine.  I promise to take a bartending class before the next Austin Yelp Elite event.

But besides my less than stellar bartending skills this event was absolutely amazing! This was my 3rd Yelp Austin Elite event. I didn't think the good times at Aviary and Vino Vino could be outdone, but  Kevin N managed to do so with this event at Dominican Joe's.  

And thanks to everyone who read their reviews for all the laughs- I especially enjoyed Cameron's dating horror stories, The Garrett's Popcorn review (yay for Chicago!), and now I finally know what a grackle is!

Thanks to home slice for providing yummy pizza and That Popcorn Place for the delicious popcorn. Oh yeah, I also apologize for eating all the dill pickle popcorn. Kevin even sent me home with my very own That Popcorn Place t-shirt, which I will wear proudly and always think of dill pickle popcorn (YUM!).  And of course a huge thanks to Dominican Joe's for hosting such a wonderful event! I'm now inspired to host my very own review reading event in Chicago...and all Austin yelpers are invited to come brave the cold. Just leave the grackles at home please....

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Elite '08

1264

187

Don P.

Austin, TX

My all-time favorite Yelp event for several reasons.

10.  It was SO cool hanging out with some of my favorite people in my favorite room.

9.  I finally got to meet Camron AND hear him read his reviews of legend with a fist.

8.  Free popcorn from That Popcorn Place, free Pizza from Homeslice, and free coffee drinks from Dominican Joe.  Trust me, I pre-paid a LOT more for my "free" drinks than I care to admit.

7.  The gift that keeps on giving, free Yelpstick.

6.  Got to meet Tim League.  What a cool dude!!!

5.  Got to see old friends Michelle and Chris C, Justin, David, Colby, Steve B, Jaime "where's my damn vegetarian pizza" M, Kevin N, Allison P, Jay J, Shanna H, Jefe, Liz W,  and 10,000 Jessicas.

4.  Got to meet folks I've been wanting to meet for a while... Angela "Knockers McKansas" (or whatever nickname Matt gave her) R, Carrie "the legend" C (who is really a cute sweetheart), Erika "call me the hell what the hell i tell you to call me the hell" G, Geoff "I could kill ya then bring ya back" H (and his sweet wife), Stephanie "the 'S' is for shy" S (please don't sue me), James "the shirtless wonder" L, and other amazing people.  And also Andrea "wait, did you say DRINK it all or SERVE it all" W from Chicago.

3.  Meeting Fayza "I'll sue you then yelp about it" E.

2.  A yelp event that had more to do than just drink (since I'm quitting).  It was SO cool to hear and see people perform their reviews

1.  "By the way, where's your other leg?"

Can't wait to do it again.

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Elite '08

73

54

Erika G.

Austin, TX

So I had visions of winning the $50 gift certificate to Uchi (which, according to Yelper reviews, would have bought me, say, one piece of sashimi and a glass of water) and I am still a little bitter that I didn't.

But, besides that tragic glitch, I had a great time at my first Elite event, and it was great to see all the Yelpers I already know and meet a whole slew of y'all that I hadn't, especially Carrie C., who before meeting in person I was starting to think was maybe just a sassy computer program and not a 3-D individual.

I didn't partake of Homeslice, but it smelled really great, as did the Popcorn Place popcorn varieties, and the nicely low lit atmosphere of Dominican Joe's was perfect for a fun open mike session. Being an iced latte slave, I sampled the wares and found it to be delicious.

Highlights of the open mike were Colby reading his Alamo Drafthouse review about "meeting" Quentin Tarantino, Liz W.'s impromptu and touching review and me not tripping over any wires in my 3-inch heels on the way up to the stage (see: Napoleon complex in my 7 Eleven review).

Lowlights included me not winning any of the giveaway schwag and no one getting gonged (c'mon - gongs are funny! FUNNY!). Besides that, a great time was had in my induction to the uber cool Elite-ness that is Yelp.

Oh, and I apologize (sorta) if anyone was offended by me saying Olive Garden makes me want to punch a baby in the head. But somehow I suspect that Jessica S. shares my bile for that particular chain restaurant of fools.

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Elite '08

134

264

Jaye J.

Austin, TX

That was a great event! I love the idea of people reading reviews and giving a voice to those things we read all the time and hearing the people behind the avitar.

Thanks so much to Homeslice, That Popcorn Place (dill pickle popcorn makes everything better!), and Don P and Dominacan Joe's for the support. It was a great event and I hope there will be more like it in the future.

The highlight for me had to be Jefe reading Colby's Home Depot review. Pretty much anything involving Chubby Black rocks my world. I've had the honor of meeting him and having him fall asleep in mid-conversation. I've also been witness to many IM conversations between Colby and his dad as well, and they are all pretty much just as funny as that review.

In fact, maybe we should just have a Yelp event where everyone reads reviews by Colby about his parents? I think it would be funny, and if his dad were to come, he'd fall asleep in the middle of it.

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Elite '08

380

402

Kevin N.

Austin, TX

So here's a place where you guys can share your take on the Yelp Elite Event at Dominican Joe.  I'm giving my five stars to all of the cool yelpers who stopped by to share their reviews live and in person, to Dominican Joe for having us, Home Slice for providing the pizzas, That Popcorn Place for hooking us up with some gourmet popcorn, End of an Ear, Alamo Drafthouse and Birds for some hip giveaways.  But most of all, I'm giving my five stars to the yelpers who made this event (at least for me) the most fun we've had together yet.  A special thanks to Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League for reading some of his favorite reviews, and for Liz W for sharing a personal, well-written and touching review.  You guys rawk, and I had a great time with each of you.  But that's my take and I'm admittedly a little biased.  Post your two pennies here!

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Elite '08

180

329

Jaime M.

Austin, TX

So if you noticed me or said hello, thanks! I didn't exactly make a lengthy appearance.

More like in and out in 30 minutes or less. What can I say? I was on my dinner break at work, and I could only stretch it so much.
Thankfully, Don P. made a special effort to get the second round of Homeslice in before I left, so I got a nice, hot slice with cheese.
My favorite Dominican Joe barista, the guy with the glasses who can't really make good drinks but is always friendly (once gave me a free homemade snickerdoodle), gave me a sloppy "Frojoe" mocha, which was much appreciated for getting me through the rest of the work night, as was the half-glass of red wine I guzzled while listening to Steve B's reading before heading back to the office.

So glad to see everyone!
Michelle and Chris, Jaye, Steve, Angela and Jessica, Justin, Stephanie, Camron, David, Carrie, Erika, Fayza, Kevin and everyone else I saw seemed to be having a great time!

I only wish they'd expanded the party space. It seemed WAY too crowded in the little upper-deck area.

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Elite '08

42

45

Geoff H.

Austin, TX

My first Yelp event, and it totally rocked. Nice finally meeting some of the people who's reviews I've been enjoying for the last several months. Thanks to Kevin for putting it all together and to Dominican Joe's for hosting us. I must say I enjoyed the stories of gastrointestinal distress (Brazilian meat coma, Steve B.'s WhatAsalmonella sandwich) the most. Could be my nurse's clinical interest or (probably) a deep sense of empathy. I mean, we've all been there, some of us more than once. I remember once after having steak and eggs at Denny's... Anyway great time, looking forward to the next one.

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Elite '08

55

139

Stephanie S.

Austin, TX

This was such a nice night. Thank you so much to Don P. and Dominican Joe's for hosting this event and providing such nice prizes (of which I won one of -- yay me!!).

I was amazed at the bravery of the yelpsters who read reviews.  Not only did they offer to read in front of gobs of people, they read with panache and style that impressed the FUCK out of me.   (you had to fucking be there, ok?)

I got to meet Carrie and was really really happy that we really didn't hate each other a'tall.  I just know we could be friends.  I got to meet "the other yelpster lawyer" who is perhaps the most famous yelpster of all.  I also got to meet her husband who is a total riot.  I also saw other name tags I recognized, but was too shy to introduce myself.  It was so nice seeing people I've met before and meeting new people.  Although my husband was hiding in the wings, he really enjoyed the readings, too.

Five stars for everything, especially the dill pickle popcorn.

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Elite '08

49

72

Angela R.

Austin, TX

Good Fun... period.

Kevin N. and his little helpers do such a great job in putting these events together. I know it is no easy feat to do, so many many props given to those who pitched in! I was worried Don P was gonna fall over from all his running around. Good Job Guys!

I, like many others, was so completely disappointed that I did not win any giveaways but I am use to it. I don't think I have won anything in my life.... Go ahead, feel sorry for me, I do.  Knowing my luck, if I would have won anything, it would have been the Dominican Joe prize bag... which to me would have been hilarious because I don't do coffee... I know, I'm a freak.

Anyhow, the open mic was a GREAT idea and I really do think it should be done more often. Maybe then I would grow some balls, not that that is anatomically possible, but maybe the nerve would strike me and I could try my hand at entertaining the yelp masses...

The Homeslice pizza, the Popcorn Place popcorn, and the Wine (thanks for having Red and White btw) were all fantastic! And I am so appreciative for the guy behind the counter at Dominican Joe who gave me a bottled water when I was dying of thirst... thanks barista!

One thing though... the photog. Grr,  I am ALL about having pictures taken to remember the good, the bad, and the ugly but does a picture have to be taken every time I put a piece of food in my mouth... goo ;)

Good times all around, I can't wait for the next Yelp Event!

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Elite '08

103

207

Shanna H.

Austin, TX

I always enjoy the Yelp Elite events so much, and hate that I've been busy for the last few. I was so glad to make it out Friday and see familiar faces and meet some new ones (Carrie C, Jessica S., and the rest of you). The reviews were hilarious (Don, Colby, Jefe, etc.) and powerful (Liz), and I enjoyed hearing ya'll's voices. (I want the link of the San Fran girl, too, Don!!)

Thanks to the sponsors for the yummy food and drinks and prizes (darn, I didn't win Uchi!), and many kudos to Don for the venue. The Dominican Joe's chai is yummy, too! Thanks to Kevin, of course, and the out-of towner Yelpers, too!

I promise I will get the cajones to read "I peed with Peaches" next time, Kevin, and that I will introduce myself and mingle more next time and get over my shyness. Yelpers are all so useful, funny, and cool, I don't know why I get shy!

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Elite '08

142

176

Camron R.

TX

From here on out, here is how I'm going to rate Yelp events:
Free drinks                           = 1 star
Free food                               = 1 star
making out with someone = 1 star
nudity                                      = 1 star
I win a prize                            = 1/2 star
laughs                                    = 1/2 star

                                                 2.5 stars

Come one guys we can do better than this.

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Elite '08

79

28

Liz W.

Austin, TX

This was a pretty cool yelp event and it was good to see everyone.  The pizza was decent, the booze was decent, the dill pickle popcorn was cool and crazy.  I was really happy to win the alamo dinner and movie for two ticket thing.  I really loved hearing others reviews, and Cameron's bad dating review inspired me to get up and read my own review of LaLa's.

Thanks to everyone for your support, you are a great bunch of folks.

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Elite '08

16

139

James L.

Austin, TX

suuuuhweet.

2nd yelp event for me. This was jawesome. Cool people, pizza, popcorn, beer/wine/coffee, and fun listenings. I can't really pick a best part of the night cuz it all summed up to be incredibly fun and tasty.  

I'm glad this event was at Dominican Joe's cuz I've been wanting to check it out and this gave me the excuse to drive down there. I'll review that DJ later of course.

Anyways, awesomeness was this event.

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