4000 Bay Area Yelpers Rock Out With Their Dock Out

Just imagine the wind blowing through your golden locks, the sun cast directly overhead, the nod from metaphorical dolphins at bay and the sound of the temperate tide rapping against the dock. On a glorious Sunday afternoon, this set the scene for Yelp's Sunset Showdown, the largest event in Yelp history.Arriving in style was no dauting task as San Francisco yelpers boarded Blue & Gold Fleet's 700-person passenger ferry. Captain Ruggy J and seamates, including Abby S, got the pre-party started as the boat cruised along the bay. As Brittany H can attest, we all "finally got to sing 'I'm On A Boat!' in perfect context." Making sure elites arrived with proper social lubricant, Pisco Portón mixed up summery cocktails with flair and finesse thanks to their hard working ladies Cherlynn and Rachel. Across town, Cali Party Bus chauffered yerpers in style from BART.This sunshiney soiree was filled to the gills with food and festivities at one of the Bay Area’s most stunning venues, The Craneway Pavilion! Local eateries, food trucks, aerialists, tea dancers, photobooths, bands, burlesque, wineries, breweries, distilled spirits, a waterfront sunset and even a flash mob? Yep! As guests entered the 45,000 square foot former factory (home to Rosie the Riveter), they noshed on entry bites from Pizza Politana. Kevin T sets the scene: "Picture Disneyland minus the $150 entrance fee and an open bar and you will come close the epic Yelp's Sunset Showdown." Or as Joanna M puts it, "The Craneway Pavilion was a yelper's Xanadu, probably even more idyllic than Xanadu because there were bacon cupcakes."Past the red carpet and indoors, the space opened up to a bustling array of over 60 local food and beverage sponsors. In fact, "there were more food vendors and beer varietals than I could count; I was full within 25 minutes" confesses Michael C. And as Uland W can confirm, "with great company and vendors galore, the environment was shattered with laughter, cheers, ooooo's & aaaaa's." Amid the flurry of food and drinks, the endless entertainment took centerstage with performances by Oakland's own, UpSwing, Studio 12 Flys and The Tea Dancers. As these synchronized aerialists dropped from the ceiling, their dazzling show elicited the attention of rapt party-goers. As Michaelangelo S recounts, "these ladies were extremely elegant and lovely in the way they flowed through the air and on the ground as they hovered on elegant fabric swings. Gorgeous costuming, elegant and breathtaking choreography, it was a visual poetry for we visual participants."  Strewn into the entertainment bandwagon, Megan Slankard kicked things off with a set of original edgy alt-rock songs, followed by indie rockers The Downer Party. Later, The Blank Tapes took the stage and showered the crowd with their sunshiney tunes. In between acts, DJ Sonny Photo kept the party in poppin' fashion and even Red Hots Burlesque stopped by for some scantily clad action. The whirlwind of live acts was only topped off by a Michael Jackson flash mob drop-in thanks to Bay Area Flash Mob. As the surpise guests raided the stage and broke it down with a synchronized dance to a Michael Jackson medley, yelpers reveled in their hip-swerving, moonwalking, Thriller rendition.

We could wrap up with some heartfelt sentiment, but Jeremy G says it best: "This was my first Yelp event and what a first it was. It's like losing your virginity to the high school quarterback on prom night. And the bed's covered in rose petals. And there was champagne. And you get married and have adorable kids and he doesn't get a beer belly and you don't get stretch marks. Yeah, it was that great." Whew, we're glad to hear it and now, off to work on the next shindig! Don't forget to read all the reviews here and check out the photos (snapped by Catalepsic Fox and Photostudio29) on our Flickr.

Special thanks to our food partners: 
Special thanks to our beverage partners: 

Special thanks to all our other partners: 

Until next time,

Monica S (and my mom)