Welcome to Meet The Elite, where we let you in on the lives of some of our top community members. Today we meet Allison F, a Yelp Elite since ’09 with a whopping 491 reviews and counting.
Why did you start yelping?
I first came across Yelp when I was looking for new restaurants to try in the area. I realized immediately that Yelp could help me find some great places to get dinner. Then I began using it for other businesses: tattoo shops, furniture stores, salons, parks, and so much more. That was eight years ago and Yelp has been an integral part of my life since!
Why is it “Sweet to be Elite”?
Being Elite is such a privilege! My favorite part is that so many businesses are willing to open their spaces for us to give them a try. I tend to love events that wine and dine me (such as the Goldie Yelp dinner at Prism) or get me out of my comfort zone (like Adventure Park in West Bloomfield). I’ve experienced so many once-in-a-lifetime experiences since joining Yelp. Even better, I’ve made several “real-life” friends over the years.
What’s your favorite local biz?
Any given Friday, you’ll find me at Bierkeller in Taylor. It’s such an unassuming space from outside, but inside, you’ll find friendly waitstaff, inventive (and delicious!) food, and a huge selection of beers on tap. They recently began a monthly movie night where they program all the TVs and sound system to watch a movie, plus there are costume contests, and prizes for trivia. It’s a blast. I know Taylor is not on a lot of people’s radars, but everyone should visit Bierkeller at least once.
What’s your ideal day in Detroit?
My ideal day in Detroit tends to be very spontaneous. It usually starts by wanting to have a drink on a patio, so I’ll head to Northern Lights or Jolly Pumpkin. Lunch is a must, so maybe I’ll head to Honest John’s for a late breakfast or get a fat sandwich at Mudgie’s. After that, I’ll swing by Eastern Market to see what kind of cool events they’re hosting that afternoon. Then, I’ll visit one of the various dive bars for people watching and cheap drinks… Bronx Bar and Corktown Tavern both fit the bill. Near the end of the day, I’ll grab a burger and craft beer from Hop Cat and call it a night.
What motivates you to write?
I love getting compliments from other Yelpers telling me how beneficial my reviews, pictures, and tips are to them. It makes me so happy every time I gain a new friend or fan. I try to write useful reviews and take as many pictures of menus and happy hour specials as I can.
About the Yelp Elite Squad: The Yelp Elite Squad is our way of recognizing people who are active in the Yelp community – people who are role models both on and off the site. Elite-worthiness is based on a number of things, including well-written reviews, high quality tips, a detailed personal profile, an active voting and complimenting record, and a history of playing well with others. Elites must use their real name on their account, have a real (and clear!) profile photo, and be of legal drinking age in their country. You can read more, and even nominate yourself at yelp.com/elite.
