Does it seem like no matter what you do, you can't get everything done during the week? Like, it's nigh impossible to eat, drink, party, get pretty, dance, and do good in just seven days? Well, the rock stars of the Yelp Chicago community figured out how to handle all that: The 12 Days of Yelpiness. Over 1500 invited guests opted to check out the art, food, drink, and more at Bridgeport destination Zhou B Art Center.
What’s a party without eats? We couldn’t tell ya, because there was food as far as the eye can see. And, not just food… amazing food. How could there not have been? With restos like NYC Bagel Deli, Go Roma, Isla Pilipina, Sweet Ride, Homage Street Food, Ra Sushi, Fiore's Deli, Ste Martaen & Soul Vegetarian Vegan Food Truck, Flavor 180, Wow Bao, Steve's Deli, Union Sushi & Barbeque, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Forever Yogurt, Starfruit, Chimney Cake Island, and Beard Papa's Cream Puffs doling out plate, bowl and cup full of their mouth-watering fare, attendees were left wondering if the 13th day offered beds to sleep off their food babies.
Beds, no. Libations, yes, yes, 1000 times, yes! Whether one had a taste for beer, hankering for wine, a longing for spirits, a need for coffee, or a passion for TEA-totaling (ha!), no thirst was left unquenched. CityGrounds Coffee Bar, Spicebox Whisky, Lulu B Wine, Honest Tea, FRS Healthy Energy, Crispin Cider, Dewar's Scotch Whisky, Rishi Tea, Magners Cider, Remy Martin, and Chicago Beverage Systems, LLC with Diageo (offering up Guinness Black Lager, Harp, Smithwicks, and Smirnoff Ice) served up holiday cheer by the gulp and invitees were gleeful for it.
Setting this grand fête at an art center was not by accident. This was an evening to celebrate art & entertainment. The light & draping genius of Art of Imagination set the upstairs stage for drama and excitement. The creative visionaries of Kelly Cardenas Salon, Strange Beauty Show, The Chicago School of Flower Design, and Trish Page made sure hair, face and environment were as perfectly gorgeous as the day is long. Cage & Aquarium Productions kept the beat bumping, while the lords and ladies of Design Dance Company leapt and danced their way into guests hearts. Daniel Crane provided drum sauces for, at least, 11 percussionists. And adding to the magic, Alex de Guzman and Lauren P piped up and belted it out.
Rock For Kids was the charity partner for this night of live art installations and art galleries to peruse. Your Private Limousine got guests to and fro while Uber provided pics, gear and trips for the long haul. Keeping the evening on track were the professionals of D'Absolute Catering. With so much going on, it’s a good thing we had a crew of folks documenting it all. Victoria Sprung snapped all the candids to make you feel like you lived the action. Bernard Costa put the ‘pretty’ into portraits and Capture This captured the attention and admiration of people who like to take photobooth pictures. If you’re into the written word, we’ve got you covered here. VIDEO from Mike Hendzel forthcoming. Yep. Video.
2011 has been a year of incredible events and adventure for Yelp Chicago and none of it would have been possible without the businesses, vendors, photographers, djs, and people (yelpers!) that make The Windy City second to none. Enjoy the holidays and thank you for wrapping 12 nights of magic into one.
Humbly yours,
