Return to Eliteness at Harlem

This was my second Elite event as a «+1». It was super fun! Thanks for organizing this and thanks to all the nice people that actually talked to me.
The food was actually really really good. I love rotis and I actually liked the bite size ones. I usually get a roti and cannot finish the whole thing not leaving room for anything else.
Thanks again. I look forward to becoming elite one day. :)
Must write more reviews…

Where do I begin…
well for starters, the delay of this review is justified as I managed to fracture my left pinkie (surprisingly insignificant in everyday life as I now realize) at some point in the night. The fact that I don’t remember how it happened, and only started to feel the pain the next day is a testament to how epic this night was (oh how I hate that term).
The hip hop flutist was just pure genius and he definitely helped set the mood of the night. The bartenders and the tight space kept the people mingling, and Pedro somehow managed to squeeze through to provide everyone with little nibbles.
As if this wasn’t good enough, the party continued at Duggan’s with a late
(?) Oktoberfest with more food and booze. Thanks to associates of CTV for helping Unilocal friends, though I’m a bit hazy with regards to how the invitation was extended. This is where things really started to fade, and I began to brown out (almost black out, credit to IASIP) and woke up the next day with a Bavarian flag as my cape.
Many many thanks to Vivek for making this happen. Also bigups to Devan for suggesting Duggan’s. As usual it was great to see the familiar faces, Neil, Hana, Bijan, Jay, et al. and also fantastic to meet new ones such as Kent.
oh and I just remembered I gifted Neil a balloon. No ulterior motives my friend! I promise.
anyways, SYOY

The «Vivek» chant needs to be made a regular edition to every event
It was nice to bring my +1 to see how awesome Unilocal (ers) can be.
Nice to see old faces and new– some highlights:
— Tony is apparently racist, so I had to walk away (j/​k) and his +1 was ridiculously awesome at opening mints. How did I not run into you two before in life?
— Danielle is gonna institute UYIE, and if you don’t know what that is then you ain’t coo’
–Chris sassed me about loving butter. I’m OVER it!
–Good to meet Bryan for the first time! for the next coming events I WILL claim that «we go way back» and MIGHT pull out the, «we’re tight [with crossed fingers motion]» because faking familiarity is how I roll.
–45 year old Mike and I are gonna rock the cask festivals (I don’t care if you were kidding– I took the invitation very much seriously.- so be prepared for an annoying tag-​along)
–Crystal! you should be in Vancouver! you are confusing me! Nice to have you in toronto now– Ironic that we had to meet on this side of the country
–And to the man of the night Vivek– you make a mighty speech that nobody heard but it doesn’t matter because we know it was THAT good.
And if I forgot to mention you it was because I was distracted by the flautist that was rockin ‘no scrubs’
like.seriously? did that JUST happen? I didn’t know how much I LOVED pop flautists until last nite! ps: I got his card and you SHOULD hire him for your next event. and then invite me–
Thanks to Harlem for pouring HEALTHY glasses of wine. the fried food was heavy, but tasty and I’m glad that they didn’t serve their famous fried chicken, actually– just gives me an excuse to come back to this place–
ps: cellophaned toothpicks are a MUST! aahaa, j/​k. I would have bit into the toothpick in the roti regardless. I’m not that bright.

Vivek is keeping the bar raised high for Elite events!
So great to see some Unilocalers I’ve missed and some fun +1ses.
The roti apps were excellent and the rum punch was also a great choice. Live music too — who could ask for more?!

I love Elite Events.
Free Flowing Drinks, Free Flowing Food… Good Looking/​Beautiful People.
Harlem is an intimate classy place and such a good host for last night Elite Event. Pedro kept parading with plates of food food food the whole evening in front of me…
It was so great to talk to all you Unilocalers in person. And fun to have photos taken instead of me taking photos!
Vivek, I am so proud of you as our new CM!
WHEN is the NEXT one! You have to start planning SOON!

Holy hell, is this what partying like an Elite is like? Because I’m all over that. Super friendly crowd, super awesome music, suuuuper strong punch (oh, hey, I think I’m going to break it down to Regulate ON THE FLUTE), super beautiful venue.
Seriously, hook me up, I’m so there next time.

Awesome event… Only complaint was that it was too packed. Hard to navigate from one end to the other or grab a drink, but it opened up as time went on and flowed nicer.
First time at Harlem but was always meaning to go. The owner (Carl Allen) is a legend in Toronto, so it was a nice look having a Unilocal event there and definitely the best soundtrack thus far. The flute to Mark Morrison and Beatnuts instrumentals was cool, but I like the mix they threw on afterwards: can’t go wrong with the Gap Band and Dennis Edwards!
Didn’t really try any of the food but I did grab a spring roll at one point and it was mad delicious. Rum punch was also very excellent. And yes, the bartender was beautiful. Nice one, Vivek!

He’s climbin’ in yo windows, he’s snatching you Unilocalers up; Vivek is throwing awesome Elite partays!
Only 4 stars people??? You are so dumb. You are really dumb. For real. Were we even at the same party???
Well, obviously, I know how to put the PUNCH in rum punch (right Payam?) Tell your friend I’m lookin’ for him. I’m gon’ find him. He don’t have to come and confess.
Jokes aside, dancing to R&B music with live flautist = awesome. Upstairs at Harlem was such a perfect intimate venue to squeeze in and catch up with old Unilocalers plus meet some new ones. Food, booze and décor were all A+.
So you can run and tell that, homeboy.

When it comes to meeting so many Unilocalers new & old, this has to be the BEST Unilocal event (1^st Elite) I’ve attended thus far and there wasn’t even Coffee or Noodles. The original entourage, I will definitely catch you guys at a work-​in-​progress UYE. You Unilocal are completely plan-​crazy and I love you for it.
The new crew was a complete pleasure as well and would be glad to be in your entourage anytime/​anyday. A few I had the pleasure to rub elbows with were Ariel G, Kent P, Brian. K, Will H, Marie M. A note was that the Rihanna look-​alike bartender had some great smelling chow as she ate at the end of night.
I’m WaYnE, I’m in Harlem, I’m with my man B (ijan)… and I’m with my man D (evan). A special thanks to the producer — – Vivek S. — –
and I’m Unilocaled!

A night that allowed you to get truly close and intimate with your fellow Unilocalers. We’re all old friends by now. What’s a little frottage 2.0 between virtual friends? I’m looking at you, Tony.
Food and drink flowed nicely for two hours. A great selection of booze. The curried wraps were welcome. I popped down to the main floor to get an off Unilocal menu latte for my cramping +1 and they didn’t even charge me for it. Awesome.
Lots of Unilocalers bringing +1s not within the Unilocal fold this time around. I think we’re getting the hang of the +1 idea. It’s about the viral thing.
Vivek had a pretty big pair of shoes to fill (metaphorically, Kat, I’m not suggesting you have big feet… no I don’t think those shoes make your feet look big… why are we even having this discussion now? Oh yeah, well, I never loved you pot roast anyway! I just said that to get free Unilocal SWAG! That’s it! The wedding is OFF! AGAIN! FINE! I’M CALLING THE CATER RIGHT NOW. JUST WATCH ME!) ummmm what was I saying? Right. Vivek turned it out.

Soul love… this love won’t let me go
So long… angel of Harlem
Angel of Harlem
But I will not admit to any kind of frottage, at least between me and Karl. It must have been another Tony.
Elite events are becoming like family reunions for me now. I get to see some familiar faces, that crazy uncle (looking at you Karl), the drunken cousin [the Stephs], and the whacky Aunts (Lauren & Roma), but you love them all the same. Then there’s the new faces you welcome to the family.
The drink selection was Steam Whistle, Rum Punch and a Pinot Grigio. I was hoping to try some of Harlem’s «Soul/​Cajun» food, but I’m not sure when spring rolls and dumplings became that. I guess I have more soul than I thought.
Then there was the flute guy. I was not expecting to hear Word Up by Cameo on the flute. The only flutist I’ve seen better was that hip hop flute guy (google him).
Congrats to Vivek for putting on a kick-​ass-​kicking party.
Like a star exploding in the night
Falling to the city in broad daylight
An angel in Devil’s shoes
Salvation in the blues
You never looked like an angel
Yeah yeah… angel of Harlem

Well Vivek certainly pulled off his first Elite event in fine form. The location was great, the libations plentiful, and the people were awesome.
This was a great opportunity to reunite with some of the Elite’s that I don’t get to see regularly since it’s been so long since the last Elite event. Also it was great to see many new faces. I want to give a shout out to Jennifer M. who was at her first Elite event and was great to chat with.
See you all at the next one!
P. S. FTR bitchaaas!