Elite Event: Hot for the Holidays Wrap Party @ Ivy Room

What a great way to get into the Holiday Season by baking cookies for the Unilocal Elite Event at the Ivy Room. I really got into the spirit and made Unilocal shaped sugar cookies with red frosting and some with coconut.
I made three types of cookies which I guess added to the masses of cookies on the table. There was such a great selection. I love it when Unilocalers take to the theme and even on a work night, we came to party!
I loved the punches made by the talented bartenders at the Ivy Room. I was so impressed by the cocktail menu that I ordered a spicy drink that was made from peppers lit on fire at the bar! Entertaining as well as fantastic.
Santa Nique brought me some awesome Unilocal Elite socks and we got a special ice cube tray for bringing cookies. My guy got a really cool Unilocal insulated tumbler which he needed a new one for his iced coffee.
I saw a lot of familiar faces, friends from over the years and met some new Unilocalers as well. It was a fun event and got to try out another new to me place in my area. Thank you for making the Holidays fun!

For Unilocal East Bay’s last event of the year Nique and Jon decide to throw the most awesome cookie party at the Ivy Room. I’ve heard of the Ivy Room through another Hood Hunters (the Albany one) and I was rather impressed with the venue, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that the «Hot for the Holidays» wrap-​up party would be held here. Thanks to Nique, Jon, Ronaldo and Tanya for hosting us.
It was great to see Unilocalers I saw at the last HH event in Alameda (Hazel/​Michael, Liv/​Wes, Eugene, Tiffany), others that I haven’t seen in a while (Bill, John M.) and I happen to even meet a new face (Peter). It is also because of you guys that Unilocal parties are the best parties around. I hope we all make Elite next year so I can see you guys again.
COOKIE BAR: Nique had a great idea on having the cookie bar being potluck. She incentivized it by having anyone that brought cookies received a Unilocal ice cube tray. Got to try some awesome cookies, including Hazel’s cranberry orange cookies, Peter’s vegan Trader Joes cookies and a good chocolate peanut butter cookie.
DRINKS
Besame Mucho (Holiday Punch with Epsilon Tequila Blanco)
Santa Sling (Holiday Punch with Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey)
Variations of the Holiday Punch with different liquors. These liquors are also used in their craft cocktails. I prefer the Santa Sling because of the sweetness the liquor brings to the punch.
AWKWARD PHOTO BOOTH: Our group of 6 fit in the photo booth. Props were provided for the booth, but only 2 people could sit in those chairs. I look forward to the pictures when they are uploaded.
Gifts consisted of either a Unilocal towel or Unilocal tube socks. As I already got my towel from a previous event the No1DP was a happy recipient of the towel.
As this is the last East Bay YEE of 2014 I just wanted to say to everyone reading this «Happy Holidays» and «Cheers to 2015».

This was definitely the spot to be on a Tuesday night! I was elated when I was confirmed to be attending the Hot For The Holidays Wrap party, this was my second Elite event since I’ve become Elite a few years back. I have driven past the Ivy Room plenty of times and have loved the retro neon sign and thought about coming to take a peek inside and maybe get a drink.
We got there a bit early and Jon and Nique were still setting up, while we waited it gave some of the people outside a chance to introduce ourselves and finally meet those that we talk to via Unilocal on a daily basis. Once we entered we were greeted by Jon and Nique, got our party passes scanned and showed the cookies we brought to receive those cute Unilocal ice cube trays. We walked straight to the «cookie and snack table» and there were just cookies galore as well as a variety of popcorn from Peter’s Kettle Corn. I’m not a popcorn fan at all but that white chocolate drizzled popcorn was to die for.
We walked around the bar to check it out and get a feel of the place, it was all decorated and decked out in Christmas decorations, there was a DJ playing some good music, lots of seating, a couple couches and a pool table. Once we checked it all out, we grabbed our glasses and went straight to the bar for our cocktails. They had 2 punch bowls with two different cocktails to choose from. Santa Sling which was whiskey and bourbon based (I did not try) and Besame Mucho which was tequila based and was my best friend all night (I had 5 glasses, don’t judge me lol).
There a cute photo booth area which was too crowded so we decided not to do the photo op, Nique surprised us all with her bag of gifts with various wrapped items. I so happend to get a pair of Unilocal Elite tube socks which I wore last night lol. The party was really great and fun, glad I got to meet a lot of new people and finally meet some of my Unilocal friends. Nique and Jon most definitely put together a wonderful shindig and I’m happy that I was able to attend and be a part of it. Thanks for a slamming 2014 Elite Season, I couldn’t have asked for more!!!

This was my first Unilocal event, and I was pretty excited about it. I’m glad my friend Amy T. brought me to this event as her plus one. I’ve never been to this area before, and it is a bit far from where I live but it was worth the trip.
We got here super early, so we had to wait outside for a bit. When we entered, it was really dark but they decorated the place with christmas decorations which made the place feel homey :]. There was so much cookies, I got exhausted from munching on them. Whoever brought the peppermint bark and macaroons, they were AWESOME! The drinks were super strong, not that I’m complaining, but didn’t expect it. Also, everyone was so friendly, but didn’t get a chance to meet everyone, maybe next event?
It was cool that in the very back, they had a photo booth. Taking goofy photos with friend was great! At the end of the event, it was surprising that they were giving out FREE GIFTS! Love getting free stuff, that’s a 5 star in my book! LOVE THOSE SOCKS!
Overall, it was a nice experience, hope I get a chance to go to another one. Great holiday event!

Wonderful opportunity for local community fellowship, cookies,& 2 kinds of spiked punch (bourbon and tequila).
Music was great, local venue was cool, waaaaay too many cookies ingested,& a chance to meet new people, as well as a chance to well-​wish the already-​known ones.
Thanks to the kind Ivy Room folks, the interior was very clean and nice layout — billiard table in the rear.
Photo «booth-thing“area was appreciated. Thanks for a little socialization before Christmas, Nique!

Albany is a bit far from home for me, but it was totally worth the trip and I’m so glad I didn’t miss out on this awesome event!
Upon entering, Jon G. checked me in and told me he’s read a handful of my reviews since he recognized my name :) We all got Unilocal ice cube trays for bringing in a batch of cookies. I brought peppermint chocolate chip cookies (too bad they weren’t made from scratch haha). I’m not complaining but what was the supposedly «never-​before-​seen Unilocal schwag» that we would be using all season long? :P
Of course I went straight to the snack table. Cookies galore!!!
«Today me will live in the moment unless it’s unpleasant in which case me will eat a cookie». — Cookie Monster
I had to stop myself from trying 1 cookie of each kind! The kettle popcorn (regular, chocolate and white chocolate drizzle) were bomb. Macarons by Natalie were one of the best macarons I’ve ever tasted. Bookmarked her place in Oakland!
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Ivy Room was kind enough to serve us two types of holiday drinks:
–Santa Sling (whiskey): Pretty much all of my friends enjoyed this one.
–Besame Mucho (tequila): I liked this one better! Tequila Tuesdays ;)
Any photo booth makes events 5 stars for me cause I’m such a camerawhore! It really was an awkward photo booth with justin bieber wallpaper and two chairs set apart from each other so that the two people sitting in them have to lean towards each other hehehe.
Halfway through the event, Nique F., aka Unilocala Claus came through with Unilocal towels and socks!!! So happy I got Unilocal socks :)
After the event ended, I played pool and Connect 4 with my friends. I enjoyed the songs the DJ played!
Many thanks to Nique F., Jon G., and Ivy Room for hosting such a merry event. Happy Holidays everyone and that’s a wrap!

I was Excited to get my Confirmation to Niques Elite Wrap Party at the Ivy Room.
I had been to the Ivy Room during Niques Epic Hoodlum Hunters Solano Ave Event .
I knew we were in for a Great Time. The Folks at the Ivy room are a Fun Bunch and Competition Mixologists. The Inside of their Bar is quite roomy and nicely decorated .
I rolled to the Ivy Room in my Down Low Whip –White Rabbit. To many Rollers in Albany to drive anything High Profile.
I was able to park 40 feet away down the Street.
I Street Hiked to the Ivy Room and a Crowd of Happy Go Lucky Elites were waiting to make Entrance to Niques and Jon’s Boom Boom room located inside the Ivy Room.
Our Darling Nique came out to greet us and to Scan our Trusty Unilocal Party Passes!!!
Big Jon was inside Scanning Party Passes too and Quality Controlling the Cookie Stash. «Got Milk «?
Elites that Brought Cookies for the Cookie Swap Scored Unilocal Ice Trays. Now that’s some Cool Swag .
So Many Cookies showed up that there were 2 Tables full of them .
There were 2 Punch Bowls of Adult Punch on Mixed with Wild Turkey and the other Tequila.
They Both were made by the Expert Mixologists of the Ivy Room.
They were so Tasty and had a Nice Kick to them.
There was a Slamming DJ spinning some Heat and Beat .
There was an Old School Photo Booth with 2 Mack Daddy Old School Shoe Shine Chairs. Great Props to shoot Boss Photos !!!
And a Surprise appearance of Nique Claus with her Big Bag Of Gifts For all the Happy Elites. She’s so sweet.
It was an Epic Way to end the 2014 Unilocal East Bay Elite Season.
Thanks Nique and Jon for a great 2014 Elite Season.
2014 The Year Of Change and New Beginnings. S.F.F.S.

This was my very first Elite event and it was fun and fantabulous! Walked in and we got our Unilocal name tags and Unilocal ice cube trays for bringing in cookies!
Then it was off to check out the holiday cookie table and there were so many varieties of cookies, including Unilocal cookies! My favorite did not include cookies but rather three varieties of popcorn as I’m a savory snacker, kettle corn, dark and white chocolate strizzled popcorn, yummy! I bagged up my corn in neat Unilocal corn bags.
Next we enjoyed some holiday punch by Ivy Room’s mixologists! My friend had the Santa Sling with Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey and I had the Besame Mucho Holiday Punch with Espolon Tequila Blanco which made us enjoy the party even more!
Nice ambience with DJ playing music for the party. We also checked out the Justin Bieber Awkward Photo Booth and had a blast!
I also got to meet Hostess and Host, Nique and Jon as well as fellow Elite Unilocalers! Check-​in to this party included a gift from Unilocala Claus, fabulous Unilocal tumbler! What’s not to like! Thanks to Nique and Jon for hosting such a fun event!

Nique and Jon know how to throw a party! DJ, adult punch, cookies, popcorn, and party favors – what more can you want from a party! Oh yeah how about the cool company of fellow Unilocal Elites?! A big shout out to Isabella B. who invited me to be her +1! You’re cool!
Love the Unilocal Ice Trays! People who brought cookies were given ice trays. That’d be perfect for homemade cocktails, wouldn’t it? There were lots of cookies! I brought a couple of tins of homemade Soft and Chewy Orange Cranberry cookies, but I ended up bringing home a tin of cookies brought by other people. You give some, you take some! How cool is that? There are going to be very happy people at work tomorrow!
The Ivy Room is a really cool venue. It’s our first time here! We used to go to Montero’s (across the street) all the time to dance Salsa, but have never noticed this place. Thanks Unilocal for the introduction. We will definitely be back.
What’s a party nowadays without a photo booth? With Justin Bieber in the background, who can resist? I’m only sad that I didn’t get to get to sport a ‘stache!
The night ended with Patron shots with Ryan J and Justin P. Too bad it’s a school night. A few glasses of punch, a shot of tequila, along with all those cookies, are all the carbs that I can handle for the evening. Cheers to the Holidays!

Fun little event to wrap up Unilocal for the Holidays series!
Came through with quite a few of my friends. We all brought some sort of cookie plate so all the elites were gifted with a Unilocal ice cube tray!
For drinks, there was a choice of Santa Sling, a punch with whisky or a tequila infused punch (I forgot the name. I think it was Besame something). Both were really good. I think I would give the edge to the Santa Sling.
Then there was the awkward photo booth complete with the Justin Bieber wall paper and hand held props including, fake mustaches, Santa hats and Christmas themed leis. Thank you to the photographer! (I never got your name haha)
And finally there was the basically bottomless cookie bar. Thank you to all my fellow Unilocalers who brought some cookies. I loved everything I tried!
The DJ was in point with his music especially with all the house remixes of Christmas songs. Thank you Nique and Ivy Room for the great event! Happy Holidays everyone! (:

Oh let’s get hot in here alright ;) With all those cookies I was definitely bakin’ in there.(literally too: P)
A bunch of my friends and I rolled on in with a plate of cookies to receive our cool Unilocal Swag which was a Unilocal Ice Cube Tray ;)
Once more people came on in, there was sooooo much cookies to choose from. I really couldn’t decide because I wanted to eat all of them but then again that would be a bad idea because my sugar level would skyrocket. There were many delicious cookies! Homemade ones were the best like Hazel C.‘s mini cookies, and Natalie’s (I think that’s who it was) macaroons! I felt bad for taking her only Badtz-​Maru Macaroon cookie but that drew my eyes and mouth first! It tasted delicious and so did her other ones! :))
Two drinks were served at the bar– Santa Sling (Whiskey mixed) and Besame Mucho (Tequila mixed). I think my favorite is the Santa Sling cause I like darks over lights and it was much stronger ;D
Besides the drinks, the DJ played great mixs for us that definitely kept the party going and there was even a cool photobooth taken by the lovely photographer Nessa :) The background was Justin Bieber wall paper and there were many props like Santa hats, Christmas props, etc.
There were other games in the back such as pool, Connect Four, etc. Unilocalers were drinking, snacking on cookies, socializing, playing games, etc. This Wrap Up event was a great way to Wrap Up the Holiday Event Series :)
PS– With a check-​in at the event, people were able to choose from a Unilocal Towel or Unilocal Tube Socks… HAYYYYY ;)
Thank you Nique F., Jon G., and Ivy Room for hosting such a great event for us East Bay Unilocalers! You’ve done it again ;)
Merry Holidays :)