Newbie Elite Shindig @ B Restaurant and Bar

Jessica & Ruggy. .. . Super nice of you to arrange this event as a «launching point» for YEEs. B Restaurant & Bar was a nice choice of venue for this. I enjoyed the low key approach and the conversation with a small group of other fellow Newbie YEs.
Thanks to Widmer for sponsoring this event. The Widmer beer was darn good. .. the vibe at B Bar was just right for this type of event,. .. . and the schwag is obviously always a nice touch.
I look forward to more YEEs in the near future. Thanks for the «official orientation». .. Let it be known that I feel duly welcomed to the inner circle of elites !!!. .. Okay, well I get the play on words. .. I mean we’re not really «elite», are we?. .. just a bunch of regular Joe’s (& Jane’s) enjoying a drink, conversation, and that we all have in common that we’re well-​intentioned Unilocalers who are passionate about their ‘Yelping’.

A lovely, chill event full of sunshine, flowing Widmer beer, and some new pals. Ruggy and Jessica welcomed us to the bar, and chatted us up. Our server (a cute man in a vest) was so attentive to our needs. When we finished a beer or water, he was ready to give us more. He was friendlier and perkier than many bartenders I’ve met. Ruggy and Jessica handed us a neato Unilocal Elite Watch! It says «Time to Unilocal» on it. I love that.
The bar had oysters, but Ellen and I both were a little scared of them, so we stuck to delicious spiced French Fries.
Ruggy told us more about the Unilocal Community in SF, which was helpful for people like me who want to know all the details.
It was a very intimate event and that was nice. Some Unilocal staffers joined us too. FUN AND WELCOMING! YAY!

I was a little apprehensive about attending the event. I’m not usually good in big crowds where I don’t know many people. This event however was very nice. Relaxed, informal and friendly. I didn’t realize it was such a big deal to be «elite» but according to the infamous Ruggy J. there aren’t too many. Such a fuss!
Thanks to Ruggy and Melissa for their kind hospitality. Thanks Sky Vodka for the cocktails and big thanks to Unilocal for the most cool Unilocal Elite Lunchbox. I feel like a kid again.

I was a bit nervous attending my first *official* Elite event but I left thinking «what a cool bunch of people!» Ruggy J. is adorable and Jessica is a super sweetheart!
First the venue — B — was such a hidden gem in SOMA. It was a bright, airy place with lots of windows overlooking Yerba Buena. The bartender made a kicking Skyy Vodka cosmopolitan. Perfect place to come for happy hour or to start the night with cocktails. I’ll be back!
We arrived a bit late thanks to killer Bay bridge traffic but I really enjoyed meeting other Unilocalers — Anthony Y, Bill W & Hazel. How cool that one guy works at the same company as my hubby and another guy lives a few blocks away from us.
Thanks for the great welcome to the Unilocal family!

How can I NOT rate this 5 stars? Any party that helps welcome me to the ranks of Unilocal Elite cannot receive less than the maximum star treatment!
I had only been here one other time, but I liked it just as much the first time I was there as I did this last time.
It was great to meet some new faces and also not feel like the newest kid in class.
As usual, Ruggy and Jessica through a sweet party and it was fun catching up with them and getting to know some more new people.
I can only be a newbie once, so it was great to kick back, have some beer and exchange some great stories with fellow Unilocalers.
I’d definitely come back, even if the beer wasn’t on the house!
Oh! and super bonus, I now am the proud owner of a sweet Unilocal lunchbox so I can be the envy of my friends and foes.
thanks again for making me feel welcome!

My first Unilocal Elite event! Welcome Me!
I was nervous to go at first as my plus one dropped out last minute. I was quickly relieved that I decided to go as soon as I walked up to the group. Ruggy was super nice and welcoming as was Jessica and gave us tons of schwag to take home. The comp beer was great and the oyster I tasted was fresh.
I have been to Samovar several times and never knew that B Restaurant & bar existed. I will definitely be rounding up the troops for some happy hour drinks here in the near future.
I met some really nice people and look forward to future events :)

Welcome the newbie, welcome me! Yes, this was my first Elite event.
Finding parking at SOMA always sucks and all those one way streets, holy moo. (Tip: There’s a street off Folsom right across Yerba Buena called Mabini, I always find 2 hour parking there and of course meter stops at 6 pm).
B is in such a nice location. If it’s a nice weather, like it was last night, outdoor sitting is great. This bar is small but good style and ambiance. I got the Love on at $ 5, it was a little strong for me but I liked it. I should have ordered another one. They served fries and I can’t believe fresh oysters, delish!
Ok the Unilocal event. I RSVPed yes but last minute I was hesitant on going. I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t have a plus one (ggrrrrr why oh why?). But I went anyways.
I said hi to Ruggy first as I recognize him from his picture, the dude was really cool. So after that, I thought to myself, this may not be so bad at all. I talked to the other Unilocalers and people were really nice. I’m trying to remember their names now so can stay connected :)
We all were given Unilocal lunchboxes with thermos and pins inside. I have a friend who works for Unilocal and I was so jealous of his lunchbox, now I have one. I met Jessica too and I was told she was the model for the girl on those lunchboxes, is this true? And I made sure I got enough Unilocal goodies from the table (pins, shot glass, pen, bottle opener, fake tattoos, lip balm) hahaha.
Overall, I’m glad I came. Nice venue, nice people, nice conversations.

The Newbie Elite get-​together is a great concept — mix some new elites with some of us old fogies, in an intimate & relaxed environment where it’s not too big, loud, crazy, or overwhelming, and you can really get a chance to meet & chat with everyone (or at least most people, even if you miss the first half).
Fun to meet new people, as always, and introduce them to that which is Unilocaly. Thanks as always to Unilocal for the free beer, the schwag, and the opportunity! And thanks to B Restaurant for providing us with the space. It’s a cute spot — though a bit hard to find for the first time — with a big glass wall overlooking the park.
Here’s hoping I can make it to some more of these!

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the sun emerged from behind the clouds right before the event and the rains returned shortly after. It was a divinely-​blessed event of beer, oysters, and meeting new friends.
Special thanks to Jessica and Ruggy for organizing our little evening soirée and to B restaurant and bar for being very gracious hosts. I picked up new tips from folks like Ting and Adam among others and can’t wait to check them out. Cow tongue tamales anyone?

I am glad I went! I never knew about B Restaurant and Bar until this and I thought the spot was awesome. I am definitely coming back on a sunny day to enjoy the patio.
Thank you Jessica and Ruggy for holding this. It sounds like its a new idea (to have Newbie events) and I think it’s a great one. I was intimidated at the thought of showing up to a huge Unilocal Elite event where everyone knew everyone else, so this was a good way to meet other new Elite people. The people I met were all nice and the crowd seemed friendly. The free beer was great and I love my new lunch pail and pins (:

I wish I had more of those truffle fries. They were surprisingly good!
Also, free beer is always good beer. It was worth the walk in the rain, hah.
In any case, it was great to meet some fellow newbies (like myself). It was also cool to meet up with some current Unilocal people and become acquainted and what not.
Last and definitely not least, thanks to Ruggy and Jessica for being great hosts and organizing the event. Having meetups like this makes me want to go to Elite events more often. :)

Thanks Ruggy and Jessica, for organizing such an awesome shindig (and being awesome hosts), and thank you Elites, and all the Unilocalers that showed up to meet the newbies!
Event was fun, and Widmer beers were bank.
I wish i could be a new Elite every month so i could keep going to these.
Thanks!
PS. thanks to B staff and Widmer for keeping the beers coming! Keep up the awesome!
PPS And Nish! Thanks for being the life of the party! (done and done)

Being a newbie is in the eye of the beholder, plenty of folks with shiny gold Elite ’06 badges to make me feel like a newb for years.
Now that I’ve validated my presence at a newbie event, I’ll have to say the beer and convo were superb. Kudos to everyone that made it out in that crappy weather, and special virtual interwebz high fives to the crew that rolled on over to 111 Minna afterwards.
I conversed with old friends and new, all while soaking up some free beer at B Bar. Good times. Such good times in fact I forgot my umbrella at 111 Minna afterwards… Oh the price we pay for fun. Hey Ruggy and Jessica, any Unilocal umbrellas coming out soon? Send one my way please.

This place is so elegant and beautiful and ON TOP OF THAT everyone there was amazing… from the hosts (Ruggy & Jessica) to the bartenders and the free Widmer beer to the other newbie Unilocal Elites, it was really was JUST what I needed after a long Thursday.
I’ll definitely be back to try some of the pretty cocktails and some of their other happy hour deals.

Wow, what a wonderful little event! Great event staff, cute goodies in Unilocal souvenir lunch boxes, and fun company? I can’t wait for more Elite mixers!
(Unfortunately this is short because I didn’t partake so I can’t *actually* rate B’s food and drink. Sacrilege, I know.)

Ruggy & Jessica? You guys are awesome and did a great job!
Bartenders? You all were great, too! Friendly service and yummy cocktails! I’ll definitely be back.
Unilocal? Thanks for putting together such a great time!
Seriously, this was my first Unilocal Elite event and I’m glad I went! Ruggy and Jessica were super cool and brought great stuff with them. (I love the lunchbox and I’ve already used the Unilocalstick… yay for the SPF 15!) The bartenders were helpful and right there offering me another beer as soon as I put my glass down.
Thanks to Widmer for the free suds, but I also tried the special Paloma drink and I’d totally order it again. It was kind of like a margarita, but made with *fresh* grapefruit juice. Delicious!
A special shout out to all the Unilocalers that I met, especially Tamar D., Michael M., Karen T., Diane B., Danny P., and Lindsay M.
I look forward to seeing everybody again!

(1) Event: STELLAR
(2) Venue: GEFGW*
(1) Let’s start with the event: omg what energy! what peeps! what *schwag*!!! I made sure to get a pic of me with Jessica, the real Jetsons Prototype that our fabu lunchbox and pins were modeled after! Lest you expected anything different, I will confirm that the vibe was festive, the «what-​neighborhood-​do-​you-​hail-​from» stories flowing, and cameras ubiquitous. What’s more is that Ruggy even promised us a zanier time at the next Elite event. When I asked if that entailed dancing midgets, he refused to answer due to HR issues, I think.
(2) *GEFGW = Good Enough For Government Work was the venue, B Resto & Bar. Let’s start by saying I was in fact thrilled to enter via Yerba Buena mezzanine level outside because B R&B lulls you in like Homeric sirens by installing music speakers in the shrubbery outside. Tonight, this manifested itself in me channeling Michael Jackson like Moses saw Yawheh: in the bush! Fast forward to 2010 and I’ll just say that if Michael is involved, all other priorities go out the window: I’m yours!
The music was a consistent strength of the place the entire night, with the DJ alternating between Rick James, James Brown and other James of which I’m probably only subliminally aware. However, the other pillar to a good bar experience — the alcohol — was not quite as strong. Of the 5 drinks offered to us, I selected The Paloma because it contained tequila (my standby liquid drug of choice). But as George A. will attest, I nursed it the entire time: the attempt at creativity by making a margarita with grapefruit juice just didn’t work. A sip of «Love On» proved to be over-​weighted in pineapple, so I’ll keep the benefit of the doubt high by assuming those who stuck with the free beers were more satisfied.
I DID dig the cool postcard holder thingy at the entrance, which showcased Weekend Brunch selections… that, along with the Cremant sparkling rose recommended to me by my ultra-​foodie partner-​in-​crime Jessica could be enough to get me to come back… but I sure would miss my fellow Newbies!

A nice, casual, and intimate space + cool people + free booze = perfect setting to meet other Unilocalers and have a good time!
I very much enjoyed this event, my first SF Unilocal Elite gathering! Why? Let me count the ways:
+ Everyone was so friendly and awesome! I like how small events encourage more meeting and mingling! I had a great time meeting and chatting it up with all the other new and old Unilocalers. Thanks to Joyce C., Lindsay M., Danny P., and Hailey P. for the great convo!
+ I loved the space (I didn’t realize this restaurant existed! There’s more to Yerba Buena Gardens than the Metreon?!), and it totally contributed to this being a great, low-​key intro to the world of Unilocal Elite.
+ The beer was flowing thanks to the very attentive servers. Muchas gracias!
+ The nibbles of garlic fries were oh-​so-​tasty, mmm.
+ The lunchbox! And the cup holders! And the tattoos! And the chapsticks! Fun! AND practical!
Thank you especially to Ruggy and Jessica for hosting this event. My job also involves coordinating events all the time, so I know how much work goes into putting these things together, so thanks for your hard work and for doing such a great job at making everyone feel comfortable and welcome here! It is much appreciated!
Thanks everyone for a very awesome event! Can’t wait till the next one to eat, drink, and meet new and old Unilocalers! Yay!

Why was this an amazing Unilocal event???
1. Ruggy and Jessica are most likely the greatest Unilocal staff around (I may be partial to the gingers
2. Free beer for 2 hours, any poor graduate student can appreciate that
3. FANTASTIC staff… keeping our drinks full and our minds occupied
4. Great new Unilocalers… All the new people I met tonight, rocked!
5. Last Ginger standing… what completes a Unilocal event better than 5 gingers… seriously, we were the last ones there! GINGER FOR LIFE!
Congrats Unilocal on another fantastic event!

Jessica and Ruggy you rock! Jessica, your new nickname, however, is «The Accoster». At least the next time you come popping out of the shadows, I’ll be prepared ;-)
Loved putting faces to names, and picking up some new friends in Kim, Karen, Michael, Sharon, and Diane. Hope to see you at the next Elite event!