Elite Event: Say Hi Fall @ Highball Lounge

My first Unilocal Elite event, and it was a blast!
Highball Lounge was a great venue. There were ample drinks… all of them pretty strong haha. I first hit up the St. Germain cocktail table where demonstrations were held and we got a chance to make our own St. Germain cocktail. I kind of wish I held on to the glass/​mini carafe I got, though. I didn’t realize I can bring that back as a souvenir haha. The other drinks by the bar were even stronger. I had the Cloak & Dagger, the Epiphany, and the Tea-​Ball (technically it was my friend’s since I had to finish it because it was too strong for her). All three had a pretty good kick, but they were still delicious, and made with care by the bartenders. The bartenders were also great — very charismatic and super friendly. They definitely fed off people’s energies and made for a great experience.
The place itself was huge and had a slew of board games. It was a great throwback playing Jenga, Connect Four, and Rock’em Sock’em Robots haha. There’s an arcade with old-​school video games tucked away in the room to the left of the stairs right when you enter. Got to try out my luck with Ms. Pac-​Man, but I only lasted two levels haha.
The food was pretty good, but it was pretty much a free-​for-​all between the two tables where they put the food on. Everyone was circling like a horde of hungry sharks waiting for waiters to come by with food. What happened to the etiquette of letting everyone get a taste before coming back for seconds? I was able to get some of the Brussels sprouts and the bonchon chicken bites (good thing I ate before coming to the event haha). The Brussels sprouts were great. The chicken was okay. It’s not the same bonchon breading/​crispiness I’ve always gotten in Allston.
I think the highlight of the night was our gracious community manager, Damien. He was a riot and super friendly to everyone. He got the crowd going (and made everyone sign his cast lol), and worked with the bartenders to do a round of shots and feed us mystery cocktails from this crazy pitcher (I’m not even really sure what to call that contraption haha). Can’t wait for the next Elite event, and I’ll definitely make my way back to Highball another time!

One word: rubber duckie!
I love the concept of this lounge. I mean, playing our favorite childhood games is so much more fun when we are under the influence, right?! My favorite drinks of the night were Tea ball, which had a strong earl grey tea flavor and St. Germaine cocktail, which was really sweet and floral-​ly. I didn’t get to try a lot of the food, but I really liked the chicken and brussel sprouts!
The lounge seems very laid back and chill. The bartenders look like they could be regular customers because it doesn’t seem like they have a dress code.
The best part was the check-​in offer because I got to sign Damien’s cast!

EAT BEFORE YOU COME!
Conversation my +1 had:
one piece of food left, guy with a mouth full of food reaches for it, looks at my friend who looks sad: oh… sorry…you want it…
+1: yeah…
Staff could have seen that people were hovering around the food and started putting it at other tables, maybe.
Now that I’m done reprimanding people…
Amazing drinks and staff! Pouring shots from a tea kettle like thing like it fancy coffee. (I don’t drink coffee. Ethiopian? Moroccan? which ever with the high poor).
Having the bowls of punch was a great idea for if the line got too long at the bar.
And the games! I haven’t played them since I was a kid!

Hats off to Damien, Unilocal & Highball lounge for a great welcome fall event!
My +1 and I started off with a two spritzers from the St. Germaine bar. The bartender had us mix a carafe for him. Then after a tiny bit of wait, we got ourselves a Wallflower and a Tea-​ball.
The mood was definitely fun and fall festive with folks have a great time enjoying the board games. We found a spot on one of the comfy lounge spots and took in the vibe. In between drinks that included the various punch bowls, we managed to sample the kale salad, brussel sprouts and chicken pieces. My favorite were the kale and brussel sprouts.
I’ll be coming back to check out Highball some weekend in the near future.

Funnest Monday I’ve had in a long time!
I started the night with some kale salad, a lil onion grilled cheese, and the tasty epiphany drink.
Then came the games, really strong rum punch, turning the magnetic letters onto the wall into a random game with a new Unilocal elite friend, bath ducky rose, NACHO TOTS, a delicious and elegant St. Germaine drink.
And then finally I drew a big PENIS on Damien’s cast and drank out of a toilet!
(Not a literal toilet silly just a toilet shaped shot glass).

Highballing at highball lounge on a Monday night.
This was another great event. Thank you Damien and Unilocal staff for organizing this! Also, big thanks to the staff at highball lounge for the great drinks and hospitality.
I have passed by this place multiple times but have not had the chance to stop by. I was very excited to see that this was the location of the event. I enjoy the lounge setting.
There were 4 delicious cocktails to choose from. My favorite was definitely the Tea-​ball. It has vodka, soda, and earl grey tea. There was also a bucket of beer. There was a table set up with a cute looking guy showcasing St. Germaine. It was so good!
There were also light snacks to sample. The tater tots were delicious. The hot dogs was also really good. It had a salsa on top which was very tasty. The roasted Brussels sprouts were quite tasty as well. Overall, I left this place full and buzzed. It was definitely the definition of Monday fun day.
I will come back the future with some friends again! I had a wonderful experience here!

I can sum this event up in one word: Solid.
Highball lounge’s space was schmancy. Plush couches, nice décor, a curtain that appeared to have no purpose. Yup, this is the good life.
Bartenders crafted interested drinks in a timely manner and with great professionalism. I only drank the Cloak & Dagger, which the first time they made it for me consisted of straight whiskey and maraschino cherries (the real ones, this place is doing it right). The other times there was a whole bunch of other stuff mixed in there. Not gonna lie, I prefer my whiskey straight but the mixed drink was good too!
There was a mad rush for the food but I came prepared and had eaten ahead of time, so I wasn’t starving. I manage to get a taste of the salad, brussel sprouts, and tots. The sprouts were really nicely cooked and the tots, well you can’t go wrong.
At the end of the evening, things got lit on fire. The best way you can end an evening, thats for sure.
Damien and co.: Another job well done!

Happy Monday y’all. Hey there — Fall. Fabulous Highball. And then there were games… What a way to spend a Monday evening after work. And the 2 hours went by in flashes indeed. Kudos to Damien for organizing another blast of a Unilocal Event!
I totally enjoyed the Highball Lounge. The place never disappoints. The décor and the setup makes for a chill ambiance which is only made better by some low key tunes and the lights that were dim enough to get those dices rolling. Spirits were high with a spirit of different kind in every hand. From the moment the name tags were stamped on self, it was a mighty sweet affair.
Appetizers would come and go. And lucky were those who could be at the right place at the right time, some more than the others. It was almost a black friday scene: o)! I got to try the crispy brussels sprouts — perfect texture. And the Kale salad — again, what a fantastically refreshing treat — the nuttiness of the seeds and the zesty lemon flavors stood out, hands down!
My plus one was infatuated with the tiny rubber duckies. They were strategically decorated around the lounge and made super fun additions to some cocktails. Between her and I, me think we must have taken a mill pics with the floaties. Only if Tatsu wasn’t around getting us to strike a pose or 2? Everyone was totally into the groove, More like — Vogue! It was great catching up with the always fun crowd of fellow Elites. Clearly the board games ruled, just as much as the creations at the long bar.
Most everyone got a chance to mix and be proficient at making a classic St. Germain Cocktail. Perfect start to the evening. And the very awesome Tim was busy at the far end of the bar being the excellent juggler at getting people drink after drink. I tried the Tea Ball, Wallflower and Epiphany. They all were super fresh.
I like that the lounge does not have any TVs. Not for a moment of the 2 hours that we were there did I check the score of Monday Night Football. The evening went by — as I said — in flashes (and some splashes!!). And as the clock struck 9, the bright lights came back on. What a fantastical end to a fun Monday night! The million pictures on flickr are testament — everyone had a great time. xxx

This was SO. MUCH. FUN.
I’m so excited we got to try such a selection of amazing cocktails! My favorite drink from the bar was the Wallflower. (The garnish definitely helped.) And I really loved one of the punches (with all the ducks in it next to the St Germain table). Also, make your own St Germain drink… why isn’t this just a thing we do at all bars?!
The games were a blast.
Thank you so much to Damien and Highball for opening my eyes to such a cool spot! I can’t wait to go back :)

Well, the decision was made for me! I’m definitely having my birthday here in March… I was blown away by the décor, at first, but the staff and drinks took it from there.
The Cloak and Dagger — bourbon isn’t my thing (yet), but after observing the bartenders road an orange peel, and peeping those delicious cherries, I knew I had to try. A on this one, guys!
Wallflower — The «dry» drink of the night, I was taken with this delicious cocktail. Gin + orange bitters, etc, made for a beautiful, drinkable cocktail. Plus dat presentation… I had a beautiful flower on my drink!
Epiphany — My last drink of the night, it was refreshing and green and flavorful. I love cucumbers, but even someone averse to the vegetal taste would like this drink. Lemony, bright, yum.
St. Germain Cocktail — HELLO. Come to me, my pretty. The nice man let me prepare the drink, and I decided on this for my upcoming wedding signature cocktail. I could drink these forever.
Food time! Kale Salad… what was in that? Sunflower seeds and orange? I’m not sure, but it was sweet, sour, and savory. A great dish.
French Onion Grilled Cheese — My picky fiancé LOVED these (I did, too). Even with the fancy cheese (Brian doesn’t know what comte is), he gobbled these down. I want to try and make them at home.
Tater Tot Nachos — These speak for themselves. Amazing drunk food.
Staff was great! Didn’t run into a lot of them, but those I spoke to were very kind. The space itself was over the top gorgeous. The nooks and seating were fun and adorable.
Unilocal — One thing I really loved was how this event wasn’t too crowded. It felt cozy and intimate.

Thanks for another fun Unilocal event Damien & the Unilocal Boston team!
I’m very glad I attended — despite my legs being sore from literally walking the Boston Marathon the day before.
I was able to have some fun conversations with other Unilocalers while I parked myself on a comfy sofa.
A Wallflower gin beverage was procured for me by my husband & it was delicious! Others were jealous of the beautiful purple orchid floating in the glass. Damien warned me it was strong (he was right) so it was my only drink of the night.
I was a huge dork who wore my Jimmy Fund Walk medal to the event & I’m looking forward to seeing how the pictures turned out.

Damien and Tatsu showed their drinking prowess. Check out the photos. Crazy good party on a Monday night. The staff + Unilocalers totally made it a good time. Got to go back on a Wed-​Sat.
Can’t wait for the trampoline park!

Loved this event! What made it so awesome?
— Highball Lounge is an extremely cool space — trendy casual at its best.
— Delicious, creative cocktails and endless beers to grab (including adorable mini High Life bottles!).
— Old school games. I haven’t kicked as much ass in Sorry! since ’95.
— Top notch staff and bartenders.
— Tasty hors d’oeuvres — next time I will fight harder for tater tots!
— Tiny rubber duckies in wine glasses. This little guy is coming with me everywhere.
It’s good to be Elite!

What a fun event! Damien put together a great partay!
There was a fantastic variety of alcohol, from 40’s of beer to deliciously sweet punch to the St. Germain concoctions, to the cocktails at the bar. I sampled pretty much everything and all were incredibly tasty.
I’ve learned from previous events not to consider this your dinner, so luckily I wasn’t disappointed when I couldn’t break through the herd of people clawing at the table each time a new dish was presented. I was able to get a little portion of tater tots and they were fantastic! And this just gives me an excuse to go back and sample more of their culinary delights.
The games were a huge hit. I saw people playing Jenga, Trouble, Connect 4, and Knock Em Sock Em. Even I enjoyed a brutal game of Sorry with my friend. Of course I lost, but after a few of those St. Germain’s, I didn’t feel any pain.
Of course, the main reason for this event did not disappoint. I met so many other cool Unilocalers and reconnected with those I already knew. The Boston Unilocal community with Damien at its helm, is filled with friendly, happy people that know how to laugh and have a great time!

Thank you Unilocal,for making my drabby Monday go away. Thanks for making it sweet and awesome.
I think I’ve walked by here a million times. Never would have guessed that this nice lounge was on the second floor of a ritzy building in the Gov’t Center area.
I tried:
Cloak and Dagger — Bourbon cocktail with a toasted orange peel and dark cherries. Delish, but not my kinda drink. My friend, Kami loved it. As soon as the bartender mentioned that it was a bourbon cockail, I looked at her and thought, yup… she’s gonna go nuts. And she did.
Epiphany — What an epiphany. I’m not a gin person. Was it gin? I can’t remember. It was delicious. Served in a tall glass with a slice of cucumber in there with pomelo bitters/​soda and ice… I was in epiphany love.
St. Germaine cocktails — I didn’t get to make them, but I tried a few. VERY delicious.
There were also shots being poured into shot glasses that looked like a trash can and a toilet bowl. Hahaha :) Found this hilariously charming in an upscale lounge spot in Boston.
I think I have a rubber ducky in my purse… oh what a night… do do do do do do do do… oh what a night…
I didn’t get to try the food as I wasn’t hungry. That was cool, though. I enjoyed being the social butterfly and meeting new people! It was a lot of fun, and a great way to kick off the end of summer/​beginning of Fall. Echoing Leah K’s comments, it was indeed cozy and I didn’t feel crowded. My friend, Kami F, had a great time!
Thank You, Unilocal :)

Finding a rubber ducky in your purse the morning after: a sign of a good night.
Thanks to Damien, Unilocal,and Highball Lounge @ Nine Zero for a great (re)introduction to the Boston Unilocal Elite scene! The venue was swanky without being pretentious; the drinks were beautiful and deceptively potent; and the crowd was fun and abuzz with Unilocaliness — just the way it should be. The sole downside was some of the anchoring going on at the food tables, which meant only a select few were able to munch on all the yummies — but what I did get to eat was really tasty. The kale salad and brussel sprouts were on POINT.
All in all, a super solid event, run by a super solid CM — may all our signings on your cast bring you speedy recovery, dear Damien!

Our beloved Damien wouldn’t tell me how he really got that cast, but my guess: I bet it was during a fierce game of Hungry Hungry Hippo with his new wife: D.
I’ve always loved Highball — it’s like an adult playground of child-​at-​heart fun, but boozy. This event was filled with savory brussels sprouts, tater tots that need their own award, and delectable cocktails. Like true Unilocalers, everyone hovered like hyenas (guilty!) over tots, salad, and chicken apps (We Unilocalers would do very well in a zombie apocalypse. We can find food from approximately 6.2 miles away), and devoured every morsel.
I snagged a mini carafe from St. Germain, got to make my own fool-​proof cocktail of St. Germain, champers, and sparkling water, drank a bit of rosé, topped with some adorable floating rubber duckies, and got to try the most ghetto, throwback Olde English 40 oz.
Adding to the growing list of Monday night drinks, I sipped on the Wallflower, a glass of godly gin gratification. The bartenders here were not only rambunctiously awesome, shooting cocktails straight into your mouth — I’d like to think this is good practice for not wasting glasses. See, cocktail lovers can be environmentalists too… — but solid mixologists.
There’s nothing like combining remnants of childhood memories (Connect Four, Rockem Sockem, anyone?) mixed with your favorite liqueurs, to make for the best start to the week. Ever.

There’s a tiny rubber ducky in my purse.
Like usual, Damien and the Unilocal team did an incredible job coordinating this event! A terrific experience from start to finish, including champagne bar, handcrafted cocktails, the entire staff at Highball, the few bites to eat that we snagged and the flaming shots. We will definitely be back to visit, as we found out they have a DJ Thur-​Sat so you can drink their homemade alcoholic sodas and play games while listening to some sick tunes. I love the décor of the bar, so unexpected. And there’s an Elf on the Shelf to keep everyone behaving! (Not that it helped last night. Us Unilocalers are a raucous group.)
— St. Germaine cocktail: deliciously light, sweet and fruity
— Tea-​Ball: Homemade earl grey soda with Ketel One. Absolutely my favourite. So incredible.
— The punch: Too strong for my blood. There were herbs floating in it. Blech.
— The mystery flaming shot: BOOM + Magic + liquor inside a monk + fire + cherries = amazingness in my mouth.
— The tots: Delicious, if a little soggy from the gravy cheesiness.
— Teeny tiny brussel sprouts: Quite easily the most delicious vegetables I’ve ever consumed.
— Signing Damien’s cast: «Don’t break shit.» I’m eloquent.
— Having no one recognize me with straight hair: I need to keep these things consistent.
— The bartenders: Both friendly and informative!

I’ve never gotten so drunk on a Monday. I still feel it this morning.
Unilocal (Damien) thank you so much for the best variety of alcohol:
— Wallflower
— Epiphany
— Make-​your-​own St. Germaine/​club soda/​Cava champagne drinks
— 40s of beer
— Sweet punch bowls
— Duckie rosé
I tried all but the 40s, but plenty of people were taking tons of photos with them. The Wallflower and Epiphany were by far my favorites — sweet, light, but strong!
The bartenders were amazing — friendly, informative, and extremely good at shaking their drinks (Tim!!!)
Tip:
Unilocalers are vultures for food. Grab your spot by the landing strip of food so you can at least grab one plate before it’s literally gone in 2 minutes:
— Cheesy tater tots
— Kale salad with cucumbers and sunflower seeds
— Sautéed Brussels sprouts
— Asian-​style fried chicken pieces
— Mini hot dogs
The tater tots were my favorite bar bite and I wish I could’ve gotten more. Cheesy, guac-​y lumps of goodness in your mouth, perfectly paired with any of the drinks! The staff was good about trying to get more food out as soon as they could.
The games were a great way to meet new people — the top games were definitely the boxing, Jenga, and hungry hippos.
So glad I was able to meet more Elites! Thank you for a very drunken Monday to get the week started! I will definitely be back to get drinks with my girls here.

Walk by here every other day,
But have not been in yet…
So happy to have been given
A Unilocal reason to come on in!
Starting the evening with St Germain
and can’t think of a better way to do so.
Now, the important question is, how many
drinks do I need before I’m playing games
from grade school… And lovin it?
1 = Rockem Socket Robots
2 = Jenga
3 = Connect Four
4 = Sorry