Elite Event @ Park Slope Eye

I have an invite from Unilocal… YAY! I open it… Park Slope Eye? Isnt that an eye glass shop… questioning look… Ok lets RSVP and see what its all about.
That has got to be one of my favorite events I’ve attended. One of the highlights was that peter d. remembered me, so my check in was super smooth and quick… such service Unilocal Staff A+! I LOVEEEEEEEEEE THE STAFF at Park Slope Eye! OMG Dr. Justin please give them a raise!

I want to get glasses now, seriously. I don’t care if I have the eyes of an eagle… I found a pair of frames that are really killer.
Have to give kudos to the staff of Park Slope Eye for being really charming.

Unilocal sweat bands, and Unilocal pins, and ring pops oh my! That’s basically my initial thoughts upon entering my very first Elite event, especially when Ariela B later notifies me of my sudden lucky streak with me apparently winning the eye exam raffle! I hope whoever got the prize in my stead actually could use it since I have ²⁰⁄₂₀.
There’s no longer one in my wolf pack and was glad to meet the infamous Peter D (thank you for my Elite status!) and Jane K (who’s simply lovely in person) who really threw a great casual get together! A Thursday night never felt so fun and carefree with empanadas, sangria, and freebies (I think I started the hoarder group in the corner with Ariela B and Jim oops!).
I’m now the coolest chick on the 6 train with my 80s-​like Unilocal lunchbox. I start trends and threads :)
Looking oh so forward to making more friends and maybe I’ll need glasses by the next one! :looks for someone to poke her ever so nicely in the eye:

When this event appeared on the Unilocal calendar at first I was afraid then I was petrified, but I know Unilocal will always be by my side. So I put down my RSVP because of this unique Unilocal event not at a bar, not at a restaurant, but rather at an optical. And I just had to come because this is in one of my favorite neighborhoods.
Showed up late because I got out of work late. Got there and was greeted by Chun, Peter and Jane. It wasn’t hard finding familiar faces that I already knew. This event was roughly about 30 people, which was pretty interesting because I’ve never been to a Unilocal event with this little amount of people. It was good to mingle with such a small group, especially with new names and new faces.
Wing L told me about the empanada, so I went to get one. It was my first solid food I had since earlier that week, so I was kind of excited, but afraid at the same time that it will not sit well in my stomach. But after chomping down on one empanada with some guac, I was glad that was my first real food in days! The empanada from Bogota was really delicious!
Had a great time chilling with new faces I met — Elaine M, Albert W, Ron C, James F and Asprey J, but of course always a great time with Jenn L and Wing L too! I saw these HUGE hot pink glasses and snagged them to wear for the night, they were just so cute! Now I want to head to the nearest Party City and get a pair to wear at every Unilocal event!
Thanks again Jane K and Peter D for setting up such a successful and fun event! Thanks Justin/​Park Slope Eye and their staff for hosting us and giving us those nifty gift bags. Thanks Bogota for the yummy empanadas! =)

This was my first elite event and it was absolutely most awesomely awesome.
Wait. I typed that– and now just noticed that Ron C. wrote pretty much the exact same thing. With fewer adverbs. (Adverbs, right? I used to teach English abroad and I loved torturing particularly annoying students with the great Adverb versus Adjective lesson, and now I don’t even remember what an adverb is. Hmmm. But I digress again). Back on topic: Please don’t ban me to Unilocal Plagiarism Purgatory. I swear, I wrote the same thing because it was a) was my first elite event, and b) it was awesome. And so is the lunchbox. I can’t wait for the next shindig!

This was my very FIRST Unilocal Elite Event and it was AWESOME! It was great to finally go to one. It was really low key and just the right amount of people to meet everyone. I actually made arrangements for work so I can attend.
I arrived there at about 7:15 and was greeted by a familiar face. It was Peter D., he recognized me as a new face, gave me a warm welcome. I thought to myself, «he is a real person, just like Tom from Myspace without all the mystery.» He becomes one of your friends, but you don’t really know who he is yet. He told me that the lunch boxes were on display, but to snag one before everyone gets here… YAY! I got a lunch box complete with a thermos.
My very first « Unilocal Shwag!»
After meeting some people and guzzling down some really good Sangria. It was time to get some Empanadas from Bogata. They were perfectly cooked, still crunchy on the outside with really good filling. I had the beef with some guacamole on the side. YUM!!!
It was great meeting new people and the Unilocalers who I haven’t met ybut am already friends with on Unilocal.
Special shout to Peter D. & Jane K. for hosting an excellent event and making me feel very welcome. Sandy C., Albert W., Wing L., Elaine M. for the good company and conversations. Also to Jenn L. for taking that shot of Grey with me! See you all soon!
Special Thanks to Park Slope Eye and especially to Dr. Justin Bazan for having the event there… A very cool place!

Walked in and checked in with Jane K. I’m thinking darn, I probably missed those lunchboxes. Asked Jane K. and she pointed to the table in the corner-«Go ahead and help yourself to one.» YES! /​smiles
Hugs to Jenn L. for spotting me ASAP. Hey Nydia C., whatcha been up to girl? Kudos to Albert W. for the heads up about the cool lunchboxes (was running late so I RAN to the event-​LOL).
I loved that this was a small, cozy event (30 or so Elites?). I was able to mingle and chat with almost every new face at this event. It was great to finally meet Sandy C. in person. And Wing L., we have plenty more to chat about. I wanna hear about your ‘vision’ (winner of the raffle!). Shout out to all the new fellow Unilocalers I met last night. YOu guys are super cool.
The empanada’s from Bogata were super yummy (especially w/​some guac slathered on top). The friendly bartender kept the drinks flowing throughout the event. Much love for that! Thanks Jane K. and Peter D. for another fun and successful event. And to Park Slope Eye, you guys got some great stuff and a cool store front. *Muah*

Yay!!!
My first Unilocal Elite event! I was excited that I was able to attend this (being that I live down the street, etc — the commute was awesome), and it was great being able to finally put some faces to the people that I read all the time!
From what I’ve heard about other events, I’m glad that this was my first :) It was chill and quiet enough to actually talk to people and you got awesome swag and food and drinks. Nice to finally meet other Unilocalers in the area!
Looking forward to more events like this one!

Inspired by the Unilocal Libs napkins present at this Unilocal event, I invite you to fill out my Itty Bitty Blind Bash Libs — — -
(1) Name of colleague
(2) Verb
(3) Facial feature
(4) Awesome NY Community Manager
(5) Something you would steal
(6) Unilocaler who won practically everyone in the auction
(7) Unilocaler that I won in the auction
(8) Verb
(9) Fruit with «grape» in it that isn’t «grape»
(10) Number
(11) Kind of liquid
(12) Name of
(13) adjective
(14) Number greater than 3
(15) Your name
(16) Adjective
(1) was trying to make me stay late at work, but I said, «No way! I have to (2) with other Unilocalers at a party at Park Slope (3)!»
I checked in with (4) and got my Elite (5). After arriving, I quickly spotted (6) and (7) eating the huge empanadas and (8)ing the sangria and (9) drinks. I practically ate (10) pounds of guacamole. There may or may not have been some shots of (11) thrown back before a couple of us left, for which I am grateful.
Even though Chun did not entertain everyone with topless time (as far as I know), I still had fun chatting it up with (12) and circulating said picture around some more. Hah! Major shoutouts to Unilocalers that I knew and Unilocalers that I finally got to meet in person. Hopefully I don’t forget anyone, but it was great seeing and meeting (in order of (13)iest): Albert, Asprey, Chun, Elaine, James, Jim, Ron, Sandy, and Wing.
I was sad when the event ended since there were less than (14) baker’s dozen attendees. I was even sadder when (15) left or didn’t show up. Thank you, (12) for putting this together, and to Justin of Park Slope Eye for hosting this (16) shindig!

«You’re not on the list», Peter D. said. *awkward pause* «But it’s ok» scribbling down my name with a highlighter. /​Joy (omigosh, is that a Unilocal Lunchbox?!) «Can I ninja one?!» «Go for it… blah blah blah –white noise-​» *yoink*
(wow, I’m a terrible guest — and I wasn’t even on the list) (omigosh, are those Borgata’s awesome emanadas?!) *pushes Pete away* (ooo drinks, I can give a tip or something… in fact I should give more — our bartender was über smexy)
Kewl, Jenn L’s here. *hugs* [she won me during the Silent Date Auction] «Lets get an empanada». *sits down and devours my first empanada… mmmm beefy* «Hello Wing L. Nice to meetcha.» «Hey Elaine M. Ya finally made it, and guess what? Looks like there is a lunchbox with your name on it!» «Nydia C. What’s shakin? Chun L’s here. How come that fucker hasn’t asked you out on a date yet?!»
Met some of the cool staffers at Park Slope Eye and if I didn’t recently gotten a new pair of frames, I’d totally check em out. One of the best Elite Events evar. eeevaaaar. Bewbs.

Dear Unilocal Elite,
You’ve managed to restore some sense of respect to Park Slope (at least in my eyes). Not only that, but you filled my tummy with delicious empanadas from Bogota Bistro and delightfully summery drinks. I even had enough breathing room to make conversation with cool Elites. And one of those dorky-​awesome Unilocal lunchboxes also happened to make its way home with me.
So, in closing, I say, dear Unilocal Elite, please continue with smaller events. They make my community feel even more awesome and my heart happy.
xoxo

I love my fellow cuddly Elites! I haven’t shown up at an event in a while, so I was kinda surprised how many people missed me. o_​o Lesson learned: I’m awesome.
But back to the event. It was a VERY small crowd compared to other Unilocal events — even other Elite-​only ones I’ve been to. Maybe…35 people tops? I dunno, I wasn’t paying too much attention. Either that or my glasses aren’t working. Oh wait, the party is in an optometrist’s office! Hey staffer chicks, can you tell me what my prescription is? −6.00÷−6.00? Wow, so I really am blind. Note to self: Work this in along with insanity clause for possible future crime alibis. Come to think of it, the «mandatory» photos with those goofy glasses may actually come in handy.
Funky DJ, bartender, balloons everywhere, Unilocal logo emblazoned on everything (of course), and those few of us with the courage to actually take home one of those prominently displayed tin lunch boxes. («Really? They’re free? But… there aren’t that many, and I don’t wanna look greedy by taking one… oh, screw it. It’s free. MINE.» *hoards in corner*)
I haven’t had a Ring Pop in over a decade. I’ll have to finish the rest of it another time, so I don’t get a sugar headache. (Edit: I tried, but it fell on the carpet and is now covered in dog hair. I’m a sad panda.)
The raffle was kinda funny. Jaclyn L shoulda stuck around for another 20 minutes! :p But grats to Wing L — that’s a sweet gift deal.
Sorry I’ve been missing so many events till now! I promise I’ll be more diligently social in the future.
…
TIN LUNCHBOX!!!

Growing up with trading cards, my stars all had tag lines or «factoids» that I would memorize. Hank Aaron was the «Home Run King», «Swen Nater ties his wedding ring to his shoestrings». Weird stuff like that, that you remember. Flash forward to 2010, where «I go a lot of places and I do a lot of things», and «It’s all about the white sauce.», just seems right for my modern day trading cards. And for connecting the reviews that I love to read with the stars who write them, along with a Unilocal host that doubles as a cat, what more could you ask for?. These people are larger than life in their reviews, but just like me in person.
Good food, actually VERY good food, and awesome Sangria.
Thanks to our host, and the good Doctor and your friendly staff.
I’ll be back to get my peepers tuned up sometime soon!

CAUTIONARY WARNING:
This «review» is being written by a man (or close proximity of one) who is questioning the reality of his existence. Or lack there of.
An elite event at an ophthalmologist office?
My curiosity got the better of me.
Why?
Is it because some of us get blindingly drunk?
Because of the multitude of good reviews of Mars Bar?
Because we mistake sink for urinal? (Huh? What?)
Because of the ladies (or close proximity of one) that I bring home?
What’s going on?
Simply put Dr. Justin and Park Slope Eye are super cool.
More detail…
A spacious eye doctor’s office decked out with cool contemporary art, comfortable seating, and well basically nothing like the generic eye doctors I’m accustomed to. This was a great place to host a intimate party. I’m a fan of this place without a medical visit.
Good job.
I am a fan of Bogota Bistro (read Briana or bridget’s review, mine’s fluff)
and the empanada’s they supplied were delicious. The drinks, from some bar on Degraw St. (I’m fading, sorry) were good. For some reason tequila and grapefruit juice sounded healthy. I think my liver disagrees.
Anyone else need to rejuvenate? So do I :
Okay a little better now.
Similar to Nita Nita this was a small event, making extended conversing (you know like the sneaker) possible. What was unique was how many new Unilocal Elite there are. Walking into an event and knowing only a few people (Hi Wing, Jenn, Chun & Vic) is weird after being to so many. But it was good meeting new faces and catching up with familiar faces for more than a minute or two.
The missing star? For the missing obviously.
I enjoyed meeting new people but missed a few of you (Brian, Joey, Kelly, Cara, Madhuri and … I’m too tired to type.)
Different. Unique. Fun.
Thanks peter and Jane.
I’m guessing that this is the end,
and you know what ?
it is.

When I first learned about the event and where it was going to be held, I couldn’t fathom for the life of me how the event was going to be like. An optometrist office where they serve booze and have a blind taste test of empanadas? Really? Half of me clicked on that little RSVP button just because I was mighty curious about it. And you know what? I am so glad that I did.
First off, as some other reviewers mentioned, this event was probably the smallest group wise I’ve ever seen. I am guessing around 40ish maybe. Peter told me there was a nation wide glitch with the Unilocal email invite system so some people didn’t get the invite confirmation till the very day of the event. I think half the people that got in didn’t show up for this reason.
There were lots of new faces which just means more cool people to get to know. The empanadas from Bogota Bistro was simply delicious. By the time I got there 20 minutes after the event started, there was only the beef empanadas left but you know what? I don’t care because I loved every bite of it and then I had another, and then another. The blind taste test never did happen but I was real happy to look at all the wonderful food I was eating anyway.
There was some amazing Sangria and mixed drinks there. The mixed drinks was courtesy of Shirley, the very friendly bartender. The Sangria… I wish I knew who made the Sangria there. It was so good. Lots of fruity goodness. There was so much to drink that my vision blurred a little towards the end of the night and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because I needed new contacts.
For the first time ever, I had a nice long chat with both Peter D and Jane K. Jealous? Well you all could suck it because you people were hogging them away from me at the other events. Now it’s my turn. Bwah ha ha ha ha. I also got to meet the owner of Park Slope Eye and he was just such a swell guy to talk to. According to his ever friendly employees there, he is also an avid Unilocaler. You could expect to see him at other events. Maybe one that he isn’t throwing himself next time.
According to Asprey’s review, I ran around drunk naked and was making a fool of myself. If so, I was truly hammered and I can’t remember even a bit of it… or … the more likely scenario was that Asprey needed to have his eyes checked really badly and needs to get a pair of new glasses because he was seeing things. I highly recommend Park Slope Eye for that check up Asprey. There are some really nice and friendly people there just to let you know.
Towards the end of the event, some people left before the little Unilocal party was over. It was so sad to see them go. I swear I even teared up a little every time someone went out the door. At least I was until raffle time came about and then they announced the winner. Not there anymore. Poor poor Unilocaler. Another pick. Not there again. I felt so bad for them. Third pick… It was ME!!! Thank you all that left early for the night. =)
After the official 9pm ending for the event came about, they dimmed the lights, turned up the music even more, and the whole office flashed with colored rays of disco lights. The optometrist office transformed into a disco club in front of our very eyes. How cool is that? We were just missing the fog machines. Maybe they will have one next time if we ever have another event there again?
Thank you Peter D, Jane K, and Unilocal for another great event despite the small size. Thank you Justin, the Park Slope Eye owner for being such a gracious host. You are such a great down to earth person. Park Slope should be proud to have your business there. See you and your employees at other Unilocal events.