Elite Event at New Deal Distillery

HOT MONKEY in that little boys eyes,
HOT MONKEY in that laid back Portland style,
a NEW DEAL VODKA that’ll bring you to your kneeeeees…
HOT MONKEY, if you please!
sorry couldn’t help myself:)
Hands down my favorite Elite event thus far. The Chad was awesome, the drinks were awesome, food was awesome… not to beat a dead dead bacon wrapped date, but this thing was awesome. The drink line was intimidating, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a line beer!
Laura– smokin hot dress & happy trails! I know you’ll do great things:)

I always enjoy a good vodka (or as they call it on Fark, vodak). I like that New Deal is locally produced– in fact, the distillery is a mere 5 blocks away from my place. It’s usually closed to the public, of course, but the Unilocal event made it possible to enjoy some lovely cocktails.
I arrived too late to get any of those bacon things, but even though there was a lack of the candy of meats, the event was good times.
Vodak.

Fantastic party!
The boyfriend was amazing! The lines were long, but good things come to those that wait.
The only thing that made the evening bittersweet was knowing this was Laura’s last event: (You will be missed

«Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.» ~Lazurus Long
And the Elite event at the New Deal was certainly museum worthy, as it was a beautiful way to end an era. Congrats Laura on your final Elite event; the genuine appreciation for all you have done was evident on Friday night. Your effervescent smile, fabulous events and guiding hand will certainly be missed.
Plus, once again you managed to hook us all up with some fabulous free drinks… one’s that even this die hard beer drinker couldn’t say no to.
Fantastic conversations, mouth watering bacon appetizers, and a who’s who of Portland finest Unilocalers made Friday’s event the perfect way to spend an evening. It was great to finally introduce the TLB to what this whole Unilocal thing is all about.
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch. ~Garrison Keillor

I’m a bit on the shy side (until I get to know you then you can’t shut me up) so people watching was my game, fueled by free food and booze of course. Thanks Unilocal for getting me out of the house and across the river on a Friday night and thanks to New Deal for the free bottle of vodka!
Maybe next time I’ll actually socialize…
Also, sincerest apologies to the guy I laughed at who tripped in the loading dock area. I strategically placed myself nearby as I knew alcohol and an abrupt grade change does not mix. You were casualty #1 and I just couldn’t help myself. Sorry.

Trunk Monkey!!!
Oh how I lurve you! Almost as much as hangin with Yeeps at a badass distillery. I don’t even mind the lines that wrapped in zig zag shapes across the room. As you wait in line you will notice many a thing that Yeeps do.
Mellisa P. gets amazing massages and tells of their greatness later.
D.K. is SUPER excited to get all those candid shots of you.
Andrew and Gabe… are being Andrew and Gabe. Booze is involved as well.
And Michelle H. and i hit the Pumpkin cheesecake. HARD.
But lets be honest, this night belongs to one person and one person alone. Her name is Laura N. and she was an AMAZING leader for the P-​town Yeeps. Laura, I think i speak for everyone when i say… keep it real and get your ass back here reeeeal soon.
lots o love
C

Big Sigh… what a night. Greet Yeeps, Great Food, Great Vodka, Great Music. Great Success.
Highlights being…
~Ooooh Trunk Monkey (aka Drunk Monkey)… you manage to pull off sweet, tangy, and spicy in one mouthful… GENIUS
~Mmm being massaged by THE Chad… I think all parties should start with a massage to loosen you up a bit (without the help of alcohol. that can come later)
~Bob S. and Scrantz… always a pleasure :)
~J.W. making passes for my +1… most entertaining
~Ron throwing it DOWN during the after-​party… Master of Music
~Manchego stuff dates wrapped in bacon… Oh my!
~Owner of New Deal… we had a lovely conversation at the bar and you truly have inspired me to conduct a new research study on what factors get you served quicker when at a crowded bar… very thought provoking.
FINALLY: Laura, dearest Laura… Portland will not be the same without you… I think you are taking a little peice of all of us and it makes me sad but cheers to moving on up… well actually down… to San Fran… you know what I mean. Way to go out in style with a kick-​a$$ party.

The vodka was great! The people were cool! The line for booze was long!
It was a fun time. The long line was a .5 star deduction. Otherwise, would totally have been 5+stars. And even then, it’s hard to fault the 2 bartenders who never stopped making drinks the entire time we were there. And, the dirty martinis were awesome. One was shaken. One was stirred. James Bond knows where it’s at… always order shaken, not stirred.
Seriously good vodka. Seriously fun people.

Another crazy fun fabulous Unilocal elite event — thank you Laura! (you are loved).
I was afraid I was going to be late for the event, but it turns out I didn’t miss once precious little minute… for which I’m grateful because the evening went too quickly as it was (perhaps fueled by far too many amazing Trunk Monkey cocktails).
New Deal was amazing, as was Maiden’s fare — I even got to try a coveted bacon wrapped treat. All in all, another wonderful event.

Portland Unilocalers know how to party.
We know how to get it down.
We have the best «Boss Lady» ever whom I will miss dearly (That’s you Ms Laura «Thang» N).
I got my «Elite» hoodie… Oh yeah oh yeah *do the trunk monkey dance*
New Deal Vodka is really awesome and more awesome and really awesome again.
The Maiden bartenders gave me the best «Boyfriend» ever.
Who knew that Bacon wrapped Dates are tasty?
I got to mingle with my favorite yeeps and met yeeps that I’ve been wanting to meet like the famous Jen K, Brice B, and Cody «My neighbor» W.
The After Party rocked my socks and boots from DJ RNA rocked the house to the tasty The Maiden food.
Thank you, Laura and crew.
I will miss you and this event is one of many events that proof you are a Portland Unilocal legacy.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt himself couldn’t have planned a better New Deal related event.
But he might be the only one who could come close to filling the huge shoes that Miss Laura N. will leave behind as her amazing adventures take her south. This great event, attended by the masses of swanky pdx elite, brought the laughter, the vodka, and the vodka induced laughter in a raw industrial environment… it definitely felt like the kick off party to the upcoming fall/​winter/​holiday season.
Another fantastic opportunity to hang out with the fine group of Portland Yeeps, +1’s, and the friendly folks of New Deal Distillery and the Maiden.
Who knew waiting in line for boyfriends, girlfriends, and trunk monkeys could be so much fun?

Oh and I am still burping bacon with steam coming out of my ears from the Trunk Monkey drink.
That I can miss and I wish it’ll go away.
The part that I would hate to leave is Laura.
Kudos to Laura for another bangin party!

«Conversations with a +1»
(The Loop: aka Two Colors, One Drink)
Her: «That one’s mine. Give it. I ordered the ‘Girlfriend’.»
Him: «No. Yours is blue.»
Her: «They would not make the ‘Girlfriend’ blue. I like that one better. Give it.»
Him: «No.»
Her: «Come on.»
Him: «No.»
Her: «Come on.»
Him: «No.»
Her: «Come on.»
(Logic I Can’t Compete With)
Her: «Five dollar tip?»
Him: «This guy’s been setting me up. I’ve already had two Trunk Monkeys.»
Her: «You got two drinks before I even made it inside? Aren’t you supposed to be my driver?»
Him: «But they were spicy.» (?!)
(Chef/​Connosuire)
Him: «The toothpicks are the right length to get all the flavors of cheese on them. I’m creating kebabs.»
Her: «And how many bacon snaps did you have?»
Him: «I held my face to the platter and made shovel hands.»
New Deal Vodka is crazy good. No weird afterburner smell or taste… this the pure, uncut stuff. Even made the morning after a little kinder, a little gentler. Within just the first few sips, I felt it lock into each neuron and all was right in the world. A lot of times I feel like top shelf is a jip-​off, particularly in mixed drinks. Not this stuff, it’s the real (new) deal. They gave a great tour, chock-​a-​block full of some respectable science talk.
Laura, you will be sorely missed. Thanks for throwing such great parties.

You know those mornings when The Cat wakes you up around 6? And you get up and realize that your makeup is still on, your pants are strangely off, and the overwhelming feeling in your head beyond the fuzziness is, «Man, those Unilocal kids sure are dedicated to this thing called party»?
No? Uh, me neither. Now you must excuse me, as I hear the holler of the Trunk Monkey.
Laura N, if this event was the one indication of how awesome you are — and it is not, oh no sir — then you will be missed for many beers to come.

If the Portland Tribune is missing a photographer, and if he was whacked on the head with a vodka bottle, and if he might be later found stuffed in a stainless steel vat. I wouldn’t know anything about that. I was eating cheesecake at the time.

How could a party at a distillery be anything but sweet. Add a quick massage and nice chat, what’s not to like???
Laura N. says goodbye! I don’t like that!!!

Laura, way to go out with a bang.
Great space, great host and hostess, excellent drinks, wow food (bacon wrapped dates? The Chorizo and egg deal??? YUM!), and of course, great people. Being in the warehouse made me feel less like I was in dinky ol Portland and more like I was in some swanky secret loft party in, say, NYC. Ok, well, not 100%, but we can dream, can’t we? ;)
Thanks again Laura, you know you rule, and you will be missed.

«O» Face.
I must say I almost busted a tear with the goodbye speech, but alas, the fearless partying masses that Laura N. inspired will live on.
Here’s why this event was bitchin:
1. Free chair massage with ½ off coupon for a real long one (Chad Snow, Structure Massage) and it was good.
2. Unlimited bar plus beer selection. Trunk Monkey, yes please (New Deal).
3. Laura’s dress. (_​_​_​_​)
4. Tapas and killer pumpkin cheesecake complete with gold dust (The Maiden).
5. Wintery dressed Unilocalers with smiles on their faces and party in their hearts ( Unilocal Portland).

«Cause I drink it anytime — and anyplace
When it’s time to get ill — I pour it on my face
Monkey tastes Def when you pour it on ice
Come on y’all it’s time to get nice
Coolin’ by the lockers getting kind of funky
Me and the crew — we’re drinking (Trunk) Monkey»
Trunk Monkey… that funky monkey. How could you order anything else? I am such a sucker for clever marketing.
Great event tonight:
Yay for New Deal and that wicked good pumpkin cheesecake from The Maiden
Double yay for Yeeps (new and seasoned)
Boo for Laura abandoning her flock (I kid)
And yes, some of the vodka did indeed end up in my trunk after the raffle. Mwah-​hah-​hah-​hah.

1. Wow!
2. New Deal, can you be my new BFF 4ever? Between the kindness of the owner and the awesomeness of the staff, we got not only an amazing venue, but I got a BOYFRIEND (I asked for one literally and figuratively, and it was served up tall… HOT).
3. Dear The Maiden: I was sad I didn’t get to try much (looks like everyone was thinkin’ bacon tonight), but damn that cheesecake was great! Noooommmmsss! Please cook me dinner tomorrow. KTHXBAI!
4. Dear Masseur: I also did not get to try your services, but judging by Melissa’s «O» face, you have magic fingers. Will you give me a foot rub later? My boot hurt!
5. Pepper vodka. It makes even the strongest spice-​handling dudes cry. Believe me. I saw it.
6. Laura, I’m gonna miss you. xxx
7. Jeff and Barry, I don’t believe you.
(look out soon for photos!)
oh look!
there they are. :)