Event - Yelp OC's Holiday Hoopla

It's not a holiday hoopla without awesome freebies, fun activities, great food, and fantastic friends. Oh wait..so then this WAS a holiday hoopla! Yelp OC Community Manager Ryan C. has done it once again with a spectacular event that was loads of fun and a great way to give back to the community. I love how the events usually try to have a community-building focus and this one was certainly no different. On a cold night, Yelpers gathered inside the wondrous OC Mart Mix to shop to their hearts' delight (20% for RSVPing, what!) and nom on some small treats from the vendors inside.


I love the OC Mart Mix - I really do. The fact that we were all there supporting some local businesses too was fantastic. There was a make-your-own-s'mores station created through the innovation of using burners for our "bonfire." There was a gift-wrapping station where you could also donate toys to Share Ourselves.


As I had mentioned before, I love the OC Mart Mix and seeing the owners milling about there was a nice get-to-know-you touch. We Olive had a tasting station where I got to nibble at some bread and a variety of olive oil (that jalapeno one was a pleasant surprise). The cheese shop was open with some goodies. Oh and the star of my show was the Savory Spice Shop which I had come specifically to the Holiday Hoopla for (well, and to support Ryan and donate toys of course =] ) - 20% there! I stayed myself pretty well but did run off into the night with a new spice grinder and some black lava salt. Whoohoo!


I also got to meet the sweet owner/creator of Birdie Bowl and Juicery, Jee! You may know her from her other place, Milk + Honey. Not only was everything about the set-up cute but the drinks delicious. I had heard about this new juice bar opening up at the OC Mart Mix a little while ago but had never gotten a chance to sample their drinks. Now that I have, I must come back! Fresh ingredients, fresh ideas, fresh design - what's not to love? It was my last stop of the awesome night and I'm glad to have come out to see and catch up with some Yelp friends I hadn't seen in a while. Great job to our CM!

Photography by Duc Duong. More photos available on Facebook.