• by Kelly Samardak , June 3, 2009

Yelp Passport To Chelsea Kickoff Party, Chelsea Art Museum, New York
June 2, 2009

Yesterday I headed to the Chelsea Art Museum to grab my Passport to Chelsea, a program put together by Yelp to get you people from the East Side and upper Manhattan out to Chelsea to discover what it has to offer outside of Rawhide. What was up with the humidity last night? I was like a slimy spring roll by the time I arrived at the line already forming outside. I hope after this Yelp will do a passport to Harlem because I have so not investigated that area enough -- and friends of mine bought a place up there! Yes, those were personal asides, but guess what, I'm multitasking -- I'm Twittering, taking pics, and trying to do official MediaPost work while also writing up notes at the Digital Content Newfront 2009. No, I have no idea what my name is anymore.

The Chelsea Art Museum was pretty empty. They must have known that when grown adults (or as the boy corrected me, "come on, they were young professionals") get around free food that the chunks would be flying. Let's also not forget that there were a few beverage stations as well, so perhaps water-soluble art was removed. I like that the check-in table was (wo)manned by a Yelp London delegate - I think I forget that they're growing because I'm always digging into local reviews. Maybe someday when I get that bonus I'll dig into London reviews for my trip abroad.

Entering the actual event space meant walking precariously close to the gift shop. I have been a gift shop...slut...for lack of more mature wording, since I was a little toothless cross-eyed goon. OK, I was born with a lazy eye, but I looked pretty crossed most of the time. Anyway, art museum gift shops are the sticky paper to my mousey wallet -- all of those books like the Russian Prison Tattoo book and the lomography fisheye cameras, and the buttons and the... you get the picture. Anyway, the first floor was where Yelpers grabbed their goodie bags and there was a line of, course -- BUT the gals behind the table were strong in the brain because they were loading up those bags and walking out to the people in line, so it dispersed with a quickness.

The second floor played host to a multitude of food and drink tables, armpit-angering heat, and not enough garbage cans. See, now, this is an art museum. And I think it must be hard to have an event in an art museum because there aren't places to rest stuff. Or lean on. But let's move on. The first line I popped into was for Canton, who delivered tart little pink drinks in tiny little cups to thirsty Yelpers. Next to the Canton table were the Cafeteria crew, with their red velvet cupcakes that every single person in the room seemed to be inhaling. I'm not a huge cupcake fan, but don't be insulted, you baby cake lovers -- I just don't have much of a sweet tooth in general. Now, if there had been a Lays original potato chip situation...

So, yeah -- it was kind of hot. And people were space invaders -- and when you're short like me, being that close to people without the ability to see over anyone's head is actually quite dizzying. I'm going to start socializing in stilts. My lovely +1 and I meandered to the 3rd floor to see if the dance troupe (the ballet) had begun and they were just starting to warm up. 

It was already a little after 8 p.m., and because a lot of people were reacting strangely to my camera and due to the squished space, I felt I'd absorbed enough. Plus, I wanted to dig through my goody bag and see what deals were in store for me. And if you and I are still being honest, I also had to hoof it to the 11th street bar to catch Justin Townes Earle's set. Granted it was a weeknight, but that was my kind of bar -- cozy, dark, snuggly. And if you haven't listened to Earle before, you should. They just don't make music like that today and it was refreshing and heartbreaking. That kid has not just an ancient soul, it's an old soul steeped in a broth of family pain. And he's got that voice that reminds me of the old "talkies" -- that echo-y radio voice that Tom Joad probably listened to.

So, Cliff's notes: Yelp+Chelsea=great idea, really great deals, great neighborhood support. Justin Townes Earle= rip your heart out and run that sucker over a cheese grater awesome.

Annnd here are the pics!

Added 06/04/2009: I created an Internet Week collection.