Corey Dane. Photo: Jamie Manser
I've been at it for a year, but my family and friends are still bewildered by my job. It's understandable to a certain degree - I liken explaining my role as Yelp's Tucson Community Manager to photographing Bigfoot. Though people refer to me as Mr. Yelp, I'm just an ordinary guy with a healthy addiction to film, malbec and those yelpgasmic chocolate-chip cookies at Rocco's. Oh, and I happen to be at the helm of a vibrant, buzzing community of locals who drink, shop and eat their way through Tucson! More than anything, though, I'm the man about town, working to find new and outlandish ways to connect the Yelp community to great local businesses in Tucson.
Our website, Yelp.com, harnesses the power of 19 million reviews to help 50 million consumers per month - nationwide - decide where to spend their hard earned dough. But Yelp ain't yo' momma's ratings site. In addition to useful, cool and pee-your-pants funny reviews on everything from bars to boutiques, we offer an awesome events calendar and friendly interaction with a like-minded group of locals, both on and offline. That's where I come in.
As a Community Manager, my days are anything but typical. I pen the Weekly Yelp newsletter, coordinate all kinds of community happenings including parties for the site's most active and influential users (known as Elites), and larger scale promotions like Yelp's Sugar High, which took place in May and featured discounts on sweet treats all over the city. As the sun sets in the southwest, I drive to art exhibitions, movie screenings, restaurant openings, bar crawls and Jell-O wrestling matches (true story). Tomorrow, I'll wake up and do it all over again.
I'll be passing on my yelpy wisdom and the wise words from other yelptastic reviewers in each edition of Zócalo. If you have an idea for a topic you'd like covered, email tucson@yelp.com. Until then, read my picks for places where I crave caffeine, savor supper and wine down the night. n
(Ratings based on 5 stars: 1= Eek! Methinks not. 2= Meh. I've experienced better. 3= A-OK. 4= Yay! I'm a fan. 5=Woohoo! As good as it gets!)
SAVAYA MARKET (4 stars)
"Twice in one week? Yeah, I'm a fan! No rushing in and rushing out here, no drive through, there aren't a bazillion syrups to pack your bevie with. Instead there are great beans and great teas." 5350 E. Broadway Blvd. Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm. 747-3200, SavayaCoffee.com
THE ABBEY (5 stars)
"Starter salads are delicious, the hush puppies are the devil, and there hasn't been an entrée I haven't enjoyed. Favorite to date? The scallops." 6960 E. Sunrise Dr. Tue-Thu 3pm-10pm; Fri-Sat, 3pm-12am; Sun, 3pm-10pm. 299-3132, TheAbbeyTucson.com
DOWNTOWN KITCHEN COCKTAILS
(5 stars)
"Food at the bar is half off during happy hour. There is a house red and white wine special in addition to incredible live music from some of the best artists I've ever heard perform." 135 S. 6th Ave. Mon-Wed, 11am-9:30pm; Thu-Sat, 11am-2am; Sun, 4pm-9pm. 623-7700, DowntownKitchen.com
