Elvis’ Hard Rockin’ Elite Birthday Bash

Zoiks! How did I miss reviewing this awesome event!!! Unilocal events are always tons of fun, but this one ranks way up there! I really had a lot of fun playing blackjack with Gerald’s Casino Parties! Great food and wine! Best of all really great people!
The staff at Hardrock are awesome!
Thank you Gloria and Unilocal for always making a great impression, each event is better than the last.

Dudes. I’m all kindsa late; probably no one will ever read, but… for the record:
I had a blast, as is always the case hangin’ with Unilocalers. And thanks, as always, to Glo & co. for putting everything together.
My low rating is for Hard Rock Café. While I appreciate their hosting a bash for us, let’s face it: they’re doing it to promote themselves… so why didn’t they bother to position themselves to local Unilocalers? I mean, I guess they can’t dress up the mediocre food they usually sell… and I’ll admit the Elvis peanut butter and banana desserts were a nice effort… but do they have no control over the music and videos that play? Is corporate beaming a stream of videos to all locations worldwide? And even if so – why isn’t it All Elvis All Day every Jan 8? I wanted to bring my Elvis Fanatic friend to the event, but I was glad she couldn’t make it after all; there wasn’t much Elvis-​y about it. And while we had a blast and reallllly appreciate Hard Rock’s spoiling us… I doubt you’re gonna get many of us back through your doors, unless we’re with that one family member who insists on visiting every Hard Rock in the world. Try to take advantage of the opportunity next time, Hard Rock! Stop being so stiff and corporate and move them hips a little!!!

I actually got to this event on time for once so I grabbed some food, snagged a beer and locked down one of the free tables available for me and my lady. The event was one of the funnest I’ve been to and it was a great night of tribute to Elvis, the man with the blue suede shoes.
Music videos both black and white as well as color played throughout Hard Rock Café so everyone could enjoy his classics at all stages of his life and more than a few people dressed up for the occasion including myself!
The buffet consisted of quick cuisine like wings, onion rings, spinach dip and various desserts. The food was about what I expected from a buffet line but service was pretty good considering the large crowd.
This event was fun for me bc I don’t think I’ve ever been to this Hard Rock Café so seeing all of the memorabilia was fun to check out. Great job Gloria and staff for opening my eyes to a place that’s often labeled as a tourist spot!

Another great Unilocal Elite event. Thank you Gloria and Hard Rock San Antonio!
My favorite part of the night (besides seeing friends) was hanging out at the Blackjack Table. So much fun! The dealer was great — it was my first time playing Blackjack and he was really helpful and patient with some of us newbies :).
Thanks again for an awesome event!

Again, Unilocal,with the obvious assistance from our community manager Gloria, and of course Hard Rock Café San Antonio, has thrown an amazing event. I’m not sure what I’ll do should one of these events bomb but with the Gloria and her helpers, it’s doubtful that day will come.
This was my first visit to HRC SA. The place has 2 floors with the bar on the bottom floor (canal level). My first impression is that this is a gorgeous HRC. The bar extends through the upward to the second floor and is quite visually appealing.
The event, to celebrate the King’s birthday, was great. As usually, signing in went very smoothly and in no time at all we were standing in line for an amazing little buffet provided by HRC. From hot wings, to sliders, to cheesy spinach dip, this was quite the little buffet. You can’t really ding HRC (or anyone) for the fact that the food had to be prepared in advance and then sit in serving trays heated by Sterno. I mean, that’s just the reality of the situation.
In addition to the main food buffet, HRC provided a cheese and cracker selection along with a variety of fruits as well as mini desserts. The mini cheesecake bowls and chocolate mousse were lovely.
And the coup de grace had to be the free beer and wine… Nothing says a good time like an open bar and the King, Elvis Presley belting out tunes over the TVs.
A BIG thank you to all those involved in making this bash a reality.

If this event was ANY indication of what is to come in 2014 then we are definitely in for some fun!!! I’m glad new Elites, old Elites, and all of our +1’s had a chance to participate in one more amazingly fun event together. I brought 3 non-​Elites with me to Elvis’ Birthday Bash, but by the end of the night, I left with 3 hopeful Unilocal Elite candidates! After they start writing more reviews, of course!
I must say that my guests were very impressed with this shindig. They had a hard time believing that this is the norm for our Elite events! Excellent motivation for any Unilocaler to continue being Unilocaly :) I liked the fact that even though we all came in our own little cliques, everyone still managed to roam around, mingle, and see some new as well as some familiar faces. My only gripe is that the event did not feel very long at all! That, and the fact that I continuously saw the same 4 or 5 people at the gambling table which didn’t really allow anyone else an opportunity to experience it. On the other hand though, I did surprisingly get to try out TapSnap this time and I am very impressed with their customer service and their awesome party-​picture-​taking concept.
Hard Rock Café is really great — the last time I visited Hard Rock, I was a senior in high school! This experience definitely overshadowed the first, with their amazingly presented buffet lines, exceptional views of the SA river, impressive amounts of beer and wine, and the modern décor throughout the entire establishment. Not to mention the bartender downstairs was AMAZING (I’ve never had a better-​tasting Blue Hawaiian in my life!) and the rest of the staff were courteous and attentive to our every need. The food was surprisingly good for finger foods, and Elvis’ favorite dessert was definitely a hit amongst the crowd I was with.
LULY AND KAREN!!! Your ‘fro-​rocking days have only just begun!!!
GLORIA!!! We still owe you that shot!
Can’t wait for the next event :)

We had a great time celebrating Elvis’ birthday! The food was great, the venue was beautiful (you can’t beat those river views), but my favorite part was the TapSnap booth… the photos were hilarious and a lot of fun to take! Gloria and the Unilocal crew did a great job, as usual, and the Hard Rock staff was amazing! Here’s to the first of many fantastic Elite events in 2014!

I can’t help falling in love with Gloria C! She hit this one out of the ballpark! Happy New Year Unilocalers!
Great venue, the employees at HRC ROCKED IT!!! Everyone was so nice and pleasant, the shots were AMAZING! and they even walked around checking on us to see if we needed anything to drink.
The food was pretty good, but the atmosphere really made it for me complete with running Elvis videos and an Elvis of our own to take pics with!
Tapsnap was there again to capture the moment and I love, love, loved the blackjack tables! Had so much fun playing, talking and laughing with some nice Unilocalers!
I forgot how fun it can be to be a tourist in my own hometown!

I kinda hate to admit it, but I had an awesome time on the riverwalk at the Hard Rock Café.
Second floor all to ourselves, blackjack, Elvis, some amazing food, open bar and a couple of huge ‘fros.
This is probably the most Unilocalers I’ve ever seen in one place since forever and it was great to have such an awesome turnout! Old friends, new ones, and a really neat mix of people from around the city.
Looking forward to more in the new year!

This was an awesome way to celebrate Elvis’s birthday! Gloria and The Hard Rock Café did an amazing job and made this event fun for everyone. I got to dress up in some 70’s gear and rock the bad hippie hair, too! They had 2 buffets set up, one with savory things like sliders, coconut chicken and onion rings, the other with desserts. There was a bar with beer and wine, then a waiter brought us some blue shot around. Who says no to shots?
I rounded the corner and found blackjack tables, and apparently, I’m kinda good at blackjack! I ended up spending the rest of my night playing blackjack and wishing my winnings were real.
This was yet another fun, well-​organized event. Good job, guys!

Not even the cold or the rain could have kept me away from the first 2014 Unilocal party. I loved it ! Thanks to Gloria and her Unilocal team. My guest and I had a blast. We enjoyed the warm welcome from the Hard Rock staff. I really enjoy the buffet, fruit, and pastries. The wait staff was amazing. They gave us great drinking selection to choose from. I really liked the casino idea. I didn’t have a chance to try my luck but i did see a lot of happy Unilocalers enjoying themselves. I also liked seeing Tap Snap taking all the cool pics. Once again Thanks Gloria, and Hard Rock for a wonderful Unilocal experience. I look forward to coming back for dinner and drinks.

I came here with two friends, and I’m really glad I had someone to tag along with. It was –packed-​, and no offense to those that planned the event and went to it and enjoyed it, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. [But kudos to Gloria and the crew, it was beautifully done, and it seemed like everyone enjoyed it!]
We got to the buffet fairly quickly, they had a few things: Nachos, Fried Coconut Chicken, Fried Onion Rings, Mini Cheeseburgers, Buffalo Wings, and lots of fruit and cheeses. My one friend couldn’t eat any of the fried items because she’s allergic to onions, and we honestly didn’t want to chance that they didn’t cook everything in the same oil as the onion rings. The food was alright, but not the best I’ve had at Hard Rock.
Unfortunately I had nothing to drink, I saw waitresses running around but none ever came to the table we were sitting outside on the patio; and the line at the –one– bar they had was extremely long. I wanted to check out the casino games, but I couldn’t even get near them. The line with the bar went past both games, and was not helping with the traffic; especially since they had also set up some tables in the area.
We chatted with a nice lady outside, but other than that it seemed like everyone was fixed on their own groups they came with rather then mingle around.
I feel that if the party had been in a larger room, and strategically planned better it might’ve gotten three stars, but I’m not a big person for packed events like this. We stayed for maybe an hour and then left. I really prefer the smaller Unilocal events I think, then the bigger ones. You meet more people, and it just seems more personal.

Ok, really people?! How can this not be a 5-​star event?! Glo pulled out all the stops this go around! (and hello +2 for this event, helllll yes!!!)
Hard Rock Café set up a rockin’ (see what I did there) food spread of some of their most popular items: sliders, coconut chicken, onion rings, their killer chips n spinach dip, crab cakes, the list goes on! It’s also totally rad of them to shut down the entire street level of the place for us! I totally loved the take home backstage passes and guitar pick bracelets. Not only did they have a walk-​up bar w/​plenty of beer and wine choices, they also had some wait staff walking around, working the room, making sure everyone was doing ok and wasn’t in need of a refill.
Beside the great food and drink we also had plenty of other things to keep us occupied! I personally loved having the black jack tables there and as always TapSnap had the perfect location for creating awesome memories of the event.
If this is any sign of what the world of Elite 2014 is to be like, hold on to your hats, this year is gonna kick 2013’s ass!

Elvis blasting through the speakers and on the tv’s, an America buffet, cold beer, great people, and Blackjack! This event pretty much had it all.
The food was delicious. Servers did a great job keeping the buffet fresh and full. The beer was ice cold and readily available.
The dealers made the tables a lot of fun. I almost felt like I was playing for real money.
Thank you Glo and Hard Rock San Antonio!
Oh and Happy Birthday Elvis too.

Hard Rock is typically a «tourist» joint… but they threw quite the Unilocal private party! You can’t help but love the atmosphere: rock memorabilia all over the walls, glitz & glitter, a life size Elvis cut out.
The food was better than I recall & I was starving! I enjoyed the spinach dip, coconut chicken strips, wings, & especially the generous cheese, fruit & dessert bar (uh, didja try Elvis’ fav peanut butter one? Yum!). The beer & wine was a-​flowin’ all night… loved the spunky blonde bartender, she was fun times!
The casino part was way cool although I didn’t play… the Tap Snap booth was fun… and best of all? The company! I saw some of my fav Elites, finally met a few that I’m huge fans of (I’m talking to you, Luly & Dave S.!), and I met some bad azz new (well, new to me) Elites!
Thank you, Gloria & HRC! Well done!

Huge thanks to Gloria and Hard Rock for providing an awesome event. Last night gave me the opportunity to dust off my blue suede shoes! I really enjoyed seeing everyone dressed in their best 70s attire. I definitely need to amp up my creativity for costumes … my outfit was a little too subtle.
It was my first time in Hard Rock so I was really wowed by the interior space and can’t wait to head back for those crab cakes! All the food was good and the shots were a nice surprise. Hard Rock’s staff was amazing! I was ready to stand in line at the bar until a waitress offered to get me a drink. All servers stayed on top of picking up dirty plates and glasses.
Only thing … We were missing the Elvis impersonators or even Elvis music. If there were some impersonators and I missed them it was probably because the event went by too fast. After the lines we stood in to get in, get food, and get a pic with TapSnap I felt like the event ended and I didn’t get to make the rounds to see everyone.

Let’s get the thank you’s out the way. Firstly, I love seeing Joi outside of her CM-​dom in NOLA! Thanks to Hard Rock, Glo, Joi, Roy, and vendors. Y’all make this happen. And that’s why when you say jump and put on an outfit — I say let me put on the stilts and get on my best one piece pschadellic pantsuit!
Secondly, to those of you who found time after work to dress up — you looked amazing (it’s half the fun!) and Elvis is for sure twitchin his beautiful lips to the homage we made tonight. To Luly, my Afro sister, snap snap and twist! We made it do girl!
I got a little hot flash with the wig and went downstairs. What turned into minutes for a cocktail turned into … The rest of the night. Spider hooked me up with best cocktails and shots though so I’m not mad. Plus, I’m sorry for pulling some Unilocalers away to join me in my shenanigans. Just sidenote — you guys are not just my Unilocal friends. You have turned into my real friends. If I see you/​talk to you outside of Unilocal and not just the «SYOY,» you have turned the transition from Houston to SA much easier. Thank you.
What food I tried, I couldn’t taste due to allergies but it was what seemed to be usual Hard Rock fare and a bountiful amount of it. I didn’t take part in the Las Vegas stuff — seemed like people got there and didn’t leave? The free booze was wine and beer. (Hence my bell bottoms downstairs.)
I will say that Unilocal reviews are supposed to be honest yeah? So… The check in was a bit rough. I know it was SA’s first digital check in process so I understand. Two check ins could have been condensed to one with clipboards by the hostesses with the mostestests. s…s. Let’s be real. Not all of us are good at direction following (guilty). And I had plus four (I picked them up five minutes before and they happened to be wearing costumes too), so nobody knew what to do at the table and everyone behind waited in a pretty massive line. Clipboards. Pass em around. Avoid gaggle in small space. My two cents.
And any Elvis song on the speakers would have really got my Afro boppin!

what a great way to start off 2014! i would love to thank gloria c. for letting me come to my first elite event in san antonio, TX! i loved every minute of it from the food, venue, drinks, and games. it was really nice to experience other events other than the ones in CALI!
we lined up outside of the hard rock café and was greeted by gloria right away, and i instantly felt like i already knew her! she was so sweet and bubbly and can i say she looked smoking hot! we waited in line and received vip passes during the check-​in line. you can see the king standing there and greeting everyone to his birthday bash.
the all american buffet offered: fresh tortilla chips, chicken spinach dip, coconut chicken, cheese quesadilla, jalapeño poppers, CRAB CAKES, onion rings, buffalo wings, and mini cheese burgers! man i had to get two plates because i couldn’t fit everything! my favorite was the spinach dip and crab cakes i could have went back for more and more! hard rock café really did a great job hosting the event! they also offered a dessert table with fresh fruits, cheeses, brownies, peanut butter & banana desserts, and more.
there was also shots going around for us Unilocalers! i had the yummy blue tropical mix and it went down smoothly. on top of that, i had 2 bottles of miller lite and a glass of white wine. i was enjoying myself getting to know a couple elites from SA!
overall everything ran smoothly and the 2 hours went by real fast. i had a fun time taking pictures from TapSnap and playing blackjack from gerald’s casino parties. i can’t wait to share my experience with the other Unilocalers in LA!

The CM threw a party in the Hard Rock Café.
The Unilocal band was there and they began to wail.
The band was jumpin and the joint began to swing.
You should’ve heard those knocked out Unilocal elite sing.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole hard rock
Was dancin to the Unilocal elite rock.
(Sung to music of Jailhouse Rock)
Great event thrown by SA CM Gloria, The Hard Rock SA with help from Unilocal intern Roy and Unilocalster Joi from NOLA. Everything went off as smoothly as a brand new pair of blue suede shoes.
A great party to celebrate the King’s birthday in pure Unilocal elite style.
Looking forward to more Unilocal events to come in 2014.

First and foremost… Thank you, Gloria and Hard Rock Café for an awesome night!!! My friends and I had a blast!
Usually I’m behind the camera taking pictures of the food and of my surroundings and of course posting them. Are y’all tired of my photos yet? Probably, huh? I know I post a lot of pictures. Well, if you are, luckily for you I was too busy saying hello to old Unilocal buddies and meeting new Unilocal friends this time around. So I only snapped two pics… which were both photobombed by Karen N. Thanks a ton, Karen :\
Seriously though, I’ve got lots of love for Karen, who found the coolest blond afro and clued me in on where I could get my own. I opted for the black version of it and I frikin LOVE IT! Our ‘fros were a big hit at the party and totally made me feel like a disco diva. Not gonna lie. Loved the attention I was getting from y’all!!! Thanks for making my night :)
The diverse and generous buffet, open bar, Gerald’s Casino Parties, & TapSnap all added to the fun factor. Happy birthday, Elvis! Thank you for giving us crazy Unilocalers an excuse to party.