#AlloParty #EscapeWithGoogle

“When Google throws a party, IT’S A PARTY!” So we weren’t surprised that we were nodding our heads vigorously in agreement when someone around us said this was the best party they’d been to all year! What started out as an invite to a “mystery” party, turned out to be a whole boat load of fun. Google recently launched their messaging app called Allo and this was the “Allo Party“! But instead of boring and long-winded presentations about “how awesome our app is!”, there were teams and games and an illustrator dishing out original artwork and insane music with Voctronica and DJ Aqeel and yummy wine ( Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet seems to be the wine of choice at many events these days and I am NOT complaining ) and good food ( the nihari mutton was my favourite ).

The Allo Product Lead Amit Fulay did get on stage to say hello – for literally 120 seconds!

The idea was to party and to play with the Allo app – so Google India devised a genius plan to get people to use the app without making it a software/app demo. There were a series of mystery rooms that teams of five had to go through on the basis of solving clues in those rooms. Each team had a supervisor / hint giver, all-around helper – and ours was Rupert. We think he might have been the most awesome of them all! Thank you for your help Rupert, we couldn’t have gotten out of those rooms without you!

The other highlight for me was catching up with a bunch of people I’ve known forever and ever via Twitter but had never met in person! Samit, Shiladitya, Anuya, Shereen, Neha, Atul, Rushina. Then there were those I hadn’t seen in a long time : Komal, Priyal, Pranav and Trishita, And then there were the new friends : Dhananjay, Divya, Jessica, Prajakta!

What fun! Best way to meet the usual suspects from Bombay without actually going to Bombay!

And the adorable goodie bags with insane stickers – real stickers of emoji type stickers that one can use within the Allo app – the “BHUKKAD” sticker is already stuck on the door of our refrigerator this a.m.! Towels! Who doesn’t like soft white towels! Google Cardboard from the Star Wars theme. A tea-timer, a Lamy fountain pen ( I know you’re behind this one Samit! ) and a time-travel diary.

All in all, a great evening spent chilling out. Photos in chronological order below, followed by links to the websites and social media accounts of the artists and the app.