IT MAY BE the most important night of the year. If you don’t have access to a TV on election night, or if you just want an excuse to party, the city is gearing up for election night; so you can boast about what you did on what is sure to be a historic evening—no matter what the result. Plenty of bars, clubs and galleries around town are hosting special events—complete with cheap booze and special guests—so don’t worry about missing out on real-time election results, since many include televised coverage all night. Whatever your party, flock to one of these local hangouts to celebrate (or commiserate) on the night of the 2008 election.
COMIX
53 W. 14th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 212-274-7312, Free
Hosted by Living Liberally, Planned Parenthood of New York City Activist Council and The New York Civil Liberties Union Young Professionals, this party will be filled with the people who’ve toiled long and hard to get a Democrat in office. They promise food and drink specials, special guests and “compulsive campaign coverage until a winner is declared or the cops send us home.”
ELECTRIC ELECTION NIGHT PARTY
83 Canal St. #611 (at Eldridge St.), Free
For those who deem mere staring at the news unfit for election results, crash this LES party for dancing, 101 Crustaceans Band and DJ Shred in addition to live TV coverage.
(LE) POISSON ROUGE
158 Bleecker St. (betw. Sullivan & Thompson Sts.), 212-505-3474; 7, Free
A medley of some of the funniest female comics from Comedy Central and Last Comic Standing, among others, will grace the stage of (Le) Poisson Rouge on election night.You can bank on a few hilarious Sarah Palin impersonations and all-night go-go dancing by the group Hot Obama Mamas.
GAVIN BROWN’S ENTERPRISE
620 Greenwich St. (at Leroy St.), 212-627-5258, Free
Trade the TV screens at your local bar for artist Jonathan Horowitz’s installation piece created for broadcasting this year’s election results. The gallery is separated into blue and red zones and FOX News and CNN will blare their respective propaganda.The installation and its reception is the centerpiece of Horowitz’s politically charged exhibition titled Obama ‘08.
HAVEN
244E. 51st St., New York, 212-906-9066, $15
Join newly opened Midtown lounge Haven for its Election Night Party, where you can watch election results alongside YouTube celebrity Obama Girl, who promises to be clad in Old Glory.What could be more American?
LOLITA
266 Broome St. (at Allen St.), 212-966-7223; Free
Lolita has been hosting monthly debates for Young Republicans for quite a while now—it isn’t only the lights inside the LES stalwart that are red. Swing by on election night if you’re looking for a place to schmooze with fellow rightwingers.
Hell, not all of them are as old as McCain.
MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
1220 Fifth Ave. (at E. 103rd St.), 212-534-1672; Free
Jonathan Horowitz’s exhibit at Gavin Brown.
This year, the Museum of the City of New York hosts a free discussion on the influence of hip-hop artists and the presidential election. Moderated by Bakari Kitwana, speakers include Chuck D of Public Enemy and authors Adam Mansbach and Keli Goff. Seats are limited, so be sure to RSVP.
RUDY’S BAR & GRILL
627 Ninth Ave. (betw.W. 44th & W. 45th Sts.),212-974-9169, Free
As the weekly host of Drinking Liberally, a social network of left-wingers, this bar has welcomed the meetings of the liberal minds for the past five years. And if you’re neither a drinker nor a liberal, the free hot dogs are always a draw.
UNION HALL
702 Union St. (at Fifth Ave.), Brooklyn, 718-638-4400; 6, Free
Join the brouhaha of Brooklynites at Union Hall where you can get full coverage of the 2008 election on TV. When things aren’t going your way, you can always let out your pent-up liberal frustration with a game of bocci ball and cheap pints.
