Rooms with an Election View
Area venues offer community celebration – or commiseration – come Election Night
Next Tuesday night, Nov. 6, promises to offer plenty of live drama and entertainment, especially in this political city. And this town’s LGBT and LGBT-friendly political junkies will be right at home at most of the city’s video-centric bars – including Number Nine’s 9 ½, JR.’s and Nellie’s – which will tune their TVs to live broadcasts of national election results. Some plan to offer drink specials of either politically themed libations or discounts on brand-name booze.
If that’s not gay-political-activist enough for you, the Human Rights Campaign is throwing a party offering election coverage and original analysis at Eatonville restaurant. A donation of $5 to $10 includes a limited supply of thank-you gifts at the party, which starts at 6 p.m.
But even in this town, politics alone isn’t enough for everyone. Several area venues will entice those who want more standard entertainment fare mixed in with their breaking news. The year-old concert hall Fillmore Silver Spring will host a $10 Queer the Vote party, presented by the Ladies of LURe and Zack Rosen and featuring performances by gay rapper Cazwell, Laura Tsaggaris and the Michelle Raymond Band, plus tunes spun by DJ Rosie and DJ MIM. Meanwhile, local promoter BrightestYoungThings, aka BYT, offers an Election Night Spectacular on all three floors of the historic Bohemian Caverns building. For $15 at the door, this zany party includes, among other things, a ”Soul Clap Dance Contest” hosted by Jonathan Toubin, piñata games, ”patriotic eating contests” and tunes by DJs Chris Burns, Adrian Loving and Ri53. And the Kennedy Center jazzes things up by having star jazzman Jason Moran & The Bandwagon perform as part of its free Election Night Jam in the Grand Foyer starting at 6 p.m.
Other area election watch parties include: The DC JCC‘s Election Night Results Party, providing pizza, snacks and soda, plus ”contests and fun stuff,” and all for just $5 or a food donation; and the Arlington County Democrats take over the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse for a free Election Night Party featuring a cash bar and a $12 all-you-can-eat buffet. Plus, all four area locations of Busboys & Poets will host free Election Night parties.
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