NYCBP Blog

Where to watch the election returns tonight? A bar? Your apartment? There is something about watching history being made in public, like you would have to watch a Game 7 of the World Series in a bar, right? And do you want to be at home, alone, with a big news story like this? As history is being made?

I think going to a bar, with lots of drinks and celebrating, would be a lot more fun. If the election is a big sweep, then it would be a bigger party. If McCain concedes early... oh well.

The Post has some choices, among them Nation on West 45th Street, where bartender Allison pours drinks. According to the Post, there are a lot of places that are ready to see the action...

Not since the Giants shocked the Patriots in the Super Bowl 10 months ago have

Manhattan's busiest bars been so excited about a contest. But instead of watching touchdowns, these crowds will be watching election returns.

"We're going to have a big crowd," said Stanley Meytin, a staffer at Southern Hospitality, a Southern-themed bar on the Upper East Side.

Over on Gothamist, they have some suggestions too.

If you want to have a drink in front of you while watching the results get tallied, there are innumerable of options. SideBAR and the Village Pourhouse are both hosting election day parties...complete with presidential and vice presidential look-a-likes who will pose for pictures with attendees. Obama Mamas and Macallan McCains will be served and an $11.04 Red, White & Blue menu will be available. Bonus: red and blue beer will be poured.

Have a great time tonight watching the election returns!

Labels: bars, Democrat, drinking, patrons, Republican

Whatever else we may say about politicians, and it usually is deservedly not good, they still know how to reach the voters whom they are trying to rope in through hiring popular music acts.

This year’s Democratic and Republican national conventions will both feature numerous singers, with both including country music legends for their receptions.

The Democrats, whose party runs August 25-28 in Denver, have Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker, along with the Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, N.E.R.D., Jennifer Lopez, and Melissa Etheridge. (One wonders if the rappers will be using their omnipresent “N” word.)

The Republicans, although a party generally with a richer base than the Democrats, have a musical lineup heavier on the blue collar-oriented country music than their political rivals. Their show begins September 1 in St. Paul, MN, and includes country stars Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, John Rich, and the Charlie Daniels Band, along with non-country acts the Beach Boys and Sammy Hagar.

So far, there is no word where Merle Haggard will be. He, surprisingly, seemed sympathetic to Hillary Clinton during the primaries, and even wrote a song called “Let's Put a Woman in Charge” about her. That feeling may not have been mutual, so the Hag may be on tour, although his official web site has not been updated to include the convention season. This site does promise that the Hag Editorial is “comming soon,” so we hope its content is sharper than its spelling.

Labels: Charlie Daniels, country music, Cowboy Troy, Democrat, Gretchen Wilson, Hillary Clinton, John Rich, Merle Haggard, national conventions, Republican