Cover Story: Election night parties
Where to drink, celebrate, and mourn on Election Night
Political junkies will either be glued to their laptops or gathering in pubs to learn their party’s fate. You can join them.
THE GO-TO
It’s almost become a cliché, but the legendary Democrats’ watering hole Manuel’s Tavern remains the best place to rub elbows with fellow liberals and the occasional brave conservative. Founded by Manuel Maloof, a DeKalb County political powerhouse who died in 2004, the cavernous tavern will be packed with TV crews, off-duty journalists, aging professional liberals, and Democratic politicians. You might even see a political celebrity or two — the Rev. Jesse Jackson watched the second presidential debate there. Folks start snagging bar stools and filling tables around 5 p.m.
DO: Wear earth tones.
DON’T: Be a Republican. Kidding, you’ll be cool. Just don’t cheer if Obama gets the boot.
DONKEY PARTY
The one-time majority party that, since the early 2000s, has been so badly battered that it now finds itself without a single statewide seat, will join forces with Obama’s Georgia campaign and party at the Depot next to Underground Atlanta and the one-time World of Coca-Cola. Expect the Democrats’ bigwigs and elder statesmen and women, as well as rising stars and everyday donkeys.
DO: Talk to Congressman John Lewis if possible.
DON’T: Ask party officials if any state lawmakers switched sides and joined the Republican Party today.
GOP HOEDOWNS
The Republican Party of Georgia won’t host a shindig on Nov. 6, but most folks appear to be headed to the Grand Hyatt Buckhead, where Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle will hold court starting at 7 p.m. The event’s open to the public (it’s a cash bar, however). Just be sure to dress “business casual.” The Atlanta Young Republicans will gather at Hudson Grille Midtown one hour later.
DO: Learn how to tie a bow tie. Republicans love those things.
DON’T: Start conversations with strangers by saying, “I think the valet prices could be considered ‘legitimate rape,’ knawhuimsayin?”
LIBERTARIANS
The political party that preaches free markets, small government, and personal freedom sometimes picks the most off-the-wall places to hold its Election Night parties. On Tuesday starting at 7:30 p.m., the Libertarian Party of Georgia will occupy the back room of Famous Pub in the Toco Hills Shopping Center on North Druid Hills Road.
DO: Wear a Rush T-shirt.
DON’T: Say the film version of Atlas Shrugged just “really didn’t work.”