Which Party Are You (..going to..)?

So we know that young people in Arlington generally love politics and love an excuse for a party... so tomorrow night should be huge!

Here's a small sampling of how some people will be partying:
The Arlington Young Dems, Arlington County Democratic Party, and the Joint Campaign are teaming up for one big shindig at Baileys in Ballston. Party starts at 7 pm.

The Arlington GOP will be watching the results come in at Mister Days in Clarendon.

NOVA & DC Urban League Young Professionals are at Bistro Bistro in Shirlington starting at 6 pm.

And then from the Going Out Gurus blog...
Busboys and Poets is hosting an election night party which will be heavy on the Democrat side.
They will apparently have "14 political cocktails on the menu, including the "Delaware Dude" for Joe Biden and the "Todd-Todd Palin" for the first dude of Alaska."

Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse will be showing election returns on the big screen. 20 beers on tap and who knows who will show up!


Let us know if you hear of other Election Night Parties in Arlington.

Avoid Election Day Lines, Vote In-Person Absentee

Back in 2004, if you got to vote in Arlington on Election Day without having to wait in line for at least half an hour, you were one of the lucky ones. The Green Miles was lucky enough to be at the relatively quiet Lyon Park polling place, but friends in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor who tried to vote either first thing in the morning or after work who waited well over an hour.

The long lines put voters between a rock and a hard place. If you go in the morning and the line is out the door and around the block, do you tell your boss you'll be late? If it's in the evening, do you cancel your evening plans to shiver in line?

Fortunately, you don't have to choose. Arlington County is offering in-person absentee voting at 2100 Clarendon Blvd with extended hours on Thursday and Saturday. You can get all the details in the voter registration office's Arlington County Election 2008 Survival Guide.

I've heard lines can be long on Saturdays as well, but Arlington Young Democrats are hoping to encourage Thursday evening absentee voting with a happy hour this Thursday (Oct. 30) from 5-8pm at King Street Blues in Courthouse. Get voting out of the way early, then enjoy some free appetizers -- sounds like a pretty good deal. (For the record, there are no similar events listed on the Arlington-Falls Church Young Republicans website.)

A Vice Happy Hour Debate

NEW - the Washington Post City Guide just published another guide for the upcoming debates tonight and next Tuesday.
I have cut and pasted the Arlington relevant information here. See entire post here.

Here is a guide to Debate watching events in Arlington:

"Bars
Busboys and Poets

All three locations of Busboys and Poets (14th Street, Shirlington and the new City Vista at 5th and K) are hosting watch parties with full sound. Ask about the special drinks created specifically for the occasion, like the "Obama" and the "Biden." U Street and Shirlington will have the debate on 10-foot projection screens, while City Vista will have it on all five TVs.

Summers Grill and Sports Pub
The "Non-Partisan Debate Watching Party" -- hosted by a McCain supporter and self-proclaimed Reagan Democrat -- splits Summers into two sides, with the Republicans in one room watching the event on Fox News and the Democrats on the other viewing CNN. Of course, the fun happens when seats are filled up and the Republicans have to squeeze into the Democrat side and vice versa. Attendees are requested to arrive by 7:30 to secure seats. One thing everyone can agree on: The restaurant will be non-smoking for the night.

Thursday's Partisan Parties
Bailey's Pub and Grille (Ballston)
The official (and smoke-free) gathering place for Arlington Democrats will play the debate on multiple TVs and feature games like buzzword bingo. Admission is free for members and $10 for everyone else, and that price includes one drink. Doors open at 8.

Bailey's Pub and Grille (Crystal City)
Bailey's Pub and Grille seems to be the fault line of Arlington politics. While the Democrats will be at Bailey's in Ballston, the Alexandria, Arlington and Falls Church Young Republican groups will be gathered in the back room of the Crystal City sports bar. An RSVP is requested to join the Republican event; admission is free and doors open for happy hour at 8.

Guarapo
The Latinas for Biden party in Guarapo's upstairs lounge kicks off with "music and mingling" from 7 to 9, and offers special drinks (including "shots of hope" and "shots of change") during the debate. Ladies receive gifts like lipstick, MAC cosmetics and hair products, though the event is open to everyone. There's a suggested donation of $25.

Tuesday's Partisan Parties
Bailey's Pub and Grille (Ballston)
Arlington Democrats are back for the presidential debate, with games in hand. Admission is free for members and $10 for everyone else, and that price includes one drink.

Some follow up from the Happy Hour Debate post...
Melanie let us know:
"Everyone who made it to the Arlington Dems party at Bailey's in Ballston knew they were at THE debate watch party in Arlington on Friday - and we'll be doing it again on Thursday, October 2 for the VP debate. Another perk besides the Obama-Biden friendly crowd? The debate watch parties are SMOKE-FREE events.

Check out all the details here or find us on Facebook and my.barackobama.com"

Know of a VP Debate watching event in Arlington (with or without a party affiliation)? Let us know!