On Tuesday night, bars throughout D.C. will be packed with anxious crowds watching election results roll across giant projection screens while talking heads echo through sound systems. Meanwhile, bars offer drink specials, trivia, bingo and other activities to keep everyone engaged as state and congressional races are called.
Too nervous to watch in public? Some restaurants are offering election-night packages for you to enjoy from your couch.
Here’s a sampling of events happening around town on Tuesday. You’ll find an updated list on goingoutguide.com.
Busboys and Poets
All eight branches of the liberal bookstore/coffeehouse/restaurant Busboys and Poets are hosting election viewing parties with all-night drink specials, vowing to stay open until a winner is declared. The flagship 14th and V location features a set by folk duo Emma’s Revolution, performing songs like “Our People Gonna Rise” and “Keep Moving Forward” before the results begin rolling in. Most parties begin at 6 p.m., but see website for details. busboysandpoets.com. Free.
Clouding Memories at Bluejacket
Navy Yard’s dedicated brewery aims to “remember yesterday & celebrate tomorrow, today!” with some boozy Election Day deals. The two discounted drafts ($5 each) are bitter IPA Yesterdays and fruited sour Tomorrow, Today. Specialty drinks target a range of electoral vibes, including woeful ($3 Malort), pensive ($9 Last Word), festive ($9 Hugo spritz) and stiff ($9 old-fashioned). 11 a.m. to midnight. bluejacketdc.com. Free.
Election Night Viewing Party at Boundary Stone
This Bloomingdale mainstay is running its happy hour deals all night ($5 to $8.25 beer, wine, cocktail and food specials) while broadcasting the election returns. Boundary Stone is also reviving a debate night offering, Kamala’s Coconut Daiquiri, which features flavored rum from local distillery Cotton & Reed, and drowning sorrows with its vodka-based Palate Cleanser Shot. 8 to 11:30 p.m. boundarystonedc.com. Free.
Election Day Cocktail Battle at Cucina Morini
This buzzy Mount Vernon Triangle restaurant is streaming the election results live and shaking up dueling discount martinis ($7 each) to help take the edge off. The first features grapefruit-spiked El Tequileño Blanco tequila, Ramazzotti Aperitivo Rosato and dry vermouth. The second mixes tequila with pepper brine and sweet vermouth. Customers can vote for their favorite, with the most popular pour winning a permanent spot on the house drink list. 5 to 10 p.m. cucinamorini.com. Free.
Election Day Comedy Jam & Watch Party at DC Comedy Clubhouse
Organizers of this laugh fest at Red Lounge hope their slate of featured comedians (taking the stage from 7:30 to 9 p.m.), discounted food deals ($4 tacos), election-themed cocktails (one for each candidate), live DJs and by-request hookah will help election results watchers make it through the night without losing their minds. 7 to 11:30 p.m. eventbrite.com. $15.
Dew Drop Inn
Like a lot of other bars, the Dew Drop Inn will have election-themed cocktails — but where else is offering a free hot dog bar or letting you feed your anxiety with free cheese balls? Keep an eye on the Edgewood bar’s social media for more details. 7 p.m. dewdropinndc.com. Free.
Dirty Water
H Street’s Boston-themed sports bar has been a home for D.C. Young Republicans during this election cycle, thanks to spirited open-bar viewing parties with debates on big screens, and the formula continues on election night. “We’re rooting for Trump, and we plan on spraying champagne when we win,” the bar says, though champagne’s not included in the ticket price: $30 gets unlimited Bud Light drafts, Rolling Rock, Busch Light, Shock Top Blueberry Wheat and rail mixed drinks from 6:30 p.m. “until either a national news network or campaign declares a winner.” 6:30 p.m. instagram.com/dirtywaterdc1. $30.
Election Watch Party at Madhatter
Determined to close down Dupont Circle on election night? This happy hour go-to is right there with you, offering up discounted food ($10 smash burger and fries) and drink specials ($6 drafts, $24 pitchers of margaritas, $30 bottles of wine) while the nationwide results keep trickling in. 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. madhatterdc.com. Free.
Election Night Watch Party at Immigrant Food
The Ballston branch of this self-described “gastroadvocacy” restaurant is running half-price wine deals throughout Election Day and applying the 50 percent discount to the two dozen reds, whites, rosés and sparklers gathered from around the world. Standing happy hour deals ($7 to $13 select appetizers, $10 house cocktails) will also be honored from 3 to 6 p.m. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. immigrantfood.com. Free.
Lulu’s Winegarden
The Tuesday night trivia at Lulu’s Winegarden usually covers fluffy topics like “Vanderpump Rules” or “Love Is Blind.” This night, though, is much more important. Watch the results come in on the U Street wine bar’s TVs while answering questions about politics and previous elections. Discounted sparkling wine, beer and spritzes are available while you play. 7 p.m. luluswinegarden.com. Free.
Profs and Pints: Your Prep for the 2024 Election Results at Penn Social
If you’d prefer to skip the televised talking-heads commentary on the horse race, look instead to Profs and Pints’ election night lecture with Georgetown University professor Michael Bailey. The government academic and author of “Polling at a Crossroads: Rethinking Modern Survey Research” will discuss what to really expect from polls, how much faith we should put in them and how to prepare ourselves for a lengthy night (or many nights) waiting for results. Grab a seasonal craft beer, cocktail or wine while you listen. 6 to 8:30 p.m. profsandpints.ticketleap.com. $13.50 in advance; $17 at the door; $15 with a student ID.
Red Derby
“If you’re going to watch, it’ll feel better to watch together” is the message from the Red Derby, a bar that knows a thing or two about building community. But let’s be honest: The real message here is that nothing, not even an election, can stop the Derby’s Tendie Tuesday specials. All night long, while you watch results roll in on the Columbia Heights bar’s projection screens, the bartenders are serving $3 Tecates, $6.50 Tecate-and-tequila shot combos, $7 margaritas, and $6 baskets of chicken tenders and fries. The all-the-time bartender’s pick specials — a $3.50 “lucky pick” beer and $3.50 house shots — remain in effect. 5 p.m. redderby.com. Free.
Shaw’s Tavern
One of D.C.’s more politically minded bars — it opens for early-morning congressional hearings as well as debate parties — is all in on election night. The $99 ticket includes four hours of unlimited drinks, a dinner buffet and passed appetizers. If the election hasn’t been called by 11 p.m., the party becomes a cash bar. 7 to 11 p.m. shawstavern.com. $99.
Union Pub
Specials at Union Pub start hours before the polls close, but the Capitol Hill watering hole will be busy throughout the day — and packed inside and out after work. Expect pun-laden cocktails like Orange Drink ($10) and the Diet-Mountain-Dew-fueled Dirty Walz ($12), as well as food specials including the Kamala Is Brat sausage sandwich ($12) and They’re Eating the Dogs, which is literally a dog bowl full of mini corn dogs ($13). Attendees can express their preferences through a trio of blue, red and purple drinks ($10 each after 5 p.m.), and the entire bar receives a free shot when the tally of drinks sold crosses the magic 270. 11 a.m. unionpubdc.com. Free.
Pizza for President Election Night Special at All-Purpose Pizza
Cast your ballot in AP’s all-star pie competition by ordering for takeout your favorite of three options: the Standard (tomatoes, mozzarella, oregano and grana padano), the Buona (tomato, mozzarella, pepperoni, grana, Calabrian chile honey and basil) or the Sedgewick (whipped ricotta, mozzarella, taleggio, parmesan, black truffle honey and chives). The “winning” pie is the one with the most orders by the end of the night, and patrons who ordered one receive a drink ticket on their next visit to use on DC Brau and All-Purpose Pils collaborations, house cocktails, or nonalcoholic drinks. Order through the All-Purpose Shaw, All-Purpose Pizzeria or AP Pizza Shop websites for your “vote” to count. 5 to 10 p.m. allpurposedc.com. Pizzas $18-$22.
Election Night Dinner for Two at Centrolina
The upscale CityCenterDC spot is closed for Election Day to give its staff time to get to the polls, but it’s still offering an Italian dinner for two for takeout. The ready-to-cook meal includes antipasti options, a lasagna with pumpkin and kale, roasted snapper with cauliflower and shishito peppers, squash pie with raisins and almonds, a half bottle of prosecco, and the sommelier’s selection of red or white vino — plus instructions on how to prepare it all. Preorders end Nov. 2 at 11:59 p.m. Pickup Nov. 4 from 5 to 9 p.m. or Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. centrolinadc.com. $150.
Election Day Comfort Food Package at Chang Chang
Chef Peter Chang’s only D.C. eatery knows comfort food is a balm for election anxiety. That’s why its takeout package, which feeds up to four people, offers creative spins on Chinese culinary staples: pan-fried pork dumplings, dry-fried cauliflower, Wagyu beef lo mein and matcha cake. A vegetarian menu (featuring veggie lo mein and kung pao vegetables) is also available. Order via Tock by Nov. 1 at 10 p.m. Pickup Nov. 4 or 5 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 4 to 9 p.m. changchangdc.com. $120.
Watch party goody bags from Le Diplomate
The French staple’s election night offerings include more than just food. Inside a Le Dip-branded tote bag, you’ll find an imprinted cheese board — plus a pack of tissues for tears of joy, fear, despair, relief, etc. It also has party (or stress eating) snacks such as salami soppressata, marinated olives, gougères and mixed nuts. The goody bag is available the day of the election on DoorDash. 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. lediplomatedc.com. $125.
