With California expected to fall squarely in the blue-state column next Tuesday, and Los Angeles always a Democratic stronghold, the slate of election night parties around town leans dramatically to the left. While some hosts support the Obama-Biden ticket unabashedly, others just claim they want attendees to exercise their right to vote—and, in many cases, will reward voters with free drinks and prizes on the historic day.
The California Democratic Party, California for Obama, and Generation Obama Los Angeles will host a massive free party—possibly for more than 7,000 people—at the Hyatt Century Plaza, with hosts Dwayne Hall, Annie and Chuck Winner, and a roster of cohosts including Senator Barbara Boxer, Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, and Sarah Silverman. Z Trip and Jason Bentley will DJ, and Shepard Fairey—the artist behind the iconic Obama posters so ubiquitous in recent weeks—will create live art and possibly also serve as a DJ. Headline talent is still unconfirmed. Generation Obama L.A.'s Bim Ayandele and Boon Saleem are among the executive producers on a huge committee overseeing the event, and Evolutionary Media Group's resident Obama campaigners Jennifer Gross and Yosi Sergant are helping out with production.
Meanwhile, The Onion's "War for the White House Election Night Event Spectacular" will take to the kitschy downtown bar Redwood, beginning at 8 p.m., with appearances by comedians Patton Oswalt, Aziz Ansari, and Morgan Murphy. Dewar's whiskey will sponsor cocktails for guests as they watch election returns on the bar's TVs. The invitation bills that guests can partake of the whiskey "while we watch the election results and brace for the a new era or the end of the world, depending on whom you voted for."
Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard, one of the official Brentwood polling stations, will be offering breakfast and lunch and dinnertime snacks. Voters can snack on election-day specials from On Sunset executive chef Olivier Rousselle and stick around for cocktails at Luxe Lounge. The Gold Room at the Millennium Biltmore hotel downtown will be the site of a big anti-proposition-4 and general-election party. Another downtown hotel, the Omni, will also be on board with a party on November 4. Omni hotels around the country will host parties with specialty cocktails and election-theme menu items. Guests can enter drawings to win stays in the hotels' presidential suites. The downtown hotel's celebrations will take place in the lobby and third-floor Noe bar.
The Pasadena chapter of Drinking Liberally will meet from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Madeleine's Wine Bistro for afternoon cocktails in celebration of what the left-leaning group hopes will be an Obama-Biden victory.
Cause on the Rocks, a monthly fund-raising event sponsored by Causecast (an organization that connects would-be volunteers with causes) will host an "I Voted" party at the Edison in partnership with the venue, Pitfire Pizza, Jones Soda, and KLUS. The group encourages guests to "gather in celebration of our right to vote, regardless of party affiliation." Festivities will include live music, drinks, dancing, and giveaways as partygoers watch the election returns come in. Proceeds benefit Invisible Children, Hip-Hop Summit, and Farm Sanctuary. Voters wearing stickers that demonstrate they've cast their ballots will earn a free drink. The three Pitfire Pizza locations will also offer bottles of limited-edition Obama-McCain-themed Jones Sodas or Edison Ale to diners wearing stickers.
The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center will host a party at the Music Box at Fonda in Hollywood. Attendees can watch returns on big-screen TVs throughout the theater and projected on stage, and the party will feature a hosted bar and food. (The organization has a particular stake in the results of the Proposition 8 anti-gay-marriage measure. No on 8 campaign and political and community leaders will give periodic updates and react to the final results at the end of the night.) The center will sponsor the event with the venue, The Advocate, Svedka, and MillerCoors.
Other venues around town that will host election-night parties, or offer themed food and drink specials, include Blue on Blue at the Avalon hotel, the Daily Grill locations, and Hollywood Billiards. ("Left wings" or "right wings," anyone?)
