Super Fat Tuesday
Voters rock into the night as city bars mix partying and politics.
“Free drinks for red shirts!” yelled a group of young men leaning against the doorway of Proof.
At 7:00 pm on Super Tuesday the bar was packed and the drinkers were not left over from happy hour, but young New Yorkers who had cast their votes earlier in the day and were eager to watch the returns. Red, white and blue balloons were tied to the bar and widescreen TV’s tuned to CNN and MSNBC. On the back wall a large screen projected Katie Couric’s election special, where a correspondent was reporting live, from Proof.
“We didn’t know this was a Republican party,” said Jen Schwartz, 26, from Westchester, NY, “We were just looking for Super Tuesday drink specials.”
Schwartz and her friends had found Proof’s watch party on the internet. It was one of the most publicized in the city; while most bars were offering drink specials, Proof had arranged to have the College Republican’s host a party in their downstairs lounge while opening the top floor bar to all political affiliations. TV screens covered most of the wall space and patrons sporting various campaign pins were already starting second rounds of drinks.
“I’m for Obama, but I don’t really care who everyone else is voting for,” said Schwartz, “I just want to drink and watch the votes come in.”
A flight down, NYU senior and College Republican officer Jeffery Cipriani was in Proof’s basement lounge taping a handmade John McCain campaign poster next to one for Mitt Romney.
“This is a major night in one of the most important elections,” said Cipriani, the College Republicans party organizer. “I support anything that will get young people to pay attention to politics, events like this give people the opportunity the support their nominees.”
With the city still pumped from the Giant’s unexpected Super Bowl win people were looking to continue the festivities and hosting watch parties was one way to capitalize on energized spirits, the almost palpable interest in the 2008’s history making election and the fact that it’s Fat Tuesday.
“I’m here tonight because my apartment is too small,” said Mishka Vertin, 28, who lives on the Upper Westside. “This is my second favorite night next to the election, I wanted to watch it with my friends.”
Vertin and her friends had gathered at the Tank, a performance space in Tribeca where the group Living Liberally was hosting its watch party. The organization advertised its event as the Election Day Mardi Gras. Beads were sold at the bar as partiers participated in a Super Tuesday betting pool, proceeds of both will be donated to Hands On New Orleans. By incorporating these different themes into the event, the Tank managed to attract a diverse crowd.
“This election is exciting; it’s exciting that people are actually torn between two candidates, said David Hanzel, 28. “The lack of clarity makes it a real race, something worth watching. That has a lot to do with why I’m here.”
Hanzel and his friends were sitting near the win grid, a large graph where the winning candidate’s name would be written by state they’d won as they were called.
“I have my favorites but don’t really care that much who wins,” Vertin said as polling results began to run across the large screen a few feet in front of her. “I just love politics. I love that we don’t know who’s going to win. It’s unbelieva