early and often

Get Your Debate On

In case no one has invited you over to watch the Greatest Sporting Event of 2008, we’ve compiled a list of bars, clubs, restaurants and even a few private residences that will be happy to have you shout obscenities at their screens tonight, after the jump.


ABOVE 14TH STREET
The Harlem Republican Club is hosting a presidential debate viewing party at the Apollo Theatre (253 West 125th St., New York, NY 10027; 212-531-5300). Doors open at seven. The event’s free, but tickets are required (box office: 212-531-5305).
What better setting to digest foreign policy stances and economic reform plans than a Times Square mega-bar? Tonic (727 Seventh Ave., nr. 48th St., New York, NY 10019; 212-382-1059) will be screening Obama v. McCain as tonight’s vicious sporting event on their 25 plasmas.

Swanky lounge Room Service (35 E. 21st St., New York, NY 10010; 212-254-5709) is holding a presidential debate viewing party tonight sponsored by Obama Pride, with hosts Christine Quinn, Alan Cumming, and Laurie Anderson. Begins at 8:30. Free! First come, first serve.

Generation Obama is hosting hundreds of politically-charged partygoers at MePa’s Mansion (530 W. 28th St., New York, NY 10001; 212-629-9000). Large screens will project the debates in what Generation Obama calls “an awesome viewing environment.” Free! Doors open at 7:30.

Nectar Wine Bar (2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd., nr. 120th St., New York, NY, 10027; 212.961.9622) is offering wine, cheese, and charcuterie to compliment your viewing of the debates, with proceeds from the party going to the Obama campaign.

Hell’s Kitchen mainstay Rudy’s (627 Ninth Ave., nr. 45th St., New York, NY 10036; 212-974-9169) will have its TVs tuned into the debates — the perfect American dive bar for a Republican rumble, if you can hear anything.

The 40/40 Club (6 W. 25th St., New York, NY 10010; 212-832-4040) will screen the debates on its big projection screen above the bar.

Wash down your Obama support with some Jamaican home-style cooking at Negril (362 W. 23rd St., New York, NY 10011; 212-807-6411), where multiple screens will show the debates. Free! Space is limited.


BELOW 14th STREET
The Manhattan Young Democrats are watching the debate tonight at The Tank (87 Lafayette St., nr. Walker St., New York, NY 100013; 212-563-6269). A comedy show by Laughing Liberally and Things Younger Than McCain author Joe Quint takes the floor at eight, and the debates will be screened at nine on the bar’s two large-scale projection screens.

East Village dive bar Duke’s (129 Ave. C, New York, NY 10009; 212-982-5563) is screening the debates on their big screen.
The TriBeCa Grand (2 Sixth Ave., New York, NY 10013; 212-519-6600) is displaying the debate in their screening room at 9. Seats are filling up quickly.

Kelly’s Sports Bar (12 Avenue A, nr. 2nd St., New York, NY 10009; 212-388-1464) will have the debate on its TVs.

288 a.k.a Tom and Jerry’s (288 Elizabeth St., nr. Bleecker, New York, NY 10003; 212-260-5045) will also be screening the debate on their TVs.


BROOKLYN
Fort Greene Obamaphiles will be rooting for their man at Moe’s (80 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11217; 718-797-9536).

Park Slope’s political set can hit Pacific Standard (82 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11217; 718-858-1951) tonight, where the debate can be viewed on big projection screens with Sixpoint’s original Hop Obama beers on tap. Seating is first come, first serve.

Galapagos Art Space in Dumbo (16 Main St., Brooklyn, NY 11201) is hosting “Hack the Debate,” with three screens and audience participation. The artsy crowd will interactively twitter the debates and have their c0mmen+ary screened live. As if that weren’t already po-mo enough, the debate will appear in 3-D (seriously!). More information here: http://www.freenyc.net/

Flatbush Farm & Bar (76 St. Marks Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11217; 718-622-3276) in Brooklyn is hosting a viewing soiree, setting up a TV against the bar to project the debate. Proceeds from the night’s event will go to the Obama campaign. The festivities begin at 7.

Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St., Brooklyn, NY 11211; 718-302-3770) in Williamsburg has beer, a TV, and “a gang of good people” ready for tonight’s debate.

VARIOUS PLACES
New York City Obama supporters have graciously offered to host strangers at debate-watching parties. Just don’t hog the Cheetos or smear feces on the wall or anything. That would be uncool.

If you know of a spot hosting the debate that isn’t in here, e-mail us: intel@nymag.com.

Get Your Debate On