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Once the polls close, head to these hangouts for some real political parties.

Tuesday Nov 04, 2008.     By Stacy Warden

Bars + Clubs Feed

Couldn't get a ticket to the big Obama rally in Grant Park? Don't worry, there are lots of other ways to make this election night a memorable one. Check out all the politically themed promotions going down at these bars and restaurants on Tuesday, and don't forget to bring your voter receipt.

Candidate Cocktails at Lobby Lounge
The Lobby Lounge at Swissotel Chicago is taking the edge off by mixing politics with rum and vodka. Two specialty candidate cocktails, the O'Bomber and the White Tornado, will be available. Obama's drink (made with coconut rum, blue curacao and San Pellegrino) takes its name from his high school basketball glory days, whereas McCain's (a mix of vodka, Kahlua, light cream and creme de cassis) comes from his current congressional moniker. Order up the candidate-er, cocktail of your choice, kick back in the lounge and stay tuned.

Election Martinis at Koi
In addition to showing the election results on two 42-inch plasmas, Koi will be offering a list of half-price martinis all night. Specialty cocktails include the Electric Election Blue Martini (citrus vodka, fresh lemon juice, sweet and sour, triple sec and Blue Curacao) and the pomegranate martini (pure pomegranate juice, fresh fruit juices and vodka), $4 each.

All-American Dessert at Park 52
Restaurateur Jerry Kleiner invites guests to prove their vote at this Hyde Park location. Guests who show their voting receipt will score a complimentary red, white and blue dessert. The tasty treat is a red velvet cake concoction with white cream cheese frosting and fresh blueberries. Those who don't feel like hiking out to Obama's 'hood can find another all-American dessert, free with voting receipt, at Kleiner's Room 21.

Sushi Showdown at Usagi Ya
It's a battle of the crustaceans this year at Wicker Park's Usagi Ya. Crab and shrimp go head to head in the restaurant's election tasting trio, complete with a flag-inspired array of dragon rolls in red (tempura shrimp, cucucumber, avocado, tuna, spicy mayo and red tobiko), white (fried oysters, masago, cucumber, avocado, white tuna, yellow tobiko) and blue (blue crab, avocado, tuna, wasabi mayo, green tobiko). Chef Avevillas and Chef Quito had a heated debate in mind when they prepared this plate for two, $36. Usagi Ya also offers a full menu of pan-Asian dishes, more than 30 sushi and sashimi choices and 40 variations of maki.

Room Riots at Stretch Run
Stretch Run will devote two of its rooms to election night, with more than 20 TVs in each. The rooms are dubbed "red" and "blue," and will be filled by voters accordingly. Hang out in the blue room and get a Barack on the Rocks or go for Barack's Blue Martini, $5 each. Blue Moon bottles will also be available for $4. The red room makes way for McCain's 10 Cane and Cola, McCain's Red Martini ($5 each) and bottles of Killian's Red for $4. Each room will offer a $20.08 three-course prix-fixe menu featuring items like hearty chicken noodle soup, pan-seared tilapia with lobster cream sauce, grilled chopped sirloin steak with a blue cheese and pine nut butter and Eli's cheesecake.

Red and White Flights at Bin Wine Cafe
Keep track of the election results all night long at this hip Wicker Park wine bar. The bar's plasma-screen TV will be tuned to the latest campaign happenings while you enjoy red and white wine flights at a special presidential price of $11.04. Bin Wine Cafe will also be serving its famous half-pound burgers, with hand-cut fries and house-made giardinera, $5.

Still undecided? Check out these other election-night specials:

Head over to Cityscape Bar, located in the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, for a raspberry flavored McCain mojito or a Bacardi "O" Bama-tini, $7 each.

Brasserie Jo will show the election and serve complimentary Tarte Flambees.

Carnivale will be serving a special La Margarita Del Presidente cocktail, made with coconut, pomegranate and Blue Curacao.

Wildfish (Deerfield) will show the election and serve complimentary green tea ice cream.

Fifty/50 has a full night of activities planned, including the Electoral College Game and free "Regret" shots if you can prove you voted for W. in the last two elections (plus a free beer if you can prove you voted in this one).

Plan B Bar and Kitchen will offer both the John McCane cocktail (with 10Cane rum) and the Ciroc Obama (featuring Ciroc vodka) for $8 each.

Viand offers two $20.08 prix-fixe menus through election day (Democrat vs. Republican), and if you pick the winning candidate, you'll get a coupon for half-off your next meal.

Moonshine has a whole lotta $3 drinks available at this party hosted by 1st Ward Alderman Manny Flores, including "Change" American Harvest Ale and McCain's Mystery Booze ("random crap left over from the last four years"). There's also a free all-American hot dog bar.

Adobo Grill's Wicker Park and Lombard locations offer $5 red and blue margaritas all this week, as well as 20.08 percent off all carry-out orders picked up before 8 p.m. on election night.

SushiSamba Rio has an election-themed menu including two specialty cocktails, the Obamarama and the Maverick.

Landmark is giving away a weekend getaway for two to D.C. on election night, as well as offering $8 blue and red champagne cocktails and complimentary hors d'oeuvres while you watch the action on six screens, 6-9 p.m.

The James Hotel's lobby bar will offer classic themed cocktails (the Pink Elephant and Kentucky Mule) as well as the candidates' favorite foods (chicken enchiladas, shrimp cocktail and grilled mini-burgers for McCain; short rib chili, mini deep-dish pizzas, grits with smoked shrimp for Obama) on election night, and will be showing the action - with sound - on TVs.

Sheffield's is roasting a pig (no lipstick) beginning at 5 p.m. on election night; buy a drink and your portion is free. There will also be $4 Obama Bombs and "Take the Pain Away McCain" shots.

Bin 36's election-night special will have you seeing red, white and blue; for $20.08, you'll get a red and white wine flight and a flight of artisanal blue cheeses. You'll also get 20.08 percent off all retail wine purchases.

A Mano has $5 pizzas and bar-menu items, as well as $11.04 pitchers of beer and wine carafes. Simple, but it does the trick.

Bring in your voter receipt for 20 percent off your bill on election night at Kitsch'n on Roscoe, Volo, Paramount Room and Kitsch'n River North.

Gaslight Bar and Grille will leave the lights on 'til 2 a.m. as you watch the results and toss back O-Bamba shots ($8). You'll find the same deal at the other Four Corners properties, WestEnd Bar & Grill, Kirkwood Bar & Grill and Schoolyard Tavern.

Rumba will show election results on its 10-foot HD projection screen; enjoy the show while trying out some under-$20 dinner specials and half-price pitchers of margaritas, mojitos and sangria.

Piece has 14 screens of election action, and $4 pints of the famed Golden Arm Kolsch bier.

Hard Rock Cafe nabbed Common, Talib Kweli and Rahsaan Gordon to host "Get Presidential: Election Night," beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday ($20).

Hard Rock Hotel's Base Bar has tons of election-themed cocktails, like the Pitbull in Lipstick.

Sonotheque hosts "Election Night Fight" on Tuesday, with themed drinks like the Alaskan Hockey Mom.

Liar's Club's free bash includes live hip-hop, $2 PBR, a raffle for voters and an on-the-house round of celebration/consolation drinks, dependent on Obama's fate.

Urban Cafe celebrates the day with an Election Hootenanny courtesy of the Old Town School of Folk Music (6:30-9 p.m.).

Century Public House hosts a performance from the Mudflapps at its free bash, beginning at 7 p.m.

Crew teams up with the Annoyance Theatre for a party hosted by Sarah Palin in drag. Your first beer is on the house if you show a voting receipt.

Joe's Bar is the place to find politically minded singles, as well as gourmet pizza and election-themed cocktails ($50-$60, 7:30-10:30 p.m.)

State Restaurant & Cafe makes sure everyone wins, with raffle prizes like a Nintendo Wii - as well as election results on all of the bar's many screens.

Fizz Bar & Grill will let you put your face on a campaign button; just don't drink too many $5 Svedka cocktails before you do it.

Town Hall Pub will offer a free pizza buffet as well as $3 domestic beers at its All-American bash.

Schubas eschews the music for a night, putting political experts on its stage to comment on the results.

Juicy Wine Company gets patriotic with half-price domestic wines and $10 Obamaburgers.

People Lounge celebrates Obama's "Man of the People" status with $2 PBR, $4 premium drafts and $5 Absolut cocktails.

Cafe Ciao leaves little room for debate among all the $5 glasses of red and white wine and $4 bailout burgers, 6-11 p.m.

Pepper Canister should see a lotta Loop workers come through, thanks to specials like $4 Obama and Jager-bama shots and $3 Miller Lite.

Paddy Long's tests your political knowledge with themed trivia, as well as offering "blue" beer and Palin shots.

Chicago Ale House calls all liberals to join together in Lincoln Square from 6 p.m.-midnight.

Seven Ten Lanes (Hyde Park) invites you to bowl and enjoy $4 well cocktails and bottles of Sam Adams...oh yeah, and watch the results ('til 1 a.m.).

Sully's House Tap Room & Grill offers more than just election results on its 15 screens; there will also be politically themed comedy clips all night long. Enjoy them along with red and blue drinks and some political trivia 'til 9:30 p.m.

Merkle's Bar and Grill will have $3 you-call-its and $2 burgers on hand as you watch the results roll in.

Amphora will show the results on two screens, and offer new menu items like flat grilled steak to sustain you through it all.