March 22, 2007
DCist Happy Hour: Get Your Voting Rights On
We've hosted a couple of outrageously fun events in the last few months, but recent discussion on the DCist staff email list had us pondering: when was the last time we threw a straight up happy hour? Because people like happy hours, and if DCist is about anything, it's about giving the people what they want.
Of course at this very moment we're all glued to our televisions, tuned to C-SPAN watching general debate and procedural votes in advance of a full House vote on the D.C. Voting Rights Act (H.R. 1433). Debate began on the bill at 10 a.m. this morning, and looks likely to continue for another two hours. We'll of course bring you word of the final vote tally on the bill as soon as it goes down. But in the meantime, we'll share the equally excellent news that we're teaming up with our good friends at D.C. Vote for a Voting Rights Happy Hour next Wednesday, March 28 starting at 6 p.m.
What goes on at a Voting Rights Happy Hour? Well drinking, naturally. The Eighteenth Street Lounge has graciously offered to give over their Gold Room for the event, which will gather members of D.C. Vote, DCist staffers and readers, and local politicians for a chance to mix and mingle. The Eighteenth Street Lounge bartenders are even whipping up a special Voting Rights for the District-themed cocktail in honor of the event. (The Fentini? The Voting Rights Vodka Tonic? The Davis Daiquiri?)
But beyond just having fun, we hope our readers will use this happy hour to learn about the current struggle for District voting rights, perhaps even sign up to get involved with D.C. Vote, and rally behind the bill's future by pledging to show up on April 16 for the planned Voting Rights March. Should the House pass the bill today, this happy hour will of course also be a fantastic celebration of all the hard work voting rights advocates on behalf of the bill, and a pregame for the fight in the Senate. But no matter the outcome, we'll still get together for drinks and good cheer with our fellow Washingtonians -- who have been taxed without representation for far, far too long.
Voting Rights Happy Hour
Eighteenth Street Lounge
1212 18th St. NW
6 to 9 p.m.
Wed., March 28
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Cocktail suggestion for Voting Rights HH:
The disenfranchisment
or,
dis(aronno)enfran(gelico)chise(creme de)ment(he)
The kicker is that the drink is as unpalatable as the situation.
After a day like today on the Hill, I need a drink.
the disenfranchisement cocktail is hilarious. the voting rights happy hour is an awesome idea; i'll be there.
How ironic. A happy hour for a decidedly populist cause at one of the most annoyingly elitist bars in the city. I wonder if their usual arbitrary dress code and hipper-than-thou door staff will be in full effect.
Or wait, is this by design? We can get turned away at the door of the 18th Street Lounge just as we've been turned away at the doors of Congress for so long? Well played, DCist, well played.
Le sigh, have you actually been there for a happy hour? It's really a much different feel. There's no one even at the door. I agree it's no fun going there after 10:00, but for happy hour, it's a totally different story.
Thanks, Reid, I had no idea. I was under the impression they sucked 24/7. Glad to hear they set aside some time for the little people! Maybe I'll get over my aversion long enough to check it out.
Wednesday nights at ESL is one best nights in the city for reggae music. SEE-I, which is composed of Thievery Corporation performers Rootz, Zeebo, Robbie Meyers, and Frank Mitchell as well as a few other prominent guest musicians, play some of the finest reggae music every week. If the weather is warm out next week they'll play on the back deck which is always a lot of fun. It's free, there is no dress code, and you never know who you might see....
My drink will be:
The Compromise: 1 part vodka, 2 parts water