Ithaca, NY — Once you’ve cast your ballot on November 8, there’s a good deal of waiting to be done. What’s a Tompkins County voter to do to as the results come in?
We’ve gathered a list of local watch parties and election-related events to help you while away the hours after you’ve done your civic duty.
Watch Parties
1. Hotel Ithaca
(222 S Cayuga St., Ithaca) The Tompkins County Democratic Party will hold an election night celebration in Hotel Ithaca, beginning at 9 p.m. and continuing into the evening.
2. Big Red Barn
Graduate and professional students are invited to gather at the Big Red Barn at Cornell University to watch the results come in with beer from Wagner Valley Brewing Co, pizza, and snacks.
3. Rulloff’s
(411 College Ave., Ithaca) is the site for a Zinck’s Night election party with free food and drink specials. Zinck’s Members must bring their Zinck’s card to attend the viewing party with appetizer bar in Rulloff’s Basement from 9 – 11 p.m.
4. Ithaca College Student Activities Board
aims to make “people feel good about their right to vote!” The event at IC Square from 7 – 9 p.m. will have a free vote tally live stream, a photo booth, trivia and cookie decorating. Attendees are encouraged to wear red, white and blue.
Other events
5. Free coffee
If you’ll be staying up late to watch the results on West Hill, How Sweet It Is in Trumansburg has you covered even though they have yet to officially open up shop. Between 3 and 7 p.m., the ice cream store-to be at 44 E. Main Street will be giving away free Copper Horse Coffee to anyone who votes. (Decaf will be available, too.)
6. “Souper” Tuesday at Moosewood
From 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Moosewood (215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca) will have three varieties of homemade soup for eat-in or to-go: Cream of spinach (gluten-free), sweet potato-peanut (vegan and gluten-free), black-eyed pea gumbo (vegan and gluten free). Cups of soup go for $3.50, while bowls are $5, and all sizes come with a side of multi-grain bread. Moosewood will also offer drink specials, mood music, and $1 discounts off purchases of $5 or more with an “I Voted” sticker.
7. Bake sales
will be held at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (301 W Court St., Ithaca) from 9:30 am – 5 p.m. by the GIAC Senior Program and the GIAC Youth Division, and also at the Newfield Public Library (198 Main St., Newfield) from 7:30 a.m. until gone. The library is looking for both bakers and eaters!
8. Chicken and biscuits
will be served at the Slaterville Fire House (2186 Slaterville Road, Slaterville Springs) from 4:30 – 7 p.m. Dinner will include salad, dessert and a beverage, and a vegetarian main dish is also available. Dinner is the cost of a donation to benefit St. Thomas Episcopal Church and the Slaterville Fire Company.
9. Roast pork dinner
with mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, peas, applesauce, rolls and pie will be found at the Newfield United Methodist Church (229 Main St., Newfield) from 4 – 7 p.m. for $9 to eat in or take out.
10. Another Election Day dinner
will be provided by the Danby Community Church (1859 Danby Rd, Ithaca) with a choice of pork or chicken, mashed potatoes, dressing, choice of vegetable, dessert and beverage for the cost of a donation to the church from 5 – 7 p.m.
11. All day pancakes
will be served up by Ithaca Rotary Club from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Coltivare,(235 South Cayuga St., Ithaca). In its 43rd year, the meal will include blueberry and plain pancakes, corned beef hash, fruit, and yogurt, along with scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, coffee, tea and orange juice. Tickets are $9 for adults, and free for children 12 and under; sales will benefit Ithaca Rotary’s International Student Exchange Program. In the morning, Cayuga Radio Group broadcast live, and many local political candidates may attend.