Charlotte

Looking for the perfect opportunity to take a load off?

To grab a half-price glass of wine or a funky imported beer? To share in a wide-ranging, freewheeling conversation with a bunch of groovy and open-minded fellow Progressives? To swap ideas with folks as interested in their communities, the nation, and the world as you are?

Drinking Liberally offers the hands-down best after-work, happy-hour-style networking event in town--and we'd love to see you!

Join us tonight, at Dolce Vita, in NoDa. You'll be glad you did!

Where: Dolce Vita, at 3205 North Davidson Street
When: Wednesday, November 19, kicking off at around 7 o'clock--but join us whenever you like!
Who: Anyone who'd like to join the fun! First timers are strongly encouraged to check us out! Bring a friend!
Plus: Dolce Vita's "Wino Wednesday" means half-price wine by the glass!

Wow! What an Election Night! Many thanks to all of you who joined us for the evening--it was truly excellent!

And equally as many thanks to all of you who helped out in ways both big and small to make that night so meaningful. Whether you ran for office, donated time and energy to a campaign, helped get out the vote, manned a polling station, or simply stayed on top of the issues to help foster an ongoing conversation about better, saner days ahead, we salute you all! Seriously: you made it happen. Thank you.

That said, are you, like us, still jazzed up two weeks after the fact? Feeling more a part of the political scene than ever before? Wondering what you're going to do with yourself now that the election is over? Looking for a place to gather for a heady dose of topical discussion and Progressive camaraderie?

Stay on top of the political and current-events scene by joining us for Drinking Liberally!

We'll be talking about everything from Obama's cabinet choices to the razor-thin Senate race in Minnesota to the vagaries of California's "Proposition 8." We'll snicker about Sarah Palin one last time. The new Bond film might come up. As will, perhaps, the meltdown in the markets, the largely ignored status of our two wars, and what sort of pooch the Obama girls might get when they move in to the White House this winter.

Swing by Dolce Vita, find us on the left side of the room, and grab a glass of half-price wine as you enter the conversation!

As always, you'll be warmly received and, before you know it, half-a-drink deep in a hair-raising, spine-tingling session of the usual slew of provocative political banter, current-events brouhaha, occasionally eyebrow-raising debate, and, of course, a healthy dose of life-affirming liberal carousing.

We can't wait to see you!

Where: Dolce Vita, at 3205 North Davidson St., in the groovy epicenter of NoDa
When: Wednesday, November 19, beginning at around 7 o'clock
Who: Any and all who'd like to join the fun! Bring a friend!
Why: Because it's YOU who makes the conversation happen!
Plus: Dolce Vita's "Wino Wednesday" means half-price wine by the glass!

Lastly: A new Drinking Liberally in the University area? We're not sure, but rumor has it that a brand new chapter will meet at the Flying Saucer, 9605 North Tryon, near campus, on December 5, the first Friday of the month, at 8 p.m. If you're in the area, we encourage you to swing by. Stay tuned for more info.

With so much to talk about, there's never been a better time for Drinking Liberally.

Hot on the heels of Election Day '08, join us for our regular first-Wednesday-of-the-month gathering. Yes, it's true. Your free-thinking, Liberal-minded cohorts will gather tonight, at Dolce Vita, in NoDa, for our typical wine-addled discussion of the events, ideas, and issues of the day. And wow--what a day! More toasts are surely in store!

Swing by Dolce Vita tonight for an ice-cold beer or a half-price glass of vino and add your voice to the discussion. We can't wait to see you!

Where: Dolce Vita, at 3205 North Davidson Street
When: Tonight, Wednesday November 5, from 7:00 onward
Who: Anyone still hyped-up about yesterday's election
Why: We're still beaming with joy and we bet you are too!
Plus: Dolce Vita's "Wino Wednesday" means you enjoy half-price wine by the glass! Huzzah!

Peace,

Andy, Jeremy, Kendall, Marcus & Mark

You know the story: This is the Presidential Election of a lifetime. And with the entire world watching, you'll surely want to be watching too. So gather with your friends at Intermezzo to look on as the returns trickle in.

Join us tonight for this extra-special Drinking Liberally!

In addition to the Obama-McCain contest at the heart of this thing, we're keeping an eye on all sorts of other races both big and small, near and far. Come grab a drink and have the time of your life during this Election of a lifetime! Celebrate with the world!

* Beer and wine specials!
* Up-to-the-second Presidential results!
* Local and statewide results!
* Witty conversation and left-leaning camaraderie!
* Thoughtful insights on the subtleties of the electoral map, far-off Senate races, and other political minutia!
* Tate tapping away on a laptop!
* Acceptance speeches broadcast live!
* Blue-state cupcakes!
* Obama cake!
* Joyous revelry!

What: Drinking Liberally's 2008 Election-Night Party of a Lifetime
Where: Intermezzo, at 1427 East 10th Street, at Louise, where 10th and Kings turn into Central
When: Tonight, anytime after 7:30
Who: Absolutely everyone thrilled about a better tomorrow! Bring friends! The more the merrier!

One day to go!

Join us Tuesday night at Intermezzo, on lower Central Avenue, for the most jazzy, pizzazzy, informative, inclusive, all-out excellent Election Night Returns-Watch Party in town!

But first: Haven't voted yet? That's fine. The early-voting phase is over, but Tuesday, November 4, is the big one. And while there's no reason to get hysterical, you don't want to fall prey to complacency--so get out there and cast your ballot!

Not sure where to vote? Have other concerns? Most questions can be answered at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections website. For friends outside the area, Alternet's "How to Make Your Vote as Easy as Possible: An Online Guide" is an enormously helpful resource. Or just email us and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction.

And by all means, if you have time to help others navigate the process or to put the word out about a candidate who inspires you, please consider volunteering. It's certainly not too late--as little as an hour or two makes a real difference. The best thing is, it feels great. This short piece, "My Wife Made me Canvass for Obama; Here's What I Learned", by a decidedly non-committed, apolitical Charlotte banker, says it all.

Then, after you've voted, and told your friends to vote, and maybe helped some other people vote, join us at Intermezzo for an Election Night Returns-Watch Extravaganza! Stop in anytime! We start at 7:30 and we'll be there deep, deep into the night

We take the election seriously and of course we have our fingers crossed, but if things go the way we expect them to, then the night will be a thrilling ride--a giddy, uplifting mishmash of the Oscars, the Super Bowl, New Years Eve, and the first moon landing all crammed into a single, nail-biter of an evening. As the results trickle in, we intend to have some serious fun, so come join us! You'll be in the happy confines of Intermezzo, surrounded by several dozen people as revved-up and ready to rock the house as you! What could be better? We can't wait to see you!

Whether you're an old hand at Drinking Liberally or you've been holding out and this is your first visit, this historic election is going to be a night to remember!

What: Election Night Returns-Watch Extravaganza
Where: Intermezzo Pizzeria and Cafe, 1427 East 10th Street, at Louise, where 10th and Kings become Central
When: Tuesday, November 4--anytime after 7:30
Who: Absolutely EVERYONE
Plus: Cool conversation! Crystal-clear TVs! Drink specials! Delicious food! A free piece of cake or a celebratory cupcake! Far out, right?