Note to reader: This is a developing story — because parties may be added to the list as the day unfolds and Ladra gets invites.
UPDATED: Oh my God! Is this it? Is it the end of this brutal election cycle?
Ladra doesn’t care who wins anymore.
I’m just glad to see it over. Of course, I may not feel that way at 7:30 or 8 p.m., after absentee ballots are counted.
So, like many of the candidates and consultants and volunteers and paid poll workers, Ladra will be needing a drink right about that time. Good thing there are plenty of Election Night “watch” parties. Barely anyone calls them victory parties anymore. Because depending on how it goes throughout the day, an Election Day party could be a blast — or it could be a bummer.
Most events start at 7 p.m., but you might want to wait until it seems 8 or 8:30, and the votes have started to roll in, before you show up. Not just because people like to go home and shower and change after a long day at the polls. But because loser parties are no fun.
Governor Rick Scott and will be celebrating in Bonita Springs — I guess Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera could not convince him to bring it down here — but there will be a local Miami-Dade Republican Party
party for people to gather and pray at Las Vegas Restaurant, 11995 SW 26th St.
Former Gov. Charlie Crist isn’t having a local event, either, but the Miami-Dade Democratic Party will gather with supporters at News Lounge, 5580 NE 4th Ct. This party starts at 8 p.m. Maybe they’re hesitant.
The Adrian Wyllie party will be at Filling Station/Garage in downtown Miami. Google it.
The other big race, the congressional contest between U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia and Miami-Dade School Board Member Carlos “Crybaby” Curbelo — which is way close even though Ladra predicts the Crybaby wins with his 7,000 GOP vote lead heading into today– has generated a lot of interest and, since they will have the presence of the actual candidates, will likely have the biggest parties.
Curbelo’s get together is at Ren A Venue, 10855 SW 72nd Street. Garcia’s campaign watch party is at Casa Vieja Restaurant, 10325 Hammocks Blvd. Ladra won’t go if he loses. Why gloat? I will try to swing by if he wins, but I fully expect to get kicked out in front of many of our mutual friends.
The funnest party might be the pro medical marijuana amendment party in Wynwood atGramps, 176 NW 24 St. It starts early, at 6 p.m., and drinks are 2 for 1 until 9 p.m., but who’s going to be drinking?
Daisy Baez, the Democrat who is making State Rep. Erik Fresen sweat and spend tons of money, has been thisclose to taking the seat from him. I 
don’t think she does, because if Fresen didn’t lose in a Democratic year, though it came close, he shouldn’t lose in a Republican year. Still, it depends on how many hundreds of Democrats turn out today. And even if she just comes close, her party may be still be a celebration. Because this is a Republican year, and we can all get used to saying Representative Baez in 2016. Go practice calling her that at El Guayabo, 4239 W Flagler St.
But Fresen, if he wins, will have a lot to celebrate, too. He’ll have dodged two bullets and gets to leave after this term, under which he can expect to get some juice committee appointments. But he seems rather scared. First, he’s going to watch the restuls from home and then — and we imagine only if he’s winning or he won it — will he join his fellow Republicans at the GOP event at Las Vegas.
Probably some of the other state Reps. will congregate there. But Rep. Carlos Trujillo (R-Doral) wants to have his own affair and tweeted his supporters to join him at Homefield Sports Bar & Grill, 8575 SW 124th Ave., beginning at 7 p.m.
Karyn Cunningham, the UTD government liaison who is running for council in Palmetto Bay, will join friends and supporters at Bistro Foly at 7290 SW 168th St.
Doral Councilwoman Bettina Rodriguez-Aguilera hopes to celebrate her win over former Councilman Pete Cabrera at the Intercontinental Doral, 2505 NW 87th Ave.
Do you know of a party not on this list? Please comment below or email Ladra at edevalle@gmail.com to get it on here.
Oh, and let the good times roll!
The after parties: A guide to election night reverie — or wakes added by Ladra on
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