Congratulations! You survived election — or at least campaign — season. You’ve turned in your ballot before or made a plan to vote on November 5, Election Day. Now, ready yourself to reap some rewards.
Like … free beer! And spicy bao buns — just for showing your “I Voted” sticker. Also look out for pop-up parties — DJ Jazzy Jeff and De La Soul in West Philly — a morning Hamilton celebration on Broad Street (and discounted tickets).
Check out all the free and discounted stuff you deserve for doing your civic duty. Go, democracy!
Hamilton and De La Soul, plus discounted tickets
Joy to the Polls strikes again, this time, pairing up for a morning bash with free Brood Coffee, live DJs spinning the Hamilton score and performers — all outside the historic Academy of Music (240 S. Broad Street) from 7 to 8am. Later in the morning, Ensemble Arts is offering $24 off Hamilton tix if you purchase them after 10am on November 5.
At some point in the day, De La Soul joins DJ Jazzy Jeff at a top-secret West Philly polling place for a pop-up concert. You gotta RSVP to get invited.
Free ... pizza
Philly’s Pizza to the Polls truck has announced its schedule of polling places where they plan to bring 1,500 free slices. (You can thank nonpartisan voter org Committee of Seventy for the service.) The truck is scheduled to hit up the following locations to celebrate voters and foster civic pride: from 10:30am to noon, Bright Hope Baptist (1601 N. 12th Street); from noon to 2pm, West Philly High School (4901 Chestnut Street) and from 2:30 to 4:30pm, South Philadelphia High School (2101 S. Broad Street) — to start.
Free beer, watch parties
Use your “I Voted” sticker or other proof that you did your civic duty to earn yourself a Mainstay Independent beer at eight — 8! — FCM watering holes:
These include day-to-night Center CIty spots Harper’s Garden (31 S. 18th Street) and Rosy’s Taco Bar (2220 Walnut Street). Also: 4pm til late venues Juno (1033 Spring Garden Street), Rosy’s Taco Bar East (624 S. 6th Street) and Walnut Garden (1708 Walnut Street). Sports-y bar Craft Hall (901 N. Delaware Avenue) and Lucy’s (1720 Chestnut Street) offer beer and an election watch party.
Love City Brewing in Callowhill (1023 Hamilton Street) will pour you 10 ounces of what’s on tap, just for wearing your “I Voted” sticker or asking nicely, from 4 to 11pm. Also, they’ll be following election results and news on TV.
If you want your free beer with a side of mini golf, wear that sticker to Libertee Grounds (1600 W. Girard Avenue) for a Libertee Lager. (You’ll still need to pay $10 to play nine holes, $18 to play all 18.)
Free bike rides
Indego, the blue Philly bike shares, is offering two free 30-minute rides on November 5 on regular (not electric) bikes, for voters who aren’t already using an Indego pass. The function is called “Single Ride,” and you just enter the code VOTE2024 on their website to secure your two gratis trips.
Patriotic burgers, specials on pitchers, wings, cocktails, guac, etc.
Voters get half off a margarita and half off guacamole from 11am until way, way after the polls close at El Camino Real in Northern Liberties (1040 N. 2nd Street).
Not really a discount, but popular-since-1860 McGillin’s Olde Ale House (1310 Drury Street) is topping ground beef circles with bleu cheese, roasted red peppers and caramelized onions and calling them “Red, White & Bleu Burgers” from 11am on Election Day. Like on any Tuesday night, after 5pm, wings are 50 cents each and Bud Light pitchers cost $9.
From 4 to 10pm, The Twisted Tail on Headhouse Square (509 S. 2nd Street), is charging $7 for painkillers (the cocktail, not the prescription). There’s live folk music by David Falcone from 6 to 10pm.
Center City’s Patchwork (1620 Chancellor Street) is taking $2 off house wines and beers from 4 to 9pm.
Free food
SouthGate (1801 Lombard Street) will be offering anyone who shows up wearing an “I Voted” sticker yet another choice to make on Election Day. Treat yo-self without paying a dime for a spicy pork boa or spicy cucumber banchan. (Either way, you win.) Open 4 to 9pm.
“Auntie” Saud Shuler’s giving out free food all day — her famous soul food platters; she’s promised to have her grill hot too — for customers who come into Country Cookin’ food truck (3824 N. Broad Street) with their “I Voted” stickers — and their kids, too. Y’all see it.
Free ping pong
From 4 to 11pm, Center City’s SPIN Philly (211 S. 15th Street) is giving voters a free hour of ping pong. Just bring your “I Voted” sticker, a photo, or any other voting confirmation.
MORE FUN THINGS TO DO, ELECTION DAY AND EVERY DAY