The presidential election got your knickers in a knot? You could spend the next few nail-biting evenings cowering beneath the couch cushions, nervously perusing pollster.com while the major news networks blather about the countdown to Election Night. Or, you could drag your anxious ass out of the house to have a little fun, while still remaining gloriously informed.OCTOBER 30
Raise your glass to the future president-elect at the fourth annual MARTINIS ON THE AVENUE PARTY: THE DOTINI ELECTION SPECIAL. Hosted by Fields Corner Main Street and St. Mark's Area Main Street, the 7 pm party combines pre-Halloween fun and pre-election buzz, with prizes awarded to the best politician look-alike. Tickets are $30, $35 at the door. Purchase tickets at fieldscorner.org, or call 617.474.1432.
The Blarney Stone, 1505 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, 617.436.8223, blarneystoneboston.com.
Unreliable Narrator presents "SCHMOLITICS," a hilarious collection of satirical sketches, monologues, and 10-minute plays — including an abridged wrap-up of the past decade in American political history. The show runs through November 1; tickets are $9.
The Factory Theatre (formerly the Piano Factory Theatre), 791 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.817.6600, thefactorytheatre.org.
OCTOBER 31
Tonight's FILM FESTIVAL ON VOTING RIGHTS begins at 5:15 pm, with screenings of Iron Jawed Angels, American Blackout, and Hacking Democracy. Dress as your favorite civil-rights activist to help set the mood. Suggested donation of $20, to benefit the Center for Hand-Counted Paper Ballots.
Cambridge Friends Meeting House, 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge, 617.876.6883, handcountedpaperballots.org.
Election-themed costume parties are a given this Halloween, and REDLINE'S BIPARTISAN BOOGIEMAN BASH is no exception. From 8 pm to 2 am, compete for two $250 grand prizes by showcasing your most original politically themed costume.
Redline, 59 JFK Street, Cambridge, 617.491.9851, redlinecambridge.com.
NOVEMBER 1
Exercise your legs and your political savvy as author Clint Richmond takes you on a WALKING TOUR OF POLITICAL PLACES OF BOSTON. The $10 trek, based on Richmond’s book of the same name, will march you along the Beantown branch of the presidential-campaign trail, as it has passed through downtown Boston since 1860.
Visit walkboston.org for registration details.
NOVEMBER 2
Sweeten up the election season with hand-iced PARTY PRIDE COOKIES FROM HARVARD SWEET BOUTIQUE. Choose from Democrat and Republican versions of this package of treats — elephant-shaped cookies for the starving McCain supporter, or two donkey-shaped ones for the Obamaniacs. Or hell, choose one of each, if you're one of those voters.
Order from harvardsweetboutique.com.
NOVEMBER 3
Nobody slices and dices politics like David Mamet. His election-themed work NOVEMBER is making its New England debut at the Lyric Stage Company, running through November 15. This satirical work stars a fictional commander-in-chief who is forced to tap into the turkey industry when he finds himself short on campaign funds.
The Lyric Stage Company, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston, 617.585.5678, lyricstage.com.
NOVEMBER 4 ITS OWN SELF
Hip-hop and politics collide as LEEDZ EDUTAINMENT PRESENTS ELECTION NIGHT: BARACK THE VOTE at 8 pm. Tickets for the 18+ event are $12, $15 at the door. Featuring live performances from Edo. G, Slaine, Akrobatik, and Indifferent Arts, with music by DJ On & On.
The Middle East Downstairs, 472 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.492.1886, mideastclub.com.
Live returns aren't usually a laughing matter (except for the abysmally funny 2000 election). This year, BOSTON NEWS NET, the city's only live weekly satirical news show, presents Political Party, five hours of comedy and live election coverage, from 8 pm until last call.
ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect Street, Cambridge, 617. 576.1253, bostonnewsnet.com
HARD ROCK THE VOTE with the Boston Phoenix, Stuff@night, and WFNX, at, where else, the Hard Rock Café. Join us for an evening of food, drink, prizes, and, of course, election coverage, broadcast on big-screen TVs. Must RSVP in advance to attend.
Visit thePhoenix.com/electionparty for details.
Eat and drink — family-style — with fellow Democrats, while catching election coverage at “BARACK THE VOTE,” part of Persephone's weekly “Tuesday Night Supper Club.” This week’s $40 prix-fixe meal ($60 with wines) features pachyderm-inspired items, including “Seared Elephant Trunk Scallops” and “White Elephant Cupcakes.” A DJ will take the stage at 10 pm. Seatings are scheduled for 6 and 8:30 pm.
Persephone, 283 Summer Street, Boston, 617.423.2257, achilles-project.com.
