Thankfully, it happens just once every four years -- the first debate between presidential candidates. Like many Americans, I am looking forward to this election season being over -- and with just 42 days to go, Election Day can't get here quickly enough.
This evening, my good friend Richard and I co-hosted a viewing party of what turned out to be a rousing debate (no surprise there) between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Richard invited his friends, I invited mine, and it was a wonderful inter-mingling of folks from different backgrounds, everyone eager to listen to our next Commander in Chief (whoever that may be).
We reserved the "Owner's Box," a big private room at McGivney's Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Juneau. Hats off to McGivney's staff for their attentive service, especially with my insistence that televisions were all set to different channels, so we could see the variety of coverage. And, oh, was there a variety of coverage amongst CNN, FOX News, and Free Speech TV!
It was so much fun having a secluded space to broadcast the debate on the multiple big screens. The reclining theater-style seats were a big hit, too. Richard's friend, Bev, organized entertaining bingo cards, fortunately taking the place of any drinking game that could have been disastrous. About 30 people came out for the festivities, and I'm happy to say there was no fighting or bad temperament!
But the best part of the evening here in Juneau? On the block for the winner of the bingo game: a 1992 vintage Ross Perot sweatshirt, donated from Richard's personal collection. At the end of the 90-minute debate, I didn't win, but I sure had fun trying.
