On the North Side of the city, about five miles away from the rally, some bars hosted election parties, offering drink specials and live entertainment.

Although a huge crowd gathered downtown for the rally, others decided to host and attend different events and places.

The Crew Bar and Grill, 4804 N. Broadway St., was one of those places. The bar collaborated with The Annoyance Theatre to provide entertainment during commercial breaks of the election coverage while a drag queen version of Gov. Sarah Palin hosted the event.

The theater group presented a short clip of “George Bush is a Great Man,” directed by Mick Napier. The musical number paid tribute to the President and everything he stands for.

Four years ago, the election party consisted of a Jenna Bush drag queen hosting the big event.

While the Annoyance Theatre performance was the only entertainment for the evening, Wells still expected a big turnout.

The bar, which overlooks Broadway Street, was decorated with red string lights and American flag banners. About 70 patrons were able to spread out at various tables and bar areas to watch election results come in on 13 televisions.

“I hope this isn’t a repeat of the 2000 and 2004 election,” said Matthew Allsup, an Uptown resident.

Allsup, a bar patron, has been going to Crew for years, and decided to come in on election night to cash in on the bar’s complimentary “drink with voting sticker” special of the night.

While Allsup spent the night catching up with an old friend, he hoped the evening would run smoothly and everyone would then enjoy themselves.

“I hope everyone respects one another and keeps it contained [in Grant Park],” Allsup said. “It would be an embarrassment and a bad rep that we don’t need.”

Andrew Page and Thilan Page, also bar patrons, took advantage of the bar’s complimentary drink special as well.

“Obama will be our next president,” said Andrew Page as he sat sipping his beer earlier in the evening anticipating the outcome of the election.

By 7:30 p.m., the club was filled to capacity with a line at the entrance spilling out onto the sidewalk. The introduction of a drag queen dressed as Palin sent the crowd into an uproar of cheers and laughter.

Standing at over 6-feet tall, dressed in an all-black jacket and skirt suit with red pumps, Palin greeted and mingled with patrons for the rest of the evening.

Each time result updates were reported on the numerous television screens, the crowd either let out a deafening cheer or boo.

At the end of the evening, when Sen. Barack Obama was finally announced president-elect, the noise and excitement level was almost unbearable. Every patron sat and stood with their eyes glued to the nearest T.V., watching the acceptance speech of the soon to be 44th president