So, yesterday after a day at work and 4 hours of class, I finally was released into Harvard Square at a little past 9:35 to start my results-watching.

All of the Harvard Democratic clubs were having a combined party at Tommy Doyle's, and 99catsaway were hoping to meet there. She had arrived hours earlier, and had staked out some territory near the bar. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, the line was huge.

She met me outside and we and made our way to Whitney's. In all my years in the area, I had only been there once before, but I'm going to need to go again. It's right in the square, but so easy to miss. As the reviews on Yelp suggest, it's one of the few places remaining in the Square that isn't a shopping mall/chain store place or feel "too trendy for the room."

Whitney's was full, but not overcrowded, but since they were showing ABC News, we made our way over to Cambridge 1 after one round of drinks. Once inside, we realized that while there was CNN on the screens, there was no audio! The bartender fielded many requests to switch, but explained that there was no way for him to do so.

Even without sound, though, I was able to see CNN anchors talking to a freakin' hologram. I think I actually cried out, "Holy crap! Anderson Cooper is talking to a freakin' hologram! The future is here!"

Anyway, right as I finished off my pizza, the CNN Breaking News sweeper graphics come up on screen. CNN called Virginia for Obama... and I think at that point everyone in the restaurant knew that an Obama victory was inevitable. Sure enough, almost immediately after, we saw the sweeper again, and CNN called the election for Obama.

The reaction where we were at was pretty subdued... people cheered a bit, then got quiet, many enjoying an introspective moment with friends or a loved one. There was hugging, kissing, sighing, and teary eyes. We knew we had to settle our bill and find our way somewhere with sound for the speeches.

We walked through the Square to people cheering at each other, car horns honking in celebration, two guys running shirtless through the streets screaming cheers. It really was great.

We ended up back at Whitney's, where we watched McCain's concession speech from just outside. The TV was visible through the window, an there was a speaker mounted over the door facing out. It was a beautiful night, weather-wise, and there was something great about standing in a crowd on the sidewalk of John F Kennedy Street watching history. I personally think that McCain's speech was exactly what needed to be said, and well delivered, too.

By the time Obama spoke, we had made our way into the bar, but stayed close enough to the door that we could see the crowd outside, the cars that had pulled over, double parked, so that drivers and passengers could watch out their windows. Crummy cell phone pics:




Obama's speech was amazing, of course, and I wasn't the only one in the place who got a bit teary eyed several times. After we left, I said to my dad on the phone that, "If a speech like that can't get the process of reuniting the country started, then I don't know what will."