Post-Ballot Initiatives: Where to Celebrate and Sigh

GOT AN ELECTION DAY HANGOVER? You're not alone. The throngs in Chicago's Grant Park who cheered for President-elect Barack Obama (pictured above) were mirrored here in D.C. by crowds who gathered outside the White House and raised a ruckus on streets from Capitol Hill to Old Town.

But you know what they say, the hair of the, uh, Election Day dog (or elephant and donkey for that matter) cures all ills. So whether you're uplifted or deflated by yesterday's results, here are tips on where you can celebrate or commiserate tonight.

CELEBRATORY MEASURES
The Taste of Champions: How better to celebrate Obama's win than with a slice of Chicago-style pizza at Armand's. But what's the ultimate taste of election victory? A pepperoni pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella and ... wait for it ... arugula ($13, $9 during the 3-7 p.m. happy hour) at Chef Geoff's. Don't forget to stop in at Oceanaire for baked Alaska ($7) for dessert! (Too soon?)
» Armand's, 226 Massachusetts Ave. NE; 202-547-6600. (Union Station)
» Armand's, 4231 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-686-9450. (Tenleytown)
» Oceanaire Seafood Room, 1201 F St. NW; 202-347-2277. (Metro Center)
» Chef Geoff's, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; 202-464-4461. (Metro Center)
» Oceanaire Seafood Room 1201 F St. NW; 202-347-2277. (Metro Center)

Jam for Obama, Mon: Yeah, there's Obama Girl's crush-worthy ditty and Ludacris' "Obama is Here," but if you pop into Adams Morgan's Bukom Cafe after 9 p.m., there's a chance that you might hear one of the many reggae anthems recorded about the Illinois senator.
» Bukom Cafe, 2442 18th St. NW; 202-265-4600. (Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan)

Open the Lines of Communication: So there's been a lot of talk about reaching across the aisle and taking different perspectives into account. We say drink it in, for real. Head to Brickskeller and order up a Baltica #8 Wheat Ale brewed in good ol' Russia (which, sadly, you can't see from D.C.). Let's get crackin' on those larger world issues one sip at a time.
» Brickskeller, 1523 22nd St. NW; 202-293-1885. (Dupont Circle)

Do Your Victory Dance: You can get your jubliant gyrations on at most clubs in the city, but Fly Lounge's aptly titled Elite Wednesday throwdown (10 p.m.) is for true winners. Especially if you're a lady constituent: Women get in free and receive a glass of champagne. Sorry, fellas, you have to cough up $10 and need to get on the guest list.
» Fly Lounge, 1802 Jefferson Pl. NW; 202-828-4433. (Dupont Circle)

Practice Makes Perfect: Before sharpening up your hypothetical knives to slice up pork barrel spending, might we suggest stopping by the Great Wall Szechuan House, where you can cut into their tasty Szechuan twice-cooked pork ($11)?
» Great Wall Szechuan House, 1527 14th St. NW; 202-797-8888.

SOLACE-SEEKER SPOTS
Fists of Fury: An easy way to work out that aggression? Head to Arlington's Carpool, where a buck lets you wallop a wee punching-bag game called Boxer.
» Carpool, 4000 Fairfax Dr., Arlington; 703-532-7665. (Ballston)

Target Your Rage: Speaking of bucks, channel your inner NRA gun-slinger and pop off virtual rounds at Rocket Bar's Buck Hunter arcade games. They've got both the original and safari versions (you know, for those who want their target practice with an extra sense of worldliness).
» Rocket Bar, 714 7th St. NW; 202-628-7665. (Chinatown/Gallery Place)

Sing Your Sorrow: Don't let your memorization of Hank Williams Jr.'s ditty "McCain-Palin Tradition" go to waste. Head to Remingtons for the country western bar's karaoke night, where you can belt it out while two-steppin' in style.
» Remingtons, 639 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; 202-543-3113. (Eastern Market)

A Plumb Job for Joe: Drop by Dupont's Lucky Bar to blow off some steam — but before you drop trou in the bathroom, make sure the toilets aren't too scuzzy. They could use some work.
» Lucky Bar, 1221 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-331-3733. (Dupont Circle)

» Stop Striking Out: Call up Lucky Strike and see if they'll do you a winning favor by setting up bumper lanes.
» Lucky Strike, 701 7th St. NW; 202-347-1021. (Gallery Place-Chinatown)

BIPARTISAN MEASURES
Calm those Nerves: Regardless of which outcome you wanted yesterday, you've got to be feeling a wee bit frazzled from all the Wolf Blitzer analyzing and Web-site refreshing of the last couple days. Take a load off at Bethesda's Juste Lounge for Smooth Jazz Wednesday, at which the Marcus Johnson Project performs. Bonus? Ya get two free drinks.
» Juste Lounge 4867 Cordell Ave.; Bethesda. 301-523-0480. (Bethesda)

Try to Be Sweet: Whether you want to have your cake and literally eat it too, or make your sad self numb by eating five pounds of cookies, CakeLove has just what the pundit ordered.
» CakeLove, 1506 U St. NW; 202-588-7100. (U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo)

See Your True Colors: Take the Republican and Democrat shades at face value and stop for a night cap at Red Lounge Bar & Grill or the Blue Bar Lounge at the Henley Park Hotel.
» Red Lounge Bar & Grill, 2013 14th St NW, 202-232-5788.
» Blue Bar Lounge, 926 Massachusetts Ave. NW; 202-638-5200.

Photos by Juana Arias for The Washington Post; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Chris McGrath/Getty Images; Courtesy of Play Mechanix Inc.