Stressed Out About The Election? NYC Has Something For Everyone

NEW YORK CITY – There were about 780,000 registered Democrats and 86,000 registered Republicans in Manhattan as of earlier this year, according to the Board of Elections, and right about now, they all have something in common.

Anxiety. Suspension. Angst.

Election Day is tomorrow – Tuesday, Nov. 5 – and if you haven’t heard, it’s perfectly acceptable to open a bottle of wine whenever you want to on Tuesday (after you’ve voted, that is).

If you’d prefer to leave your apartment – but ask yourself, would you? – there are approximately 5,596 nightlife establishments in Manhattan, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Small Business Services.

Maybe green is your favorite color. If so, look no further: a map of licensed retail dispensaries where of-age adults may legally purchase cannabis is here.

How About Virtue?

From churches, synagogues, and mosques, to Buddhist centers, atheist organizations, or the Met – Opera or Museum – Manhattan is full of venues to commune with the divine (or lack thereof).

It's likely that your place of worship or meditation is hosting regularly scheduled services or programming on Tuesday. Patch recommends calling to confirm details.

Prefer A Performance?

Broadway is open, David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd) is at Madison Square Garden, jazz legend Eddie Palmieri plays two sets at Blue Note, and French psychedelic rockers La Femme will appear at Rough Trade, to name a few.

The election has already provided comics with ample material, and your favorite comedy venue is quite possibly hosting an election watch party or other results-related event.

The Great Outdoors

The polls close at 9 p.m., but the sun now sets around 4:45 p.m., which means that a walk in Central Park, Riverside Park, or along the Hudson or East River may be a walk in the dark.

If walking is just too stoic to stomach and you’d prefer to sweat out your demons, the Russian and Turkish Baths are an East Village classic, and will remain open until 10 p.m. For an elevated experience, consider Aire Ancient Baths, in Tribeca, which are open until 11 p.m.

Need To Escape?

Elle recently wrote about some of the best hotels in the Hudson Valley, and rental cars are available at locations across the city. Note that the Metro-North Railroad will operate on a modified schedule on Election Day, according to the MTA. More information is available here.

Is the Hudson Valley just not far away enough? Depart for Singapore from JFK or Newark, an approximately 19-hour flight and two of the longest flights in the world. By the time you reach Changi Airport, it will be Wednesday (or even Thursday if you depart from JFK), and you'll be more than 10,000 miles away from where you started.

Stuck in town, at home, or at work, and wondering how to manage? Experts recommend focusing on what you can control, exercising, going about your typical self-care routines, and avoiding – or limiting – social media.

Call In Sick – If You Have Paid Sick Leave

Whatever the result, if Wednesday feels overwhelming, consider calling in sick if you have access to paid sick days. You’ll be in good company: use of sick leave was up 55 percent in 2023 compared to 2019, according to human-resources platform Dayforce, with younger workers reportedly more likely to use this time than older workers.

Finally, remember that whatever you’re reading, it’s probably not the end of the world. Probably.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call 911 to report a medical or health-related emergency, or a person in need of medical assistance.