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Two Tampa venues hosting watch parties for debate

By Alexandra Zayas / St. Petersburg Times

TAMPA — Watching the first presidential debate tonight? Think about doing it with a cup of caffeine on some local coffeehouse couches.

Cafe Hey in Tampa Heights and Tre Amici @ the Bunker in Ybor City are hosting watch parties for the debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, which starts at 9 p.m.

Anne Vela, who co-owns Cafe Hey, said she has fond memories of political dialogue shared over drinks at college get-togethers.

So when she heard some of her young customers making plans to stay home and watch the debates, she decided to offer up her coffee shop instead.

She plans to screen every presidential debate at Cafe Hey.

"It's great to have a civilized conversation," said Vela, 31.

Before the debate tonight, Cafe Hey will screen director Michael Moore's new feature-length documentary, Slacker Uprising, about the power of the youth vote in America.

At Tre Amici, the debate watch party starts at 7 p.m. with live music played by 24-year-old singer-songwriter Lorna Bracewell, a Tampa Bay area native.

Tre Amici has a wine and beer license and will have its regular menu available. Cafe Hey is encouraging people to bring their own booze and will serve a limited food menu and pour coffee and tea, but no espresso — the machine is too loud.

Plenty of Vela's customers have already told her they'll see her tonight. Now she'll just have to figure out how to cram everyone into the quaint shop.

"If we have to move it to the parking lot under the interstate," she said, "so be it."