Bellinghamsters gather to watch the VP debate over bratwurst and bingo
For many Bellingham residents, debate nights at Nelson’s Market are tradition. During Tuesday’s vice presidential debate, York’s cozy neighborhood brunch spot took on the energy of a sports bar — complete with bingo, bratwurst, beer and bellowing courtside commentary.
In the center of the room, people at a reserved table for 19 kept their eyes on the TV and chatted with their neighbors at other tables. Any borders between tables were fluid; employees took orders by name to more effectively track down friendly guests roving from booth to booth. Bratwursts — a Minnesota favorite — were on the menu as the debate night special.
Nelson’s Market co-owner Urania Shaklee was impressed with the evening’s turnout.
“I am amazed at how many people came out for a vice presidential debate,” Shaklee said. “Clearly, people are engaged in this election. We have as much of a crowd here tonight as we did for the last debate with Kamala.”
Ground rules, mostly followed
Compared to the Trump-Harris showdown in September, the debate between Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz was almost amicable.
“It was a lot more civilized than I was expecting,” said Barbara Plaskett, a second-time debate watch attendee at Nelson’s. “I still think there was a lot of misinformation, especially from one side — but a little bit from both sides. I still think the Harris-Walz ticket is leaps and bounds better than the Trump-Vance ticket.”
The event began by ringing the order bell. Ben Shaklee, Urania’s husband and co-owner, set some ground rules, asking the crowd to keep their commentary for the end of the broadcast.
“I like the rules they laid out at the beginning — not that I specifically always followed them,” Plaskett said, laughing. “I attempted to, but things get a little heated every once in a while.”
At times, the crowd could not contain itself. Over the white noise from the kitchen’s sizzling fry baskets and the crescendo of table talk, attendees called for quiet as the moderator on television asked Sen. Vance whether he would seek to challenge this year’s election results.
“I think that we’re focused on the future,” Vance said. “We need to figure out how to solve the inflation crisis caused by Kamala Harris’ policies.”
In response, the crowd riled up again, with a few shouts of “No!” piercing the room.
“I understand that during the pandemic there was a lot of price-gouging,” said Amanda Apitz, a grant writer and vocal audience member. “But the fact that [Vance was] blaming the presidency that took over after the pandemic is bullshit. Interest rates are up to the Federal Reserve … That’s not up to the president.”
At the same table, Caryn Simmons agreed.
“He lied, and every time he was asked a question, he deflected back to insult Kamala Harris and blame her for things that were absolutely not her fault,” Simmons said. “Everyone in the world has been dealing with inflation since the pandemic, and our economy is actually faring better than most. It’s not President Biden’s fault that we have inflation.”
Though quiet was encouraged to allow viewers to hear the television, much of the appeal of watching debates in public spaces lies in the crowd’s reactions. Before taking over the restaurant in 2023, Shaklee said she and her husband had been coming to Nelson’s Market to watch debates since they moved to the York neighborhood in 2011.
“It’s just really fun to be in a lively setting when these things are happening and feel in real time how people are responding,” Shaklee said.
By the end of the night, prizes for bingo winners (including plastic cat-ear headbands, friendship bracelets emblazoned with the imperative “VOTE,” and a pair of blue star-shaped sunglasses) were handed out even to non-winners.
Bingo spaces labeled “cats and dogs” remained unchecked — after all, who would have thought to put “Walz and Vance agree” on their 2024 bingo card?
— By Oren Roberts