Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Where To Watch Andrew Cuomo & Cynthia Nixon's One And Only Debate (Tonight)
By
Claire Lampen
Published Aug 29, 2018
Modified Aug 29, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Claire Lampen
Published Aug 29, 2018
Modified Aug 29, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Finally, after some needling and taunting, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to face his primary opponent, Cynthia Nixon, in a debate. The pair will face off tonight at Hofstra University, two weeks before the primary election on Thursday, September 13th.
CBS2 will air the debate starting at 7 p.m., and livestreams will be available on CBSNewYork.com as well as on Facebook. A Spanish-language broadcast will run on WLNY TV-10/55 (also at 7), and radio station 1010 WINS will play the full audio as well. If there's a question or subject you'd really like to see debate moderator and CBS New York anchor Maurice DuBois raise, submit suggestions on Facebook, Reddit, or by tweeting at CBS2 using #cbsnewyork. I, personally, am extremely curious to know whether or not the network set the debate hall temperature to Nixon's requested 76 degrees, HBU?
But perhaps air conditioning systems and the broader future of the Democratic party platform are not really what you're here for. Perhaps you have seen AmNY's rules for the official Cuomo v. Nixon Debate drinking game, and maybe you would like to play along, but would prefer not to do so alone: If you drink every time Cuomo calls attention to how he "gets things done," or bickering erupts over the ailing state of the MTA, you could easily wind up blotto before the hour-long debate is over. To spare you the indignity of going down that road alone, we've pulled together a list of watch parties scattered around NYC.
BROOKLYN
SyndicatedBushwick's favorite luxury theater will project the debate in its spacious bar area, a cavernous expanse large enough to house wall-sized screens. Admission is free, and bottles of wine will be $20 all night long. 7 p.m. at Syndicated Bar, Theater, and Kitchen, 40 Bogart Street.
The Brazen Head Before you commit to a Boerum Hill trek, know that Nixon supporters coordinated The Brazen Head's watch party. Nixon has visited this bar as a campaign stop, and per the Facebook event, there will be lots of "swag" available. This is probably not the spot for pro-Cuomo viewers. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Brazen Head, 228 Atlantic Avenue.
Freddy's Bar in South Slope, Brooklyn has a debate watch party planned for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 627 5th Avenue.
Precious Metal will hold a candidate-neutral screening starting at 7 p.m. at 143 Troutman Street.
MANHATTAN
Bleecker Street Bar Team Nixon seems to have been a lot more proactive about coordinating debate events than Team Cuomo, which maybe makes sense, as she was the one who pushed for this showdown in the first place. Still, Nixon-supporting residents of lower Manhattan can catch the debate at Bleecker Street Bar, where the Nixon campaign organized a viewing session. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Bleecker Street Bar, 56 Bleecker Street.
Wicked Willy's If AmNY's drinking game doesn't capture your imagination, consider Wicked Willy's, a Washington Square bar with a total of 16 screens—one of which stretches 15 feet and occupies the backroom viewing space. Admittedly, Wicked Willy's rules sound fairly similar to the aforementioned ("drink if" you hear key words and phrases), but happy hour runs through 8 p.m.: $5 beers and well drinks, or half-price bottles of wine, for the debate's duration. 6:30 at Wicked Willy's, 149 Bleecker Street.
Tryon Public House Inwood residents can enjoy some solid debate drinking deals at Tryon, which will offer $4 PBR tall cans, plus $5 Tryon Public House Lager and Bronx Summer Ale drafts. 7 p.m. at Tryon Public House, 4740 Broadway.
The Grafton This East Village, Nixon-affiliated event starts at 6 p.m. at 126 1st Avenue.
House of Seafood Harlem viewers can catch the debate here, courtesy of the Nixon contingent, beginning at 6 p.m. at 429 Malcolm X Boulevard.
QUEENS
Katch If you are backing Nixon and you live in or near Astoria, consider Katch in Queens, a bar and restaurant with an expansive 50 taps. 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Katch, 31-19 Newton Avenue.
Make the Road Action Watch Party If bars are not your thing, and you live in Queens, the Nixon camp will host a debate screening at 92-10 Roosevelt Avenue.
THE BRONX
Applebees-Fordham Plaza Did somebody say half apps? Yes, these Nixon-supporting organizers, who have a "Cynthia Debate Party Boogie Down Style" screening planned at this franchise. 6 p.m. at Applebees-Fordham Plaza, 4750 Third Avenue.
El Sabor Latino Another "Boogie Down Debate Watch Party" will take place starting at 6 p.m. at 2968 Jerome Avenue.
STATEN ISLAND
DaddyO's BBQ and Sports Bar Usually, the happy hour at DaddyO's lasts from 3 to 7 p.m., but in honor of this momentous occasion, DaddyO's tells us they'll extend the deals through the debate screening: Until 8 p.m., enjoy half off all drinks at the bar. 7 p.m. at DaddyO's BBQ and Sports Bar, 181 Bay Street.
Tagged
andrew cuomo
cuomo nixon debate
cynthia nixon
debate
Claire Lampen
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .