When the evening session of the final day of the Republican National Convention began, the food and drink vendors in Freedom Plaza outside Quicken Loans Arena were told to close down until the end of the session, disappointing many convention stragglers.
But approximately 45 minutes afterward, the bars and vendors were allowed to reopen and the party began, casually.
Hours later, as red, white and blue balloons, streamers, confetti and beach balls descended from the ceiling of the arena, delegates, volunteers, special guests and media members exited for the last time.
They were shuttled by security in two directions: Turn left to leave, or go straight into Freedom Plaza and Marketplace for one last RNC shindig.
The plaza stage featured versatile Cleveland party band The Sensations, led by frontman Jeff Green, who told the crowd “C’mon, you can’t leave yet! Security, lock those gates, it’s time to party!” before launching into a set that deftly covered 40 years of pop music. It included Motown, classic rock and contemporary songs such as Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ massive hit Uptown Funk (with lyrics modified for the occasion: “Uptown! Trump You Up!”), allowing all ages to groove and sing along to at least a few tunes.
Some delegates and volunteers, still basking in the afterglow of Donald Trump’s triumph, made their way to the grassy area near the stage to dance or bat around their newly acquired patriotic beach balls, while others headed to the Marketplace in Progressive Field to snap up Trump- and GOP-related merchandise.
Others headed straight to the bar with a mission.
“It’s over! It was great! Now, if we don’t get blackout drunk tonight then we’re doing it wrong!” one young RNC volunteer yelled encouragingly, draping his arm around his companions.
Another volunteer, Gage Huber from Philadelphia, was in town to learn the political process via the Washington Center Program and had worked two 24-hour shifts during the convention. And, though “blackout drunk” was not quite Huber’s goal, he was more than ready to blow off some steam in the already hot and steamy night.
“This is a fun time, and I’m really ready to not care about politics and just enjoy being with all these people,” Huber said.
Huber came with a group of around 20 other volunteers with whom he’d spent a lot of time in their official capacities, and now that it was all over, it was time to par-taay.
“We leave tomorrow, which I think is another thing that feeds the energy. And we’re all young conservatives from all over the country, and this is our last night together, and we want to celebrate that and celebrate our party,” he said.
Many visitors who were staying in Cleveland didn’t want or need to stray too far from their hotels, making nearby eateries and bars such as Barrio, right next to the Residence Inn, nighttime hot spots. The taco bar was packed until last call Thursday night.
Back in Freedom Plaza, as The Sensations paid tribute to Cleveland Funk with the Dazz Band’s Let It Whip, Mayebeth Murphy of Chicago was dancing herself sweaty while making sure not to groove too far away from her drink.
“I’m kinda letting loose!” Murphy said while shaking her groove thang to a slightly modified take on Experience Unlimited’s ’80s party jam Da Butt (i.e., “Trump’s got a big ol’ butt, oh yeah!”).
“They are fabulous!” Murphy said without stopping. “I’m old. So those are my funky tunes, and I probably have the vinyl of all of them. High school, college, good tunes!” She dabbed sweat from her brow.
Murphy was among the many visitors who were impressed by Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Murphy has been to Cleveland before on business, but said the Republican National Convention was her first time really getting out into the city.
“The people here have been amazing, so friendly, whether it’s the people at the hotel or the restaurant or even the people in the streets,” she said.
“There were a few disrupters, but even the disrupters, they were good people, and I never felt intimidated or scared. I give the people of Cleveland a lot of credit. Cheers to Cleveland,” Murphy said, raising her glass.
Likewise, young Philly party man Huber said the city was “awesome” and a surprise to his group, most of whom are from larger cities.
“It’s a smaller city, and we weren’t expecting to be so blown away by all the city has to offer. All the rejuvenation projects they undertook, and the way they’ve preserved their history, and there’s so much here we weren’t expecting,” he said.
Huber said before their arrival, much of the talk was about protests.
“All we heard was that being conservative in this city was going to suck for the next week. But to get here and have the city be so welcoming and inviting, and you could tell that the city was psyched to have something so huge … And now it’s time to rage,” Huber said.
Throughout the week the plaza did brisk if not quite raging business. Media members without credentials or simply not in the mood to be in the arena corralled interview subjects and cooled off with beers, while delegates came and went from the arena to enjoy the mid- to top-shelf liquor and mixed drinks, including a very popular “Bombay Lemon-Lime Cucumber” drink and vodka-infused iced tea.
“A lot of Tito’s” vodka was ordered, bartender Alayna Auker said, noting classic highballs and beer seemed to be delegates’ drinks of choice.
Shortly after 1 a.m., The Sensations wrapped up their set and thanked the crowd, followed shortly by the official announcement over the public address system:
“Ladies and gentleman, Freedom Plaza is now closed; please safely make your way to the exits. Hope you enjoyed yourselves, have a great night, thank you.”
Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758. Read his blog, Sound Check Online, at www.ohio.com/blogs/sound-check, like him on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1lNgxml and/or follow him on Twitter @malcolmabramABJ.