Eat the Vote for RAMMY Nominees from 4/12 - 4/29

Presidential Primaries are no longer the hottest elections this time of year: the RAMMY "Eat the Vote" promotion is back! From April 12-29, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) encourages food-lovers to "Eat the Vote" and cast a ballot for the 2012 publicly voted RAMMY categories of Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene, Power Spot and Neighborhood Gathering Place.

Public votes solely determine the outcome of three RAMMY Award categories: "Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene, "Neighborhood Gathering Place" and "Power Spot." From 4/12 to 4/29, diners can "Eat the Vote" and support their favorite dining spots while enjoying exclusive drink specials, happy hours, voting parties and creative events hosted by the nominees in these categories.

Polls officially open at 12:01 a.m. on 4/12, and votes can be cast on washingtoncitypaper.com through 11:59 p.m. on 4/29. One vote is permitted in each category per valid individual email address. The ballots will be audited by the accounting firm of Thompson Greenspon & Co. and the winners will be announced at the RAMMY Awards on June 24^th at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC.

'Eat the Vote' promotions include:

701 (701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) is hosting a Power Voting Party on Wednesday, 4/18 from 5 to 9 p.m. with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, $7 cocktails & wines by the glass, and laptop stations set up for voting.  The Power Spot nominee will also offer a special Power Happy Hour through the entire voting periodwith $6 wines, $7 cocktails and 3 small plates for only $20 from 4-7 p.m. nightly.

Bastille (1201 North Royal St., Alexandria, VA) will host "Float the Vote" from Thursday, 4/12 through Sunday, 7/15. The Neighborhood Gathering Place nominee will offer a complimentary Root Beer or Cola Ice Cream Float with every vote made in-house on their iPad.

Café Saint-Ex (1847 14^th St. NW) has two weeks of promotions planned to encourage votes for the Neighborhood Gathering Place nominee. Saint-Ex is celebrating DC Emancipation Day on Sunday, 4/15 and Monday, 4/16 with complimentary drinks and DC Brau beer specials throughout the day for a vote. Through the entire voting period, Saint-Ex will also host a special Facebook promotion where fans who re-post the restaurant's Neighborhood Gathering Place photo will get a beer on the house and a chance for an invite to an exclusive party with drinks and eats if the restaurant wins.

Et Voila! (5120 MacArthur Blvd. NW) will host a "One Vote, One Beer" promotion where guests who vote for Et Voila! on their smartphone can enjoy one of the restaurant's Belgian beers for only $1 through the entire voting period. The Neighborhood Gathering Place nominee will also celebrate their nomination by offering $4 Belgian beers every day from 4/12-4/29.

Hill Country Barbecue Market (616 E St. NW) will host"Hill Punchry Hot Spot Shot" nights throughout the voting period. Each night from 4/12-4/29, the Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene nominee will buy a round of shots for everyone in the bar at "shot o'clock" - each night will be a different shot at a different time.

The Majestic (911 King St., Alexandria, VA) is encouraging guests to vote with their"Good Things Come to Those that Vote" promotion. From April 12-29, the Neighborhood Gathering Place nominee will have an iPad on hand in the restaurant for people to vote, and will enter them into a drawing for a Nana's Sunday dinner for four, which will be decided at the end of the voting period.

The Oval Room (800 Connecticut Ave. NW) will feature a "Power" Cocktail special for all patrons who show proof of voting from 4/12-4/29. The Power Spot nominee will serve up the Whiskey Smash with whiskey, simple syrup, fresh lemon juice and fresh mint at a reduced price of $10.