Dean will attend a SOTU house party in Durham tonight.

[madfloridian]

http://www.heraldsun.com/tools/printfriendly.cfm?StoryID=695788

DURHAM -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will travel to Durham today to help rally party activists in advance of President Bush's scheduled State of the Union speech.

Durham party Chairman Floyd McKissick Jr. and state party Chairman Jerry Meek both confirmed that Dean will address crowds expected to gather at two restaurants in the Brightleaf Square area of downtown, Satisfaction and Devine's. The former Vermont governor and 2004 presidential candidate will stay in the Triangle overnight and appear at a second event Wednesday morning in Raleigh, Meek and McKissick said.

The point of the visit is to energize party activists and build support for Democrats in advance of the 2008 presidential election, Meek said, adding that he also hopes some of that enthusiasm rubs off for this year's state and congressional elections.

"Gov. Dean has made the state parties a big focus of his administration," Meek said. "He's probably provided more support for state parties than any chairman I can recall."

[ManiFesto]

1. That's Awesome - Go Howard!

Found another gem for anyone more east or centrally located in the 8th District.

Kissell For Congress State Of The Union Watch Party

Join us at the Kissell For Congress Headquarters, located at 106 East Main Street in Biscoe, North Carolina. Light refreshments, soft drinks and coffee will be provided. Bring a snack to share if you'd like!

Time: Tuesday, January 31 at 8:00 PM - 2 hours
Host: Hugh Martin
Location: Kissell For Congress Headquarters (Biscoe, NC)
106 East Main Street
Biscoe, NC 27209
View Map: Google Maps MapQuest Yahoo! Maps

Directions: From the West: Take NC Hwy 24-27 to Biscoe. Turn right at the traffic light, then an immediate left into our parking lot. From the North, South and East: From US 220-Interstate 73/74, take NC 24-27 west to the traffic light. Turn left then take an immediate left into our parking lot.

Newsletter says it's open house starting at 4pm for Larry's birthday too!

[Triana]

2. I'll be at Sats...(n/t)

[madfloridian]

3. DNC blog has a post up by Tim T. who just landed in NC.

Sounds like a lot of fun.

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/01/satisfactions_v.php

"I just landed in North Carolina ahead of Governor Dean's now fire marshall-notifying-sized watch party at Satisfactions restaurant in Durham, North Carolina.

No, not "Signatures," that's Jack Abramoff's restaurant in Washington, D.C. where democratic representation was sold down the river for as little as a filet and a bottle of wine -- We won't be perverting our democracy this evening, we'll be reclaiming it.

From everything I understand, not only has Satisfactions reached capacity already, but the overflow venue across the street where Governor Dean plans on dropping by is pretty close as well. Hopefully I can tap into a wireless connection somewhere and get up instant video/photos, but if not I promise some by the end of the night, and am sure Josh and Joe will hold down the fort in the interim. I'll have full updates as soon as possible -- keep checking back in."

[WorseBeforeBetter]

4. Some pics from the event from democrats.org

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/02/photos_dean_in.php#more