Whether you’re a state lawmaker stymied by the budget deadlock or just one of the rest of us, those coveted spots in the Pepsi Center and at Invesco Field might be out of reach. But that doesn’t mean you can’t party here while it all goes down there.

The Northern California Obama campaign headquarters will host an acceptance-speech party starting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the back room at Everett & Jones, at 126 Broadway in Oakland: “You will also enjoy entertainment for the evening by R & B Band SOUL featuring vocalist Ashley Cole. We will have on the ground reports live from delegates and other special guests during the evening.”

Or, the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club is turning its regular meeting into an acceptance-speech watch party in the Humanist Hall, at 390 27th St. in Oakland: “We will begin the evening with a renowned WDRC Pot Luck at 6PM (maybe a little earlier if the convention changes the expected air time). We will have wine and beer and plenty of dessert to partake in and we will hear one of the most inspiring speakers of our time. We hope you’ll join us for this exciting evening of fun & HOPE.”

Or, the Contra Costa County Democratic Party’s Youth Outreach Committee will host a watch party starting at 5 p.m. with free pizza, drinks and music in the United Democratic Campaign headquarters at 1501-A N. California Blvd. in Walnut Creek.

Or, you can watch the speech on a reeaaaallllly big screen, either at the Parkway Speakeasy movie theater, at 1834 Park Blvd. in Oakland, starting at 6:15 p.m., or at the Cerrito Speakeasy movie theater, at 10070 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito, starting at 5:15 p.m. Admission is free and food, beer and wine are available for purchase, but — sorry, kids — it’s 18 and older at the Cerrito and 21 and older at the Parkway.