Mallory in "High Spirits"

State Sen. Mark Mallory will be in high spirits tonight, whether he wins or loses his bid to become Cincinnati's next mayor.

Mallory's election party is in High Spirits Lounge, on the 31st floor of the Millennium Hotel downtown. The second level of the lounge, called Ventana d'Italia, will also be open to guests. And campaign spokesman Jason Barron said he expects to fill the place.

"We had 200 volunteers out on the streets," Barron said. "And we'll have the first directly elected African American mayor since the 1930s. So I think it will be a heckuva party."

A crew from the Ohio News Network is setting up in the lounge, along with the Steve Schmidt Trio, a three-piece jazz band.

The band has played many Mallory functions, from campaign events to the elder Mallory's 50th wedding anniversary party. And, yes, all three members of the band voted for Mallory today.

"Hey, the guy's paying me," Schmidt said.

Mallory himself planned to spend the next hour or so with family and supporters before joining his party at the Millennium Hotel downtown between 8:30 and 9 p.m.

About a dozen Mallory volunteers and supporters have trickled into the lounge so far, and the band is playing.

-- Dan Klepal