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With less than two weeks to go before back-to-back political conventions, Washington insiders are working feverishly to get on the guest lists of exclusive parties in Denver and Minneapolis.
After each evening’s primetime convention speeches, the cameras turn off, the lights go down and the delegates head to the many social gatherings scattered throughout the cities.
The Hill and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) will hold parties on the Monday night of each convention.
“There will be lots of fantastic signature cocktails,” said DISCUS spokesman Frank Coleman. Those will include themed cocktails to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Coleman noted there would be a “rare whiskey and cognac tasting bar.”
Also at the event, Cigar Aficionado magazine will sponsor a smoking lounge that includes Rocky Patel premium cigars.
Quinn Gillespie and Associates put together a preliminary party list for both conventions that was e-mailed around Washington last week. But several people noticed a discrepancy — the list of the parties in Denver was 16 pages while the list for the parties in St. Paul, Minn., was only five.
Are Democrats planning on partying more? A spokesman for the Republican National Convention declined to comment.
And, of course, everyone wants to know where they can spot a celebrity. Most Hollywood stars come to the conventions via the Creative Coalition, a nonpartisan group that advocates for the arts.
The coalition puts on a concert on the Wednesday evening of each convention. The Black Eyed Peas will be playing in Denver, while the Charlie Daniels Band will be jamming in St. Paul.
But competing with them on Wednesday night will be concerts hosted by the ONE campaign and the Recording Industry Association of America. Kanye West will headline the Denver party. The musical guest for St. Paul has yet to be announced.
Wyclef Jean will sing on Monday, Aug. 25, at the Democratic National Convention’s Rock the Vote Ballot Bash. On Tuesday, singers Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper and Rufus Wainwright will perform at a Rock to Win event.
Actress Jennifer Lopez will be co-hosting an event with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) on Wednesday. And, on that same day, the Creative Coalition will host a brunch with Annette Bening to celebrate her film on female senators that is coming out on DVD in September. Also on Wednesday, Ben Affleck will take part in a panel discussion on international relations, moderated by NBC anchor Tom Brokaw.
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