It's been an incredible, but exhausting, week in Denver. NDN had some nine events in four days and I am reminded of the commercial that says: This is your brain. This is what your brain looks like on a national party convention.
We had fantastic turnout at all of our events, with one or two exceptions. I will note that these were early morning events not near the hotels that even the most intellectually hungry of souls might be hard-pressed to make. Overhall, however, our events -- focusing on topics from immigration to new tools and media to climate change, were huge successes. As Simon has noted, this convention is different than conventions past. There is so much energy. People want to talk, discuss, debate and even argue. The future of our nation is at stake. Do we stay the known, but failed, course of the last eight years or chart a new one that may seem a little scary but have a huge payoff in the end?
But enough philosophical talk. Below are just some thoughts from the week:
The Huffington Post took over a couple of rooms in the very green Alliance Center next door to the Big Tent (bloggers/new media headquarters and yes, literally a big tent, albeit a nice one) to create THE OASIS. This place had to be seen to be believed. Open to all, it feautured macrobiotic appetizers, daily yoga, organic-product facials, hand and back massages, a dizzying array of healthy snacks, including vitamin-rich, healthy truffles and vile-looking green smoothies that were apparently out of this world (I wouldn't drink one). The tea selection was endless and even I picked up three cookbooks (I never cook and don't know how). The line to be enveloped in this calm, coocon-like setting with soothing music and complete with its own swami was crazy, but I managed to wedge my way in twice. I did get in trouble during my facial because I took my rose petal tea bags off my eyes and started Black Berrying. A serious thank you to the Huffington Post for trying to help some of us calm down!
Denver is an incredibly pet friendly city. Pets are welcome in almost all the stores and there are dogs everywhere. Being convention week, many of the canines were dressed up patriotically. One store was doing a brisk business selling "Dogs for Obama" t-shirts. Even the bomb dogs were nice! My car was being inspected and the smallish black Lab circling my car got in a secret lick on my hand when her handler wasn't looking.
I have never seen people decked out in so many different Obama t-shirts. There was one for everyone. A personal fave was the one sold by the Alabama delegation, which read, "Obama y'all." Being from Oklahoma, I naturally want one, but I just can't find the delegation. Maybe I can order online. However, the hottest t-shirt in town is free: it's from the Mexican joint Qdoba and says, "Burritos for Obama." A strict one t-shirt per person limit. No ifs, and or buts.
Even the most respectful of events can have a few "convention gone wild" moments. To wit: the scantily-clad young women being driven around around Denver in a hot-pink convertible with "Shotgun Willies" spray-painted on its side. Seems everyone knows where Shotgun Willies is -- as a matter of fact, it's right across the street from my hotel in Cherry Creek. Can't say I've made it there.
Denver is a big city. And a big city with very few cabs. However, this is no deterrent to fashionable women's footwear. I have seen women walking around the Mile High City in Mile High heels. I have also noticed millions of Band Aids on feet. Enterprising kids have been selling bottled water on the streets. They ought to expand into Band Aids.
There are quite a few people asking for spare money on the streets of downtown Denver, but unlike in some other cities, these Denver dwellers are very laid back about it. My favorite card board sign asking for money: "Obama stands for change: can you spare any in the meantime?"
On a somewhat darker note, a small plane was buzzing around the city yesterday pulling behind it a banner with a picture of Osama bin Laden. The caption underneath it welcomed U.S. Sen. Barack Obama to Denver. These people need to get a life.
Back to happy. I went to the Vanity Fair-Google Party last night. Probably the first and last time I will walk about a red carpet. I was disappointed that there was no Wii lounge as was advertised (at least while I was there). It definitely was the hottest ticket in town. When my colleague Chris picked up our tickets, they practically frisked him, affixed hologram stickers to our tickets, added some kind of invisible, poison ink to the invite and finally released him after some interrogation. The party was pretty hip, though...
Leaving Denver tomorrow and back to normal life -- if anyone can call living in DC normal.
