Dems plan parties aplenty for mixing and mingling

By Gargi Chakrabarty, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Denver will party hard with the notable and elite attending the Democratic National Convention later this month.

Gov. Bill Ritter is gearing up to throw a reception for his peers and their spouses on Aug. 26 at his residence in Capitol Hill.

The following evening, he will hobnob with foreign dignitaries. Earlier that day, first lady Jeannie Ritter will mingle with governors' spouses at a luncheon at The Palm Restaurant.

Companies such as CH2M Hill, Xcel Energy, HealthOne, ProLogis and prominent law firms are throwing lavish parties, many having reserved upscale venues and restaurants to schmooze with guests and also get some business done on the sidelines.

"The purpose of the convention is to establish a platform for electing the next president of the United States," said Willie Shepherd of the law firm Kamlet Shepherd Reichert. "The parties are multipurpose - they are celebratory and also for networking."

The law firm has booked Tamayo, Shepherd said, because of the downtown restaurant's Western theme and convenient location between the Pepsi Center and the Colorado Convention Center.

CH2M Hill's party at Invesco Field on Aug. 25 will be a big draw, said Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. The company has roped country singer Willie Nelson to perform before its several thousand invitees.

Clark said the EDC isn't hosting any private parties itself, having spent $250,000 on convention sponsorship and up to $100,000 for a booth inside the convention venue.

"We expect to be invited to other parties that we don't have to pay for," Clark quipped.

Green Frontier Fest at the Denver Performing Arts Complex on Aug. 24 and Sunfest on Aug. 27 at Coors Field are expected to draw renewable energy enthusiasts and interesting displays.

Canadian Consul General Dale Eisler plans to entertain more than 100 guests, including nine foreign ambassadors to the U.S. and former Canadian prime ministers, at his official residence in Denver.

Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Wilson will be the guest of honor, said Jennifer Cook, the consulate's cultural affairs officer. Cook is planning screenings of Triage, a documentary featuring Dr. James Orbinski, who accepted the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize as the president of Doctors Without Borders for its work in Africa.

chakrabartyg@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2976

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