First off, “look at who’s going to be there,” suggests Roberta Warshaw, Democratic committeewoman for Evanston, ticking off A-list parties for this week’s Democratic National Convention. The big ones jell around names like Clinton, Gore, Daley, Kennedy and possibly Dodd.
And look for parties thrown by states with big cities, where good-time Charlie politicians and flush supporters are used to throwing around money for wine, people and song, adds Winnie Chambers Clark, the publisher of Chicago’s Date Book, the bible of the city’s party industry.
Or just go with your dreams.
“How often can you have 115 ambassadors to dinner at your law firm,” beams long-time Democratic insider Neil Hartigan, who will bring that number to an impeccable spread at McDermott, Will & Emery, where Hartigan has a lucrative regulatory-law practice.
Clutching invitations to some 240 social events, about 35,000 people descend here this weekend for a five-day Democratic fiesta. Some even will squeeze in a few hours of business starting at 3 p.m. Monday at the United Center.
Tucked around those hours– from dawn’s early light to beyond twilight’s last gleaming–is what many consider the meat (or tofu) of modern political conventionality: the cruising, the schmoozing, the see/be seen.
Awesome options. Subtle distinctions. Delicate choices.
Should you, for example, drive north to Ravinia and party with Delaware? Or motor south to Pullman and whoop it up in the historic Hotel Florence with Maryland? Or go high–and share views on the top floor of the Sears Tower with partying executives of the American Gas Association?
Should you join Bobby Rush at his Sunday midnight boat cruise, with blues bands, Johnnie Cochran, Richard Gephardt, Ron Harper and Walter Payton?
Is there time to hit Michael Jordan’s Restaurant on Monday, shake hands with Phil Jackson, wrap an arm around Bill Bradley, his old Knicks-mate?
And will an invite come through for the big Lake Shore Drive soiree for Democratic insider Alexis Herman, co-hosted by publishing heiress Linda Johnson Rice?
Oh, fret.
Take Super Wednesday, shaping up as a bad night to be an hors d’oeuvre. For top-top A-listers–heavyweights, like Mayor Richard Daley, who get invites to everything–it will be a night of rushing from Tennessee’s party, with samba bands and VP Al Gore at the Rookery, to California’s bash at the Field Museum of Natural History, a show-biz rally at Planet Hollywood, with a stop at a reception for gays and lesbians at the new Museum of Contemporary Art.
That’s not even counting the hottest invitation–other than President Clinton’s victory party late Thursday night at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers–the Tuesday gala for George magazine, at the School of the Art Institute. Hosted by editor John F. Kennedy Jr., the 400 guests, says one who has seen the list, will include “Pritzkers, Crowns, Barbra Streisand, David Geffen, Demi Moore, Janet Reno and the guy who owns Guess? Jeans.”
“You want to bring together Cabinet members, rock stars and Fortune 500 board chairmen. What’s interesting is the melange,” said author-socialite Sugar Rautbord, explaining how an A-list party gets put together. In short, top-top people in one field want to hang with top-top people in others.
A political convention is, indeed, a time when interests come together.
For example, Bloomingdale’s, opening four stores in California, is staking much of the $100,000 tab for the bash at the Field Museum.
Vanity Fair magazine, riffing off the week’s hoopla, has rounded up 100 advertisers for lunch at Le Coloniale, a Rush Street restaurant done up in old Saigon trappings. They’ll hear from Dee Dee Myers, a former press secretary to Clinton who is now the magazine’s Washington editor.
Along with big spreads by Ameritech, American Airlines and the American Medical Association, it is to be a week of bicycle tours, golf outings, “private shopping mornings,” interfaith breakfasts and special-interest events ranging from auto shows to a funfest at the Harold Washington Library Center, where preteens will nominate fairy-tale characters for president.
All the state delegations have scheduled parties, some seemingly every hour of every day. Illinois delegates–and 2,000 guests– gather Sunday night at the Chicago Historical Society, a site with exhibits on Chicago’s past political gatherings.
Later, in Marina City’s long-unused outdoor skating rink, the House of Blues will set a caterer to cooking up a mess of jambalaya, catfish and bread pudding for an ad hoc group known as Friends of Bill Daley. Bluesman Junior Wells will entertain 800 such friends who gather to honor the mayor’s brother. Bill Daley is co-chairman of the Democratic convention and, by day, a lawyer with the Loop law firm of Mayer, Brown & Platt.
Several private clubs are opening doors to parties, among them the Casino, the University Club of Chicago and the Union League Club. Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will play host to a lunch Tuesday at the Everest Club.
Most parties are by invitation only. Those among the uninvited who long to be insiders can do what the corporate muckety-mucks do and buy their way in. Regular people can pony up $75 for tickets from the Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century for a Thursday night blast at Navy Pier, starring two Gores, Carl Lewis and Los Lobos.
Upfront money of $250 gets you into the Navy Pier party and a private reception with Al and Tipper.
Will there be top-secret meetings in wood-paneled back rooms on the upper floors of the old-line Chicago Club, where political heavyweights get together and hash out an agenda for the nation?
Probably not.
“You have that when there are deals to be cut,” explained Marje Benton, an old hand at Democratic conventions, as she riffled through a promising selection of A-list propositions for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the foyer of her North Shore home. “Here, there’s nothing to negotiate.”
WHERE AND WHEN OF TOP 10 BASHES
These could be the best parties while the Democratic National Convention is in town:
1. President Clinton’s victory party, Grand Ballroom, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, 10 p.m. Thursday.
2. George magazine party, Editor John F. Kennedy Jr. host, at the School of the Art Institute, 9 to 11 p.m. Tuesday.
3. Navy Pier. Chicago ’96. Opening bash hosted by Mayor Richard Daley and Gov. James Edgar. Fireworks. Boat rides. Treats for major party contributors. 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
4. California delegation party, a $100,000 bash at the Field Museum of Natural History. 10 p.m. Wednesday to 1 a.m. Thursday.
5. Sen. Christopher Dodd and Connecticut delegation. Dinner for 200, Ambria Restaurant, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
6. “Bill’s Blues Bash.” Sponsored by Friends of Bill Daley. Organized by House of Blues. Catered by Levy restaurants. 8:30 to 11 p.m. Sunday in former ice-skating rink at Marina City.
7. Illinois delegation. Chicago Historical Society, 1601 N. Clark St., 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
8. Planet Hollywood. Show-biz stars turn out for the Creative Coalition and Goodman Theatre. 10 p.m. Wednesday.
9. Merchandise Mart. Reception for Democratic state chairs and National Democratic Institute, ambassadors to the U.S. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
10. Marshall Field’s Walnut Room. Tea and fashion show honoring Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun. 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.
