Where It's At

Democratic delegates from across the state are preparing to get their groove on. In Boston, party opportunities abound for those attending the Democratic National Convention. With their prospects looking rosier than they have in a while, the atmosphere promises to be electric. The convention formally begins on Mon., July 26, but savvy delegates are planning to arrive at least a day early for the festivities.

Boston's Democratic Mayor Tom Menino, who's been trumpeting that the town that has more to offer than baked beans, will host parties around the metropolis on Sunday for all delegates. Pennsylvania's crew, which is staying at the Omni Parker House, will be toasted at the Massachusetts State House on Sunday night.

The Boston Tea Party will be the scene of the official LGBT delegate reception Sunday afternoon. The party will be held on the harbor and hosted by openly gay Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank along with the National Stonewall Democrats, Bay State Stonewall Democrats and the Democratic National Committee. The Tea Party follows a cruise around Boston Harbor sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and National Stonewall Democrats.

Starting Monday, the state delegates will begin their mornings at the Omni with a catered breakfast, sponsored by various corporations, to get them fueled for the day. (Every night, back at the Omni, corporations will pay for a late-night party for the delegates, just in case they haven't had their fill of entertainment elsewhere.)

The list of area elected officials who are also elected delegates is lengthy.

It includes Mayor John Street, who will be there with his son Sharif (also a delegate); state Sen. Allyson Schwartz; District Attorney Lynne Abraham; U.S. Reps. Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah and Joe Hoeffel; auditor general Bob Casey Jr.; City Council members Blondell Reynolds Brown, Michael Nutter and Juan Ramos; state Reps. Angel Cruz, Curtis Thomas, Jewell Williams and Mark Cohen (who is a Howard Dean delegate); and register of wills Ron Donatucci.

The convention itself will be held downtown at the Fleet Center. Because it runs from 4 to 9 p.m. daily, there's plenty of time for late-night parties.

On the first day, former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton are scheduled to speak in prime time. After those speeches, Pennsylvania Power and Light will host a party at the Rooftop Garden at the Omni, followed by a reception hosted by state Treasurer Barbara Hafer and Michael Milner. (Hafer, now a Democrat, is keeping a high profile in Boston because she plans to run against U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum next year.)

On Tuesday afternoon, Comcast will host a party for state delegates and elected officials at the Union Club. Also on Tuesday, the Creative Coalition will present "The Dialogue; Art$, Education and the 21st Century Economy," with guest panelists Andrew Cuomo, Arianna Huffington, Alan Cumming, Bill O'Reilly and Dr. Gottfried Schlaug. (Cumming, who was just here Monday to receive the Artistic Achievement Award from the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, said he was very nervous about appearing with the ultra-conservative O'Reilly.)

On Wednesday, AT&T is hosting a delegates' lunch at the Hampshire House on Beacon Street, the inspiration for the setting of the TV comedy series Cheers. That afternoon, the Democratic Ethnic Leadership Council will hold a party at the Harp. But the really big shoo that night is the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert presented by The Creative Coalition and the Recording Industry Association of America, which will be hosted by 36 Hollywood luminaries including Ben Affleck, Billy Baldwin, Billy Crystal, Janeane Garofalo, Joe Pantoliano and Montel Williams. Tickets are a mere $1,000.

Other hot-ticket parties around town during the week include a concert by Bono and Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall, in a salute to noted Bostonian U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, and the America Online party in an undisclosed location, where Sex in the City Prada girl Sarah Jessica Parker is expected.

For a walk on the mild side, Sunoco is presenting a Thursday afternoon tea party for Lieutenant Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll at the Ritz-Carlton. Knoll's son Albert is a lobbyist for the oil conglomerate.

The Clintons will be guests at a large party hosted by the DNC money people including Elaine and Jerry Schuster. Later in the week, Sen. Clinton and her colleague Sen. Chuck Schumer will be feted at the new restaurant Spire.

Conveniently, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and wife Teresa Heinz Kerry live in Boston. John Kerry, who will give the closing speech Thursday night, will be busy attending fundraisers in his honor throughout the convention. His wife will be equally engaged attending different fundraisers in his honor. Other than speaking in prime time, Teresa's most important event may be a fundraising dinner — you can get in for just $100,000 — at the noted restaurant Mistral.

Security is expected to be extremely tight and delegates have a different dog tag for each day they go into the Fleet Center.