Sunday, July 25, 2004

Risotto for 250
Posted by ekdurand@yahoo.com">Emily K. Durand at 10:10 PM -

The first full day of the DNC, and my dogs are barkin.'  Note to self: nobody's looking at your shoes, tomorrow go comfy.  Now that I have another semi-official credential on a lanyard, I could probably turn up in my pajamas and they'd let me into a cocktail reception or two...but I don't think "business casual" has sunk to that level yet.

The lobby of the Omni Parker House Hotel on Tremont Street was buzzing all day, because when dozens of delegates mix with scores of eager volunteers and a few recognizable politicos, everyone starts scoping out everyone else, and whispering to their neighbor, "Do you know who that is?"  No mega-celebs yet, but as a native Jersey Girl it was nice to meet former NJ governor Brendan Byrne (as in the former Brendan Byrne Arena at the Meadowlands, for you hockey fans), Senator John Corzine, and assorted representatives.  I also learned quickly that, as with most large-scale events, the DNC is a Darwinian affair -- if you act like you're in the know, people start treating you like you're in charge, and follow your lead.  As a mundane example, once I discovered the location of the Ladies' Room, I was like a mountain-top guru, people seemed to sense that I would know where to send them.  It helps to be sitting behind a table heaped high with unclaimed delegate credentials to project this sense of authority.

My co-Buddy Aline and I were the only volunteers set to go with the expected 4 busloads of delegates to our Welcome Reception, at the USS Constitution in the Charlestown Navy Yard.  Due to circumstances (traffic on the Mass Pike, the delegation's official stance on Mayor Menino's labor woes) we took a mere 37 folks over there, to a catered reception in a tent right on the water overlooking the Boston skyline.  Compliments of AT&T and Prudential Financial, we feasted on hot hors d'oeuvres, salmon and asparagus, insanely good mushroom risotto, and white peach shortcakes for dessert.  We mingled with the delegates (from NJ as well as Nevada and South Dakota, whose neighboring party allegedly had only coffee and dessert, despite also having Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in attendance), the college-age staffers from Senator Corzine's office (who looked very psyched about a week of catered meals), and the dozen Events volunteers from the Boston 2004 Host Committee, who after realizing they weren't going to hand out all 250 welcome booklets from the Mayor were also enjoying the open bar and feast.  Hey, who said volunteer work doesn't have its rewards?

Senator Corzine gave a *very* brief speech of the "Go Kerry!" variety, and then we headed over to take a tour of the Constitution itself.  As everywhere in Boston today, there was a palpable security presence -- aside from the regular personnel, there were fatigues-clad soldiers, police, polo-shirted security guards with walkie-talkies, you name it.  Afterwards, on our way back to City Hall plaza, we drove near the security perimeter around the Fleet Center, and saw more of the same -- a dozen SWAT-type guys in khaki cargo pants and tactical vests went by, and while I felt secure, it didn't feel too much like everyday Boston.  There were actually very few cars on the roads or people on the T, that I could see, anywhere, as if the locals had all fled for the week.  I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow morning as the Monday commute fires up...

Besides a traffic apocalypse, slated for tomorrow we also have an 8am breakfast meeting (ouch!) with Senator Joe Biden, a cocktail reception at the Bell in Hand Tavern, and of course the first round of speeches at the Convention itself in the evening...and maybe more risotto, who knows?

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