Democrats prepare to party in Los Angeles

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As California Democrats prepare to gather in Los Angeles this weekend, important issues are being discussed. There will be a Saturday morning speech from Jerry Brown, back-room wheeling and dealing among the candidates for various statewide offices. But perhaps the most important question on the minds of convention-goers this weekend: ‘Where are the good parties going to be?’

Friday night is typically the big party night at these types of gatherings, and this year is no exception. Gavin Newsom is once again tapping his inner tween by hosting a party at the Grammy Museum with singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb and Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden. Meanwhile, EMILY’s List and the California chapter of the National Organization for Women is hosting a martini and chocolates party for lieutenant governor candidate Janice Hahn.

If that’s not your thing, there’s a ‘girls just wanna have fun’ party at the Conga Room, a Red Carpet Affair at Cicada Club honoring the new Assembly leadership, or union-sponsored bowling at a Lucky Strike Lanes bowling alley.

The festivities continue Saturday as Los Lobos play an early concert at the convention center. Assemblyman Isadore Hall is hosting a performance by Chaka Kahn at the Conga Room. Former Facebooker and current attorney general candidate Chris Kelly is taking over the ESPN Zone. Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg co-host a ‘taco truck throwdown.’ (Think Bobby Flay meets California politics.) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) is hosting a movie night (no word yet on what will be shown, but we think ‘Avatar’ would be right on message for this particular gathering). Also Saturday is a Friends of Israel ice cream social and a ‘carnaval 2010’ party hosted by attorney general candidate Alberto Torrico.

--Anthony York