(Apparently Harold Ford couldn't stop all the photographers. Photo: Getty)

If it's true that Washington, DC, is Hollywood for ugly people, then someone forgot to tell the Democrats, who gathered here at their National Convention in Denver staunchly determined to party in a sexy way. The city's streets were rife with natty revelers on the second night of the DNC. And for every paunchy old drunk guy attempting to use his labor union credentials to hit on a young babe, it seemed there were ten bright-eyed activists "energizing the base" at some hip left-wing soiree.

My first stop was downtown's Jet hotel for a fundraiser hosted by the nonpartisan charity organization Do Something. Their mission: to "encourage young people to create their own vision for making a difference in their community by offering resources and support." The room was filled with teens who'd been given grants by the organization to fund their self-created progressive programs. One had spearheaded a project to distribute clothing to homeless people. Another was part of an organization encouraging 18-year-olds to register to vote. A third was there in an effort to lower the voting age like they did during the height of the Vietnam war draft (apparently thousands of kids below the age of 18 have signed up for the armed forces after high school visits by military reps).

I was there to play guitar for Moby, who was performing an acoustic set to raise funds for Do Something. The kids seemed to dig it. But the 20 or so blue-blazered Blackberry-wielding lobbyist types at the bar were apparently there to solely to ignore the performance and loudly boast about their senatorial connections while ogling the waitresses's risqué jumpsuits.

Next stop was a nightclub called Beta, where DLC chairman Harold Ford was hosting a party with John Legend, who was performing onstage when we arrived. We were led to the V.I.P. balcony, where Mr. Ford held court, rapt in conversation with a heavy entourage of besuited peers (apparently this talking-over-live-music thing is a political trend in Denver). But when I produced my humble point-and-shoot camera to take a photo of John Legend performing his last tune, Ford stopped his conversation and stood up to tell me personally that pictures were strictly verboten at his party. The music was too loud for me ask why, but I really didn't have to. It was just too sexy in there. --DARON MURPHY

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