Grinch afoot in Washington?
Politico takes a look at the holiday party scene in Washington this year, and unlike ABC’s blotter the other day, finds it wanting. There are fewer parties this year, according to the article–a function of the recession, hangover from the convention, and the parties anticipated for the presidential inaugural:
Things are so sparse this year that Washington fundraiser Monica Notzon didn’t even bother creating the holiday party calendar she usually distributes to her clients, who include 20 GOP members of the House and Senate.
The economy notwithstanding, Notzon said the party shortage of 2008 is part of a predictable cycle. “Every four years, we get in this weird place where we blow it out at convention, then you have an election, and then you have Christmas, and then you have Inauguration. And it’s just too much,” she says.
The Distilled Spirits Council is holding off on partying until the inaugural. The National Association of Manufacturers pared back its holiday party for employees only. Debbie Dingell, wife of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), and Marlene Malek, wife of GOP businessman Fred Malek, canceled their annual holiday lunch.
Yet Politico notes that some parties are still going strong:
Washington lobbying firm Quinn Gillespie & Associates threw its holiday party last week, and the event was as packed as ever. “We had the same number of people we have had in past years,” Jack Quinn says. “We had terrific feedback from clients and friends who were disappointed that we didn’t hold a holiday party in 2007.”
Party Time readers may remember that Quinn Gillespie was the source for our initial list of convention parties back in the summer. So these guys not only know where the parties are–they know how to party.
Of course whether and if and how there are more or less parties in any given time is ultimately a guessing game. There is no formal disclosure of these events. Here are Party Time, we do our best to bring these parties to light by collecting and posting as many invitations as we can from anonymous lobbyist sources.
TweetPARTYFINDER™ Hints
Beneficiary: congressional candidate, lawmaker, or entity which collects funds raised at party
Host: person who is hosting party-often, but not always, a registered federal lobbyist
Venue Name: where the party is
Entertainment Type: type of gathering, such as "breakfast," "ski trip," "bowling"
Other Lawmakers Mentioned: lawmakers mentioned on invitation who are used as a draw for the event
Sunlight's Party Time is a project to track parties for members of Congress or congressional candidates that happen all year round in Washington, D.C. and beyond. (read more)
We also post information we receive about parties where members of Congress are expected to participate—such as convention or inaugural parties.
Since we don't hear about all the parties, you can also tell us if you know where the party is and we don't.
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