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Documenting the Political Partying Circuit
From the early hours of the morning until late in the evening, politicians are partying. Sunlight's PARTY TIME can help you find out who is partying, where and when.

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This Week’s Fundraisers: From Las Vegas to Boca Grande, bring on the parties

A relatively slow week follows Memorial Day, Party Timers, with fewer than 20 events planned. But presidential fundraisers are making up for the quiet congressional schedule:

Romney partying it up: This week, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has actually topped President Obama on the party circuit, (at least, as far as Party Time knows). The Romney campaign has at least three events planned for supporters.

On Tuesday, Romney fans have the chance to attend an evening reception with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. Tickets for this event range from $2,500 to $50,000, although those who wish to chair the event must raise a staggering $250,000, a first in Party Time records.

The very next day, Ann Romney will be appearing on behalf of her husband at a “Bay Area Ladies Luncheon” at the Palo Alto-area home of Cisco CEO John Chambers and his wife, Elaine. Party Time doesn’t have the details on the ask for this particular event. (But let us know if you do!)

Later that evening, both Mr. and Mrs. Romney are expected to attend another reception at the historic Chateau Carolands, just south of San Francisco. Tickets for this event also start at $2,500 and cap at $50,000. According to Politico’s calendar, Romney has several other fundraising events planned for California next week, in Bakersfield, in Los Angeles and in San Diego. Got the invites? Check here for details on how to send them our way.

Win the dinner of your dreams, fete Romney and Trump: On a fun side note, the Romney campaign is not only depending on dinners at faux-ancient chateaus for its fundraisers. Yesterday, Party Time saw the campaign had started a most interesting competition, which is essentially a fundraiser.

Entrants to this lottery, at which the pièce de résistance is a chance to dine with celebrity business magnate, Donald Trump, are encouraged to donate anything from $3 to $2,500 (or more). Along with dinner with Trump and Romney himself, winner gets airport transportation in the Trump vehicle, a stay at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York City and a tour of Trump Tower. The competition started Thursday and is expected to run until June 22 when the lucky winner will be chosen.

Sweet home, Chicago. According to Chicago Sun-Times reporter extraordinaire Lynn Sweet, the president is heading home Friday for two big fundraisers: a reception that will cost between $1,000 and $15,000 to attend, followed by a dinner where the tickets run $38,500. The president is scheduled to attend another fundraiser, earlier in the day, in Minneapolis. Got the invites? You know what to do.

Obama Reception with DNC chair: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., who doubles as chair of the Democratic National Committee, will be hosting a reception for the campaign. Tickets for this event start at a mere $250 and go up to $1,000 for those who want to host.

DCCC to celebrate Barney Frank’s coming out: It’s been a few weeks now since President Obama publicly announced his support of same-sex marriage and what better way to celebrate than to fundraise at a coming out (anniversary) party! In honor of the 25th anniversary of Rep. Barney Frank’s coming out, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will be holding a fundraiser on Wednesday at fashionable DC eatery El Centro D.F., showcasing its continued support for the LGBT community. Tickets range from $250 to $5,000 and will give attendees the chance to rub shoulders with Frank, a veteran Massachusetts Democrat — who intends to marry his long-time companion before  retiring from Congress at the end of the year, as well as many other lawmakers including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The Getaways: For those weary of the capital, there are the usual getaways:

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., will be hosting a Florida Weekend at the Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande, where takers can indulge in spa days, golf and fishing. This Friday to Sunday trip will cost $1,500 for individuals and $3,000 for political action committees.

That same weekend, also from Friday to Sunday, Delaware Democratic Rep. John Carney will be holding his 2nd Annual Lewes Weekend Retreat in his home state. This event costs $1,500 for individual and $2,500 for PACs.

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This Week’s Fundraisers: Cheers to Ann Romney and tees for DeMint

Congress is coming back from spring break and so are the parties! Party Time’s most newsy get of the upcoming week is undoubtedly the invite to the birthday luncheon that “The” Donald Trump is hosting in New York for Ann Romney, the new poster child for stay-at-home moms. It’s just one of more than 20 fundraising events crowding the PartyTime database as lawmakers return from a two-week spring break. The highlights:

Happy Birthday Ann! Talk about fortunate timing for the presumptive GOP presidential nominee: Would-be first lady Ann Romney, the perceived victim in a media furor over what constitutes a working mom, will be the honoree at a Women for Romney reception at Trump Tower in honor of her birthday. The invite goes out of the way to assure maxed-out donors they can attend — as long as they bring a guest who can cough up the $1,000 ticket price. The New York City event comes as Mitt Romney has been focusing on the GOP’s gender gap to attract more female voters.

Bidens and the other Clinton raise money for 2012. Vice President Biden and two of his children, Ashley Biden and Hunter Biden, will join former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis on Tuesday at a Gen 44 fundraiser for President Obama’s reelection campaign. Tickets start at $44 and run to $2,500 for the photo reception. The venue is the just-reopened Howard Theatre.

Get away to South Carolina: For those who would like to escape the district, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., will be having his annual D.C.-to-South Carolina trip this weekend. The event, which begins April 22 at The Sanctuary Hotel on the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, will cost $3,000 per PAC and $1,500 for individuals.

Check our list of “upcoming fundraising events” at right for the full schedule of this week’s breakfasts, lunches, receptions and dinners.

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PARTYFINDER™ 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.