A tale of two cities

Denver and Minneapolis could not have felt more different. Was it just because we were so tired by the time the GOP convention rolled around? Was it the specter of Gustav, or the oft-cited enthusiasm gap? Perhaps the "media elite" just felt more at home in recycling-city. Personally, I was relieved when "sort trash" moved off the to-do list in St. Paul. Whatever it was, the back-to-back conventions felt worlds apart:
What’s hot?

Denver: The CNN Grill

St. Paul: Minneapolis 

What’s not?

Denver: Port-a-potties 

St. Paul: Dancing delegates

Who's hot? 

Denver: Ben Affleck and Anne Hathaway 

St. Paul: Um, Jon Voight?

What's not? 

Denver: Chevy Chase 

St. Paul: Bars that close at 12:30 a.m.

Funniest moment? 

Denver: After Bill Clinton spoke, the band played “Addicted to Love.” 

St. Paul: While her mother was speaking, the camera settled on 7-year-old Piper Palin, who gave her hand a good lick before smoothing down her baby brother Trig’s hair.

Best grub? 

Denver: Scrambled eggs at the CNN Grill 

St. Paul: The River Center’s chocolate muffins

Sweet ride? 

Denver: Pedi-cabs (collisions notwithstanding) 

St. Paul: Free bike rides along the Mississippi

Best souvenir? 

Denver: Kiddie t-shirt: “Tell your mama to vote for Obama” 

St. Paul: Alaska delegates’ hard hats: “Drill Here”

Protest peak? 

Denver: Definitely not in Denver, where protestors were hardly visible to delegates and the media, except for brief run-ins with cheerful Code Pink demonstrators. 

St. Paul: In the Twin Cities, protestors attacked delegates, leading to tighter security. Wednesday night, they blocked downtown Minneapolis hotels after a Rage Against the Machine concert.

Public transport? 

Denver: Waits for cabs were horrendous 

St. Paul: Now, how do I get from Minneapolis to St. Paul?

Media welcome bag? 

Denver: The 32-ounce BPA-free water bottles were handy 

St. Paul: Can’t beat Kraft Macaroni and Cheese

Most effective speech? 

Denver: Hillary 

St. Paul: Sarah Barracuda

Most inspiring speech? 

Denver: Michelle Obama 

St. Paul: Hockey Mom Sarah

Best attack dog? 

Denver: Barack Obama 

St. Paul: Rudy Giuliani

Wannabe celebrity? 

Denver: They were all legit 

St. Paul: Bob Barr

Worst visual? 

Denver: White columns 

St. Paul: Green screen

Local dish? 

Denver: Unapologetically, steak 

St. Paul: They talk about walleye, but we saw a lot of steak 

Over-served? 

Denver: Hot dogs 

St. Paul: Wild rice everything 

Weather report? 

Denver: Beautiful sun, crushing midday heat 

St. Paul: The briefest of rain, cool fall nights