BEST. PARTY. EVER.

(Thanks are in order for AP photog Ted Warren for snapping this pic of Malcolm Farley working on a portrait of Barack Obama. Just about everyone in the park got this same photo, but some of us (In this case, me) couldn't get the photo downloaded from their cameraphone.)

Sorry, Democrats.... While I'm happy to admit you just threw the best party ever, it'll be hard to top the festivities enjoyed by journalists, bloggers and assorted VIPs on Saturday night at Elitch Gardens. With that in mind, thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who stood amid all the free food and booze and managed not to partake.

How convenient it is to have an amusement park within walking distance of the main convention hall of a major political party's presidential-year gathering? The answer: Very convenient, and then remember there's plenty of public transportation to escort the inebriated scribes home safely and soundly.

More than a few members of my entourage noted that the fireworks display may have been equally or more impressive than whatever Barack Obama will receive on Thursday night at Invesco Field at Mile High. And the Flobots were there, and they are pretty good (I'm told).

More than a few celebrities were spotted: Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Gov. Bill Ritter were both spotted; it was uncertain how many Molson Coors products each had consumed by about 9:30 p.m., but according to sources in my immediate vicinity, both political luminaries enjoyed themselves as much as anyone else at Elitch's. This observer personally spotted legendary Las Vegas columnist (and former Denver writer) Norm Clarke four separate times; granted, he of the eye patch is hard to miss.

One area of improvement to note: The Elitch Gardens staff should take greater care to map out the men's restrooms, lest they end up with certain members of my entourage relieving themselves behind the Beat the Buzzer hoops game.

UPDATE: Apparently, there were many more political and journalistic heavyweights in attendance than first thought -- we missed them because we showed up fashionably late to the dog-and-pony show. US Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo) was on hand, as well as gossip columnist for the New York Post, Cindy Adams.