Party Animal

If you want the inside scoop on the Democratic National Convention, talk to Boston lawyer Douglas K. Sheff.

Sheff, a Massachusetts governor to the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, observed the goings-on from Sen. Tom Daschule’s skybox, and attended four to five events per day.

As expected, Sheff reports, the degree of security around the Fleet Center was overwhelming. In fact, he says he passed some 250 police officers and military personnel during the short trip from his North End home to the Fleet Center each morning.

The former Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys president says one of the highlights of the week was being able to re-meet his hero, former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland.

Other people who stopped by Dashcule’s box included Sen. Barack Obama and controversial filmmaker Michael Moore.

Sheff says he also got to see his fair share of celebrities. Several sat in the box adjacent to Daschule’s, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Larry David, Ben Affleck, and Billy Baldwin.

Sheff notes the one bone he had to pick was that some parts of the convention that should have been covered by the mainstream media were not — such as the speech delivered by former President Jimmy Carter and the documentary on John Kerry compiled by Steven Spielberg, which played on the main screen throughout the day.

But it was not all work and no play for Sheff, who managed to attend several after-parties. He says that for many of the gatherings, the choice of location seemed to be based on square footage alone, and not on the amenities of the place or the status of those attending.

“John Edwards should be at the Ritz, not at the Rack,” Sheff remarks.

But it seems that getting into the parties was a challenge no matter what name you go by.

At one soiree held at the Roxy, Sheff found himself inside the club while a gentleman who raised $1 million for the Democratic Party was left to wait in line out on the sidewalk.

So, what was the hottest DNC ticket in town? According to Sheff, it was the concert performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in honor of Sen. Ted Kennedy. With performances by Yo Yo Ma and Bono, among others, and the whole Kennedy family in attendance, Sheff says it was a memorable night.

Overall, Sheff, who describes himself as sarcastic and not particularly patriotic, says that he was struck by the optimism and intensity of the DNC.

“This convention made people believe they were fighting the good fight,” he proudly states.