Well, in retrospect perhaps a light summery wrap dress was not the best choice for Denver's beautiful outdoor but occasionally windy Red Rocks Amphitheater, but my very own Marilyn Monroe moment served as a great ice breaker for my opening remarks at the Democratic convention host committee kick-off concert (that's a mouthful) Sunday night. Ten thousand people, delegates, political leaders, funders, and Democratic honchos enjoyed that spontaneous moment (a little more than I did) but it was all for the cause and that cause was loud and clear...we need green presidential leadership and we need it now!
From the moment Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (I swear that is his real name) learned his city would play host, he became obsessed with the possibilities of doing things better by doing them greener. So every aspect of the convention was put on the table and reexamined. As a result, free bicycles stand on corners, hybrid cars shuttle delegates, compost bins make their debut next to the recycling ones, local restaurants and businesses attend green workshops, solar and renewable energy are used where possible, hotel keys made from biodegradable material, and much more.
The show (a celebration of the city's green efforts) featured environmental stars Van Jones (Green for All), William McDonough (author of Cradle to Cradle: The Way We Make Things) and NRDC attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who all brought the crowd to their feet. The musicians, Sheryl Crow, Sugarland and Dave Matthews gave up their rare day off from intense touring schedules to be a part of this Green Sunday. To say that the venue, nestled in natures magnificent grandeur, was electrified would be an understatement. It felt like even the heavens above were rocking. The perfect start to the most exciting, hopeful and, yes, green democratic convention ever!!!
For more Huffington Post coverage from the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.