Conventions in modern-day are little more than the excuse to throw a party — or more accurately lots and lots of parties. Sunday night in Denver, even before the actual convention got under way at the Pepsi Center on Monday, the party scene was already in full force. Outside of the city at the Red Rocks amphitheater, global warming activists Laurie David led a green event for thousands, headlined by Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews, and Sugarland. At the pre-reception, hosted by Dominion Power for delegates from Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, Western food was in abundance —  bison sliders and venison sausage, along with baked beans, corn on the cob, and make-your-own s’mores.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt that he would absolutely not been allowed to wear had he been named the Democratic vice presidential nominee on Saturday, worked the reception. His Virginia state troopers mingled at the edge of the audience with the Pennsylvania troopers assigned to protect Ed Rendell, who was also greeting the members of his delegation. Environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., was a big hit with the crowd, although his smart suit made him look out of place with the casual audience.

Ahh, there’s nothing like an early morning Metro ride to kick off your day. Apparently, the dark, dingy tunnels over-crowded with people are a great place for romance. Or so says Craigslist’s Missed Connections. Each day plenty of people post about that cutie with the iPod they saw while peering over their copy of Express. Maybe it’s the atmosphere, maybe it’s the hoards of people, but these couples never actually speak to each other. Luckily, we’ve got Missed Connections to give them a second chance. So here’s the best of this week’s Missed Connections: Metro Edition.

Did you love (or hate) our recent article on the nightlife scene at Dewey Beach? Then you'll want to check out our extra photos from the article. There's everything from extra photos at the Starboard to beach shots to concerts and bachelorette parties. That's to say, something for everyone. Enjoy the slideshow!

All photos by Jennifer Smoose.

The Washington area seems to have grown into a swimming powerhouse, what with Beijing Olympians Katie Hoff, Kate Ziegler, and Michael Phelps all calling the area home. Now Washington may be adding a second water sport to its Olympic holdings: rowing. Two former McLean students will be competing for medals at the newly built Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in Beijing.

Sam Stitt, 27, a local legend in high-school rowing, took up the sport as a sophomore at McLean High School, just one year after the program started. He later rowed at Rutgers and at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames. After college, he returned to coach McLean’s freshman boys crew team.

Angry about the flagged Missed Connection from a woman who called out that perv? Yeah, you and every other Craigslist reader. We, of course, applaud her efforts, but it sure made wading through all the extra comments a pain. So here’s the five people who used Craigslist’s Missed Connections for its intended purposes.