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NEW YORK, NY August 27, 2004 — Republicans aren't the only ones planning parties in New York City these days. Opponents of President Bush have had a busy calendar organizing concerts, fundraisers, and theatrical events in advance of next week's Republican National Convention. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

This summer, left leaning New Yorkers have discovered it's hip to be politically active.

About a thousand people showed up at the Hammerstein Ballroom the other night for a Move On dot Org benefit. There, musicians Perry Farrell and Moby joined Jeanine Garafolo. Thirty-one year-old Natasha Wimmer and her boyfriend said they aren't the type to go to rallies, but they've gone to several other events this political season.

WIMMER: A friend of mine organized a casino night and made quite a bit of money, another friend is organizing a Kerry-oke night which is happening soon and there is also a cocktail party. And these are all fundraisers. FERTIG: As in Kerry Okie? WOMAN: Yes, exactly, yes. Very clever right?

With the convention approaching, opponents of President Bush have had plenty of chances to meet like minded souls. Recent and upcoming events include a Life After Capitalism conference; concerts on a nightly basis; and screenings of anti-Bush movies. Some events are more theatrical in nature - like this party by the group Billionaires for Bush.

MAN: Dahling so good to see you. WOMAN: You as well.

In a garden at Cooper Union, Alan Greenspend greeted Fonda Sterling.

MAN: Fonda, Fonda Sterling how are you? Looking so gorgeous. WOMAN: thank you darling.

The Billionaires were dressed in tuxedos and cocktail dresses to promote their new book, How to Rule the World for Fun and Profit. About two hundred people watched while they toasted each other with plastic champagne glasses.

BILLIONAIRES: "We've got life by the tush we're the Billionaires for Bush we're determined to keep it that way..."

Fifty-four year-old Boris was enjoying the display of sarcasm.

BORIS: Well I'm actually kind of event hopping in the last two weeks to see what kind of group I might want to get uh beaten up with in convention week.

So, what has he liked?

BORIS: Well I went to the Vomitorium last night. It was a group of people dressed sort of partly business partly Roman garb. With nicknames not quite as clever as Billionaires for Bush but Waggus Doggus and uh Corporate Maxiumus etc. and they were eating and drinking and gorging themselves yelling More, More! So it was great, I thought it was going to be kind of silly at first sort of agit prop theater cause there were mentions of we need a union.' But then they started vomiting and all bets were off.

Of course, the average Bush opponent is probably more interested in a low-key evening that doesn't involve any binging and purging.

At a downtown bar called Von, artists and musicians mingled with young professionals while Gillian Wilson of the group Axis of Eve sold political panties.

WILSON: We have Expose Bush. Fire Bush. Down on Bush...

The small party was a fundraiser for John Kerry. Wilson and most of the others that night said they'd never been politically active until this year. Thirty-five year old James Kuhnert echoed what's almost become a mantra:

KUHNERT: It's the most important election in my life. I didn't vote in the last election and I felt guilty.

Fifty seven year old Nancy Haynes watched with a look of amusement and pride. The Red Hook artist marched against the Vietnam War and said she was impressed by all the organizing.

HAYNES: Yeah, unbelievable - youngsters on the street stopping me asking are you registered to vote, yeah it's great. The same young people I probably would have thought might not have voted.

Haynes credits the internet with making things easier. As well as plenty of memorable events. For WNYC I'm Beth Fertig.