Who’s Going

Each congressional district in Florida is sending three delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland July 18-21. Local party officials picked Joe Gruters, chair of the Republican Party of Sarasota and Trump’s Florida campaign chair; Kathleen King, chair of the Republican Party of Manatee County; and Christian Ziegler, a state party committeeman. All three served on the committee that chose them.

Where the Party Parties

What happens inside the Quicken Loans Arena is only half the story. Political players, lobbyists, media and tech companies are renting out nearby bars and restaurants where convention-goers can mingle, drink and hook up. East Fourth Street, packed with booze and bites, is close to the arena and should be hopping. Beer lovers should pop into an Uber for Ohio City, a microbrewery destination.

Close Encounters

Ziegler attended both the 2012 and 2008 Republican conventions and is eager to hit up Cleveland for what he calls “the Super Bowl of politics.” Soirées and shindigs often stretch late into the night, he says. You never know who’ll you run into at the bar or the hotel ice machine. The governor? A senator? The surprise is the fun part.