New Orleans and Washington, D.C., converged in Denver Sunday evening, as political reporters and politicians in town for the Democratic National Convention exhaled for a moment at the Friends of New Orleans All-Star Jam-Balaya at the Fillmore Auditorium.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.); Democratic consultant, analyst and Roll Call columnist Donna Brazile; and CNN’s Anderson Cooper were just a few of the familiar faces at the event, held to shine a light on the city of New Orleans, still making a comeback from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Dittus Communications helped organize the event, and Roll Call newspaper was media co-sponsor.

The hurricane drinks were flowing and the food plentiful at the Mardis Gras-themed celebration, which was scheduled to keep rocking until 2 a.m. local time.