THE BEAR AT COPLEY SQUARE
As delegates began to arrive here in Boston today for the Democratic National Convention, the welcoming signs of a host city were everywhere. To be sure, there were banners at the Fleet Center, balloons at the airport and, everywhere, the usual tourist and convention bureau fare. But the California delegation — by far the largest — also got a hometown touch from the Westin Copley Hotel, which for the coming week will be occupied exclusively by Californians.
On the flag pole at the entrance to the hotel, two flags are flying: the Stars and Stripes and the California Bear.
At the security checkpoints at the elevator banks -- set up especially for the security-heavy convention -- guards check room keys and IDs. On Day One, at least, it seemed to satisfy some guards just to see that the identification provided by the guest was a California driver's license.
