For 1st time in a while, holiday parties are on

Here’s an economic indicator you won’t find anywhere else: Holiday parties are back.

After years of bah-humbugs brought on by the recession, the invites are going out all over town.

The trend is to rent out an entire restaurant for the night — and they are not bring-your-own-bottle affairs.

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President Obama’s operation ran a campaign that was truly and completely grassroots.

Take the example of Warren, Ohio, a town of 41,000 people in the northeastern corner of the state. There were about 2,000 folks there who were registered Democrats but had never voted with any

consistency.

They were, however, likely Obama supporters.

The Obama people rang each and every one of their doorbells. They called them all. And on election day, our own California attorney general, Kamala Harris, helped lead the get-out-the-vote operation.

All this was happening while the officials running the Ohio elections were trying their best to make it harder for people to vote. Some voters ended up waiting five hours to cast their ballots.

And in Warren? It’s the seat of Trumbull County, where Obama racked up a 60 to 38 percent victory over Mitt Romney — just a little bit better than his margin in 2008 over John McCain.

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I want to end a rumor that is going around. I am not working for the Golden State Warriors or for their new arena plan.

I met with the owners. I listened to the plan. I loved it.

And then I said to Peter Guber, “You and I have been friends for years and you were very helpful when I was speaker, but I don’t go on the Warriors’ payroll.”

“What do you mean?” he said, a bit offended.

“I don’t think that will work for me or for you. I’m for your project, but if I’m working for it, it will bring you nothing but more headaches.”

So far they seem to be doing just fine at City Hall, but the real test will come when the Warriors go before the Bay Conservation and Development Commission and those other state boards that oversee the San Francisco waterfront.

It will be their worst nightmare.

If they really want to get this thing done, forget about hiring me — hire John Burton. He knows more about the waterfront laws than anyone alive. And with good reason. He wrote them.

***

Movie time: “Lincoln.” Way overhyped. It’s more like a documentary. Still, the outstanding performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field and Daniel Day-Lewis, coupled with Steven Spielberg’s production values, make it a must see.

Just remember — it’s all talk, no action.

Now if you want action, go see “Skyfall.” Daniel Craig makes 007 come alive without any of the usual James Bond gadget gimmicks. And he’s up against Javier Bardem, one of the most delightfully devious villains I’ve ever seen.

***

You never know who you’ll see strolling around the city.

The other day I caught former Gov. Pete Wilson at Le Central lunching with friends. Two days later it was Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi having lunch with the Bayview’s Charlie Walker. I’d love to have heard that conversation.

Strolling through the lobby of the St. Regis were the anchors of the MSNBC “Morning Joe” show, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, in town for a speech.

And I ran into my old campaign manager Jack Davis, back for a respite from his retirement in Wales. No more politics for Jack. In fact, he’s seriously thinking of going into the decorating business.

We were walking around town and decided to stop at the new Ghirardelli chocolate and coffee shop in the Palace Hotel for a cappuccino.

“Perfect,” the counter lady said. “Do you want them for here or to go?” “We want them here.” “Oh,” she said. “There’s a service charge for that.” “Why?” “Because you sit down and we serve you.”

What a town.

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The David Petraeus debacle — what an incredible story. I just hope my friend Danielle Steel is still writing. I already have the title — “Spyfall.”