They Knew Jack Kennedy . . .

When trying to remind the public how very, very cool Democrats can be, it is wise to reference your party's sexiest icon: John F. Kennedy. This fact is not lost on the Summit County Young Democrats, who will host their first-ever J.F.K. Dinner at the Inventors Hall of Fame tonight at 8 p.m. In hopes of attracting donations from the 35-and-under set, the group's invitation bore a photo of a Ray-Banned Kennedy lighting a cigar. It's an image far-removed from the careful, P.C. world most Democrats inhabit these days, and it'll probably succeed in squeezing out a few more $15 ticket sales. "Yeah, it's a pretty badass photo," says SCYD president Andy Padrutt. "You know, we're the young Democrats, so we don't have to be as safe as everyone else." And speaking of unsafe: The event will further salute the Kennedy tradition by featuring a genuine chain smoker and lady's man -- guests of honor County Executive James McCarthy and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. Who says politicians forgot how to party? -- Denise Grollmus