If D.C.’s executive offices are feeling a little empty lately, it’s because a few of our leaders are off in Las Vegas, attending the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon retail real estate convention. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Valerie Santos, and Councilmembers Jack Evans and Muriel Bowser—not to mention would-be council chairman Vincent Orange—are there rubbing shoulders with industry giants, hoping to lure a few retailers our way.

“There have been a number of retailers that I know, that I’m meeting with, today and tomorrow, that have been calling us and saying ‘Give us a price’ we want to be there,” said Santos to the Post‘s Jonathan O’Connell, who is blogging from the scene.

While off in Real America, they also got to hear from Sarah Palin, who made a not-terribly-well-recieved speech accusing President Barack Obama of being addicited to “O.P.M.”—other peoples’ money.