If half a million people show up, the infrastructure should be okay, except for major issues such as transportation and dining near the mall.  But if a couple million people converge on the Mall, the infrastructure, along with the food service industries will be pushed to their limits.

So here’s a few of the potential “disasters” that might occur due to massive crowds attending the inauguration celebration, and my estimation of how likely it will happen.

1. Multiple hour waits to get on Metro trains leaving the National Mall — With crowds expected to run at least five times more than a typical July Fourth event, it’s likely that Metro will be overwhelmed, even with 15 hours of consecutive rush-hour scheduling. Likelihood – very high.
2. Mobile phone service will cease — Due to overwhelmed cell towers around the Mall, especially during the hours just before and after the ceremony, the cellular carriers will likely not be able to handle all of the call traffic.  Considering at times all over the Washington, DC area, especially during rush hour, it can be sometimes tough getting a call through, so don’t expect to place a call phone call on the first attempt 3 minutes before Obama takes his oath.  Likelihood – medium/high.
3. Chartered busses might not find parking – With upwards of 10,000 chartered busses potentially bringing people to the inauguration, where are they all to park? So far, potential places include Wolf Trap, JFK Stadium, Hanes Point, and more so parking should not be an issue. Likelihood – low.
4. Getting people from chartered busses at remote parking areas to the National Mall — Getting upwards of a half a million people to the Mall and then back again quickly will be an issue. So see #1. Likelihood – high.
5. Grocery stores will run out of staples – With a million-plus people who are not staying in hotels looking for items such as as bread and milk, grocers may run out quickly.  While the hint of a snowfall in the area causes some people to rush out and hoard 200 rolls of toilet paper and 40 gallons of milk, I doubt that retailers will miss the opportunity to stock up and make big bucks form our out of town visitors. Likelihood – very low.
6. Parking at Metro rail station will not accommodate all the cars — With only 60,000 parking spaces spread out over 42 stations, if you don’t get to the Metro very, VERY early, chances are you won’t get a parking spot. Again, see #1. Likelihood – very high.
7. Getting a meal on the Mall will require an act of Congress — You should be able to find plenty of hot dog vendors around the Mall on inauguration day. But if you want to wait out the exit rush after the ceremony, at a restaurant anywhere near the Mall, expect a multi-hour wait. Likelihood – high.
8. Restroom facilities will be tough to find – DC does a great job at having enough porta-potties at most major events in the Mall, so this shouldn’t be an issue. Likelihood – low.
9. Finding a taxi to get to or from the Mall – With all the expected street closures, security checkpoints, rerouted traffic patterns, and the massive crowds all heading to the same place, finding a cab (or for that matter, a cabbie willing to bring his cab anywhere near the expected gridlock on Mall that day) is unlikely. Likelihood – medium.
10. People will simply grin and bear it — In the crowd that descends on Washington, DC, there will be some complainers who expect a seat on the Metro train, a table at a restaurant just blocks from the Capitol, parking garages to have open spots an hour before the inauguration ceremony and no hassles getting to and from the Mall.  But I hope people will just expect the worst and smile when things go well.  Likelihood – high.

So what do you think?  Will Washington, DC handle the crowds or will it be a tourism nightmare?  Make a comment below.

Image – Flickr – 2005 inauguration

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Post from: The DC Traveler

If you are not inside the security perimeter, these rules will most likely not apply.

Note that strollers and chairs are on the list, so ATTENTION PARENTS with small children and people who may need to sit during the long wait.

Prohibited items at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration include, but are not limited to:

• Strollers
• Chairs
• Backpacks, large bags, duffel bags, suitcases
• Thermoses or coolers
• Signs or posters
• Firearms, ammo, explosives, fireworks, knives, blades, mace, pepper spray, or any other weapon or sharp objects (of any length)
• Umbrellas
• Laser pointers
• Animals (other than service animals)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Other items that may pose a security threat

So it looks as if people lucky enough to get inauguration tickets will be required to stand, leave small children at home or carry them, and only pack a small bag.

This list might actually lesson the number of people who attend the inauguration.  And as always, this list is subject to change.

The West Lawn of the Capitol grounds will open at 8:00 a.m.. with the event starting around 11:30 a.m. 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

One might make the perfect last minute stocking suffer.

• The most expensive inauguration package I found was the Omni Shoreham Hotel’s staggering $440,000 Commander-in-Chief package. Located near the near the National Zoo, it includes a $44,000 jewelry shopping extravaganza, and a private in-room dinner with a performance by well-known political satirist, Mark Russell.  Get to and from Washington, DC on the hotel-provided private jet and, just like the Obama’s, select a puppy of your choice as a memento of your trip. After the inauguration, play the diplomat and get whisked off for a 5-day first-class trip to St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Try the 14-room suite at the Mandarin Oriental overlooking the city and the National Mall for a paltry $200,000. It includes a chauffeur-driven Maserati.
• The ritzy Ritz Carlton Washington in Georgetown has a $150,000 package that includes private jet travel, personal butler and massage therapist and tickets to an inaugural ball.  Leave for home with a full set of Louis Vuitton luggage as well.
• The Georgetown Ritz Carlton offers a $99,000 package that includes first-class travel and a stay at the Ritz in the Grand Cayman Islands, as after all that pampering, I guess people need to relax a bit.
• The lovely Fairmont Hotel in the West End on M Street offers not so fat cats a lower priced  package in an exclusive suite. For $10,000, it comes with a chauffeured Rolls-Royce and two Secret Service-like body guards.  I wonder if they will talk into their wrists and give the guests special code names.

Many of the presidential inauguration hotel packages include other perks, such as lots of Dom Perignon and Beluga caviar, spa treatments, high-end shopping trips, tickets to the inaugural balls, limo service, designer clothing and jewelry, butler service, special dinners, designer luggage set and more….but only if you act fast and have a Fat Cat’s budget. 
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Here’s the second part of the listings of official and unofficial Inaugural Balls in Washington, DC, that will be celebrating the inauguration of the 44th President of the United State, Barak Obama.

Here’s the list for January 20, 2009 Inaugural Balls, the first list of inaugural balls, (on January 19), was posted on The DC Traveler, yesterday. Click here to link to the other post.

Again, the availability of tickets may change daily.  Even if inaugural balls are sold out, waiting list or returned tickets may be available.

• American Indian Inaugural Ball   
  Hyatt Regency Crystal City
  2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
  Arlington, VA 22202
  Date & Time – January 20, 2009 -7:30 p.m.
  Tickets – $110
• The George Washington University Inaugural Ball
  Omni Shoreham Hotel
  2500 Calvert Street, NW at Connecticut Ave.
  Washington, DC 20008
  Date & Time – January 20, 2009 8:00 p.m.
  Tickets – $100 (SOLD OUT)
• Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball
  Mandarin Oriental Hotel
  1330 Maryland Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC 20024
  Date & Time – January 20, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
  Tickets – $200 (SOLD OUT) 
• New Jersey Inaugural Ball
  Washington Court Hotel
  525 New Jersey Ave., NW
  Washington, DC
  Date & Time – January 20, 2009 – 7:30 p.m.
  Tickets – $100
• Pennsylvania State Society Inaugural Gala   
  Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC
  1150 22nd Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20037
  Date & Time – January 20, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.
  Tickets – $150
• State Society of Arizona Inaugural Ball   
  Historical Society of Washington, DC
  1307 New Hampshire Ave NW
  Washington, DC 20036
  Date & Time – January 20, 2009, 9:00 p.m.
  Tickets: $175, $300 per couple

Images – Flickr – sign, ball gown
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Post from: The DC Traveler

So many, that I am splitting up the information I have been able to find into two post, one for January 19, 2009 Inaugural Balls, the second (tomorrow) for Inaugural Balls on January 20th.

Ticket availability changes by the day.  Some ball tickets will be available online from the inaugural ball committee.  Other inaugural balls are sold out, but check the ball sites as they may have a waiting list or returned tickets.  To find tickets to sold out balls, check with reputable ticket brokers and sites such as Craigslist for tickets.  But be careful of scalpers and con-artists selling fake inaugural ball tickets.

Most balls are formal black tie events, with live music and dancing.

Let’s start with what is expected to be the most attended balls, the most expensive and one that we have to assume President Obama will spend more time at than any other ball, the ball of his home state, the Illinois Inaugural Gala.

• The Illinois Inaugural Gala  
  Renaissance Washington DC
  999 9th Street, NW
  Washington, DC
  Date & Time – January 19, 2009, 5:30 p.m.
  Tickets – $500 dinner, reception and gala ball, $400 ball only

There’s another group of official inaugural balls, that include the Commander-in-Chief Ball, Constitution Ball, Democracy Ball, Freedom Ball, Independence Ball, Liberty Ball, Patriot Ball, Stars and Stripes Ball, and the Texas Wyoming Ball.

Here’s a list of some of the unofficial state society balls.

• Arkansas State Society Inaugural Gala
  Washington Court Hotel
  525 New Jersey Ave, NW
  Washington, DC
  Date & Time – January 19, 2009 8:00 p.m.
  Tickets – e-mail or call C. Glen Mahone at 202-329-6711 or C.Glenn.Mahone@aerojet.com
• Pearl Presidential Inaugural Gala
  Mandarin Oriental Hotel
  1330 Maryland Ave., SW
  Washington, DC
  Date & Time – January 19, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.
  Tickets- $250 (SOLD OUT)
• North Carolina Society Inaugural Ball
  Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
  2660 Woodley Road, NW
  Washington, DC
  Date & Time – January 19, 2009 – 8:00 p.m.
  Tickets – $150
• Kentucky Society Bluegrass Ball   
  Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
  2660 Woodley Rd, NW
  Washington, DC
  Date & Time – January 19, 2009 – 6:30 p.m.
  Tickets – $191

Images – band, Obama
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Post from: The DC Traveler

According to the Talmud, after a large-scale revolt and victory of the Jews over the Hellenistic empire (about 165 BC), the alter at the Temple in the old city of Jerusalem was rededicated. On that day, there was enough holy oil to keep the eternal flame burning for just one day. But the flame burned for eight days and nights, enough to produce a new batch of holy oil.

An eight day festival was declared to commemorate the miracle.

The event on the National Mall includes music by the Three Cantors.  Hot Latkes and doughnuts will also be served.

Nation Menorah Lighting Ceremony
The Ellipse
1600 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC‎  (map it)

Dates and Times – Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.

Admission - FREE, but tickets are required.

Nearest Metro Subway Stations – Metro Center, Federal Triangle and McPherson Square, than a short walk to the Ellipse, or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Limited street parking is available, especially during rush hour.

Image – from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

With multiple city/national themes, including London, Austria, Mexico City, Rio, San Juan, and even Amsterdam’s Red Light District (no, not what you might be thinking… actually it’s an R-rated comedy show), this New Year’s Eve party, complete with with 3,000 guests, features all kinds of fun music and activities, including:

• Open Bar and Buffet
• Nine Themed Party Areas
• Multiple Dance Floors , including DC’s Largest Ballroom
• Midnight Balloon Drop
• Live Orchestra, Swing Band, Salsa Band and Mariachis, plus DJs
• Salsa, Meringue, Ballroom and Swing Dance Lessons
• Late Night Comedy Show
• Caricaturists
• Karaoke

And if you are attending the party without a date, there’s also four minute dating sessions for singles. Plus, and here’s a great idea — to identify your relationship status, guests wear different colored bracelets, one color for single people, a different color for couples. 

I wonder how many people will start the night wearing a “couples” colored bracelet and ring in the New Year wearing a “single” bracelet, and visa versa.

Passport to the World Gala – Cities of Virtue and Vice
The Hilton Washington
Dupont Circle
1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington DC, 20009  (map it)

Date and Time – December 31, 2008, 9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Tickets – Prices started at $99.00 but go up as the date gets closer.  Tickets are available online or by phone at 202-686-5990.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Dupont Circle – Red line, then a 5-block walk.

Parking – $15.00

Image – Flickr – champagne  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Enjoy a traditional colonial plantation holiday dinner at Gunston Hall, the home of founding father, George Mason.

Dine tavern-style, by candlelight, on items such as traditional   turkey and dressing, Virginia ham, dressing, and of course, home made pie.

For more about Gunston Hall, check out my Oct. 12, 2007 post.

Plantation Christmas Yuletide Dinner at Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall Plantation
10709 Gunston Road 
Mason Neck, Virginia 22079  (map it)
703-550-9220

Dates and Times – Friday, December 12, 2008 at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 13  at 4:30, 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $39.95 , children 10 and under – $19.95. Beer and wine is extra. Dinner includes admission to Plantation Christmas. Call 703-550-9220 for reservations. Parties of ten may reserve a private table.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Franconia-Springfield – Blue line, then a 12 mile cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available.

Image – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

The self-guided tours include four historical building.  On the walking tour are:

• Gadsby’s Tavern Museum – a colonial tavern and meeting place.
• Carlyle House – Alexandria’s only stone Palladian-style house dating back to 1753.
• Lee-Fendall House, the home of the Lee family, and son Robert E. Lee. The urban plantation house was built in 1785 and restored to its early Victorian elegance.
• Old Presbyterian Meeting House – In 1772, a small group of Calvinist who had split from the Church of England, built their own meeting house in which to worship. Today, the church is still used for regular services.

Enjoy seasonal decorations, carolers and light refreshments along the way. Plan on about two hours, if you stop to enjoy the music. 

Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours 
Gadsby’s Tavern
138 N Royal Street
Alexandria, VA 22314 (map it)

Start at any of the four sites and continue at your own pace.

Dates and Times – December 13, 2008, From 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Start at any of the four locations and tour at your own pace.

Tickets – Adults – $20.00, Seniors $15.00, children 6-17 – $5.00, and are available online or by calling Gadsby’s Tavern Museum at 703-838-4242

Nearest Metro Subway Station – King Street – Yellow and Blue lines. then a 20-minute walk or take the free King Street Trolley form the Metro station.

Parking – Street and paid garage parking is available.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

With classical vocal and symphonic holiday music performed by a full symphony orchestra, over 125 singers and the delightful Bacilica Choir, the concert is a great way to help the poor and start your holiday cheer.

Drawing standing-room-only crowds, besides wonderful music, enjoy the view of one of the nation’s most ornate and stunning shrines. 

Christmas Concert for Charity  
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Ave., NE – Upper Church
Washington, DC (map it)
202-526-8300

Date and Time – Friday, December 5, 2008, 7:30 p.m., but plan to arrive early to ensure getting a seat.

Admission - Free, but donations are appreciated.  Proceeds support healthcare for low-income DC residents through Providence Hospital’s Perry Family Health Center.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Brookland-CUA, Red line, then a 3-block walk.  The Basilica is adjacent to Catholic University.

Parking – Free street and lot parking is available, but may be challenging to find that evening.

Image – personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti
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Post from: The DC Traveler