The People’s Inaugural Ball Kinda Sorta Brings the Star Power
Erik Wemple and Jason Cherkis report that Democratic bigwig John Capozzi, D.C. Shadow Rep. Mike Panetta, and D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray are the biggest celebrities at the People's Inaugural Ball, which is going on over at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. on K Street, NW.
Even without major starpower, the event drew about 700 people, Wemple says. That's a head count on par with last night's event at the Historical Society building, and that party featured a performance by Doug E. Fresh, Capozzi told Cherkis.
With tickets for tonight's event running $100 a pop, Wemple reckons that the ball, powered entirely by grassroots Obama organization, raised about $70,000, despite lacking a big-name celeb. Wemple says people seemed content with the sounds of WMB and the Bad Ass Brass Band as entertainment.
Ball-goer Jessica Fleuti, for one, was not going to let a dearth of star sightings put a damper on her night. Fleuti told Wemple, "We're going to leave this place at 12, and then party at the bars on U Street until 5."
1:54 am
Thanks for calling me a celebrity, I almost believe it, but we never were going for that angle as it was a people's ball. However, Hayden Panettiere from Heroes popped by to say hello.
The bands were WMD and Lotus....both of which rocked.
Friday night Kurtis Blow was awesome!
Tickets still available for Sunday http://thepeoplesinagural.com
-Mike
2:08 am
Shadow senators Mike Brown and Paul Strauss appeared as well, as did former council member Carol Schwartz.