Inauguration: Winners & Losers
Spike Lee in his awesome coat.
Some of us are still feeling the effects of our long walk home from the Mall (my feet are still killing me; I am old). Some of us are still recovering from the Hawaii State Society ball. And some of us just made it into the office.
There was tons to say about the Inauguration (and we are pretty much tired of typing about it). But there's still a few things left to report out. There were winners. And there were losers. Here's a partial list. Feel free to add your own winners and losers in the comments:
Winners
1) Fenty: The mayor raised his profile big time by popping up on the major networks, and organizing a concert in which he coaxed Wyclef into performing.
2) Ben's Chili Bowl: In every tourist's guidebook with or without the ice sculpture. It became a pilgrimage for celebrities like Usher. It didn't hurt that Obama famously visited the joint.
3) Freer Gallery: Post-swearing in, the gallery's prime position turned it into the hottest squatting spot off Independence Ave. There were actual lines to get into the Freer (maybe a first).
4) Ms. Virginia: We stopped her outside Bohemian Caverns on Monday night. She boasted of going to several balls and being quite overwhelmed by all the goodwill. I made the offense of asking her: "What year?" as in what year did you win?
5) Wyclef: I may have hated his performance at the Green Inaugural Ball. But the man was a ubiquitous presence. He hasn't been this in-demand in years.
J Lo is in this picture. We swear.
6) J Lo's bodyguards: According to my sister who had a prime spot for the swearing-in, J Lo didn't just score a seated ticket for herself and her famous husband. She scored tickets for her bodyguards as well. Who cares enough about J Lo that she needs bodyguards? How did she get away with bringing an entourage to the swearing in?
Another picture of Spike Lee and his awesome coat.
7) Spike Lee: The man wore the best winter coat we saw at the swearing in. So he's a winner.
Losers:
1) Parade Bleachers: They were the loneliest seats of the day. The big question: Why were they so empty?
2) Freer Gallery Art: I heard from a friend who escaped inside the Freer Gallery after the swearing in. He said most of the people who were crashing there were just wandering the hallways like zombies. No one was bothering to check out the art! Were people too tired to chin stroke some sweet paintings?
3) The lost children: There were 30 kids who lost their parents during the inauguration yesterday morning. All were returned. But probably not without some anxious moments and some tears!
4) The tunnel dwellers: People got stuck.
5) Anybody who bought tickets to the American Music Ball(s).
*photos of Spike Lee and J Lo by my sister and her boyfriend.
3:10 pm
"1) Parade Bleachers: They were the loneliest seats of the day. The big question: Why were they so empty?"
Because tickets went on sale before security procedures were announced, and only later did the announcement come out that you needed to be in your seats before the route closed at 9:30, missing the inauguration itself.
So though I bought $100+30 worth of parade tickets for my friends and myself, we decided it was more historically important to see the swearing-in and eat the cost than go to the parade.
3:13 pm
Winners: Rich, famous people...
etc
3:27 pm
Check out Spike's fur NY Yankees hat -- with ear flaps.
3:42 pm
The parade bleachers were empty for several reasons. One was what Aaron said above. Two was the fact that unless you read City Desk, DCist, the Post, or another Washington-based news outlet, you had no way of knowing that you weren't going to be allowed to go to both events. Three is the security lines. Our line for our ticketed area took us 5 hours to get through and it was just a crush of humanity into a little tiny opening manned by one hapless national guard trooper. Completely ridiculous.
It was also sad that everyone who DID make it into the parade bleachers left after the presidential party passed by. We know it was cold, but my wife and I were literally the only two people in our bleacher section by the time the NASA Mars Rover came by to end the parade. We felt awful for the bands and other groups that traveled from so far away only to march in the dark and empty streets. At least they still got to play for the president.
8:54 pm
Add to winners most of the PIC volunteers, who awoke at 3am, did everything we were instructed to do, and quickly got wiped out by confusing, ever-changing security barriers, crushing mobs of clueless ticket holders (and the general public), and awol team leaders. Only our combined spirit and enthusiasm kept spirits up. Like many folks who braved the elements and obstacles, we did our best to help others and give meaning to Obama's call for service and sacrifice. So put me in the winners column. Haters be gone! it's a new day.
3:02 pm
The Real Winners Were All Americans!
The Losers Are Those Who Set Out To Destroy It - From Abroad & From Within.
4:05 pm
Volunteer: I agree, the volunteers were amazing even though they were put in a bad situation by forces beyond their control. I'd also like to add some ad-hoc volunteers who helped my friend and I, as well as some older folks, scale a wall to get into our ticketed section, which Capitol Police had said was full ("full" apparently being code for "half empty")
I know there are a lot of people who like to hate on tourists (myself included), but I was honestly impressed with the crowd at the Inauguration.