Obama Inauguration - Jan,20 2009

[pfd103]

I wanted to start a thread to help people spread info about the Inauguration.

Since this is the first time I am going, I am eager to hear any tips or suggestions anyone has. Will the metro run the day of? What about the day before? Can food and drinks be brought onto the Mall?

Here's the only info I've found so far, so please share any links you find!
http://www.obamainauguration2009.com/

[Htay9500]

Do not stay in DC as there will be tons and tons of hotels booked. I prefer to find a hotel where a metro is closeby and in the metro area, such as here in Bethesda, Silver Spring, and places farther in Montgomery County and maybe in NOVA. BOOK NOW.

Please take the metro. It is hard and expensive to find a spot on inauguration day and traffic is among the 2nd worst in the country. You will easily find your way around DC IF YOU TAKE METRO.

Info on metro for inauguration day: http://www.wmata.com/inauguration/
Read:

The U.S. Secret Service has deemed the Inauguration as a special national security event and due to security measures, the Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter Metrorail station on Metro’s Green and Yellow Lines, will be closed all day on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20. In addition one of two entrances to the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange Lines will also be closed. The Smithsonian station entrance on the National Mall will be closed. The Independence Ave SW entrance will remain open.

Access to the Mall via metro: Take the blue/orange line in the direction of New Carrolton or Largo town center and get off at Federal Triangle (then take 2 blocks south where the smithsonian and other museums are located. The capitol building is on your left, Washington Monument on your right and in between is open fields).


All attending the inauguration MUST face security checkpoints.




Go to pg. 2 (post #38 & 39) for the map of Obama's inauguration and info on the metro during that day.

Check pg 3 (post #56 & 58) for road and traffic closures!!

Better yet, check all pgs for updates!!

[Eerik]

Hotels are mostly booked in the entire greater DC metro area. The radio reported some entrepreneurs are even opening their homes to paying visitors. While I find it almost hard to believe, the same report cited organizers are expecting anywhere from four-five million attendees for the inauguration. Unfathomable.

Metro is a must. Fortunately Inauguration day is a holiday for most workers in the area…

[Htay9500]

Originally Posted by Eerik

Hotels are mostly booked in the entire greater DC metro area. The radio reported some entrepreneurs are even opening their homes to paying visitors. While I find it almost hard to believe, the same report cited organizers are expecting anywhere from four-five million attendees for the inauguration. Unfathomable.

Metro is a must. Fortunately Inauguration day is a holiday for most workers in the area…

My friend's house and surrounding areas were being offered $10k for a wk by outsiders just to stay at their house.

[Eerik]

Originally Posted by Htay9500

My friend's house and surrounding areas were being offered $10k for a wk by outsiders just to stay at their house.

Wow. I live near a metro-stop in Arlington: just a hop, skip and jump from The Mall. Maybe I should list my place online; make some cash.

[Htay9500]

Originally Posted by Eerik

Wow. I live near a metro-stop in Arlington: just a hop, skip and jump from The Mall. Maybe I should list my place online; make some cash.

My friends need a 1/2hrs walk to the metro. Maybe you could help those onlooking visitors!

[yamota]

I work in downtown DC and I'm thinking of driving in and parking in my building then walking down to pennsylvania avenue, but what I'm thinking is that those vultures who run the parking garages will want to open the parking garage that day for visitors and of course they'll be charging more than the usual amount, probably 20-25 bucks for the day.

[Eerik]

Originally Posted by yamota

I work in downtown DC and I'm thinking of driving in and parking in my building then walking down to pennsylvania avenue, but what I'm thinking is that those vultures who run the parking garages will want to open the parking garage that day for visitors and of course they'll be charging more than the usual amount, probably 20-25 bucks for the day.

Might want to check with your garage. But if you pay a monthly fee, you should have access, even if it is an official holiday.

[rockin'.baltimorean]

i just want to say good luck to anyone who's actually going to try and go to this. i hear the crowd is going to be huge!! i'm just going to watch it on TV and call it a day.....lol.

[pfd103]

My plan right now is to go down the day before and stay at a friend's place in Georgetown...then attempt to walk to the Mall the next morning. If the metro is open though, I'll try that (just not convinced it will be shorter).

[theevilcube]

Originally Posted by pfd103

My plan right now is to go down the day before and stay at a friend's place in Georgetown...then attempt to walk to the Mall the next morning. If the metro is open though, I'll try that (just not convinced it will be shorter).

There isnt a metro in georgetown so I would prepare for a decent walk from Georgetown to the Mall or just use a taxi. Closet metro station is either Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn (in VA). Prob not worth it to try and fight the crowds or the cost to just go 1 or 2 stops.

Washington Post article from today says all hotels from Baltimore to Richmond are booked. I think I might be watching the inauguration from my building roof.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...102950_pf.html

[Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore]

Originally Posted by rockin'.baltimorean

i just want to say good luck to anyone who's actually going to try and go to this. i hear the crowd is going to be huge!! i'm just going to watch it on TV and call it a day.....lol.

I heard Bob Schieffer on CBS News saying that the current record for people at an inauguration was 1.6 million (Lyndon B. Johnson). Bob said this one is expected to have atleast 3.6 million. All the hotels in D.C., Baltimore, BWI, and Annapolis are probably filled to capacity. I know I will be there. My youngest sister goes to Howard University and we're going to try to walk to it. But thanks for the luck, Rockin'. We are definitely going to need it.

[micrip]

Originally Posted by Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore

I heard Bob Schieffer on CBS News saying that the current record for people at an inauguration was 1.6 million (Lyndon B. Johnson). Bob said this one is expected to have atleast 3.6 million. All the hotels in D.C., Baltimore, BWI, and Annapolis are probably filled to capacity. I know I will be there. My youngest sister goes to Howard University and we're going to try to walk to it. But thanks for the luck, Rockin'. We are definitely going to need it.

Article in the Sun a few days ago said that people are booking as far away as York Pa and Cecil County. I'm betting that when all is said and done, you will see people staying as far away as Ocean City...lots of rooms there...that is, if the places are open. Baltimore area is already booked solid.

[sovman]

Originally Posted by rockin'.baltimorean

i just want to say good luck to anyone who's actually going to try and go to this. i hear the crowd is going to be huge!! i'm just going to watch it on TV and call it a day.....lol.

haha yeah, me too. Even though I really really want to go, it'll probably be way too cold and there's going to be waaaaaaay too many people...

[waj0527]

I have a friend who's coming to Washington via Baltimore who says Amtrack service between the two cities is pretty much booked up. I have a buddy who does marketing for the Marriott in Harbor East. He says they have a number of Obama-related reservations. Anyone know if this is a trend?

[adelphi_sky]

I live less than 2 miles from a metro. 20 minutes from the capital. We already have in-laws coming for the inauguration. A few of my cousins have thrown their hat in the ring for a stay at my house. It's going to be crazy. I hate crowds and I know to even get close enough for a view through a zoom lens, you'll have to be there hours before the start. If it snows, hang it up. lol

[Third of a kind]

Originally Posted by waj0527

I have a friend who's coming to Washington via Baltimore who says Amtrack service between the two cities is pretty much booked up. I have a buddy who does marketing for the Marriott in Harbor East. He says they have a number of Obama-related reservations. Anyone know if this is a trend?

Schit!!!!

I was planning on taking the amtrak from nyc down to dc that day!!! I think i'll still give it a try. I was thinking of carpooling with some people but the traffic is going to be so backed up that day (I can see it already!).

[Eerik]

Innauguration is gonna look like the Pimlico neighborhood neighborhood during Preakness: cars, tons of people and booze.

Not really being up for renting out my home, I am more than willing to let people park on my front lawn for a modest price; heck I'll even offer personal transport to the nearest Metro station!

[rockin'.baltimorean]

Originally Posted by Eerik

Innauguration is gonna look like the Pimlico neighborhood neighborhood during Preakness: cars, tons of people and booze.

Not really being up for renting out my home, I am more than willing to let people park on my front lawn for a modest price; heck I'll even offer personal transport to the nearest Metro station!

i hear the bars/strip joints in d.c. are staying open to 5 a.m. for this event. craziness i tell ya'!!

[sovman]

Originally Posted by rockin'.baltimorean

i hear the bars/strip joints in d.c. are staying open to 5 a.m. for this event. craziness i tell ya'!!

I think they're staying open 24 hours starting that weekend and lasting through to the day after inauguration (they'll only be serving alcohol til 5 AM though)... unfortunately I dont think metro will be open past 2 AM on inauguration, which is kinda silly, seeing as the bars are gonna be serving drinks so late... there's gonna be a lot of drunk people stumbling home on foot