January 17
The freezing cold weather has not deterred the throngs of people that have begun to descend on the nation's capital today. With the inaugural festivities set to get underway tomorrow afternoon for the free concert on the steps on the Lincoln Memorial, Washington has gotten noticeably more crowded... and excited. The city has started to get ready for the thousands more that will arrive in the next few days, placing portable toilets on many street corners in the area.
On a walk to Georgetown, an area known for its nice shops and restaurants, the inauguration hype was out in full force. Store windows were decked out in Obama gear, restaurants were advertising their "inaugural" specials and I even saw a painter drawing Obama's face on a canvas in a shop window. I also passed the Four Seasons hotel, a rumored "hotspot" for celebrities in town for the inauguration. The hotel has set up a row of trees blocking the view of the front door, keeping paparazzi and other onlookers on the outside. I didn't get a peek of anyone although there were a number of limousines around the hotel.
Tomorrow will be the first day of events and it is sure to be a long one. The gates to the national mall are opening at 8 a.m. tomorrow for the 2:30 p.m. concert. Our group is getting there at 7 a.m., and what the scene will look like at that time is anybody's guess. The weather is looking manageable, with a high of 39 degrees. I'll still definitely be wearing a lot of layers. HBO is airing the concert live and it will be available to everyone with a cable signal, not just HBO subscribers. President-elect Barack Obama is planning on speaking at the event.
I'll check back tomorrow and let you guys know how it went. I'll also try to take some pictures.
-Jake
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