Check in and Rec here if you're planning to attend Obama Inauguration...

[Subdivisions]

Are you planning on attending the Inaugural? If so, talk about your plans, how you intend to navigate DC, where you're staying, etc. Have any tips or advice?

I am planning to attend but I have had to cancel my hotel because the rate is beyond what I want to pay at this time, $300+. When I made the reservation just north of Frederickberg, I knew the room would be pricey but, since then, I've decided I can't afford it. Luckily, I am within driving distance (Hampton Roads, VA) and I will begin my journey so that I arrive at one of the Metro stations in NOVA early in the morning on the 20th. I admit, it's an iffy plan, but I'm determined to be there.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. Here.

I'm taking the train down from Boston (booked my seats yesterday). I have a friend in Georgetown, so I'm planning on staying with her and hoofing it around DC. The only problem is my friend is rather flaky (God bless her) and lives with her insanely Republican sister (emphasis on insane), so that part might not come together. If worse comes to worst I plan on wandering the city the night before taking pictures. It's sketchy, but I figure I'm large, irritable, and know how to fight, so I should be okay.

I just got my ticket yesterday, and I'll be damned if I miss this.

[Mira]

2. I'm planning to go - and here is how

A bus leaves my town at midnight the 19th and will arrive in Washington around 6 am.
I hope to take the Metro and hope for the best.
I will have my camera and my 16 yr. old grandson with whom I marched in Washington twice, and we deserve the victory celebration and more upbeat times there.

If we make it back to it by Metro, the bus will take us home and we'll get back around midnight.

NOW: am I worried? YES
Can I still be discouraged? YES
Are people sending me articles cautioning me that it will be an impossibility to get into the city and that I'll possibly spend the inauguration stuck in the Metro station, and that it would be way better to see it on TV, at home, where it's warm? YES

If the kid doesn't get scared away, we are going.
Otherwise, we stay and lose the bus money (no refunds)

[SharonRB]

5. I could have done that

but didn't want to sit on a bus so long and if I went, there were too many other things I wanted to do. I'm going to local parties and will see it all on TV.

[mopinko]

17. i am kinda sorry i will be missing the local parties.

although it will be great to meet some du'ers, i am a little sad that i will not be partying with the 'folks from the bus'.

[SharonRB]

34. So how are you getting there?

I wanted to go so I could go to the Obama Radio Nation event on Sunday, a DU meetup or two, maybe the Netroots Nation party on Monday, etc. Oh, well, I'll just watch stuff on Monday inside someone's warm house.

[mopinko]

36. i'm flying. it's a guilt trip.

hubby screwed up the ticket handoff at grant park, and bought me a plane ticket and a hotel room the next day.

[SharonRB]

37. Lucky you!

Sounds like it will be worth the screw up! Have a great trip.

[peace13]

8. I hope you go.

You are right that you deserve to be in DC with your Grandson in better times. If we go to DC and only see the other crazy folks that needed to be in DC on this special day that will be enough. We can always see the rerun on the TV. The people on the street, on the bus, at the mall, they will be part of the memory. Good luck. Peace, Kim

[arcadian]

19. The bus station is a little ways away from everything.

It's in kind of a bad neighborhood. I would,nt walk, take a taxi or there might be a shuttle to Union Station.

[Mira]

23. Thanks ! But it's a privately chartered bus, a company, they go to the Metro directly

[rateyes]

3. I'm not, but two of my daughters are leaving in the morning

and will be in DC for 12 days...part of a college class on the US Presidency. They are staying in Arlington, VA and will be involved in seminars during the mornings, and other activities in the afternoons, with nights free. They will attend the inauguration ceremonies and a couple of the inaugural balls. They are very excited.

[WilliamPitt]

I got a big engraved invitation to the Inaugural in the mail today.

I'm wondering if everyone on his mailing list, or everyone on the list who donated, got one as well.

[SharonRB]

7. Someone else mentioned yesterday they got one

Haven't gotten mine yet.

[Hissyspit]

21. I didn't get one.

[Hissyspit]

22. If anyone has an extra ticket or can't use theirs, I would love to have one.

I will be taking pictures and blogging at DU, so a view of the proceedings would be handy.

:D

[Subdivisions]

24. Same here. I missed the deadline for ticket requests from Bobby Scott's

office which was apparently back in November. So, anyone else with a ticket that isn't going, please PM me. Otherwise, I'm flying by the seat of my pants, though the person I spoke with at Scott's office assured me I didn't need a ticket to get onto the Mall.

[Hissyspit]

26. All my NC reps were Rethugs and two of them, Dole and Hayes, were thrown out.

Needless to say, I didn't get a ticket. Burr was the only one nice enough to respond.

[Hissyspit]

27. You probably

got a ticket
because you are Will Pitt
I probably
got no ticket
because I'm just
Hissyspit

It's a little poem, see...
:D

[mopinko]

43. it's not a ticket, its just an invitation to be on the mall.

not a ticket ticket.

[DS1]

4. Check in AND Rec?

:eyes:

[Subdivisions]

9. Am I testing the limit of your multi-tasking abilities? My apologies. n/t

[DS1]

12. No, it's the current trend of Rec desperation that's rather sad

[mopinko]

13. this one is important. not a vanity thread.

i am coming, and really, most of all, i am hoping to meet other du'ers. so i am very glad for this thread.

[Subdivisions]

18. What "rec desperation"? Is there something wrong with wanting to

A) get enough recs to send the question to a wider DU audience and B) to get an idea how many DUers are planning to be in DC?

What is sad is that you felt it necessary to express your disdain for this rather minor point. What's sad is that you would accuse me of "rec desperation" despite the context and content of the OP. What's sad is that you would accuse me of "rec desperation" despite the fact that in my three years or so on this site I've asked for recs maybe twice before. What's sad is your seemingly pathetic attitude. What's sad is...well...you.

[peace13]

6. I'm headed to DC.

We are going to stay with a friend of our Obama house guest. Our plan sounds a bit like yours. If weather and health permit we will head to DC by car. We will be a bus ride from the Mall and plan to dress warmly and see what we can see. Warm clothes,Obama buttons, peace flag, what else could I possibly need..besides maybe some water and a good eye out for porta potties. We are so psyched. The last time we were in DC was for the Anti Surge demonstration, January 07. The weather was warm and the sky blue. I can hope can't I? The crowd that day was estimated at 500,000. Public transportation was no problem. Peace, Kim

[LynneSin]

10. If anyone is interested - I'm staying at a hotel downtown near the White House

No, I don't have room for you - sorry.

But if you want to meet me at my hotel early Tuesday morning please send me a PM and we can use my place as a meeting point to head out to the inauguration (this is for those without tickets. Those with - well I'm by the White House - you may want to head closer to the Capital).

[mopinko]

15. that sounds like a good plan.

you want to pm info? i figure i can make it to the hawk and dove on monday night.

[LynneSin]

11. Anyone coming in Monday night want to hang out at the Hawk & Dove - please let me know

I will be there from the 18th - 22nd. I'm driving down, hopefully early. I have to pick a DUer's sister up at the Philly airport and our room will be Ramsey, Ramsey's sister and WolverineDG. Demgurl may be spending part of her time here too.

I can't keep anyone else in my hotel room but anyone wanting to meet for drinks & celebration please check in - I would love to hang out with ALL of you if possible.

[mopinko]

16. yes

see replies upthread.

[mopinko]

14. i am coming. had to stay 4 days to get the room and flight

i am staying in alexandria, coming in late sunday and leaving thursday.
planning to take the metro down to the mall. might go to the 'shoe bush out of office' on monday. that sounds like fun.

[arcadian]

20. I'm debating if I should go or not.

It's gonna be a logistical nightmare. Probably won't be able to get anywhere near the parade route, given up on any idea of seeing the inaugeration. Might be cool just to go up and get pictures of the periphery of everything. We'll see. I have a sister in NoVa(Arlington) so a bed is no problem and she's a mile from the Metro.

[Hissyspit]

28. Go!

[LynneSin]

29. You know what it is - DC is going to be a major party for 3 days

and I want to be a part of it

:woohoo:

[babylonsister]

25. Tickets for Obama Parade Seats Go on Sale Today

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/08/AR2009010803815.html

[WI_DEM]

30. I'd love to, but I'm not--for one thing it's way too expensive to travel and then get a room, etc

and besides I think I'll see it better on television anyway.

[MiniMe]

31. Inaugeration Map of DC

[LynneSin]

33. You see Farragut Square up there in the Northeast corner

:woohoo:

My hotel is there

:woohoo:

[MiniMe]

35. Well, northwest corner. But good location!

:hi:

[stuntcat]

39. TY!

I kept forgetting to look at the Post's site. I didn't know some Metro stations will be closed all day.

[MiniMe]

40. Metro website for Inaugural plans

http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/inauguration.cfm

[stuntcat]

41. wow they're..

they're really covering every detail. I'll check this out and make sure our plan is okay.
We're going to get some Metro cards this week to make sure none of us have to wait in line.

[MiniMe]

32. And a link for inauguration information

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/inauguration-central/

[stuntcat]

38. We're going, and 4 more are coming to stay at our house

An old online friend is bringing a girl with him from Iowa. He's a delegate and has a seat :* he's just lucky to have a free place to stay.
And a DU'er and her daughter are coming from Georgia to stay with us.
It'll be exciting, I'm getting the house all ready for them! They'll all get here the night before, then in the morning we'll take the bus to the Pentagon, then get the Metro to the Mall. I'm crossing my fingers that the trains and buses will be moving.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

42. Yup, but I've got a very rough trek ahead of me

Am driving from L.A. to Long Beach with a dynomite lunch and beer and plunking down in front of my friend's big screen T.V. with a nice warm blankie. Tough, huh?

:fistbump: :popcorn: :patriot: