Come January 20th, all eyes will be on Washington, DC, where the historic inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama will take place. The festivities crank into gear January 16th and run through Inauguration Day, culminating in numerous balls and galas held throughout the city. Bonus: a lot of the events are free. Sure, it’ll be crowded (more than a million people may stream into the capital for the event) and most likely chilly (the average high for the date is about 42 degrees, according to the Weather Channel). But with a bit of planning, patience and, for visitors, proper packing (many activities are outdoors), you can have a memorable experience watching history unfold.
To that end, here’s some information on what to expect, along with links to helpful websites. Destination DC, the city’s tourism arm, has a mountain of material on its website, including the latest on concerts, transportation, security measures and closures, plus links to other major sites – including inauguration guides from the DC city government and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. And the Washington Post has a comprehensive planning guide online. Check the sites often as they’re frequently updated.
The Basics
Inauguration activities will be centered on or near the National Mall, the sprawling promenade running from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, where public viewing areas will be set up so that visitors can watch the events on large screens. To accommodate the crowds, officials will open some parts of the Mall previously closed during inaugurations.
Many of the numerous monuments and museums on or around the Mall will remain open on Inauguration Day, but they may have modified schedules, so check the websites listed above. Even if they are much more crowded than usual, they should provide a stirring backdrop. (Besides, never underestimate the benefit of indoor plumbing, though thousands of portable restrooms will be located throughout the area and near subway stations.)
More than 700 street vendors will be selling food near the parade route, with more in outlying areas. For restaurant options, see the Dining section below.
Getting There
A relatively compact city, Washington sits on the winding Potomac River, bordered by Virginia across the water and Maryland to the north, east and southeast. It’s laid out in four quadrants (NW, NE, SW and SE), with numbered streets running north and south, and lettered streets running east to west. Diagonal avenues bear state names.
Visitors arriving at Reagan National Airport, the most convenient portal to the city, can take a minutes-long Metro subway or taxi ride (from about $11) to Downtown. From Virginia’s Dulles International, the Washington Flyer shuttle (888-927-4359) goes to the West Falls Church Metro stop, or take Metrobus 5A to the Rosslyn or L’Enfant Plaza subway stops; cabs into town run about $47 to $55. If you fly into Baltimore-Washington International, Amtrak and MARC offer train service to DC’s Union Station (served by Metro subway and buses), or hop on Metrobus B30 to the Greenbelt subway station; taxis are about $55 to $70 to central DC.
Many travel providers, including airlines, bus companies and Amtrak, are adding service to accommodate the crowds, or are mulling plans to do so. Groups planning to travel to the city by motor coach can obtain information about parking, restrictions and permit requirements here.
Getting Around
During the inauguration period, you should plan on walking and using public transportation to access the Downtown core. Many streets around the Capitol and the Mall will be closed to vehicular traffic and parking, and security overall will be extremely tight.
The Metro subway system will open early on Inauguration Day and close late, but it is best to carpool and get to Metro stations early since station parking (free for the day) will fill fast. To avoid delays, you can pre-purchase all-day Metro passes (see the WMATA website above). Allow plenty of time to get to the ceremony and parade route on Inauguration Day, and note that some stations and/or entrances will be closed due to security measures.
Some items that would make a long walk in the rain (or snow, or sleet ...) a little easier – including strollers, backpacks and umbrellas – are prohibited from the security area nearest the Capitol where 240,000 spectators with tickets will either sit or stand. See www.washington.org for a complete list of banned objects.
Dining
While some restaurants near the Capitol and the inaugural parade route are booked for parties on Inauguration Day, others are still accepting reservations (but book soon). Or plan on eating Uptown: the Logan Circle, Adams-Morgan, U Street, Dupont Circle and Petworth neighborhoods offer a myriad of choices. You can also take the Metro to any number of communities in the surrounding states, including Virginia’s Clarendon, Arlington and Old Town Alexandria, as well Bethesda and Rockville, MD.
Many eateries are offering special deals or have extended hours to mark the inauguration. For instance, Johnny’s Half Shell, across the street from the Capitol, will be selling “Oath of Office Recovery Kits” (soup and a roll, water and a hot drink) from its courtyard takeaway, Taqueria Nationale. It will also extend its usual hours, opening for lunch and dinner on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (January 17–19) and for dinner on inauguration night (it’s closed during the day since all of the nation’s governors will be breakfasting there).
Celebrations at Proof, the Penn Quarter New American, kick off January 19th with a dinner show featuring Verve recording artist Melody Gardot and her band; they’ll entertain during a four-course dinner ($120, with seating at 9:30 PM; show only in the bar/lounge is $40). On Inauguration Day from 10 AM to 2:30 PM, visitors can stay warm while grazing a buffet brunch and enjoy unlimited champagne while watching the action on four TVs ($75). An after-the-ball party runs 11:30 PM to 3 AM; Gardot performs while guests munch on fois gras and other passed hors d’oeuvres and toast the president with Dom Perignon, Krug and Louis Roederer Cristal champagne ($250).
And Ceiba – a Downtown Nuevo Latino just off the parade route at 701 14th Street – will offer hot chocolate and warm churros (Spanish doughnuts) for $9 on Inauguration Day.
Finally, if you’re new to the city, be sure to try a half-smoke, a spicy sausage that’s the capital’s signature fare (it’s a popular item on sidewalk carts). But other cuisines abound, from chic bistros and clubby power eateries (where the nation’s business is discussed over prime steaks) to cutting-edge bec fin destinations (some driven by star chefs) and homey joints serving burgers. Check here for some of the city’s dining highlights, or take a look at some more inauguration-themed specials.
Accommodations
Many lodging options are requiring a three-to-five-night minimum stay and prepayment. Still, many Downtown and suburban hotels have long been sold out. Call Destination DC’s toll-free number (800-422-8644) to see what’s available. Local residents are also offering accommodations in their homes, though you’ll be paying a premium ($400 a night is not uncommon); check DC’s craigslist site for listings.
Special Events
Keeping busy for several days won’t be a problem for the inauguration-bound. The Smithsonian Institution and its cadre of world-class museums take days to explore, and you can’t beat the price (free) or the locale (for the most part, its components are on or near the Mall). But the been-there-done-that crowd should know that many are hosting inauguration-oriented exhibits; for instance, on January 20th, the National Portrait Gallery unveils "Presidents in Waiting," a spotlight on vice presidents who eventually became chief executive.
Then there are the many other museums and monuments citywide, plus a full spectrum of performances and parties. Among the festivities: Aretha Franklin is giving a free concert in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at 6 PM January 19th at the Kennedy Center; go to www.kennedy-center.org for information. And while the Newseum (among the city’s newest museums) and many other ticket-required venues near the Mall are sold out for the days immediately preceding and following the inauguration, there are many fascinating places to explore outside the Downtown core.
Check our guide to some of the top attractions, and go to www.washington.org for other ideas.
Nightlife
For the inauguration, restaurants and clubs will be open long hours – some virtually night and day – during the festivities. Inaugural balls and parties, whose guest lists include everyone from celebrities and politicos to campaign worker bees and Obama supporters, will fill hotels and ballrooms. Go to www.washington.org for a list of events, including the DC Blues Society’s Obamarama Pre-Inaugural Party at the Surf Club Live in Hyattsville, MD (it’s reachable by Metro); tickets for the January 16th fete are $12.
Even if you won’t be attending an inauguration event, there’s no shortage of nightlife to keep you entertained. Straight-ahead jazz, R&B, punk and go-go enliven the music scene in the city’s clubs, swank lounges, WiFi’d work/play spaces and Belgian beer houses. And while Adams-Morgan, Dupont Circle and Georgetown have their charms (and legions of fans), the after-hours scene has expanded in U Street NW and H Street NE (Atlas District) as well as the Metro-accessible suburbs. Here’s a guide to some of the top spots.
– Olga Boikess