A marks the spot
In the words of George Michael: time can never mend the careless whisper of a good friend.
No. That’s not it.
In the words of George Michael: if you’re gonna do it, do it right.
I’m off to Washington for the inauguration, so thought it was about time I started blogging about The Big Event.
And the headlines so far?
That at least one million (count ‘em!) people are expected to descend on Washington DC on January 20th. That you have no hope in hell of finding anywhere to stay. That tickets to the inauguration ceremony itself (which takes place at 11am on the steps of the Capitol building – you know, the one that looks like St Paul’s but is actually more important) are limited to 240,000 (!) and that people can only get them through their senator or congressman. And that eBay has removed all auctions for these tickets from its site.
On a more personal level: I am descending on Washington DC on January 16th, for a week. I do have a hope in hell of finding somewhere to stay as I have potentially three friends-of-friends kindly coming to my assistance on that front. And I don’t have a ticket to the ceremony itself – having neither a senator nor a congressman, but merely a lowly MP – BUT I have bought myself, and a lucky plus-one, a ticket to a brunch on inauguration morning/afternoon.
That brunch takes place at the Willard Hotel – which is directly on the parade route (after the swearing-in ceremony, the President, First Lady, Vice-President, Vice-First Lady, and hundreds of marching bands and various other dignitaries/celebratory people travel from the Capitol to the White House in a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue). It’s being organised by the New York State Society – and when I saw it advertised, I asked an American friend who knows DC very well for his advice. As it seemed quite pricey, but, y’know, it would guarantee me some sort of spot on The Big Day. And I’m travelling all that way, and…
Three things then sealed it for me:
1. My friend emailing: “Take it take it take it. It’s wonderful, stately, historic, magnificent service and ideal location”.
2. My realisation that he wasn’t kidding:
3. My fact-finding about The Willard, and subsequent realisation that talks to avert the American Civil War took place there; that Abraham Lincoln stayed there in the weeks leading up to his inauguration; that The Battle Hymn Of The Republic was composed there; that the term “lobbying” stems from its very own lobby; and that Martin Luther King wrote his “I have a dream” speech in one of its bedrooms.
So, yup. That pretty much sealed it for me.
Like I say: if you’re gonna do it, do it right. Or was it George Michael who said that?
Tags: barack obama, barack obama inauguration, Inauguration, obama inauguration, washington dc, willard hotel, willard hotel washington
November 19th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
How exciting. I think that estimate though maybe even higher. The Mayor of D.C. last night was putting in provision for between 3-5 million!! But he did say the Metro will run as normal. Don’t know How though?
Now this is probably a first, but I have to disagree with you with the St Paul’s comment. I’m not doubting the historical importance of the Capitol Building, and it’s wonderful architecture. But St Paul’s is so much more than that. Not only does it stand as a monument to London’s progression as a city after the Great Fire Of 1666. But during the awful events of the night of December 29th 1940 when the city was attacked by the Luftwaffe, in the most ferocious night of Bombing on British soil during World War Two. It’s was a small band of volunteers lead by the Dean of St Paul’s who risked their lives, not just to save the Cathedral, but knowing if the Dome was to catch alight, it would be used as a beacon by German bombers to destroy large area’s of the East End. And instead of hundred of lives being lost, it would have been many thousands. The iconic image of the dome surround by the smoke of the many buildings that were destroyed around the neighbouring streets, was used a symbol to the nation, and the World that the tyranny of fascism would be defeated. It was also this image, and the news of the blitz, that prompted FDR to follow up his promise in his speech ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ to give his full diplomatic support to the U.K.
Hey, we had to disagree sometime, didn’t we
November 20th, 2008 at 12:26 am
erm, Darrell? it was a gag about St Paul’s.
but it’s great to learn that about WWII. I didn’t know that.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Holy hell, the Willard? How much did those tickets cost you?
November 20th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Erm… a bit. but an affordable bit.
they’ve actually gone up in price now, I managed to get the early bird price. phew!
November 21st, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Sounds good.
I would have offered to help out, but I’m a bit further up the coast.
January 20th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
[...] parade from The Willard Hotel, right next to the White House, where the New York State Society is throwing a brunch for 1,500 people. 1,500! That’s a lot of bucks fizz and scrambled [...]
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:45 am
[...] and sights that M and I saw as we walked down to the Willard Hotel for the New York State Society brunch; what it was like at the brunch itself – basically, imagine a diverse crowd of 1,500 people in the [...]