# Is Anyone Going To the Inaguration? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409 "2009-01-08T19:27:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/1 "2009-01-08T19:27:47Z")
Well? I’m curious to see if anyone’s going from the boards. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/2 "2009-01-08T19:45:55Z")
Heck, I live less than 10 miles away and I’m not going. They say it’s impossble to get there. It’s one of those situations where nobody goes because it’s too crowded. Plus my ball inviation seems to have been lost in mail … again. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/3 "2009-01-08T19:52:44Z")
Been to the last one, but not going to this one. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/4 "2009-01-08T20:04:46Z")
Yes. I’m taking my 11 yr old daughter. We’re going to stay the night before with a friend who lives in DC and walk down to the mall in the morning. I wouldn’t miss this for the world. My only concern is how many snacks and drinks I can/should take in my coat pockets - and maybe putting an adult diaper on my kid since I’m sure she’ll have to pee at the worst moment. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/5 "2009-01-08T20:07:22Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > Heck, I live less than 10 miles away and I’m not going. They say it’s impossble to get there. It’s one of those situations where nobody goes because it’s too crowded. Plus my ball inviation seems to have been lost in mail … again. That’s my thoughts exactly. There’s no way I’m going near DC that day. Well actually I am as my wife’s office will be open so we’re going to drop off the kids at daycare and make a day of it. At least I hope we can make it there. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/6 "2009-01-08T20:13:35Z")
Fuck yeah I am. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/7 "2009-01-08T20:16:29Z")
I’m going to watch from a building along the parade route. Then I’m going to one of the balls, as I exclaimed with glee in a thread I started yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/8 "2009-01-08T21:23:59Z")
My sister-in-law’s sister lives on Capitol Hill and has a baby due this month. Everyone was actually quite worried about whether or not she’d be able to make it to the hospital if the baby came on the 20th. Her doctor even gave her instructions on how to deliver in the bathtub!! However, the baby was born today so that worry is passed 🙂 And no, they’ll be too busy to go to the inauguration! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/9 "2009-01-08T21:45:16Z")
The security overreaction is going to make crossing into DC almost impossible and turn Northern Virginia into sheer gridlock that day whether one is trying to go into town or not. I plan to stay home. > [@Ravenman](#): > > I’m going to watch from a building along the parade route. Are you sure you’ll be permitted? The Secret Service has locked down the federal buildings along the route, and I imagine they’d want to do the same for other buildings as well. ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/10 "2009-01-08T21:48:35Z")
A friend (Dominican/American living in the DR) is going all the way to the US especially for the occasion, and the person she is staying with in DC has managed to get tickets to the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/11 "2009-01-08T21:54:03Z")
**Spiny Norman** and I are going. We were actually able to secure two tickets, as well (though we don’t know yet if they’re seated or standing room tickets)! And we’ll be attending the California Bash at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. There’s still an offer on the table for a private tour of the Capitol, organized by Congressman Brad Sherman’s office. I only had 1 taker in the original thread I posted about it, but perhaps it was a little early to be making specific plans at that point. So if anyone who’ll be in DC for the festivities wants to do this, let me know, and if we can get up to 10 people, it’ll be arranged. Yes we can! ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/12 "2009-01-08T21:58:30Z")
I’m still waiting for Mr. Obama’s team to contact me and let me know that my essay was one of the winners that will get me free airfare, hotel and admission. I’m sure I’ll be hearing from them any moment now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/13 "2009-01-08T22:06:28Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Are you sure you’ll be permitted? The Secret Service has locked down the federal buildings along the route, and I imagine they’d want to do the same for other buildings as well. Yeah, you have to arrange it ahead of time, and there are various… procedures. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/14 "2009-01-08T22:51:12Z")
I didn’t go to Grant Park (I was an hour away at the time) and I’m not headed to DC. It’s too expensive and it’ll be way too crowded. It’d be really cool to go, but I’m not going. ---
**Author:** ![Influential\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Influential\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Influential_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/15 "2009-01-08T23:09:59Z")
A friend and I are coming to D.C. from Bama, and he thought of coming up just the day before. Me: “Won’t that be a bad idea?” Him: “Why?” Me: “Traffic’s going to be a total bitch. The interstate is going to be completely jammed.” Him: “Well…not from our direction.” Heh heh. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/16 "2009-01-08T23:15:34Z")
My gf was offered a pair of tickets from a friend of the family. He’s a Big Contributor, but he’ll be out of the country at the time, so he put the tickets up on offer. We (very briefly) considered the not-inconsiderable expense of airfare, lodging, etc., before sadly declining. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Yeah, you have to arrange it ahead of time, and there are various… procedures. :: rubber glove _snap_ :: ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/17 "2009-01-09T00:35:45Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > My gf was offered a pair of tickets from a friend of the family. He’s a Big Contributor, but he’ll be out of the country at the time, so he put the tickets up on offer. We (very briefly) considered the not-inconsiderable expense of airfare, lodging, etc., before sadly declining. > > :: rubber glove _snap_ :: Amen on that. I’m unemployed (hopefully, not for too long) and I got my free tickets. Stupid Inagural Balls. Hey, the balls are different prices. When I get them, I’ll post the price of them up here. Anyone interested can buy them at face value from me. The ones I’ve heard of range from $75 to $150. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/18 "2009-01-09T02:28:02Z")
I have access to two tickets to the West/Southwestern Inaugural Ball. $150 each. Let me know ASAP if you want them, otherwise I won’t get them. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/19 "2009-01-09T02:54:49Z")
We have friends coming from out of town to go. Also, **Dweezil** wants to go. I’ll have to go along as a guide. :dubious: If it was just me I’d stay home and watch the thing or TV. Or sleep in. Inauguration Day is often the coldest day of the year in DC. :shivering blue smiley: I’m trying to talk everyone in my party into going to the jumbotron that’s going to be set up in front of city hall in [Old Town Alexandria](http://visitalexandriava.com/). It’s closer to home, less crowded - though still likely to be packed, still historic, restaurants and bars will all be open, we can bring water and food, no body cavity search required to enter the city … A co-worker of mine from southern Maryland was seriously talking about parking at National Harbor and taking the water taxi to Old Town. Oh - I hope the Secret Service is letting the water taxi run on the 20th. They are closing down the waterways in DC itself. The powers that be are taking security most seriously. Maybe if the Metro is too crowded to get into DC, Old Town will be our backup plan. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409/20 "2009-01-09T03:11:01Z")
I really want to go - took the day off work so I can give it a shot. I was planning on trying to get close enough to the mall to see/hear a little and feel like I’m a part of things. But now you guys are scaring me. I realize it’ll be crowded, but how insane are we talking here, in terms of getting in by Metro? And is _everything_ going to be closed that day? Is there somewhere I can go to find out all the details about what’s going on? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-going-to-the-inaguration/480409.md?page=2)