From President-elect Obama’s transition team:
In keeping with his commitment to make this inaugural celebration open and accessible to all Americans, President-elect Barack Obama will host the first-ever “Neighborhood Inaugural Ball” during this year’s inaugural celebration. The ball will be the premier event of inauguration evening on January 20th and will take place at the Washington Convention Center.
With tickets available free or at an affordable price, it is the first official inaugural ball of its kind to be held during a presidential inauguration. A portion of tickets for this event will be set aside for District of Columbia residents. The ball will also feature a robust interactive component, including webcasting and text messaging, to link neighborhoods across the country with the new President and this premier event. The PIC will release more details soon about using technology to allow Americans who are attending neighborhood balls across the country to participate actively in this celebration.
“This is an Inauguration for all Americans,” said President-elect Obama. ”I wanted to make sure that we had an event that would be open to our new neighborhood here in Washington, D.C., and also neighborhoods across the country. Michelle and I look forward to joining our fellow Americans across the country during this very special event.”
Nice touch!
And then there’s the:
… Youth Inaugural Ball, five Regional Inaugural balls, and a ball for his Home States - Illinois and Hawaii. Vice President-elect Joe Biden will host a ball for his Home States as well: Delaware and Pennsylvania. These balls round out the list of official inaugural balls to be held on Tuesday, January 20, along with the previously announced Neighborhood Inaugural Ball and Commander in Chief’s Ball. The President-elect and the Vice President-elect will appear at each of the ten inaugural balls.
The Youth Ball will be a celebration of young Americans’ role in community service, while the Regional Balls will have guests from the Midwest, the West, the East, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic. The final events will have Obama and Biden celebrating with family, friends and supporters from their home states.
In other inauguration-related news, if you’re going to be in Washington on the 20th, text, don’t talk:
Wireless carriers are expecting an explosion of cellphone traffic on Jan. 20, when millions of visitors pour into Washington to welcome the new president. So many calls, text messages, photos and video clips hitting the airwaves at the same time can choke communication networks and result in delayed messages and dropped calls.
While carriers are erecting extra cell sites to boost capacity, two local companies are also trying to help traffic move along. Wireless operators are urging people to avoid making calls and instead send text messages because they take up less bandwidth.
Of course, before you can have your calls dropped and your messages delayed, you have to get there:
The Washington area’s transit system is telling passengers to expect extraordinarily long lines for trains and buses. Airports will be bustling with extra flights. Traffic could be at a standstill as motorists cope with street and bridge closings. Those who do manage to arrive in Washington will find limited parking.
“Pack your patience” is the advice from Corinne Geller, a Virginia State Police spokeswoman.
But if you live in Washington? This inauguration is being described as:
“… less like hosting a visiting official and more like throwing a homecoming party for a family member. This time it feels like the city has taken ownership of what is becoming a people’s party.”
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