Washington, DC – News Stories About Washington, DC - Page 42

INAUGURATION SLIDESHOW

Jan 20, 2009 7:04 AM CST

Eager Crowds Swarm Before Dawn

Rush hour at 4:30am; thousands flood mall

(Newser) - As late night became early morning in Washington, eager crowds were already forming outside Metro stops, the Washington Post reports. By 4:30am, some trains were reminiscent of rush hour; by 5:30, the line outside one station was 2 miles long. Meanwhile, thousands poured into the Mall, bundled into...

Houseguests Descend
for DC Slumber Party

Jan 20, 2009 6:17 AM CST

Houseguests Descend for DC Slumber Party

Couch space at a premium as friends and family flock to capital

(Newser) - Thousands of homes across the nation’s capital are jam-packed with out-of-town guests who've arrived to witness history, the Los Angeles Times reports. Guest bedrooms, sofas, and dorm room floors have been turned over to friends and family. "Every surface space, every comforter, every drop of hot water is...

Heady Times for
DC Hookers,
Coke Dealers

Jan 19, 2009 10:28 AM CST

Heady Times for DC Hookers, Coke Dealers

Both are booming as tourists flock to inauguration

(Newser) - Barack Obama has already done his part to boost the economy—for Washington’s prostitutes and drug dealers, who tell New York they’re experiencing quite the boom in business thanks to inauguration travelers. Some prostitutes came into town specifically for the event and are already “pretty booked up;...

Panda Lovin' Leaves DC Zoo Wanting

Jan 19, 2009 8:40 AM CST

Panda Lovin' Leaves DC Zoo Wanting

Bears fail again at 'competent mating'; keepers help out

(Newser) - A romantic day in the park amid inaugural hubbub wasn’t enough to propagate the genes of two famous pandas at Washington’s National Zoo, the Washington Post reports. The pair had given mating calls, prompting hopes for the conception of a new member of the endangered species, which is...

Randy Inaugural Crowds Lookin' for Love on Craigslist

Jan 19, 2009 6:55 AM CST

Randy Inaugural Crowds Lookin' for Love on Craigslist

Craigslist users offer suites, invitations for kink

(Newser) - Frisky Democrats are angling for more than just ringside seats at tomorrow's inauguration—they're flooding Craigslist in search of a little side action, reports Gawker. One poster first thanks his congresswoman for tickets, then pleads: "I want to make this even better by getting kinky," hopefully in a...

'Anything Possible,'
Obama Tells Crowd

Jan 18, 2009 4:10 PM CST

'Anything Possible,' Obama Tells Crowd

(Newser) - Two days away from the White House, Barack Obama joined a vast throng today at a roaring, rollicking pre-inauguration celebration staged before marble monuments to past heroes. "Anything is possible in America," he said. "Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead—I stand here today...

10 Obscure Inauguration Tidbits

Jan 18, 2009 12:48 PM CST

10 Obscure Inauguration Tidbits

Which president was forgotten at his successor's ceremony?

(Newser) - Ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration, the Chicago Tribune compiles a list of the 10 best little known facts about ceremonies past.

George Washington had to borrow money to attend his own inauguration.
No, William Henry Harrison’s long-winded, “fatal” speech on a chilly morning in 1841 didn’t kill

...

In DC, Rash of Wary Tux
Renters Ahead of Inaugural

Jan 17, 2009 8:02 PM CST

In DC, Rash of Wary Tux Renters Ahead of Inaugural

(Newser) - Uninitiated DC men are scrambling to procure tuxedos for the inauguration, and they, luckily, have a few seasoned resources, the Washington Post reports. While inveterate ball-goers frequent Brooks Brothers and such, a younger class of invitees is flocking to the capital’s rental shops, where veteran tailors calm their jitters....

Fear of Crowds, Cold
Deter Inauguration-Goers

Jan 17, 2009 8:54 AM CST

Fear of Crowds, Cold Deter Inauguration-Goers

Organizers scale back crowd estimations as Obama supporters heed warnings

(Newser) - The biggest gathering in Washington DC's history may be a little smaller than expected, the New York Times reports. Would-be visitors for Inauguration Day are starting to take heed of warning about crowds and cold, and many have decided to celebrate in their hometown instead. Officials still expect a logistical...

At Obama Swearing-In, Watchers Will Swear at Cold

Jan 16, 2009 5:01 PM CST

At Obama Swearing-In, Watchers Will Swear at Cold

Though temps could be in the 30s, officials warn of long exposure

(Newser) - The presidential inauguration is shaping up to be a trying event, what with huge crowds, restrictive security measures, and now, a chilly forecast, USA Today reports. Contingency plans range from the prudent—heated tents for the unwell—to the desperate. Organizers are trying to have "as many tour buses...

Inaugural Balls Can Be a Pain

OPINION

Jan 16, 2009 2:53 PM CST

Inaugural Balls Can Be a Pain

Mystique gives way to sardine-can ballrooms and endless coat-check lines

(Newser) - Inaugural balls aren't the fairytale occasions people imagine, jaded Washington vet Carla Hall writes in the Los Angeles Times. Instead of a sea of couples gliding past the newly sworn-in president on the dance floor, the galas tend to be a bunch of tired people crammed into a ballroom straining...

Noonan: Set
Aside Cynicism,
and Soak It In

OPINION

Jan 16, 2009 2:03 PM CST

Noonan: Set Aside Cynicism, and Soak It In

Forget past, partisanship and absorb inaugural magic

(Newser) - The sights and sounds of a presidential inauguration are enough to inspire the most jaded of observers, if they’re so willing, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal. Sure, presidencies come and go, with victories and failures. But at the majestic ceremony, the best option is to forget...

Inauguration
Announcer
Been at Mic
Since Ike

Jan 16, 2009 1:25 PM CST

Inauguration Announcer Been at Mic Since Ike

Brotman, 81, thinks Obama's may be most spectacular

(Newser) - Charlie Brotman, the octogenarian MC stationed closest to the presidential reviewing stand during Tuesday’s Inaugural Parade, has had a front-row seat to history since 1957, when he was chosen to announce President Eisenhower’s, USA Today reports. Brotman expects Barack Obama’s inauguration will be the most spectacular ever....

Marketers Have Inauguration Fever, Too

Jan 15, 2009 9:20 AM CST

Marketers Have Inauguration Fever, Too

Companies tie products, events to Obama's big day

(Newser) - Marketers for products from cognac to commemorative coins are looking to cash in on Barack Obama’s Tuesday inauguration, the New York Times reports. “Obamabilia” includes bottles of Hennessy with a “44” on the label, special magazine issues, and Tshirts galore. Other companies, like Quaker Oatmeal, are hosting...

Inaugural to Cost Record $160M

Jan 14, 2009 3:12 AM CST

Inaugural to Cost Record $160M

Obama raising $45M in private funds to help pay massive bill

(Newser) - By the time Barack and Michelle Obama dance the last waltz at the inaugural balls in the wee hours next Wednesday morning, the total tab for the inauguration will be close to a record $160 million, reports the New York Daily News. The president-elect is raising $45 million in private...

Please, White Folks: Let Us Have DC for the Big Day

OPINION

Jan 13, 2009 5:59 PM CST

Please, White Folks: Let Us Have DC for the Big Day

You've had 43 chances to see a white prez inaugurated, after all; how about a day of atonement?

(Newser) - A unique plea for keeping crowds manageable in Washington during Barack Obama's inaugural festivities next week gets an (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) airing from blogger Sister Toldja on Me, Myself An Eye: Stay home, white people. Sheer math, for one thing, should do it: "Chances whites have had to go see...

I, Barack Obama's Stand-In ...

Jan 11, 2009 1:00 PM CST

I, Barack Obama's Stand-In ...

Full scale rehearsal for inauguration features ersatz First Family

(Newser) - A full-scale rehearsal for Barack Obama's inauguration unfolded in Washington before dawn yesterday, featuring a stand-in first family. A 26-year-old Army staff sergeant took an ersatz oath of office while a Navy yeoman playing Michelle Obama looked on, reports the Washington Post. Two children played Malia and Sasha. Each character...

Inaugural Parade a
'Staggering' Challenge

Jan 7, 2009 12:54 PM CST

Inaugural Parade a 'Staggering' Challenge

'Nobody has ever worried about where to put 10,000 buses before,' says Obama planner

(Newser) - The inauguration of Barack Obama will be a historic occasion, but some involved have other things on their minds, USA Today reports. “Nobody has ever worried about where to put 10,000 buses before,” said Peter Gage, an aide charged with planning the Jan. 20 Inaugural Parade. Some...

Networks
Prep for
Mega
Inaugural

Jan 7, 2009 7:08 AM CST

Networks Prep for Mega Inaugural

Exhuastive coverage of historic inauguration planned

(Newser) - TV networks are gearing up to cover what could be the most-watched presidential inauguration in history, the New York Times reports. The major networks are planning exhaustive coverage. Channels not known for political coverage like MTV, BET, and Nickelodeon plan to send reporters, and even the Home Shopping Network is...

Obama Arrives
in Washington

Jan 4, 2009 7:33 PM CST

Obama Arrives in Washington

(Newser) - President-elect Barack Obama landed in the Washington area tonight, setting up the final march toward his Jan. 20 inauguration. Obama landed hours after his pick for commerce secretary, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, took his name out of the running amid a federal grand jury investigation. The president-elect faces a...