Anyone's going to Pres Obama inauguration?

[Lost-in-FL]

My hubby just said he wanted to go but how can you get tickets? Is this even possible?

[BklynChick]

1. I wrote to my congressperson and called and had my name put on waiting list.

[Lost-in-FL]

2. Thank you. nt

I will try that too.

[trayfoot]

22. Ditto! I did the same! We'll see..................

[Historic NY]

3. I contacted mine at convention time haven't heard a thing back.

[ddeclue]

4. I won't be invited but I would like to see Alan Grayson (FL-08) sworn in to Congress

if that is possible...

I worked on his campaign from early on.

Doug D.

[GreenInNC]

5. some events you don't need tickets

The parade has plenty of places to watch where you don't need a ticket. You will need one for the swearing in granted that weather does not chase it inside.

Good luck finding a hotel room. I am going up but my brother lives in DC so I am staying with him.

[kansasblue]

6. I'd love to. I'm thinking about it.

[democrattotheend]

7. I really want to go

I live in the DC area but I don't know if I will get tickets. I filled out the form on my Congressman's website.

[Nevernose]

8. I was thinking about going & camping out in a state park

But it's just too far to drive, and I really can't afford plane tickets and hotel fare.

[ecstatic]

9. http://inaugural.senate.gov/

And I get the impression that actually getting your hands on tickets will be damn near impossible unless you have "connections." However, I will be in DC visiting a friend and in the vicinity of the parade! I just wonder how close they'll let us get. :shrug:

[Lost-in-FL]

20. There's only one Democrat I can request tickets in my state...

Bill Nelson.

But you think I can ask Mel Martinez? :evilgrin:

[kwenu]

10. Remember you can only get legit tickets from a congressperson.

[backscatter712]

11. I wish I had the scratch to afford to travel right now.

:(

[Lost-in-FL]

19. I don't...

but this is history!! I'll pay back later!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. I've been doing a lot of research on it because I want to go. I wish

I had made reservations a couple months ago when prices were reasonable - but I chickened out.

Now, even B&Bs are almost all full. If you want to stay in DC, in the actual heart of things - downtown or near Cap Hill, you are looking at at least $400+ per night - some as high as $700-1,200 for the nicer hotels.

Of course, you can find plenty of more reasonable rooms outside DC - in the suburbs or even Baltimore. But, you have to drive and you really kind of miss the experience of all the excitement staying downtown. But you're talking big bucks.

You can call your congressman and request tickets to the innauguration and the balls. There are also websites if you google. Tickets to balls will be like tickets to major sports events - you can get them but they will cost a lot.

I actually found a website for the Hawaiian Ball. I don't think it's one of the sanctioned ones - but I figure Obama may stop by there being from Hawaii. They are $200 a piece. It is the very first time in history that Hawaii has had a ball and they are flying Hawaiian musicians in for it. It is at the Mandarin - a gorgeous hotel. PM me if you want the email address

As for the innauguration - when we went to Clintons - we just stood on the side of the street on the motorcade route. Got there very early and it was freezing and stood for hours. But totally exciting. Anyone, of course, can stand on the street. I remember it was late and I later heard that Hillary and Bill had a huge fight that morning which delayed everything. Anyway, we also got a ticket from our congressman to the innauguration. It is a huge area in front of the Capitol stairs. The people with special passes got to be up front. there were thousands behind it - where we ended up. No one ever even took our ticket. It would have been a logistical nightmare to do it.

I bet you a million that Obama will fill the whole mall. It will be the biggest event ever.

[Lost-in-FL]

23. Wow! I just checked and everything seem full.

Hotels available 20 to 30 miles from Capitol Hill.

I will look but it doesn't seem it will happen for us.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. Yep, it's like one of those things that you know when you see it

happen you will regret not going though, huh.

[Lisa0825]

13. I'd just like to be in the vicinty for it, ticket or no ticket.

I was planning to go, until I found out I am going to be laid off. If I find a new job by then, I will find a room anywhere within 100 miles, just so I can be there.

[ecstatic]

14. FYI: All the hotels are booked it seems... call those long lost cousins and college friends :)

Priceline, Hotwire, Hotels.com are all showing everything booked for that Monday and Tuesday!

[Blasphemer]

15. If I am lucky enough to get a ticket... I'm there... nt

[cliffordu]

16. I was going to but I'm busy that weekend....

[stuntcat]

17. the parade, yes

whatever I can see without buying expensive tickets! I've read that the parade route is open.

[workinclasszero]

18. you get tickets from your congress person

I hear all the hotel rooms in a twenty mile radius of DC are sold out though. Like a room at a fairly cheap hotel was going for 700dollars anyway...

[TheDonkey]

21. Will Obama hold events outside of the actual swearing in? I hope. Opening up the DNC to

opening up the inaugural would be nice. Give a speech at Lincoln Memorial on the lawn for example! I'll be in DC and hope I don't have to shell out thousands in order to be part of history.