I've got the ticket, how can I go to the ball?
December 4, 2008 1:15 PM
I have tickets to the Presidential inauguration. Now what? Any advice on how to get/buy tickets to a ball and whether we should stay at my mom's college roommate's house (20 miles outside of the city)?
We got tickets (squee!) but now what? My Mom's college roommate will host us but she lives 20 miles outside the city. I haven't been to D.C. during an inauguration before, but assume that the time to be commuting from outside the city via car or other (?) is not then. Or should we?
Also, I've always dreamed of going to one of those fancy balls- I know I'm going to have to pay for it, but any advice on which one to go or pay for? (Keep in mind this will be a big splurge for me but I'm a college student, so my budget runs to the low hundreds rather than thousands for a ticket)
Thanks for any advice you might have.
We've already checked out the great advice here, http://ask.metafilter.com/105866/Inauguration-Tickets, here.
We got tickets (squee!) but now what? My Mom's college roommate will host us but she lives 20 miles outside the city. I haven't been to D.C. during an inauguration before, but assume that the time to be commuting from outside the city via car or other (?) is not then. Or should we?
Also, I've always dreamed of going to one of those fancy balls- I know I'm going to have to pay for it, but any advice on which one to go or pay for? (Keep in mind this will be a big splurge for me but I'm a college student, so my budget runs to the low hundreds rather than thousands for a ticket)
Thanks for any advice you might have.
We've already checked out the great advice here, http://ask.metafilter.com/105866/Inauguration-Tickets, here.
Dude, I hate to say it, but balls are a bad time. Trust me. You will not spend one minute without being touched on all sides.
You will not be able to look down and see your feet.
You will lose your coat (of course it's better not to bring one). You might get trampled trying to get your coat.
You will not have space to dance.
Women's dresses get stepped on and ripped. Their shoes come off and in the crush are lost. I am not making this stuff up.
I learned all of this at the California ball in 1985 -- the one to be at. I imagine this time the Illinois ball will be the It ball.
If you can get tickets to the President's or the VP's Gala, that is worth doing. I did this also in '85 and saw Sinatra.
In 1989, while my friends were buying $1,000 dresses and manicures and stuff, I got bleacher parade seats ($100, back then), and rented a long lens and power-winder for my SLR, which I also used for the swearing-in ceremony.
This scenario fits your budget, and would enable you to get some good takeout to eat on the bleachers, along with a warm beverage. You could afford binoculars if you don't already have some.
You'll have a great time at the parade, I promise!
MeMail, if you like.
posted by jgirl at 1:41 PM on December 4, 2008
You will not be able to look down and see your feet.
You will lose your coat (of course it's better not to bring one). You might get trampled trying to get your coat.
You will not have space to dance.
Women's dresses get stepped on and ripped. Their shoes come off and in the crush are lost. I am not making this stuff up.
I learned all of this at the California ball in 1985 -- the one to be at. I imagine this time the Illinois ball will be the It ball.
If you can get tickets to the President's or the VP's Gala, that is worth doing. I did this also in '85 and saw Sinatra.
In 1989, while my friends were buying $1,000 dresses and manicures and stuff, I got bleacher parade seats ($100, back then), and rented a long lens and power-winder for my SLR, which I also used for the swearing-in ceremony.
This scenario fits your budget, and would enable you to get some good takeout to eat on the bleachers, along with a warm beverage. You could afford binoculars if you don't already have some.
You'll have a great time at the parade, I promise!
MeMail, if you like.
posted by jgirl at 1:41 PM on December 4, 2008
OK, in fairness, I should add that I was warned about all of the things I just warned about and was told "but go so you can say you've been."
So. And if you go to a ball that is not at a hotel, but at the Convention Center, perhaps, that may be different, since hotels just cannot handle crowds of the size that balls involve. And after the President visits the ball (if he does), the crowd will dissipate.
But still.
Go to the parade, get the best food you can to bring, get amazing optical and photo equipment, have a great time.
posted by jgirl at 1:50 PM on December 4, 2008
So. And if you go to a ball that is not at a hotel, but at the Convention Center, perhaps, that may be different, since hotels just cannot handle crowds of the size that balls involve. And after the President visits the ball (if he does), the crowd will dissipate.
But still.
Go to the parade, get the best food you can to bring, get amazing optical and photo equipment, have a great time.
posted by jgirl at 1:50 PM on December 4, 2008
Follow-up question... does anyone know if embassy parties are held during this time? If I have a connection (lame connection, the other person going with me has dual citizenship) should we call the embassy in question and ask?
posted by arnicae at 2:37 PM on December 4, 2008
posted by arnicae at 2:37 PM on December 4, 2008
Get thee on the first train (4am) into the city. WMATA has a special inauguration information website that you might want to look at. Not knowing where you're coming from makes it impossible to really give you better directions. The closest Metro stops to the Capitol are Capitol South (Blue/Orange) and Union Station (Red). Word is that the Mall area (including the Capitol grounds) will be closed off to the public in the early morning so the Secret Service can sweep the area.
Do not drive into the city. You'll miss everything in traffic. Park at whatever station is furthest out on the line closest to where you're coming from.
posted by General Malaise at 3:07 PM on December 4, 2008
Do not drive into the city. You'll miss everything in traffic. Park at whatever station is furthest out on the line closest to where you're coming from.
posted by General Malaise at 3:07 PM on December 4, 2008
I was a photographer's assistant at one of the 2004 balls. It was lame. The one I worked at was not as crowded as Jgirl's experience, but, it was one of the ones at the convention center.
posted by Jahaza at 9:36 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by Jahaza at 9:36 AM on December 5, 2008
Anecdotally I'm hearing that hotels are booked out to an hour-plus radius from the city. So if you have a place to stay that's closer, take it.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:33 PM on December 5, 2008
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:33 PM on December 5, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
I'd take the car to Metro, then come into town. Metro is going to be packed, but there will be virtually no place to park anywhere near anything.
posted by JoanArkham at 1:34 PM on December 4, 2008