First lady's ball gown — thumbs up or down?
Washington's post-inaugural conversations today are all about: a) whether you went to the mall for the swearing-in; b) if you did, whether you got caught in the security glitches and were not allowed into your colored section; c) whether you went to a ball; and d) what you thought of the new first lady's inaugural ensembles, particularly last night's Jason Wu-designed ball gown.
It is that last question I put to all of you, my readers. Did you like Michelle Obama's inaugural gown? Or did you think, as some fashion mavens are saying, it looked "more Hollywood than Washington"? Post your thoughts in the comments below. And if you missed it, here's the Obamas' first dance last night at the Neighborhood Ball.
Photo by Evan Eile/USA Today
January 20, 2009
Inaugural fever in full swing
It's an historic, VIP-filled day in downtown Washington, D.C., but it feels like Christmas in other parts of the city. I'm in the northwest section of the city about five miles from the parade route and there is no traffic, no one in the grocery store — just the occasional jogger or dog walker on city sidewalks. Like Elena, who has been twittering her adventures on inaugural weekend on the right rail of the blog, I'm warm and watching the coverage of the luncheon and parade at home, and getting ready for a party tonight. I'm feeling a little like a wimp, however, when I see all the folks who have been waiting out there for hours just to see President Obama's limo pass by. It brings back memories of the first inauguration I attended here in Washington, President Reagan's second. That was the year it was so cold the parade was canceled. I don't think any kind of cold would've stopped the crowds for this president.
Photo by Jack Gruber/USA Today
January 19, 2009
Follow the Inaugural festivities firsthand with us
As one of my PR friends, who is in D.C. from California, said about all the inaugural hoopla — "it's like the Oscars, the Superbowl and the Olympics all in one!" Indeed, it does feel like that as one tries to navigate the capital city, but the mood is definitely festive. No one knows that better than our Elena Keithley, who, as I mentioned on Friday, is attending multiple events including tomorrow's swearing in of President Barack Obama. Elena's inaugural festivities kicked off Saturday at Obama's Whistle-Stop tour in Baltimore. It may have felt like sub-zero temperatures, she says, but you wouldn't know it by the crowd. "Everyone was in a celebratory mood and did what they could to stay warm, whether it was by doing jumping jacks as organized by a local athletic club or dancing to the singing of the Morgan State gospel choir." Elena and her boyfriend, Obama campaign staffer and Maryland delegate Jason Waskey, (that's the two of them at right) had an excellent vantage point, positioned between the press and the stage. Obama delivered an impressive speech on the steps of the War Memorial, highlighting the significance of the Battle of Baltimore and the Star-Spangled Banner in today's context.
Sunday was even more of a whirlwind. At the last minute, Elena scored tickets to the free concert on the mall with headliners such as Bruce Springsteen, U2, Sheryl Crow and Garth Brooks. Compared to the day before, it felt downright balmy in the high 30s versus the low teens on Saturday. "The mood was festive," Elena says, "but the real surprise to me was Garth Brooks, who really worked the crowd with his renditions of American Pie and Shout." Unfortunately, she and Jason had to leave just as Bono and his band went on because they had to rush home to get ready for the Maryland Inaugural Ball later that night at downtown D.C.'s elegant Mayflower Hotel.
The ball was packed, she says, with a final tally of 2,500 people. "The caterers couldn't bring out enough food to accommodate the large crowd. In addition to the bars, there was a martini station where ice luges mixed the cosmos and appletinis." She caught up with friends, including some she hadn't seen since the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Elena's really busy day will be tomorrow, of course, and be sure to follow her via Twitter over there on the right rail. She'll be at the swearing-in and two balls. Her plan is to get to the Washington Metro, aka the subway, when it opens at 4 a.m. to get downtown to the swearing-in. She'll be in the city until the ceremony ends, and will then head back home to get ready for the Maryland Congressional Ball hosted by Elijah Cummings at the Capitol Hill Hyatt, and the Eastern States Ball at Union Station. Word is Obama won't be attending the Eastern States Ball until much later in the night, possibly close to 2 am, when the ball ends. So all you night owls (and West Coast folks) will want to stay tuned to the blog for Elena's updates on when the man of the hour finally arrives.
January 16, 2009
We're bracing for Inaugural Weekend
President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, grace our magazine cover this weekend, with an inside family photo album and an exclusive essay by the incoming first lady that gives readers a hint of what we can expect from her — she'll be a voice for military families. I love how she writes that on Tuesday night, she and the new president will tuck their daughters into bed as they do every night. Of course, then they'll be off in the motorcade for a night of dancing one dance at 10 official inaugural balls.
All of us who live in and around Washington, D.C., are bracing ourselves for the predicted traffic and people jams all over town. But hey, it's going to be exciting! So many celebs will be in our capital city, I long ago lost track of them all; the Washington Post gossip columnists have even asked readers to help by reporting any sightings directly to them. There will be Sunday concert on the national mall with Bono, Beyonce and Bruce Springsteen, not to mention Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx and Queen Latifah doing historical readings. I'm thinking about braving the crowds and cold for that, although it coud be pandemonium when the Jonas Brothers arrive. One person who will be out and about from the weekend through Tuesday's balls is our Elena Keithley, who was our "deledate" to last summer's Democratic Convention. Her boyfriend, Jason Waskey, was an Obama staffer and a delegate in Denver — so the two of them are looking forward to all the festivities. Look for Elena's Twitter posts starting this weekend on the side rail.
December 08, 2008
Two 'Rock with Barack' inaugural balls
Speaking of glamour in Washington, lots of those celebrities who were in town for last night's KenCen honors would be happy to be invited to any of the events next month celebrating the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. Among the coveted tickets are those to Oprah Winfrey's show, which she will broadcast from the Kennedy Center the week of the inauguration. There will be many "official" balls around town, but some of the unofficial ones sound more interesting. Tickets are on sale now for two "People's Balls," one hosted by the rapper Ludacris (pictured at right) and another by Dionne Warwick. The Legends Ball, featuring Warwick, and the Urban Ball, starring Ludacris, will be in the same hotel in Washington, D.C., on inauguration night - Jan. 20 - and are expected to attract 4,000 to 6,000 people, according to the organizers. Tickets will be $350 for the Urban Ball, $450 for the Legends Ball and $650 for entry to both. Click here for more information or to buy tickets.
Photo courtesy of Def Jam Records
