Events

Me in front of the swearing in location on Martin Luther King Day

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Well, the city is filling up with well dressed people and the skies are buzzing with helicopters, but the crowds have yet to become impossible. Hilary and I took a long walk on the Mall today to check out the place where the big concert took place yesterday and scope out the set up for the formal swearing in that takes place tomorrow. We decided to host a brunch at my place for 20 instead of heading down to the mall on Inauguration Day - I gave up two tickets in favor of a warm apartment, big TV, and no lines for the bathroom - but still wanted to check out the buzz downtown.

Hilary in front of the Lincoln Memorial - where Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Obama and 450,000 spectators were yesterday. Note the reflecting pool is frozen!

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I was fascinated by the sheer number of porta-potties set up on the mall - there are literally THOUSANDS lining both sides!

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MSNBC was playing on the big video screens up and down the Mall today - note George and Laura waving good bye!

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Although there were no formal events on the Mall today, there were thousands of people gathered. There were small performances here and there - like this one by a boys choir from Kenya.

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The Smithsonian Institution main building, nicely framed by some of the ubiquitous porta-potties...

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The entrance to the exclusive portable studio MSNBC has set up right on the Mall

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Another shot of MSNBC's indoor, heated studio - where all of you will be tuned into tomorrow!

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Not everyone is ready to move on and focus on the future rather than the past!

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The West Front of the United States Capitol Building where tomorrow, in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the President Elect will be sworn in at 12:00 Noon.

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Have a GREAT day everyone!

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(update - the BIG day - January 20th)

George W. Bush's helicopter flies past the Washington Monument on its way back to Texas after the Inauguration of Barack Obama - Bush's LAST flight

One of Shepard Fairey's iconic works - the artist was on hand at the show to answer questions

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There is so much going on in Washington this weekend that a few gems fall off the radar. One of these is an art show on M & 34th Streets in Georgetown sponsored by Moveon.org and the SEIU called Manifest Hope. It only runs through tomorrow, January 19th, so if you are in town, I highly recommend it!

http://www.manifesthope.com/index.html

The show is made up of art created by individuals who have been inspired by Barack Obama's campaign and impending inauguration.

I took cell phone photos of some of my favorites, so forgive the low quality, but it will give you a sense of the show.

Happy Inauguration Everyone!

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Hilary poses in front of one of the larger pieces

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The artist Shepard Fairey interviewed for a documentary that was being made about the show