This weekend and early next week here in DC are going to be chock full of celebrities, politicians, media folks and musicians all celebrating the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. Nearly EVERY entity in the world it seems has written all about the insane crowds pouring in, the impending sub-human cold weather expected, what events and balls (official and unofficial) are going down, who will be here, and how to cash in on the chaos*.
*Me? I’ve decided to sell my Special Limited Edition Inauguration Commemorative Collector’s Item “O”-shaped Doughnuts… for ONLY $29.99! Or $34.99 with ‘Hope Jelly.’
Unfortunately I find myself without official tickets to the event itself or any of the surrounding balls, which the more I think about it, is cool with me. I myself have really two plans for the long weekend: attempt to mosey up to the free We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration (and webcast on NPR) concert Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial (though with the crowds, it’s basically at the National Mall wherever you can find a spot), and fighting the other freakshows who on Tuesday who decided to brave the cold to watch the Inauguration on giant screens outside.
The PIC website confirms the lineup for the Sunday concert as the following:
Musical performers scheduled for the event include Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington.
While full of heavy hitters of the music industry, this list is a pretty mainstream offering of artists, likely intended to please everyone…Though it might be cool to catch a few songs from Bono or Springsteen or Stevie Wonder — they are legends afterall. At least want to shoot a few photographs.
So beyond that, it will be a weekend filled with some random parties, get-togethers, walking in the cold and wondering what else is going on that I’m missing (involving Jay Z, Beyonce or Oprah likely):
For some of the music events going on check here at DCist.
For a break down at various other balls and such check here on NYTimes’ Caucus blog.
I will be trying to shoot photos and use my iPhone to upload and live blog photos here as they come in and when the event warrants such a hope-filled time capsule. Stay tuned citizens…