Before you head downtown on Thursday, here are some things you should know about where to be, how to get there, and how to keep yourself as safe, comfortable and hassle-free as possible.
Thursday, Jan. 20: Inauguration Day
General Schedule
12 p.m. Bush will take the oath of office and be sworn in by a Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist. You must have tickets and go through security screenings to get to the Capitol lawn to see this event. Various military bands and choirs will provide musical performances and Senator Trent Lott will speak at 11:30 a.m.
2-4:30 p.m.The inaugural parade, which includes marching bands, military representatives and floats, will run on Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and the White House, a 1.7 mile route that will take the 11,000-person parade about two hours to traverse. Standing room along the route is free, but more than 400,000 visitors are expected, so get there early. Limited bleacher seats cost $15, $60 or $125 and can be purchased by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.
7 p.m.-1 a.m. Nine official inaugural balls will be held Thursday night, all of which require tickets. The cheapest is $125 and most will take place at the Washington Convention Center. For more information see the links below. For information on less expensive parties, scroll down.
General Information
Getting Around On Thursday Metro will close the Smithsonian and Archives-Navy Memorial stations from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Mount Vernon Square/ 7th Street Convention Center stop from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. If you're traveling to inaugural events by Metro, try the Capitol South or Union Station stops. If you want a souvenir, pick up a commemorative Metro day pass for $6.50.
Getting Through Security The security for this inauguration is unprecedented, with more than 6,000 law enforcement personnel coming in from across the country, according to Voice of America. Expect to have to go through several security checkpoints. For a map of the security checkpoints and a full list of restricted items, visit www.mpdc.dc.gov.
Prohibited Items
*Signs bigger than three feet in width, 20 feet in length, and 1/4 inch in thickness are not allowed. They must be made of cardboard, poster board or cloth. *Real or fake firearms, ammunition, explosives *Knives or sharp objects *Mace or pepper spray *Sticks, poles or umbrellas *Packages *Bags or backpacks bigger than 8"x6"x4" *Thermoses or coolers *Laser pointers *Animals *Alcohol *Bicycles
Cameras and cell phones are allowed, but camera bags and tripods are not.
Staying Warm The Weather Channel is predicting snow showers and temperatures as low as 20 degrees for Thursday. Whether you're cheering the president on or protesting four more years, it's important to wear layers and keep warm. Remember that President William Henry Harrison caught a cold at his inauguration and died from it a month later.
Staying Hydrated The risk of dehydration is the same in cold weather as in hot weather, according to the D.C. Action Medical Network. Make sure to drink plenty of water and avoid caffiene, alcohol or drinks with a lot of sugar, since they will increase dehydration.
In Case of Arrest If you're participating in any protests, the D.C. Action Medical Network suggests you have a contact person who is not participating and give them your itinerary and a list of any medical conditions, medications and emergency phone numbers you have.
Inaugural Night
There will also be some inaugural-themed parties that are more affordable, but these are mostly anti-Bush.
Platinum, a nightclub at 915 F Street, will host the Billionaires Ball starting at 8:30 p.m. The cost is between $20 and $250, depending on how VIP you want to be. Call (703) 527-2795 for details.
The Black Cat is hosting two counter-inaugural events, Noise Against Fascism on the main stage ($12) and Inaugurate This! on the back stage ($10), both at 8 p.m. See www.blackcatdc.com for more information.
Casa del Pueblo (1459 Columbia Road) will feature a punk rock show with Anti-Flag and Q and Not U, starting at 7 p.m. and costing only $5. Call (703) 276-9768 for details.
Dream (1350 Okie Street) will host the ReDefeatBush ball from 6:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Anyone under 30 gets in for $30, which includes a dinner buffet and open bar from 7-9 p.m. Call (202) 966-0040 for details.
