The Eve of the Inauguration

It was a festive crowd roaming downtown DC this evening. Here people are buying T-shirts and posing with a cut out of Obama.

While the mood was festive, more cement barriers were brought into the area.

The free market at work. With the crowds heading into the district, many restaurants have chosen to extend their hours. This Au Bon Pain usually closes at 8:00 PM. Tonight, they will be open all night long.


It is just the evening before, but crowds are already building to buy Metro tickets.

It was about 9:30 when I took this picture with the crowds still buying Obama memorabilia and the free market supplying it. No T-shirt committees, no calendar committees, but the memorabilia was there for the consumers.

The owner of the van in the background told me he does shows throughout the country from Super Bowls to spring breaks in Florida. He was going to sleep in the van because he liked his spot and didn't want to lose it. He didn't want his picture taken because he said he doesn't pay taxes. As we were talking, Al Gore walked by. By the time I realized who it was, he was passed me, but I yelled, "Hey, Big Al." He didn't turnaround.

Many more streets are closed now, except for police cars racing up and down different streets with lights on and sirens blaring but seemingly no specific destination. At one point, six police tow trucks raced down E Street with lights flashing and sirens blaring. You have not lived until you have seen a series of tow trucks racing down a road.


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