The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is hosting all three official inaugural events besides the swearing-in ceremony and the parade.
The three celebrations are the Kids' Inaugural Concert Saturday night, the Inaugural Ball on Monday night, where tickets were available to the general public for the event for as low as $60, and the Commander-In-Chief Inaugural Ball, which will be for military families, mostly enlisted members and for the first time, same-sex partners.
"It's incredibly important to the First and Second Families," says Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO Stephen Kerrigan. "Because it is their way of saying how much we appreciate these members of the military who are going overseas and fighting for our country and defending us all across the globe, and so we wanted to make sure just as President [George W.] Bush did in 2005, that we honor that by giving them their own ball with their Commander-in-Chief."
Greg O'Dell is the man responsible for making the convention center gala-ready.
"Fortunately, we have a great team and we've been through this before," says O'Dell, CEO of Events DC. "We've actually hosted three inaugurations in this building alone and we've hosted inaugurations all the way back to [Ronald] Reagan's second inauguration, so our staff has been old hat, but nevertheless we're on our game and ready to go."
They are not sure how many people will be attending the events at the Convention Center. But in communities all across the country Saturday, the PIC is hosting events marking a national day of service.
"This isn't just about a celebration of a president," Kerrigan says. "It's about the strength and drive and resilience of the American people, and so we want our communities and our friends and neighbors to step up, perform acts of service, commit to each other to help make each other's lives a little bit better through service, and that's what would be a great legacy of this inaugural."
If you don't have a ticket to any of the official events at the Convention Center, you can still stop by and pick up some official inaugural mementos at a makeshift inaugural store on the street level. It's open to the public.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-06-19 11:23:06 GMT
A car has crashed into a building on 2nd Avenue and East 4th Street in the East Village. Several people are injured. A large emergency response is on scene. More than a dozen firefighters are surrounding the East Village Farm store. Glass and debris litter the area. At least two vehicles were involved in the crash. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
A car has crashed into a building on 2nd Avenue and East 4th Street in the East Village. Several people are injured. A large emergency response is on scene. More than a dozen firefighters are surrounding the East Village Farm store. Glass and debris litter the area. At least two vehicles were involved in the crash. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 7:07 AM EDT2013-06-19 11:07:13 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the morning rush.
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the morning rush. Crews have been working to repair tracks and switches after Monday's derailment.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:12 AM EDT2013-06-19 10:12:52 GMT
A senior administration official says Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have struck a deal to authorize four upstate casinos and to allow votes on 10 separate women's rights bills including an abortion...
A senior administration official says Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have struck a deal to authorize four upstate casinos and to allow votes on 10 separate women's rights bills including an abortion proposal...
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:07 AM EDT2013-06-19 10:07:22 GMT
NYC
Nearly 3 million New Yorkers' homes are now in evacuation zones that cover more than a third of the city's population, under new maps released Tuesday.
Nearly 3 million New Yorkers' homes are now in evacuation zones that cover more than a third of the city's population, under new maps released Tuesday.In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, officials said last month, the number of zones would double and encompass about 600,000 more residents.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:50 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:50:52 GMT
FDNY photo via Twitter
Emergency responders rescued a worker who was trapped when a trench collapsed Tuesday evening at a Queens construction site that was supposed to be closed.
Emergency responders rescued a worker who was trapped when a trench collapsed Tuesday evening at a Queens construction site that was supposed to be closed.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:34 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:34:07 GMT
It's a sight that can trigger dread. The low-battery message appears on your cell phone when there's no charger around.
It's a sight that can trigger dread. The low-battery message appears on your cell phone when there's no charger around. Now New York City has teamed up with AT&T to install 25 solar powered charging stations over the summer.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 4:55 PM EDT2013-06-18 20:55:38 GMT
A man accused of fatally shooting a gay man walking with a companion in New York City's Greenwich Village pleaded not guilty.
A man accused of fatally shooting a gay man walking with a companion in New York City's Greenwich Village afterward claimed that he opened fire because the victim "thought he was tough in front of his bitch," prosecutors said in court papers Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 3:05 PM EDT2013-06-18 19:05:09 GMT
Police are looking for a man who stabbed another man in Times Square Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The victim was stabbed in the chest, the NYPD and FDNY said.
Police are looking for a man who stabbed another man in Times Square Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.The victim was stabbed in the chest, the NYPD and FDNY said.
