We've already instructed Obamaniacs to book early (like, now) if they're planning to fly to Washington, DC for inaugural festivities January 20. But you might also want to snag DC Metro passes ahead of time too. If literally 1 million people descend on the district, it won't be easy to buy rides, a transit authority spokesman tells the LA Times:

People could be standing outside in the downtown area for maybe an hour or more trying to get in [to stations].

Yikes. The good news is that trains will be running with rush hour frequency all day--and will stay open until 2 am. Smart inauguration goers will buy Metro passes online before showing up in DC: Skip the hassles of navigating the notoriously arcane fare system by buying a day pass for $7.80.

Related Stories:
· Inauguration Day Update: Get a Metro Pass Now [LAT]
· Metro Area Transit Authority: Plans for Inauguration Weekend [Official Site]
· How to Get to Inauguration 2009 [Jaunted]

[Photo: Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies]]]> pbb 2008-11-25T15:06:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/18/81036/112

Though the inauguration of Barack Obama won't happen for another 63 days, hotels in DC are already filling up, sending tourists farther afield to look for accommodations in Maryland and Virginia. But Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania wants people to know that his state isn't really that far from DC. In a letter to senate colleagues he writes:

Many Pennsylvania counties along the southern border of the state still have hotel rooms available for the week of the inauguration. Some of these counties are just a 90-minute drive from Capitol Hill, while other communities in southeastern Pennsylvania provide easy access by Amtrak lines.

Should your constituents decide to stay in Pennsylvania, they may also want to consider visiting the Commonwealth’s many historic sights, including Gettysburg National Military Park in Adams County; key locations in Lancaster and York, which both served briefly as capitals of the colonies and meeting sites for the Second Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War; and numerous sites in and around the City of Philadelphia, including Valley Forge National Historic Park, Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center.

You can't fault the guy for hyping his own state, but before booking a room in PA for the inauguration festivities, remember that a 90-minute drive is actually a three-hour round trip--not including insane day-of-the-swearing-in traffic.

Related Stories:
· Casey: Don't Forget about PA for Inauguration [Official Site]
· Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies [Official Site]
· How To Get To Inauguration 2009 [Jaunted]
· How Do I Get Inauguration Tickets? [Jaunted]

[Photo: Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies]]]> pbb 2008-11-18T08:15:15-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/7/143951/269

On Tuesday, 52 percent of the nation decided (though it may not have loved him necessarily) to elect Barack Obama the nation's 44th president. "Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared," Obama told the crowd at Chicago's Grant Park that night at a massive rally watched by millions around the world.

Hit Grant Park today and you will probably find many tourists, but no leftover Democratic parties. Good thing Chicago's Craigslist is there to find that hunk you met at the rally. Here were some other places Obama fans met that night--may you all find a love as publicly adorable as the new First Couple:

Sidetrack Bar: This LGBT meat market shows music videos on every video screen. But if you tear yourself away... 3349 N Halsted St.

Wow Bao: Make personal history at this Asian fusion Loop stop. Order the coconut cream bao, we hear they're spectacular. 835 N. Michigan Ave.

Third World Chicago: This coffee shop in Obama's soon-to-be-former neighborhood (also the home of the University of Chicago) isn't the classiest joint in town, although that works for some people. 1301 E. 53rd St.

Related Stories:
· Text of Barack Obama's Victory Speech [America.gov]
· Obama-mania Sweeps Africa [Jaunted]
· Actual President Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: barackobamadotcom]]]> egw 2008-11-07T15:30:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/6/205112/811

Now that the years-long election extravaganza is finally over, DC is already setting up for the biggest political party of them all: Inauguration Day, set for January 20.

Anyone can attend the parade through Washington, but tickets to the ceremony itself are notoriously hard to come by. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies spells out your chances:

Tickets to the 56th Inaugural Ceremonies will be provided free of charge and distributed through Members of the 111th Congress. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies does not provide tickets to the public. Members of the public interested in attending the Inaugural Ceremonies should contact their Member of Congress or US Senators to request tickets.

Call Your Congressman or -woman:
Jaunted just called our Brooklyn congressman and were told we are 600-and-something on the waiting list, and the office expects to get a single-digit number of tickets. We're taking that as a "No."

Scour Craigslist:
Craigslist DC is already filling up with desperate "I've already booked my flight" pleas. Some are offering to pay up to $500 a ticket, although there's no one actually selling yet, since the tickets haven't been distributed.

Just Give Up:
If you haven't done any favors for a senator lately and can't score tickets the old fashioned capitalist way, anyone can go see the parade, as we mentioned above.

Have a tip we've left out? Drop it in the comments!

Related Stories:
· Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies [Official Site]
· Inauguration Tickets [Craigslist DC]
· Barack Obama coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies]]]> BS 2008-11-07T10:00:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/5/74012/1946

Democrat Barack Obama took to a stage facing Chicago's Grant Park last night.

Obama was declared the president-elect shortly before 11 pm Eastern by the major networks and took Republican John McCain's concession call shortly after, before addressing supporters on the same ground where crowds turned into rioting mobs during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Democrats also picked up seats in both houses of Congress in races largely shadowed by a long, expensive and bitterly fought presidential campaign. In fact, last night's coverage was everything the campaigns weren't: Cautious, measured and gracious. There have been no major calls for recounts yet, although delayed returns on California have both supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 mumbling about irregularities. 2008: The year C-A needed the recount?

Related Stories:
· Watch Obama's Speech From Grant Park [YouTube.com]
· [91% reported] Gay Marriage Ban Leading [LAT]
· Possible Presidents '08 coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: NYTimes.com] ]]> egw 2008-11-05T08:00:07-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/