The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel takes us behind the scenes during their inaugural balls.
Boxing legend Mohammad Ali posing for photos at Marriott Wardman Park. Photograph by Chris Leaman
Last month, in throes of frantic inaugural planning, Marriott Wardman Park's general manager, Ed Rudzinski, told us, "By January 17, it's over. All we’ll need to do is execute.” Last night, that's exactly what happened.
The Kentucky Bluegrass and the North Carolina State Society balls unfolded in tandem Monday night at Wardman Park. The first was a seated dinner for 1,250 people, and the second, a cocktail reception for 1,425. With two sold-out balls and a fully booked hotel, Wardman Park was packed to the gills.
When we arrived at 6 PM, the hotel was electric. Kentucky ball guests, clad in tuxedos and floor-length gowns, milled around the lobby and posed for photos before heading upstairs for a reception—in true Kentucky style—with six bourbon stations.
By 6:10, Rudzinski was already putting out his first fire of the evening: An Obama souvenir table set up near the Kentucky ball needed to be packed up and moved. "It's all about the client," Rudzinski said. "If they want us to change something, we do it. No questions."
Ball attendees make their own chili at one of the several themed-rooms.
What: The Illinois Inaugural Gala, hosted by the Illinois State Society.
Where: Renaissance Hotel.
When: Monday, January 19.
Ticket price: $500 for the dinner and ball, $300 for the Gala Ball only. Tickets sold out by November 29, 2008 after going on sale to the public in September.
Who: Prominent Illinoisans, politicians, corporate sponsors, and anyone who figured that the new President's home state would pull out all the stops to usher in its favorite son as Commander-in-Chief. Government officials dominated the crowd of nearly 7,000, with honorees including the state's 20 members of the 111th Congress. Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr attended the dinner with wife, Sandi, and told Washingtonian, "This is the party of the century! No, it's the party of four centuries!" Roland Burris, the newly appointed successor to Obama's vacant Senate seat, sat at the table next to Jackson's and told us that he was very much enjoying himself as he shook hands and posed for photos with guests. Also spotted: actor Bill Murray on the dance floor in a pale pastel madras bow tie; former NBA star Cliff Robinson sporting a top hat on his 6'9" frame; and actor Keith David, who starred in a film about a barbershop in Chicago's south side. Government types included Senator Dick Durbin; Congressman Aaron Shock, State Senator and former colleague of Obama's, Kirk Dillard.
Rumored to be in attendance: Retired Chicago Cub Ernie Banks, comedian and former Daily Show pundit Mo Rocca, and musician George Clinton, minus the Funkadelics.
Dionne Warwick's American Music Inaugural Ball at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel has been canceled. The culprit? Less-than-impressive ticket sales.
The diva had been planning the event since the end of the summer, but had to back out suddenly this week when only a few hundred tickets had been sold, sources say. Warwick had been planning to host as many as 6,000 guests at her January 20 event. Tickets started at $350.
Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges was billed as the cohost for the two-part event, which was to feature a Legends Ball and an Urban Ball. Performers slated to take the stage included Rodney Atkins, George Clinton, Marvin Sapp, Kirk Franklin, T-Pain, David Banner, Athena Cage, Cedric the Entertainer, the Cheetah Girls, Fantasia, Lil Jon, Monica, Bella Steez, and Bobby Valentino.
Sources close to Warwick say the singer was "upset and disappointed" with the decision to cancel. Many of the performers and VIP guests, including several NBA stars, were already in town for the event.
What: The Children's Inaugural Ball hosted by Every Child Matters Education Fund and 40 other local and national children's groups. The afternoon, open-house-style event was kid-friendly in every way, from the casual attire to the story-time stage to the popcorn and cotton-candy carts.
Where: Historical Society of Washington in DC's Mount Vernon Square.
When: January 18, 2009, noon to 5 PM.
Ticket price: Free. The 2,000 tickets (one per family) to this informal but very popular event went fast. Weeks ago, the RSVP list was full, and parents who were hoping their children could take part in the only free, family-friendly inaugural ball were directed to a long waiting list.
Californians party at the Ritz-Carlton to kickoff the inauguration.
Project Runway winner Leanne Marshall's winning collection was part of the fashion show.
What: The Presidential Inaugural Luncheon and Fashion Show, hosted by the California State Society of Washington, DC, and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).
Where: Ritz-Carlton, Washington, DC.
When: Sunday, January 18.
Ticket price: $200.
Who: Hundreds of Californians-turned-Washingtonians—plus a few guests from Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and other places—turned out to kick-off President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration with a Sunday afternoon fashion show. Notable guests included California senator and congressional inaugural committee chair Dianne Feinstein, FIDM director Norine Fuller, NBC4 sportscaster Lindsay Czarniak, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and California congressman Jim Costa. Project Runway contestant Nick Verreos—clad in a charcoal Marc Jacobs suit smartly paired with a pink tie—was the master of ceremonies.
