Inside the Beltway

By John McCaslin (Contact) | Friday, January 2, 2009

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BANKING ON OBAMA

Many first-time visitors to Washington who will be attending Barack Obama's inauguration might be surprised to find their nation's capital overflowing with street vendors.

Whether it's a hot dog coated with chili, an FBI baseball cap or warm woolen (rayon, more likely) mittens, virtually everything one's heart could ever desire is peddled on a daily basis from the sidewalks bordering monuments, memorials and museums.

Now, wouldn't you know, the D.C. government is offering additional street vending "opportunities" for the 2009 inauguration. Bottom line: vendors not licensed can apply in person by Monday to receive a temporary "2009 Inaugural Vending Badge." In other words, Washington's already large army of vendors isn't disappearing in honor of Mr. Obama, it's growing.

Indeed, apart from allowing the city's saloons to serve booze until 5 a.m. inaugural week, city fathers have just designated "more than 700 sites" near the inaugural parade route as "Special Inaugural Vending Zones." The sites will be distributed through three lotteries, with winners to be announced Tuesday.

As for the non-winners who wanted to cash in on the unprecedented masses expected for Inauguration Day, the D.C. government will establish "more than 1,000 overflow vending locations" near the city's major transportation hubs.

GETTING CLOSER

Before President-elect Barack Obama bunked at the Hay-Adams Hotel (opened in 1928 as the Hay-Adams House, offering steamed heat, circulating ice water, Washington's first air-conditioned dining room and unparalleled views of the White House), overnight guests included Amelia Earhart, Sinclair Lewis and Charles Lindbergh.

The luxury hotel where Mr. Obama and his family will remain before moving a short distance across Lafayette Square, first to Blair House and then finally into the White House, is named after John Hay, close aide to President Abraham Lincoln, and author Henry Adams, a descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

Both lived in homes torn down to make space for the 145-room hotel, which these days is ranked by both Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler as Washington's No. 1 hotel.