Tonight kicks off five days of nonstop inaugural hoopla in Washington. We checked in with organizers from some of the top balls and events to find out what they’re working on today as the clock runs out. Regardless of advance preparation, they all shared a concern for getting through the checklist before the city shuts down. Here’s what they had to say:
"I am trying to figure out how to make the Newseum bigger so that we can accommodate the intense desire for more guests to attend the Huffington Post party. The response to our pre-inaugural ball has been simply unprecedented."
—David Stark, David Stark Design and Production
“I'm spending most of my time now putting out fires. Since a lot of our guests are flying in from Hawaii, I've been having to track down tickets in the mail, adjust ticket owners, respond to hundreds of inquiries, on top of all of my other duties too. So needless to say, I need a long vacation.”
—Micah Kohono Mossman, chairman, Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball
“In addition to answering lots of last-minute questions from reporters, I'm reconfiguring transportation plans to accommodate the barrage of road closures impacting the city, finding handlers for V.I.P.s who want to come last-minute, and writing scripts to introduce the president in case he comes!”
—Jennifer Sarver, board of directors, Texas State Society Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball
“I’m surviving very well thanks to a great team of volunteers. I’m currently consumed with leftover things, what V.I.P.s are coming and who from the waiting list of 150 we can get in should there be an opening. I’m working on the flower arrangements, trying to get them in tomorrow instead of on Sunday, and hoping they don’t get left out on the loading dock in the cold. We’ve planned a lot further out, but I’m afraid of the city getting shut down tonight already.”
—Noreen Fuller, chair, California State Society Inaugural Luncheon and Fashion Show
“Between today and Tuesday tonight, I have six events I’m working on, including the State Society of Arizona's "Route 66" inaugural ball. I’m tackling [the logistics of getting people inside], last-minute deliveries, from ice to piping and drapes. We also had a recent hiccup with our caterer, and we had to find another one, R&R Catering. We’re a little skeptical, working with a caterer for the first time, but they were within the client’s budget and have been really responsive and helpful pulling this all together as quickly as possible. I'm also putting the finishing touches on the gift bags for the star-studded Black Door Party. I am fortunate to live around the corner from the venue, but the director and security staff have set up shop here with mattresses.”
—Kadrieka Maiden, special events manager and sales associate, the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
