Change of the Season #1

While there have been signs of the quadrennial season change for several months, those signs have intensified during the last month. Some have been largely unnoticeable -- until the evening of November 4th and the morning of November 5th. The evening of November 4th, I served as one of the volunteer ushers at the Woolly Mammouth Theatre. It was “Pay What You Can Night” for the new production Boom. Normally on “Pay What You Can” nights, all seats are sold out as well as all standing room. On this night, I estimate that only 100 people were in attendance. Clearly more people were interested in the election results than in the play. Shortly after 11:00 pm Eastern, people began walking down my street shouting and cheering and cars drove by honking. This celebrating went on all night long. My neighborhood (Penn Quarter/China Town 7th Street) was not the only District neighborhood to erupt in spontaneous celebrations. A larger outpouring happened along U Street entertainment district which closed the street to traffic. Even more amazing was the gathering in front of the White House celebrating the Obama victory. During my 20 years living here, I cannot recall similar spontaneous celebrations for an election victory. The celebration in front of the White House appears to have been a “first.”

The Celebration in Front of the White House

The other election surprise was that only 93% of the votes cast in the District of Columbia were for Obama.

On my daily walks, I see other signs of change:

• In the last month, Pennsylvania Avenue has been repaved from the Capitol to the White House.
• The pavers in the crosswalks have been painted brick red.
• The repairs on the Lafayette Square (across the street from the White House) fountains have been completed and the statues are being cleaned.
• Last week construction began on the parade reviewing stands in front of the White House.
• Yesterday, one of the intersections a block from my apartment was blocked by the infamous “Jersey barriers” and a collection of Secret Service police and DC police vehicles. Other security enhancements were underway. On the evening news, it was reported one of the buildings on this corner will house the Obama transition offices.
• There were larger than normal crowds huddled in front of the Newseum to read the front pages of 60 newspapers from across the United States and around the world. The front pages were remarkably alike with a headline on the Obama victory and a color photograph covering half to two-thirds of the page.

• Construction of the inaugural platform on the west side of Capitol has begun.
• Along Independence Avenue, d. engineers were reviewing and verifying the engineering and street marking diagrams in preparation for the street repaving. (Independence Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue are the two major routes to the Capitol through the monumental core of the District.)
• People look happier.
• As I listen to conversations among people on the street, in building lobbies and eateries, they are saying to one another how much better they feel, how they feel happier than they have in a long time, a weight has been lifted off their shoulders.
• The people gathered in front of the White House yesterday were not the usual tour groups but small groups of people in business attire talking quietly, taking pictures of the White House and of each other.
• The Willard Hotel announces that all of its guest rooms/suites have been reserved during the inaugural period. Other hotels report they are receiving large volumes of calls to reserve rooms and that they are reviewing their “pricing” strategies. (NOTE to my friends and relatives, my quest accommodations (sofa bed and floor) have been requested and reserved).

Yes We Can Change We Can Believe In

More thoughts on change in a day or two.