Inauguration Day Out: A View From the Bars

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THEY SAY THE bathroom-to -person ratio on the mall today was a million to one. OK, maybe not that bad, but perhaps whatever the real odds, they were too dismal for some bladders to handle. For that and a plethora of other reasons, there was a subset of tourists and locals alike that skipped the Mall and watched the 44th president be sworn in via the good old television from watering holes in the heart of D.C.'s bar (and restaurant) scene.

Express hopped all around the U St./Adams Morgan area to bring you a view from the bars.

We begin at the beginning. With breakfast, that is, at the only restaurant President Obama has been spotted in. At the iconic Ben's Chili Bowl, a red, white and blue ice sculpture of our new President's last name greeted hungry patriots this morning, where they flocked (though not in their usual numbers) to fill their bellies with bacon and eggs before braving the cold.

At 9:00 a.m., there were already folks at the Bowl who had been down to the Mall and back. One young local told us that he had braved lines to get on the mall for hours, but had eventually given up and headed toward U Street for a pancake regroup. Nonetheless, spirits were higher than ever in Obama's favorite half-smoke spot, as they were at the recently opened Ben's-owned bar next door.

Further down U at Bohemian Caverns, the Brightest Young Things Inaugural Party was just kicking off with bagels and beers. A shivering crowd was packing the place in search of sustenance and wrist bands, which earned them entrance to the bar until 4 a.m. Wednesday. There, yet another disgruntled local told us about her efforts to get down to the Mall. D.C. resident Jade Ndiaye tried three different routes to get to the thick of it, but was denied entrance due to a water main break. She brushed off and sidled to the bar, where she planned to spend the day enjoying the festivities on TV.

And what, you ask, of Busboys and Poets? By 10 a.m., ropes had been set up outside to accommodate the line of people waiting to snag a seat at this hub of liberal thinking, drink and food. Hopefuls outside told us they'd be waiting for at least an hour, but were sure watching from inside would be more rewarding than checking out a jumbotron downtown.

We finally settled into chairs at Tryst to watch the ceremony — the 18th Street coffee shop was full, but every patron had a comfortable seat and a steaming beverage (more often that not, of the Irish variety). As the horns started to play, a hush fell over the rowdy crowd that was only interrupted by cheers every time the word "Obama" was uttered by the anchors. After his speech, with champagne glasses in the hands of many, a quieter, more private, and warmer celebration got underway.

Emily Booth told us she had experienced election night in D.C., and for her, that was enough. "When he won, I did the whole U Street thing," she said. "Today I'd rather be inside, be able to see well and drink hot coffee while I watch." Indeed, the crowd in Tryst seemed primarily local, as did the few strays wandering up and down 18th.

The eerie quiet that pervaded the city during the swearing in subsided slowly as tourists and locals alike began to wander back from the mall. Lunchtime at Adams Mill was filled with heavy-drinking revelers eating hot fried food. Bartenders Paulie and Erica greeted every customer individually, and handed out special (and free) inauguration pint glasses to all.

All in all, gargantuan crowds on the Mall had their fun, but the quieter, warmer and more locally attended uptown gatherings were nothing to sneeze at. These folks were decked out in plenty of Obama gear, they were yelling, clapping and celebrating, and most importantly, they already have their pick of the bar stools for the evening.

Photos by Karmah Elmusa/Express