where the privileged mingled with the rabble
This was the ticketed seating area for the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. Tickets for this event were free and distributed on November 1 at the White House Visitors Center in the Department of Commerce building on a first-come, first-serve basis. Of course, the front rows were reserved for dignitaries.
No bleachers in the back this year -- not sure when (or why) they stopped building them. Maybe for security purposes.
The overall crowd for the ceremony was fairly large...but wait 'til next year when President and Mrs. Obama and their girls light the tree for the first time.
DCist, December 5, 2008: "Morning Roundup: It's Beginning to a [sic] Look a Lot Like Edition"
Comments and faves
quigley_brown (Jim Hamann) (42 months ago | reply)
Don't tell anyone, but I had a green ticket and snuck up to row one... : )
philliefan99 (42 months ago | reply)
I did that in 1994 -- I had a bleacher ticket but ended up in the front row. No chance this year -- no ticket!
lorigoldberg (42 months ago | reply)
yay morning roundup :)
philliefan99 (42 months ago | reply)
woo-hoo! :) DCist likes me this week.
volcanojw (42 months ago | reply)
phew! maybe you'll stop complaining about them ignoring you now ;)
philliefan99 (42 months ago | reply)
you wound me, JW. as usual. ;) ;)
andertho added this photo to their favorites. (42 months ago)
christaki (42 months ago | reply)
nice shot....even with that tree...
~~ Thanks for posting your image in DC @ Night.