Celebrating Inauguration 2009

How people are celebrating the Presidential Inauguration depends in large measure on what this historical occasion means on a personal level. Although the President-elect has made it clear he's about moving forward, I'm a firm believer in purging the past as a means of moving ahead. So you could say I'm with Paul Krugman on this. Check out his piece from yesterday's New York Times: Forgive and Forget?

In the spirit of not forgetting, a couple of organizations are giving people a chance to symbolically purge whatever they've been holding back for eight years. Finger Salute to Bush is asking for a peaceful act of symbolism -- a telling farewell gesture to the outgoing President. Courage to Resist is giving San Franciscans the opportunity to throw shoes this weekend.

And, simultaneously, we have a chance to embrace the brilliance of the occasion, the inescapable joy I personally feel as we move from what has felt like a dark epoch, toward one where at least the concepts of hope and restoration live. Restoration of the values inherent in our Constitution and renewed movement toward, I hope, a better and more tolerant paradigm. For at least this moment, we can celebrate the unified spirit of being American at this historic juncture -- and be unabashedly proud of that fact.

Main Inauguration Events:

• San Francisco Inauguration Events
• Volunteering on National Day of Service (Jan 19)
• Inauguration Photo Pool at Flickr

Inauguration food and drink:

• The Seattle PI has tips for creating an Inauguration food spread that caters to Barack Obama's food tastes
• Elixir is opening at 8:30am on Inauguration Day, serving up Elixir's Bloodys and Irish Coffees
• Colleen Graham (About.com: Cocktails) has recipes for some patriotic drinks in commemoration of the day
• The Boston Herald sought out a few mixologists for Inaugural Cocktails like the Air Force One and Obama on My Mind
• Schramsberg Vineyards' posted their Toast to Change website -- a community toast and ideas for manifesting genuine change in 2009
• Chow.com pulled together an Inauguration menu based on the President-elect's likes (and, judging from the comments, even pumpkin pie is politically controversial)

If your venue is offering drink or food specials in conjunction with the Presidential Inauguration, e-mail me and I'll add it to the list.

^{Pictured: Inauguration Show Setup
Photo © Hugh Grew}