Has DC Become Obamamania Money Hungry?

It's pretty clear that President-elect Barack Obama has been the biggest 'celebrity' President since I was born. Never has any President (again, since I could vote) caused such a craze.

I will fully admit that when this election first started I wasn't on the Obama bandwagon. I was torn between Hillary and Barack and finally decided that he had my vote upon doing my research.

I wasn't fully aware of the craze that is Obama until Election night. People had his logo painted on their faces, his face was carved into many pumpkins (I know you've all seen the pictures), poor little puppies were squeezed into custom made Obama tee shirts and I'm sure you've seen worse...

Barack Obama, a man cooler than a November day has created a rock star persona (and I don't know how in the world he managed to do that...he rarely says a non-premeditated sentence!) that has the entire world engaged.

Seeing that most Washingtonians weren't born here, it seems that the city has already figured out many ways to capitalize on the new President, especially during Inaugural weekend.

Mayor Fenty just made it legal for residents to rent out their houses and apartments without a need for a business license (like people weren't going to do it anyway!). I'm sure the tee-shirt man is getting his stock ready for when (an estimated) 3 million come to the District's northwest streets.

Restaurants refuse to take reservations as many organizations, congressmen or women and other big wigs have already rented them out for a party or ball of some kind.

It will be a surprise if you go out in DC that night and don't spend at least $75-$200!

::Sigh:: and even the Metro has gotten in on it with their new comemorative Obama Smartrip card! They'll be $5 more than the regular card and you know they'll sell out!

My hope is that the true history of this day and this event and this season isn't lost by money hungry Washingtonians. That we get back to the real significance of Barack Obama's win and that is that we were all desperate for a change!

Don't get caught up in the lights people! :)

DC Can't Take Obama's Inauguration

Word on the street is that Obama's inaguration in January is expected to draw over 1 million people to the District. We already know how bad parking is on the weekend in D.C., let alone on a day when the first black President gets sworn into office.

If you're like me and live anywhere close to D.C. I'm sure you've already had people asking can they stay over. I think my house is going to resemble those overnight parties I used to have in high school (ohh...good memories!).

Photo Credit: Jonas Karlsson

The National Park Service plans to clear more viewing space along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route and jumbo TV screens will line the Mall so people can watch the inauguration and parade.

Many congressmen and women have already stopped taking requests for free tickets. If you're attempting to buy tickets, don't expect to find them on eBay, StubHub or Kijiji. Those sites will not allow tickets to the inauguration to be sold, which is kind of illegal.

Good luck if you're planning on coming in from outta town and no you can't stay with me! :)

DC Fab! Endorses Barack Obama

Barack Obama's Grandmother Passes

Everybody say a prayer for the Obama family for their loss.

One more day y'all...

National African American Conference Call with Barack Obama

This morning at 10:15 AM, Barack Obama and a host of celebrity friends will be on a National African American conference call.

The call features Diddy, Oprah, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Donna Brazile, and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.

Anyone can dial in so take advantage of this opportunity:
Dial In: 800-369-3107
Participant Passcode: 1992039

You're welcome! :)

Video Recap: Obama Campaigns in Leesburg, VA

Join Barack Obama in VA!

Haven't seen this history maker in person yet?! (Don't worry I haven't either...let's just say his people didn't get back to my people...lol)

He'll be in Leesburg, VA at the "Change We Need" rally. The rally will be held in Ida Lee Park (Festival Field, 50 Ida Lee Drive, NW, Leesburg, VA) on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The gates open at 3 PM, doors open at 5 PM and the program begins at 5:30 PM (dag, all that though?!). Oh yea, and it's best if you RSVP.

You won't see me there but if you go, send pics! :)

Politico Fab: Obama in VA, Gwen Ifill in DC and SNL

(STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images )

Barack Obama was in VA over the weekend. Here he is at a rally in Newport News. I know t his is so unrelated but his shoes are the pits. My momma said, "Always look at a mans shoes..." They look like roach stompers...

(Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet The Press )

Gwen Ifill watching this SNL clip below during a taping of Meet The Press in DC.

Watch the clip below, it had me rolling during my lunch break:

Pic Recap: Barack Obama at Congressional Black Caucus

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama spoke at the closing gala during CBC Week.

Barack and Michelle backstage...luv her. Click here to get her t-shirt. :)

Photo Credits

The Grand Opening of Obama's Headquarters

As you know, Adrian Fenty is in full support of Presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

Obama will open a headquarters (803 Florida Avenue NW) here on Thursday (tomm) at 10 AM.

You will be able to check out the new office, meet the staff and hear Fenty talk about Obama.

RSVP!

Politico Fab: Sarah Palin, the Great White Hope

Fabulously Submitted by
Politico Fab!

I sat on my sofa in my living room and a sudden sense of dread washed over me. "The GOP is going to take the White House in January". I was watching Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin's acceptance speech and I couldn't help but notice how excited the crowd was.

She almost didn't get a word in before the throngs of supporters rose up in a deafening cheer. Here was this middle-aged, somewhat attractive, fresh-faced mother of five throwing punches at the Democratic superstar, Barack Obama.

I wanted to vomit.

She mocked his memoirs, his time as a community organizer and she spit on his ambitious tax cut plan aimed at for once-helping the struggling middle class--a class that I know firsthand is carrying this country on its backs.

But it seemed, judging from the audience, the GOP might have employed a fast-acting formula that was working to knock some wind from Obama's campaign.

Palin surely did have the bark of a pitbull-with or without the lipstick. But that's about where it ended for the small town Mayor turned GOP saviour (not).

It was blatantly obvious in Charlie Gibson's first interview with Palin that she was in-fact all bark and no bite. She knew nothing about foreign policy, she stammered her way through the entire interview with catch phrases like "hell-bent on destroying our nation", a rhetoric that rings oddly familiar with that of President Bush after 9/11. What's most startling is that even if as a politician, you were scant on details of say, the Bush doctrine, you should at the very least be able to articulate how this country should move forward in international diplomacy.

I mean honestly, before you accepted McCain's offer you should have really thought long and hard--am I qualified? In what direction do I think this country should move with respect to George and South Ossetia? or Israel and Palestine? or India and Pakistan? or Mugabe and Tsvangirai.

Despite all this--despite a blaring lack of knowledge surrounding foreign policy, despite an archaic view of abortion, despite her reluctance to attribute global warming to mankind, despite her flip flopping and lack of executive experience--the GOP still stands fairly united that this hockey mom is the answer to their swing states and those pesky blue collar voters.

And somewhere in the depths of my mind, I am fully aware that this country no matter how "fair" we make ourselves out to be; we'd never vote for a Harvard-educated, community-organizing, God-fearing, family-loving black man over a former sports anchor, NRA, gun-toting, moose-eating, hockey mom.

You can play the "Palin is down-to-earth" card with me, but if the credentials were reversed do you think America would be standing behind Obama, touting him as a regular-guy with good values who deserves to be in the White House? I think not.

Qualified or not, the GOP found it's star, no matter how dim-witted she might be. They'll protect her, fawn over her and use much more articulate surrogates to speak on her behalf until they're finished cramming her head with years worth of vice-presidential know-how. The kicker is--it doesn't even matter if she pulls it off or not, because she is the GOP's great white hope and I hope I'm wrong.

Barack Obama Speech Viewing Parties

Everybody...and I mean everybody should be glued to some major network station (ABC, CBS, NBC, TVOne, CNN) to watch Obama's speech tonight at 10 PM EST.

I'll be in Charleston with my fam but you best believe I'll be turning on somebody's TV to watch! :)

The Park (920 14th Street NW) is having "The True Hope", a private event. With $5 cocktails from 5-7 pM, get swizzy before listening to Presidential hopeful Barack Obama. RSVP here to get in!

Pic Recap 2.0: Big Tigger's Welcome Reception at the Westin

Inside the Westin Grand Hotel (2350 M Street NW) Big Tigger welcomed DC notables, celebrities, sports players and some randoms to kick start his Celebrity Classic weekend. The event included a silent auction (I hear Vernon Davis bid $1500 on a one of a kind Michael Jordan gold basketball) to raise money for the Street Corner Foundation. 

(Photo: Tigger shows some love to DC Fab!)

(Photo: The Wizard's David Vanterpool in all his sexiness)

(Photo: Tiffany Evans)

(Photo: Vernon Davis with the Flava of Love girls...still getting their 5 minutes)

(Photo: We both look a mess...but DJ Clue was in the building gettin' his grub on)

(Photo: And thanks to Madame Tussauds I was able to meet one of the hottest men of the year, Barack. He's got my vote!!!)

Obama makes history...

Fi-na-ly...as if Hillary would have the nerve to make us wait any longer! Barack Obama becomes the first...well you know the rest.

And I will admit that I'm not the one with Barack and Michelle as my Facebook photo and I don't own a t-shirt or a bumper sticker...but I am quite proud of him. I think every brown/black/mixed person and even Hawaiians (lol) are sticking their chest out today. He actually did it...Step 1. Done. Step 2. Finally Done...now on to Step 3! Let's beat the old guy! :) ...but no seriously.

And you already know they have celebrations going on. Tonight it's at Inde Bleu (707 G Street NW). Doors open at 6 (great for happy hour time) and there's no cover. With $5 cocktails until 7 PM it should be a great place to have a couple after work! :)

NABJ Convention in hot Las Vegas!

Fab101: Stay Informed!

Barack and Hilary were out getting votes, trying to schmooze up the black journalists who had their NABJ (National Association of Black Journalits) convention in Las Vegas. (Now they know they weren't in the convention the whole time!)

(Thanks Dawn!)

I wish I could've gone...maybe next year!

Class dismissed! Stay fab.