EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE

By Karen Feld

THE NEW president will parade the 1.7-mile route from the Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

Security is always an important concern, but especially so this year in light of the tightly contested election, and unrest and terrorist alerts in international hot spots. The Capitol Police will be working closely with the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee and the Presidential Inaugural Committee in coordinating security, traffic flow and other logistics.

If you want to see the show, you need to plan ahead.

So, presuming you're not part of the entourage waiting in front of the Capitol, where's the best place to watch?

The hotels facing Pennsylvania Avenue-the Hotel Washington (515 15th Street NW), the Hay-Adams (80016th Street NW) rooftop, JW Marriott (1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) and the newly renovated Willard Inter-Continental (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW)-are perfect for people-and parade-watching.

Good choices are the corporate suites in the new Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, second in size only to the Pentagon.

Many of the corporations and law firms along the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor with window views-Nortel; Baker and Botts; Howrey and Simon; Crowell & Moring; Latham & Watkins; Sutherland; Asbill & Brennan; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Managed Health Care Association; CSX Corp.; EDS-have planned lunch and afternoon parade-watch parties, as well. They're considered prime real estate on Inauguration Day, especially those with a roof terrace. Government employees at the Federal Trade Commission and the National Archives face the parade route as well. All are hot tickets, and usually a Social Security number must accompany acceptance of an invitation.

Downtown Washington has experienced a restaurant and entertainment boom since the last inauguration in 1997, so parade-goers will find new diversions and refueling spots on or near the parade route: 701 (701 Pennsylvania Avenue, 202-393-0701), TenPenh (10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, 202-393-4500), Planet Hollywood (1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, 202-783-7827), the Capital Grille (601 Pennsylvania Avenue, 202-737-6200), Les Halles (1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, 202-347-6848), Palomino Euro Bistro (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, 202-842-9800), Christopher Marks (1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, 202-628-5939) and Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th Street, 202-347-4800).

Arrive early and position yourself so you can get a glimpse of the passing parade through the bleachers along Pennsylvania Avenue. The best location is near the reviewing stand between 15th and 17th streets. If you don't have an invite and plan to brave the cold, dress warmly and arrive early--10 or 11 a.m., perhaps even earlier.

Charlie Brotman, the president's announcer at the inaugural parade every year since 1957, has a prime spot, right along with Secret Service in the presidential reviewing stand on the roof of the media center-above the president and the parade-on Pennsylvania Avenue opposite the White House.

Last parade, he called, "Mr. President, here comes the Arkansas band. They say they have an opening for a saxophone player--any interest?" Brotman says he was thrilled when the president shot back, "Not this time, Charlie!"

"Calling these parades is the biggest thrill I've ever had," says Brotman, a native Washingtonian and public relations man. "It's the opportunity of a lifetime, being part of something this spectacular."

--K.F.