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Tayari's Blog: CBC BALL!

Posted by TayariJones on January 21, 2009 08:13 AM
Filed under D.C. Diaries

Eventhough I had completely committed to going to bed earlier, my good friend, Sanderia Smith, convinced me to whip out my glad rags one more time and go to the Congressional Black Caucus Ball. I was wiped out from having gotten up at 5am to become of one two million frozen witnesses to history. But Sanderia is an old friend and I hadn't seen her in a long time.

The CBC ball was a pretty subdued affair. I don't know if everyone was just sort of tired like I was, or if it was because folks were sort of bummed that O-Man didn't put the CBC on his list of balls he planned to visit. The CBC had reserved a large and lovely space-- the entire mezzanine of the Capitol Hilton, but half the tables were sadly empty at just 10pm.

I think this is a sign of the economy. I was told that several organizations canceled their balls because people just weren't buying tickets. When you think about it, balls are very expensive to attend. Let's break it down. The obvious expense is the tickets which may be about $400, but there are so many other costs. Dress, shoes, hair, nails, taxi to get there... It can easily run you nearly $1000. As much as people love Obama-- they were willing to freeze for him!-- it's just too expensive to fete and definitely to expensive to fete him at more than one ball.

Never the less, I did my part to make it merry! Sanderia and I danced, talked to strangers, and ate fondue. We ran into Dr. Johnetta Cole (swoon!) and told her how much we admire her. When I saw a woman wearing the same dress as me, in the sprit of unity, I did not demand that she go home and change.

See, it's a new day.

January 21, 2009 02:06 PM

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