Local inauguration festivities start early Tuesday

The major question looming on the path to Barack Obama's presidency: Will next week's 44th inauguration bash possibly compare to Seattle's spontaneous election-night revelry of Nov. 4?

(Admittedly there are major-er questions about Obama's presidency, but those are better left to the front page.)

With local festivities beginning at 7 in the morning at some venues and going into the wee hours of the night at others, hard-core Obamaniacs have a daylong opportunity to soak up history — and lots and lots of booze.

Blame the early start on time zones. Things get under way at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, when most of Seattle would normally be mainlining its morning coffee. Tuesday's ceremony will be broadcast on all the networks and news channels, and proceed as follows:

7 a.m.: Opening procession with music by the U.S. Marine Band, the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.

8:30 a.m.: Call to order by U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, with an invocation by Dr. Rick Warren. Swearing in of Vice President-elect Joseph Biden, followed by music from Aretha Franklin and a composition from John Williams, performed by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill.

9 a.m.: The official swearing-in of Obama as president of the United States, followed by Obama's inaugural address. Closing remarks will include a poem read by Yale professor Elizabeth Alexander, a benediction from civil-rights leader the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, and the national anthem performed by the U.S. Navy Band "Sea Chanters." And then ... parade!

If you aren't one of the 250,000 in D.C., you might attend — or avoid, depending — one of these inauguration events happening in the city, all on Tuesday.

The 44th Presidential Inauguration Celebration

7 a.m., Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; free (206-467-5510 or www.theparamount.com).

The classic grandeur of the Paramount Theatre mirrors the significance of the occasion. Sponsored by Seattle Theatre Group and KOMO News (which will air the D.C. events live), the Paramount party is free to all ages — no ticket required — and will offer beverages and "breakfast snacks" by Tom Douglas Restaurants.

The Stranger's Inaugural Ball

8 a.m., Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle; $7 cover, $18-$24 for brunch (sold out; information, 206-838-4333 or www.thestranger.com/inauguration).

Early birds with deeper pockets and drinking habits can head to the Triple Door, where Dan Savage of the Stranger will "provide commentary" during the ceremony, broadcast on a 16-by-9-foot screen at 8 a.m.

Inauguration Day Viewing Party

8:30 a.m., Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; free (www.brownpapertickets.com).

Town Hall hosts a more traditional affair, with coffee, pastries and a big screen at 8:30 a.m. (no tickets are required for the free event, but you should register at Brown Paper Tickets).

From Odetta to Obama:

Celebrating a Changing America

7:30 p.m., Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $5 (info or tickets, 800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

Town Hall goes uber-traditional as iconic soul-jazz singer Ernestine Anderson headlines a gala concert with blues singer Chic Street Man, traditional spirituals from the Sound of the Northwest and gospel by the Imani Fellowship Choir. This promises to be a spectacularly moving evening. Doors open at 6 p.m., with a rescreening of Obama's inaugural address at 6:30 and the concert at 7:30.

Obama inauguration parties

4 p.m., King Cobra, 916 E. Pike St., Seattle (www.kingcobraseattle.com/index.html).

6 p.m., The Comet, 922 E. Pike St., Seattle (www.myspace.com/thecomettavern).

King Cobra and the Comet both throw down free parties with drink specials and general Obama-themed debauchery.

Bush is Gone Celebration

7 p.m., Rendezvous Jewel Box Theater, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle; free (206-441-5823 or www.jewelboxtheater.com).

Rendezvous hosts a free, nerd-tastic array of spoof comedy and musicianship with regulars Winlar, GT and the Kazoo! sketch-comedy crew. Tolerance for kazoos, ukuleles and stale Bush jokes highly encouraged.

Obama Inauguration Celebration

9 p.m., High Dive, 513 N. 36th St., Seattle; $6 (206-632-0212 or www.highdiveseattle.com).

For true political agitation, try the High Dive, where Common Market's MC RA Scion teams up with electro-jazz outfit Vunt Foom. Few performers are more attuned than RA, who's no doubt ecstatic over Obama. This will be a helluva way to usher in the next four years.

Jonathan Zwickel: zwickelicious@gmail.com