Local places to celebrate the inauguration
Didn't get to Washington, D.C.? These suburban viewing parties are going on today.
• Wheeling and Palatine Township Democrats will watch festivities on big-screen TVs starting at 7 p.m. at Village Bar & Grill, 48 Raupp Blvd., Buffalo Grove. $10 entrance fee covers hot appetizers and a ticket for door prizes. Attendees are encouraged to participate in a poetry slam, wear Obama gear and bring a favorite campaign photo for the bulletin board at the Arlington Heights Democratic Office. Contact wheelingtownshipdems@yahoo.com.
• Tenth Congressional District Democrats plan a replay of the inauguration and live coverage of the balls at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Deerfield, 1750 Lake-Cook Road. $44 for those 18 and older, $20 for those 12 to 17, free for children younger than 12. There will be food and a cash bar. Contact tenthdems.org or (847) 266-8683.
• Eighth District Democrats & Independents inauguration party at 6:30 p.m. at the Byron Colby Barn, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake. Inaugural events will be on televisions, with food and drinks available. Donations for a local food bank requested. (847) 550-8631.
• Milton Township Democrats inauguration party at 7 p.m. in the dining hall of the Theosophical Society, 1926 N. Main St., Wheaton. Free; food and punch will be served. Visitors are asked to bring a grocery bag full of nonperishable goods for the township's food pantry. (630) 699-5071.
• Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County Inc. inaugural luncheon at 10:30 a.m. at Midlane Golf Resort at 4555 W. Yorkhouse Road in Waukegan. Tickets cost $25. There also will be a $75 black-tie inaugural reception and dinner ball at 6 p.m. at Midlane. Combined tickets for the lunch and dinner ball are $95. Call (847) 244-5548 or visit bccoflakecounty.com.
• The Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce inauguration celebration runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Fox and Hound Lounge at the Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. Free, but the breakfast is for chamber members only. (847) 741-5660.
• JSH&A Public Relations in Oak Brook invites members of the community to celebrate the inauguration with viewing and refreshments at 6 p.m. at the JSH&A office, 2 Trans Am Plaza Drive, Suite 450, Oak Brook. (630) 932-4242.
• The Gail Borden Public Library, 270 Grove Ave., Elgin, will show inauguration events live on the first and second floors. (847) 721-2411.
• Aurora University will hold "inauguration watch" gatherings where students can view the C-Span Webcast on big screens in Crimi Auditorium and Perry Theatre.
• The inauguration will be airing live on televisions in the Harper Student Center (Building A) at Harper College in Palatine.
• St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 342 E. Wood St., Palatine, will hold an "Ancient/Future" worship service at 9:30 a.m. to commemorate the lives of two martyrs, Fabian and Martin Luther King Jr. After Eucharist, there will be a viewing of the inauguration ceremonies in the Foote Library. Call the Rev. Deb Seles at (847) 358-0615.
• All suburban T.G.I. Friday's restaurants will participate in what the restaurant chain is billing as the "World's Largest Inauguration Party," which includes TV viewing, drink and food specials all day and a commemorative button. Visit fridays.com.
• Watch the swearing-in ceremony - and collect the same kind of souvenir coasters being handed out in Washington - at Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. at the Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway. (630) 892-0034.