by Janet Grella

Inauguration Night turned out to be very lucky for Ann Crossler, president of Available Personnel Services in Burien – she won the drawing for a complete makeover sponsored in part by BTB Advertiser The Mark Restaurant.

While a packed house of revelers celebrated President Obama’s inauguration, Ann was swept off into a private dining area, then returned 90 minutes later glowing and glamorous.

Daniel Keane, longtime owner of Burien’s Market Place Salon and Day Spa approached The Mark’s Debra George with the concept of doing a makeover. Debra in turn enlisted Anna Vornbrock of Zizia along with local fashionista Robin Dunkle of BTB Advertiser Howard and Marge to provide jewelry and clothes.

With five inches (and lots of layering) cut from Ann’s thick long hair by Daniel Keane, her hair was then styled by Market Place stylist Paul Allen.  While Robin and Anna coordinated outfits and jewelry, Ann got a complete makeup redeux by Market Place’s senior stylist Darby Ackerman.

Ann’s makeover included cut, style, makeup by Market Place Salon, a patent leather pea coat and black racer-back tank with beading from Howard and Marge and pearl and quartz earrings by Seattle artist Susan Goodwin from Zizia.

With a makeover valued at over $350, Ann told BTB:

“I was excited to win the makeover at The Mark. What a wonderful idea. It was so much fun and all the folks from the Market Place Salon, Zizia’s and Howard & Marge Boutique were great. I’m thrilled with my new look.”

BTB was told by both Market Place and The Mark that this will be the first of many makeovers.

by Josh Hart

It just so happens that the first inauguration I ever witnessed in my short lifetime happens to be one of the most historical inaugurations in many people’s lifetimes.

As I listened to the inauguration over the internet, I particularly focused on Barack Obama’s speech. After he was sworn in, even despite the couple mistakes by Supreme Court Justice Roberts, the crowd started chanting “OBAMA!”

After the crowd quieted down, our new President started with:

“My fellow citizens, I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.”

He then continued by thanking his predecessor George W. Bush. Following that he said:

“Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.”

He talked about the crisis of America being at war among topics of the economy.

Then came what I thought was the greatest part of his speech:

“In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.”

Those are some of the greatest couple of paragraphs I have ever heard. I think that was what made this speech great also. Those few paragraphs included every race and gender, and really tied America into one. He didn’t leave anyone out, but instead included us all.

It was FANTASTIC!!!

I am really looking forward to seeing what he brings to America and I can’t wait to hear more of his speeches.

Here’s an interesting “highlight” video of Obama’s big day, as shot by Colorado Filmmaker & Photojournalist Brian Malone:

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Josh Hart is the B-Town Blog's first Intern! He's also a 15-year old student at Highline's “Big Picture High School” in SeaTac.

You can read more of his writing here...]

Enjoy this historic day folks:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

From our initial research, it looks like the only “sure thing” reliable place(s) to watch Tuesday’s historic Inauguration Day ceremonies in person (other than at your home or office) is at the following area Starbucks stores between 7am and 11am:

• Burien 148th SW Plaza: 116 SW 148th Street, Burien
• Normandy Park: 17829 1st Ave South, Normandy Park
• Interurban Ave Tukwila: 13038 Interurban Ave, Tukwila
• Southcenter: 333 Strander Blvd., Tukwila
• Southcenter Barnes & Noble: 300 Andover Place West, Tukwila
• Parkway Supercenter: 17480 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila
• Des Moines Redondo: 27027 Pacific Hwy South, Des Moines

Here’s what the SBUXers have to say about it:

“Starbucks will be streaming the Inauguration event in select stores in New York, San Francisco and Seattle that have the Now Playing screens.

This is the first time that we’ll air a live broadcast along with audio, so the usual music you’re used to will be replaced with this historic event from 10 – 2 p.m. Eastern and 7 – 11 a.m. Pacific.

If you are looking for a place to view the Inauguration in these cities, visit your neighborhood Starbucks and watch it with us over a great cup of coffee!”

Of course there’s always good ol’ reliable TV, where the usual broadcast outlets will be showing it live.

Or, if you’ll be chained to your desk like us, your options are pretty much limited to watching it online, and here’s a list of links to where you can watch it via the interwebs:

• Joint Congressional Committee On Inaugural Ceremonies
• Presidential Inaugural Committee
• CSPAN’s Inauguration Hub
  
• MSNBC’s Inauguration Feed
• CNN/Facebook Live Feed
• Current & Twitter Live Feed
• USTREAM
  
• CBS News
  
• Washington Post’s Inauguration Central
  
• Joost
• Hulu
  

Here are some live webcams that will probably be overloaded, but might be worth a look:

• http://video.vdat.com/playmedia_embed2.asp?sid=99570&aid=100944
• http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/nacccam/wash.jpg
• Washington Post Webcam

If you do go to a Starbucks to watch, don’t forget that they’re also encouraging customers to come back again the next day (starting Wed. Jan. 21st) to sign up to pledge five hours of volunteerism by offering a free cup of coffee:

To celebrate this national unifying week, between January 21 – 25, we will be asking all Starbucks customers to pledge 5 hours of volunteerism in their local neighborhood and in return we will provide them with a free cup of coffee.  They will be encouraged to find volunteer opportunities and will have access to tools and resources to bring their pledge into action.  Our goal is to collect at least 1 million pledge hours during these four days.

Starbucks is excited about this important moment in time and invites you to be a part of it.  If you’d like to highlight upcoming volunteer opportunities please post them to our Starbucks volunteer network, a place where customers will be encouraged to look for local opportunities.  Thank you for the work you do in your community.

Please see the information below on how to get started:

1. Create a personal profile here.
   
2. Create individual volunteer opportunities to share with others here.

Or at your local Starbucks.

Also, don’t forget that BTB Advertiser The Mark Restaurant & Bar is hosting an Inaugural Party Tuesday evening starting at 5pm:

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 20th, from 5pm to close

WHERE: The Mark Restaurant & Bar, located at 914 SW 152nd in Olde Burien (map below)

SPECIALS: Come in and say “Yes We Can!” and get 1/2 OFF on Bar Menu. They’ll also have specially Inaugural labeled bottles of wine and Champagne on hand.

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