Inaugural Party Report: Huffpo's Newseum Bash

Much as I love standing in line outdoors for six hours to watch a Jumbotron with 10 million other people, I didn't make it down to Washington for the inauguration of Barack Obama. But my former Portfolio colleague Andrea Chalupa did. Here's her account of one of the week's main events, a party thrown by the Huffington Post at the Newseum. Her camera broke before she got there, but so what? Like you don't know what Chris Matthews looks like? Use your imagination, for crissakes. -- J.B.

The line was long and winding to get in to the Huffington Post party in the Newseum last night. G.O.P. pollster Frank Luntz placed a phone call and managed to jump the line, beating the chill. Code Pink ladies entertained those waiting with dancing and the antics of tying pink ribbons to people's wrists if they supported peace. They tried to get Chris Matthews, as he was rushing in, to throw up a peace sign, but he declined, no doubt shy from their camera.

Inside it was a packed mess. Came in and literally ran into the back of Robert DeNiro and his beautiful girlfriend. Tammy Haddad managed to grab "Bobby" and snap a pic. Other celebs in attendance included Shakira, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Michael J. Fox, the Jonas Brothers, Marisa Tomei, and Rev. Jesse Jackson, who ignored a Newseum staffer who expressed in an outburst his enthusiasm for the inauguration. Political hotties also included Cory Booker, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, Rachel Maddow, and Charlie Kireker, chair and a chief financier of Air America.

Doug Liman, producer of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the upcoming Knight Rider, chatted by the Tesla Roadster on display in the party entrance. It was there to draw attention to one of the parties many themes: change in Washington, the dominance of new media, and a commitment to service and of course, the environment. Because blogs are so much better than dead tree magazines. But possibly only Liman, and Craig Newmark of Craigslist, who worked the crowd, and YouTube C.E.O. Chad Hurley, also in attendance, could afford the thousand-grand-plus pricetag for the Tesla. The media folks who made up the meat of the event were busy catching up on who still has a job and who's suddenly found themselves on "book leave."

I Chatted with Paul Reikoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. He's the very passionate spokesperson for veterans issues and frequently on Maddow's Air America and MSNBC shows. Told him he needs to run for Congress and that he's the white Corey Booker. Based on that and my advice to read Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, we should expect to see a Reikoff Congressional run in the next few years.

Arianna addressed the four-floored party wearing a lacy, black Scarlet O'Hara-ish gown with a mermaid tail. She spoke about, um, not sure. (The crowd was really loud.) It's a wonder people still attempt to give speeches at open bar events. Then Sheryl Crow, Sting, Will.i.am rocked it on stage.

Shiny, bright colored celebration hats and horns were passed out before midnight and the place erupted in a countdown as the seconds ticked down to January 20th.

With four floors of open bars and passed hors d'oeuvres, people speculated as to where Arianna got the money to throw a party like this. The recent $25 million cash infusion into Huffington Post from Oak Venture Partners? Doubtful party co-sponsors Service Nation and AARP could do much to help foot the bill.

The party and celebrities died down after the big countdown as all four floors open in the Newseum grew sparser with party-goers. The bars stayed open until 1 a.m., when the lights and automated voice came on: the Newseum is now closed. Wait, you mean old media, old media is closed. How could a party by bloggers for bloggers and the fabulous people they blog about come to a close so soon?