For those not invited to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the next best thing might have been playing Frisbee barefoot in a downtown park and listening to a singer rap Obama's inauguration speech.
As hundreds of thousands gathered on the Washington, D.C., mall to watch Obama's swearing-in, across the country, a decidedly smaller crowd celebrated at the Grand Park near City Hall.
The 12-acre park played host to "Hail to the Chiefs," a five-hour celebration featuring music and food vendors. As temperatures climbed past the 70-degree mark, some families sought shade under a tree, or at the purple-colored tables that line the park.
Kids race barefoot across the grass and 20-somethings picnicked.
Voto Latino volunteer Fred Pech, 24, helped man a booth for the national group that registers and organizes young Latino voters and raises awareness of Latino issues.
A surge in Latino voter turnout helped Obama win in November, but Pech said that Latinos still need to "remind the president that we're still here." He said he hoped Obama would make immigration reform a priority in the next term.
Throughout the five-hour event, a variety of musical acts played or were scheduled to perform, including San Francisco rock band Lo Cura, and local funk band Pinot. DJ Anthony Valadez threaded segments of Obama's inauguration speech and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech into his rap song, according to event organizers.
Grand Park organizers put the number of attendees at nearly 1,000 people.
The park also hosted a large event the night of the Nov. 6 election, drawing hundreds to watch the results on a jumbo-size screen.
But Monday's event wasn't so much a political event as a celebration, said Bonnie Goodman, spokeswoman for Grand Park. The park has quickly become a popular spot for downtowners, who haven't had much in the way of green space.
A handful of City Hall politicians attended the Washington, D.C., inauguration, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Villaraigosa helped rally Latino voters for the president during his re-election campaign, making frequent trips around the country last fall on the behalf of Obama.
Despite the mayor's efforts, singer Jay-Z and his wife, Beyonce, had better seats at Obama's swearing-in ceremony, according to photos of the event.
Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Eric Garcetti also was at the event. "The whole town is electric," Garcetti said, calling from his hotel.
"This time it feels even more real and feels like there's even more urgency," Garcetti said, adding he hopes Obama focuses on economy, immigration, and gun control in his second term.
Garcetti planned to attend a White House reception with the president Monday night before flying back to L.A.
City Councilman Joe Buscaino also attended the inauguration.
All photos courtesy of Facebook: Grand Park
'Hail To The Chiefs' Party
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