Texas State Society of Washington, DC 2009 Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball
Important transportation updates regarding the 2009 Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball: The Ball will be held on Monday, January 19, 2009 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, located at 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, Maryland. The Ball will begin at 7:00 pm. Be sure to bring cash for coat check, drink purchases and also to purchase items at the Texas Fair (some vendors may take credit cards). PLEASE NOTE: Metro Rail & Metro Bus service has extended their hours and will close promptly at 2:00 am on January 20, 2009. For guests utilizing the metro rail, please plan on being on a return shuttle bus by 1:15 am in order to get to the metro station prior to its closing. LIMITED PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT GAYLORD HOTEL and nearby parking garages. As you drive to the National Harbor area, signage and security personnel will direct you to available parking garages. If you do plan to drive, please give yourself plenty of time. The entrance to the Convention Center will open at 7:00 pm. Due to heightened security in the District of Columbia and road closures in and around Union Station ordered by Secret Service, we have had to change the Metro shuttle bus pick-up locations that were outlined in your ticket letter. TRANSPORTATION UPDATE - DIFFERENT METRO STATIONS are now being used for guests utilizing free shuttles to Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Motorcoaches will be staged at the Branch Avenue Station and Eisenhower Station to transport event guests to and from Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Event staff will be posted down in the metro stations and bus depots with Black Tie & Boots signage to assist and direct event guests to awaiting shuttles. The shuttle buses will begin at 5:30pm. BRANCH AVE. STATION - GREEN LINE Guests driving into and parking at the BRANCH AVENUE station have been requested to first utilize the parking spaces in the metered parking area, located immediately in front of the Bus Loading zones; once this area is full please utilize the available parking spaces, closest to the bus loading zones. The GREEN LINE is accessible and has connection points with all Metro Lines. It connects with ORANGE, BLUE & YELLOW at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station. It also connects with the RED & YELLOW at the Chinatown-Gallery Place Station. Motorcoaches will be located in the Kiss and Ride area, curbside to transport event guests to and from Gaylord.
EISENHOWER AVE. METRO STATION - YELLOW LINE Guests driving into and parking at the EISENHOWER STATION have been asked to park in the parking located to the right of the entrance to the metro station. Free Parking is available after 4:30PM. The parking lot has signage at the entrance (MONUMENTAL PARKING DAILY & MONTHLY PARKING). The YELLOW LINE is accessible and has connection points with all Metro Lines. It connects with ORANGE, BLUE & GREEN at L’Enfant Plaza Station. It also connects with the RED & GREEN at the Chinatown-Gallery Place Station. Motorcoaches will be located in the Kiss and Ride area, curbside to transport event guests to and from Gaylord.
Texas State Society of Washington, DC 2009 Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball DON’T FORGET YOUR TICKET – YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED WITHOUT IT! You must have your ticket in hand to present at registration. Please distribute one ticket to each of your guests that will be attending. Everyone entering the Ball must PRESENT PHOTO ID. For everyone’s safety, security personnel will be manning the entire venue perimeter. You will be required to pass through a magnetometer upon arriving at the Gaylord. Too much metal or concealed metal will cause this process to be lengthy, so please plan your evening attire accordingly. Expect certain areas to be off-limits. Once you exchange your ticket for a wristband you will pass through the heightened security perimeter. This wristband must be on your wrist and in clear view of security personnel. Coat check will be available and will cost $5.00 per coat.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK THE TEXAS STATE SOCIETY WEBSITE at www.texasstataesociety.org for additional updates. Please contact with questions: Jackie Alafoginis 202-741-1280, jackie@websterconsulting.com Lindsay Robbins 202-741-1274, lindsay@websterconsulting.com