Metro Atlantans celebrate Obama inauguration

As he mingled in the crowd Tuesday night at the Southern States Ball in Washington, Luthersville attorney Bob Trammell was hoping for a second peek at America’s new first couple,

“You can just feel it,” said Trammell, among the estimated 2 million people who watched the inauguration from the Washington Mall. “It’s tangible. Change is finally coming.”

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Kimberly Smith / ksmith@ajc.com

Carolyn Grady (left) of Austell, Charles Wilkins (center) of Atlanta and Edna Marie Rogers-Alty of Atlanta raise their glasses to toast President Obama during the ‘Yes We Can, Yes We Did’ Stylish and Elegant Inauguration Ball. The event, held at the Marriott Perimenter Center in Dunwoody, was sponsored by Tres Elegant Events.

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ALLEN SULLIVAN / aesullivan@ajc.com

At Manuel’s Tavern, Doreen Dawkins tries to sell prints of President Obama to customer Denise Cardo.

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But were Barack and Michelle Obama? They were scheduled to make an appearance at the Southern States Ball at the Washington Armory, but with nine other balls to attend, it could be early Wednesday before the president and first lady arrive.

Atlanta boxer Evander Holyfield, who attended the inauguration and the Southern States Ball, said Obama was the “right person at the right time” to break the presidential color barrier.

“Everybody has a turn,” the former heavyweight champion said. “Eventually there’ll be a Hispanic president, an Asian president and a woman president.”

Back in Atlanta, the mood was equally optimistic. At Manuel’s Tavern, patrons started lining up outside the venerable Poncey-Highlands tavern a little after 9 a.m., two hours before its usual opening.

And they weren’t waiting for a morning snack. Manuel’s doesn’t serve breakfast on Tuesdays — unless you count Bloody Marys.

It seems they didn’t want to watch history unfold alone.

And nearly 12 hours later, at 8:30 p.m., the bar remained packed with inaugural watchers, enjoying around-the-clock coverage of festivities in Washington.

“I think everywhere just completely stopped today,” said Manuel’s customer Joey Grizzard. “That was kind of cool. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that happen for anything.”

For Democrats, the day was particularly sweet.

“I’ve been waiting eight years for this,” said Mark Gleva, a 24-year-old undergraduate student at Georgia Tech. “I’m just enjoying the moment, enjoying the day.”

Across the metro area people got together to celebrate the swearing-in of Barack Obama.

About 50 people showed up at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marietta, where the Cobb United for Change Coalition hosted an inauguration party.

“What a fantastic day in history,” said Dwight Graves, of the Cobb County Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Richard Pellegrino, of Cobb United for Change, said he watched the inauguration with feelings of hope and confidence.

“To me, it’s America renewed,” Pellegrino said.

As the new president and first lady were introduced on live TV coverage of the Neighborhood Ball in Washington, the crowd at Robert’s Bistro cheered to see Michelle Obama in her one-shouldered gown and Obama in white tie.

Ben Williams, wearing a gold and purple Obama cap, said he wanted to spend the evening around kindred spirts.

“Obama has given a strong signal this is about community building,” said Williams, of Mableton. “It’s all about coming together and doing our part.”

Back at Manuel’s, night manager Steve Pitts waxed nostalgic.

“I’m going to miss the election season, to be honest with you,” Pitts said. “With the debates, the election, this feels like kind of the capper. From here on out comes the real work.”

Doreen Dawkins, who hawked posters and T-shirts inside the bar, said Obama is up to the task.

“What I’m loving is how everybody is coming together — race, creed and nationality,” Dawkins said. “Everyone has more hope in moving forward… let everyone say ‘Amen’!”

That chorus continued into the night, as more than 100 people gathered in Dunwoody for the “Yes We Can, Yes We Did” Stylish and Elegant Inauguration Ball

“I’m so pleased that people are finally waking up and we can get it together and be united,” said Cynthia Granger, 46, of Morrow. “I feel like God has placed him here on a mission and that’s why everything fell into place. It just doesn’t happen. I don’t feel like we’re looking at color, we’re looking at change.”

“You can be whatever you want to be,” said Sharda Maxwell, 22. “It’s more real now and there’s no stopping achievement. It’s a blessing to be here with my family and friends to see this happen.”

— Staff writers Andria Simmons, Kent Miles, Marcus K. Garner and Kimberly Smith contributed to this article.