Night Establishments In D.C. Granted Extended Hours From Jan. 17 to 21

December 17, 2008 5:12 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C (AHN) - The District of Columbia Council approved on Tuesday night a proposal to allow bars and nightclubs in the area to remain open until 4 a.m. and serve alcohol until that time. Other nightlife establishments will be permitted to be open for food service 24/7 on the Obama inaugural week from Jan. 17 to 21.

The extra open hours for the dining and drinking establishments will cost the owners $250 daily for nightclubs and $100 for bars and restaurants . The normal closing time is at 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends.

The extension of the nightspot hours was upon the suggestion of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, whose members wanted to earn a little extra income as the area expects up to 3 million visitors for the inauguration of the presidency of Barack Obama, America's 44th president.

But some senators, community leaders and religious organizations expressed apprehension about the move through a letter sent to council chairman Vincent Gray and Mayor Adrian Fenty. They pointed to security concerns as the reason behind their opposition to the widening of nightspot hours.

The council approved the revised regulations 9 to 4.

The Obama inauguration is expected to bring in not only record crowds but also celebrities who will take part in unofficial balls. Dionne Warwick reportedly will be the host of the American Music Inaugural Ball, while the Purple Ball will be handled by Lou Gossett Jr.

The Creative Coalition's gala will topbill Elvis Costello, while expected to show up for the parties of non-profit arts and entertainment advocacy groups are Anne Hathaway, Spike Lee, Tim Robbins and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Past presidential inaugural rites had some celebrity performances like Bill Clinton's in 1993 which featured a parade of performers including Maya Angelou and Robert Kennedy's in 1961 when Robert Frost read a poem.