Living Large

I’ve heard it said that the financial crisis and looming recession will reduce income inequality, but there still seems to be plenty around:

Four guests at the Omni Shoreham Hotel will be living large this January. The hotel’s 44th Commander-in-Chief Package, priced at a whopping $440,000, includes lots of bells and whistles to make its four-night stay for the inauguration as deluxe as possible.

Guests will stay in the two-bedroom, 1,700-square-foot Shoreham Presidential suite. It includes living and dining rooms, a library, a full kitchen, and a balcony. They’ll be treated to private breakfasts and an in-room dinner with entertainment by political satirist Mark Russell. Because tickets for four to the swearing-in ceremony are included, the hotel will make sure that its VIP guests are well coiffed and outfitted for the event: They’ll enjoy a preinauguration makeover by Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Salon & Spa, a $44,000 shopping spree from the Lambros Jewelry Inauguration Collection, and personalized president and first lady cologne and perfume.

Getting to and from Washington won’t be a problem either: The hotel will arrange a private jet for the guests’ arrival and departure. And when they leave, they’ll walk out the door with a puppy of their choice—yes, a puppy.

I’ve gotta say, “in-room dinner with entertainment by political satirist Mark Russell” is way down the list of things I would want to buy with my $400,000. 1