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At the Corned Beef restaurant in downtown Roanoke, a crowd of 15 advertising and public relations workers gathered at six tables for what organizer Alina Soroka called their "inaugural luncheon."

Some teared up as the new president took the oath of office and one cited an REM rock song called "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I feel fine)."

Chris Henson said of that tune, "That pretty much sums it up."

Nearby, at Total Elegance hair salon, the owner, Dawn Wright, had a television going with a half dozen customers watching the ceremony. In October, then candidate Barack Obama stopped in the salon while visiting Roanoke for a campaign rally.

"What I feel right now, it's a pride no words can ever convey," Wright said. "He was speaking for everybody in this country. He put the responsibility on all of us."

Her group frequently broke out in spontaneous applause such as when Obama said, "We are ready to lead once more."

If you're following the inauguration on television or online, you'll know that the swearing-in is over and the afternoon festivities have begun.

Next up for the new president and his family is an inaugural luncheon in the Capitol.

Roanoke.com's Fridge Magnet blogger Lindsey Nair has posted recipes for the luncheon menu -- from a seafood stew starter through the cinnamon apple sponge cake dessert.

At the Wheatland Hills retirement community in Christiansburg, members of an older generation watched the ceremony, recalling the times in office of previous presidents, including Jimmy Carter.

Four women agreed that they had never witnessed an inauguration with such fanfare.

Isabel Whitaker, 82, was among them.

"It's a time when people can breathe again," Whitaker said. "It's really a double triumph for the nation but, honestly, I never thought they'd put a black man in the White House." - Anna Mallory

Only sand-blasting will remove this personal, airbrushed tribute to famous black leaders Barack Obama, Martin Luther King and Malcom X.

Roanoke resident Robert Basham, 35, said he has no plans to do so.

"That's for life," he said.

Basham, a body shop employee, used an airbrush to paint his bright blue 2000 Crown Victoria with portraits of Obama, King and Malcolm X. Obama is featured most predominantly on the hood. Above his portrait, words proclaim, "The Dream is Real!!" The other portraits occupy side panels.

Basham said he painted the tribute as a Christmas present to himself. He had hoped to attend today's inauguration but said, "This is my inauguration right here."

He spoke while stopped at Eleventh Street, Northwest, Basham said people who have seen the car have reacted warmly and honked in solidarity.

-- Pete Dybdahl | Photo by Stephanie Klein-Davis

A historic event of national and international significance also touches residents of region.

To cover today's inauguration of Barack Obama, The Roanoke Times has 17 reporters and photographers in the field. Three, including columnist Shanna Flowers and two photographers, are in Washington D.C. Others are visiting schools, barber shops, restaurants, gatherings at Virginia Tech, arts performances and other regional events and will post here what they are finding, photographing and learning from these venues.

Check in through today with this blog or with www.roanoke.com to view photographs and updates from the field.