Union Station

The emotion and size of the crowd at Tuesday's presidential inaugural in Washington inspired and awed several prominent Howard County Democrats who attended. But getting there and back home presented more practical concerns. MARC commuter trains, Metro subway cars, private autos and a county car and police driver were the different modes used by four leaders to get to Washington's Union Station on Tuesday, the start of their individual and often very personal strolls to the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the nation's 44th president.

The beautiful Beaux Arts-style Penn Station was constructed in 1911, and it looks like the windows have not been washed since. The Venetian blinds have not been relieved of their crookedness or the boxes and other paraphernalia at the windows removed from their obtrusive locations. This unattractive scene faces all who pass the station going north on Charles Street and south on St. Paul Street heading downtown. Signs designating the adjacent area as the Station North Arts and Entertainment District have been posted.

So you've just said goodbye to your job in Baltimore and have accepted an exciting new position in Washington. The nation's capital beckons, but not its inflated real estate market. You want the best of both worlds: D.C. pay and prestige, Baltimore ambience and affordability. And being a smart cookie, there's no way you're going to pay the exorbitant cost of driving to Washington and parking there every day. Sounds like you're a perfect candidate for MARC. Not so fast, hotshot. Commuter rail isn't for everyone.

My wife, Ann, and I took a trip to Kansas City, Mo., in May to attend a genealogy convention. During our visit, I photographed these two kids dashing through the water fountain on the Crown Center plaza, which is located near Union Station and is noted for its shops and restaurants. William Hughes, Baltimore The Sun welcomes submissions for "My Best Shot." Photos should be accompanied by a description of when and where you took the picture and your name, address and phone number. Submissions cannot be individually acknowledged or returned, and upon submission become the property of The Sun. Write to: Travel Department, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278, or e-mail Travel@baltsun.

Lori Kantziper of Mount Washington, under the delusion that this column is written by a "local travel expert," sent this query: My 17-year-old son and three friends are going to attend the Washington Wizards game in D.C. on Friday. The game starts at 8 p.m. They really don't want to drive, but I can't think of another way for them to get there. If they take the Metro from a suburb, then there's the time involved of waiting for the return Metro back to the car and then driving home. That could take an extra hour or so. I do remember one of your columns discussing the MTA bus that leaves from BWI and goes to D.C., but I have a feeling that it just runs during commuter hours.

Grammy-winning country music stars Alison Krauss and Union Station will perform Saturday night at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30-$75. Lawn admission for children 12 and younger is free with a paying adult. Merriweather Post Pavilion is at 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. For tickets, call 410-547-SEAT or go to ticketmaster.com.

For two cities so close whose fortunes are so entwined, Baltimore and Washington have an abysmal lack of transit connections. Greyhound runs a comprehensive schedule but is a bit pricey for regular commuter use at $12 one way. Its Baltimore station is stuck in an industrial district far from the light rail or subway. The MARC train costs $7 between Baltimore and Washington (with discounts for regular users) but runs a restricted schedule -- especially on the Camden Line -- with no weekend service.

For two cities so close whose fortunes are so entwined, Baltimore and Washington have an abysmal lack of transit connections. Greyhound runs a comprehensive schedule but is a bit pricey for regular commuter use at $12 one way. Its Baltimore station is stuck in an industrial district far from the light rail or subway. The MARC train costs $7 between Baltimore and Washington (with discounts for regular users) but runs a restricted schedule - especially on the Camden Line - with no weekend service.

Jennifer McCahill's boy-friend lives in Charles Village. McCahill lives in Northwest Washington, D.C. This makes for lots of running up and down the railroad tracks, from Union Station to Penn Station, both love and loneliness on either end. But McCahill, on her way home from a weekend visit, doesn't seem too forlorn. In fact, she looks downright fabulous in her traveling outfit -- in particular, killer cowboy boots that are so not made for running to catch trains. WONDERING IF YOU WERE GLIMPSED?

Maryland: MARC trains Commuter schedule changes tomorrow The Maryland Transit Administration is planning schedule changes on the MARC train line beginning tomorrow. The Penn Line changes -- which aim to avoid conflicts with Amtrak -- include: Train 406 will leave Washington's Union Station at 7:21 a.m., four minutes earlier than its current time. Train 408 will leave Union Station at 7:37 a.m., one minute earlier than its current time. Train 520 will leave Union Station at 12:25 p.m., five minutes earlier than its current time.