Inauguration Day preparations began early Monday morning as Secret Service scanned the area around Pritzker Pavilion, where Rahm Emanuel will be sworn in as Chicago's next mayor.
The inauguration ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m. Follow along as the day's events unfold.
What do you think of the new mayor? Send us a Tweet using #RahmChicago and we may read your message on air.
6:30 p.m.: Emanuel leaves his office, a little early, seeing as his press people had said he would be there until 8 p.m.
3:30 p.m.: Mayor Emanuel wastes no time getting down to work, signing three executive orders related to ethics.
3:18 p.m.: Billy Goat owner Sam Sianis is among the recognizable faces in line to shake hands with the new mayor. Sianis was in line last week to bid farewell to Richard M. Daley at the outgoing mayor's own open house.
2:21 p.m.: Ronnie Woo-Woo sighting in the City Hall line to meet Mayor Emanuel.
2:12 p.m. Rev. Jesse Jackson is one of the first people through the door at the open house.
1:52 p.m.: Mayor Emanuel's city hall open house is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. There's a line out the door.
12:54 p.m.: The "Welcome to Chicago" sign from Mayor Daley officially has been replaced with a sign from Mayor Emanuel.
12:22 p.m.: "Fake Rahm" Dan Sinker, who made it into the press area, says he's in a time vortex and won't say if he will continue tweeting @MayorEmanuel.
12:18 p.m.: Sen. Kirk found time to send around a statement congratulating Emanuel. He says: “I congratulate Rahm and pledge to work with him, especially to expand Charter schools. I will miss Mayor Daley but I am confident the same spirit of cooperation will continue with my focus on expanding O'Hare airport. Rahm has all the potential to live up to Daniel Burnham's credo: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.”
12:16 p.m.: Congressman Luis Gutierrez tells Ward Room he's glad he heard the Illinois DREAM Act mentioned in Emanuel's address.
12:11 p.m.: Rahm is gone, but the crowd is still voicing their opinion. "No more corruption!" is the protest from one man.
12: 08 p.m.: Twitter thoughts on the inauguration and Emanuel's address:
- I heard some of Rahm's inauguration speech on the radio. It sure sounds like he set the teleprompter to the #POTUS setting. --themikemaxwell
- Feeling optimistic about living in Chicago right now. Liked @rahmemanuel 's speech. Hope he can deliver on his promises. --dancingvalentin
- way too much singing and praying at the #rahmchicago inauguration. i've never been to a gospel service, but i assume this is what its like. --JMeraz28
- Ok @RahmEmanuel, the time is now so go out there and make the us (the voters) proud! --FosterINchicago
- I loved the Mayoral Inauguration. Excited for Chicago and ready to participate in its conversation & change. --aaronsalmon
11:51 a.m.: Event moves along quickly. Chicago Children’s Choir performs"We Are," then Rabbi Jack Moline delivers benediction.
11:49 a.m.: Emanuel finishes inaugural address. People in the crowd wave flags, clap and cheer.
11:45 a.m.: "Chicago is a city of 'yes we can' not 'no we can't.' "
11:30 a.m.: Emanuel begins his inaugural address. He talks of creating jobs, shrinking city government and fixing Chicago Public Schools.
11:24 a.m.: Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel sworn in by Judge Timothy Evans. Emanuel shares hugs and kisses all around the stage.
11:22 a.m.: Student violinist Clarissa Bevilacqua performs “America the Beautiful.” Maggie Daley smiles on in the background.
11:16 a.m.: Pastor Charles Jenkins, of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, delivers prayer after Neely's swearing in. Jenkins prays for guidance. "Teamwork makes the team work," he said. Amy Rule-Emanuel leans over to give her husband a peck on the cheek.
11:14 a.m.: Cook County Circuit Court Judge Shelli Williams Hayes swears in City Treasurer Stephanie Neely.
11:12 a.m.: Chanel Sosa, Innovations High School senior and 2011 finalist of “Louder Than a Bomb,” reads a poem about Chicago's future.
11:08 a.m.: "Greetings of peace" from Imam Kareem M. Irfan, Pres of Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, who leads prayer.
11:01 a.m.: Mendoza swears in new members of the Chicago City Council then calls roll for the first time as City Clerk.
10:58 a.m.: City Clerk-elect Susana Mendoza sworn in by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke. Mendoza hugs Mayor Daley as she begins her speech.
10:57 a.m.: Invocation recited by Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago.
10:54 a.m.: Posting of the Colors by the Lane Tech High School Junior Reserve Officers, Pledge of Allegiance led by Chicago International Charter School student DeJuan Brown and National Anthem sung by Heather Headley.
10:50 a.m.: Chicago Children's Choir sings “One Day.”
10:46 a.m.: Emanuel's family walks on stage to applause followed by the Biden and Richard and Maggie Daley.
10:40 a.m. Sens. Durbin and Kirk join Gov. Quinn on stage along with Cardinal George, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and other inauguration guests.
10:38 a.m.: Former mayoral candidate Gery Chico tells NBCChicago he's confident Emanuel can get the job done as Chicago mayor.
10:34 a.m. Thousands showed up to watch the inauguration. People are taking their seats and waiting for the event to begin.
10:29 a.m.: Alexi Giannoulias says he's excited for the mayor-elect and the city of Chicago.
10:22 a.m.: Richard Daley, mayor for just a little while longer, arrives at the inauguration.
10:13 a.m.: Picnic blankets are out, and everyone is enjoying the beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky.
10:07 a.m.: Dan Sinker, aka @MayorEmanuel, isn't being allowed into the Press area, because he doesn't have a pass and security is tight.
10:02 a.m.: Message to Emanuel from Joanna of Washington Park at Pritzker Pavilion: Refocus on neighborhood redevelopment.
10:01 a.m.: Emanuel's parents are in the house.
10 a.m.: Message to Emanuel from Marisa of North Lawndale at Pritzker Pavilion: I don't want to have to move to oak park! More education options, please!
9:50 a.m.: Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon says Vice President Biden's plane has landed.
9:39 a.m.: Seats are filling up, but there's still lots of room.
9:32 a.m.: @ngerger says on Twitter: "I'm super stoked but surprised to not see more people here. We need to fill Millennium!"
9:21 a.m.: Sen. Mark Kirk tells Ward Room's Mary Ann Ahern it will be good to have a mayor with a "rocket sled to the White House."
9:15 a.m.: David Axelrod is looking relaxed and happy as he makes the press rounds.
9:14 a.m.: Emanuel's press aide tells us the mayor-elect swam at 5:20 a.m., then ate a bowl of berries for breakfast.
9:06 a.m.: Chicago Children's Choir, kicking off the event at 10:30 a.m., begins practicing
8:44 a.m.: People are lining up outside Pritzker Pavilion.
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8:36 a.m.: The Secret Servic's security sweep is done. Media is setting up inside Pritzker Pavilion, and the Chicago Children's Choir is waiting by the entrance.
8:21 a.m.: Choppers are heard overhead as the media enters Pritzker Pavilion.
8:12 a.m.: Dignitaries are here for the Inaugural Breakfast.
5:19 a.m.: The Secret Service is now sweeping Pritzker Pavilion. VIP guests include Vice President Biden and White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley.
