Chelsea Clinton's Pending Nuptials Rock Rhinebeck

Topics: In The News ,; Notebook ,; Culture Watch ,; Observations

Champagne bottles popped and fizzed on the sidewalk outside of The Rug Garden on Market Street Wednesday evening as a dozen partiers gathered under balloons in downtown Rhinebeck.

"Here's to Chelsea and Marc! Welcome to the Hudson Valley!" toasted one partier, raising her glass in the air.

Shops and restaurants in this small town are celebrating this weekend's planned wedding of Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky - some more elaborately than others.

Many shops have hung banners, artwork, or photos in their storefront windows congratulating and welcoming the couple the couple.

"It's very exciting," said Jinnel Rittel, the manager of Cesare + Lily boutique. "These are big people!"

The couple is rumored to be getting married at the Astor Courts estate. The property is secluded by trees and borders the Hudson River. Signs along the outskirts of the property warn people to keep out.

Last week, two Norwegian journalists were arrested for trespassing on the property.

New York Daily News photographer John Roca chartered a Cessna from the nearby Dutchess County Airport and flew in circles 500 feet over the Astor Estate to snap photos of the property, including a newly assembled, large air-conditioned tent.

"It's the only way to photograph this thing," he said after landing.

The town of 3,000 people is now sprawling with reporters and photographers. These days it is not uncommon to see two or three television crews at once on the sidewalks in downtown Rhinebeck, which only has one traffic signal.

"Oh my God, the traffic is crazy!" said Stephanie Winne, a local real estate agent. "We can't even imagine what it's going to be like on Friday."

This story was filed by CBS News digital journalist Miles Doran.

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by tankmansquare July 31, 2010 10:41 AM EDT: The amount of money being spent on this wedding seems a bit ostentatious to say the least, especially in these dire economic times with so many out of work. This conspicuous consumption has always been common for the super rich who love rubbing our noses in their wealth.; Reply to this comment


by cktirumalai July 31, 2010 10:17 AM EDT: People who have been invited to the wedding, without having been told until the last possible moment where it is to be, can't tell anyone of their exclusive status, at least not yet. There must be a long list of people who expected to be invited but weren't. Such are the features of the stratosphere in which some public figures are obliged to move, whatever their own preferences in the matter.
Rhinebeck is geeting as much atention as Woodstock did 41 years ago.
Candadai Tirumalai; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage July 29, 2010 5:54 PM EDT: The people in this town need to 'get a life'!
They obviously have too much 'time on her hands'!; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage July 29, 2010 5:52 PM EDT: CBS, very few people in America care about this! So, why, really, are you promoting it so much?; Reply to this comment


by guyfrompa46 July 29, 2010 2:43 PM EDT: Who cares? really; Reply to this comment


by NGRichardson July 29, 2010 12:41 PM EDT: Last night, on the news, I thought I heard K.Couric make a comment,about the wedding "America is not invited"
If so, is CBS trying to become "Fox Lite"?; Reply to this comment

by cleric60 July 29, 2010 8:30 AM EDT

"It's very exciting," said Jinnel Rittel, the manager of Cesare + Lily boutique. "These are big people!"
And I guess the working poor and middle class USA citizens are the "little people" who's taxes are being used to support the "big people."SAD!

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