Inaugural balls abound, but not all are official

Washington, D.C. — Considering hotels for the inauguration are booked as far away as Philadelphia, I thought it would be impossible at this late date to find a ticket to an inaugural ball – but then I turned on the TV.

Advertisements are airing on local television pushing tickets for Virginia’s Inaugural Black Tie & Blue Dominion Ball.

For just $250, you could attend the party on Monday night at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Annex in the Virginia suburbs.

Here’s the catch: It’s not a “real” inaugural ball.

Official inaugural balls are held by state societies, and typically feature the governor, senators, and members of congress from that state. But the Virginia State Society is not holding a ball.

For the Black Tie & Blue Dominion event, Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine is only an “invited guest,” which most likely means the close confidant of President-elect Barack Obama isn’t coming.

But some decent celebrities are on the list as hosts, including former Spartan hoops star Steve Smith, astronaut Buzz Aldrin and TV actress Jenna Elfman.

Eric Morath is a 2004 graduate and a former State News editor and reporter. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife Amy. Eric is a business reporter for Dow Jones Newswires.