Opinion: Complete list of Obama’s 10 official inaugural balls

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In case you’re already starting to prepare for Barack Obama’s inauguration in Washington in 12 days and get dressed for the inaugural balls, here’s a list of the 10 where he’ll be pretend-dancing onstage with the nation’s new first lady, Michelle Obama.

They’ll be historically crowded affairs with warm drinks if the lines are moving and hardly enough room to move, let alone dance. (Even more crowded than the drawing of Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Ball above in 1865.)

And forget about finding a cab for two days, especially if it’s snowing or raining.

But they’ll likely mellow in the memory over the years as a grand time. If you don’t have an invitation yet, you might want to take the gown back.

--Youth Inaugural Ball - Young Americans ages 18 to 35; Washington Hilton.

--Obama Home States Inaugural Ball - Illinois and Hawaii invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

--Biden Home States Inaugural Ball - Delaware and Pennsylvania invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

--Eastern Inaugural Ball - CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, PR and USVI invited guests; Union Station.

--Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball - MD, VA, DC, NY, NJ and WV invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

--Midwest Inaugural Ball - KS, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI and MO invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

--Southern Inaugural Ball - AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN and TX invited guests; National Guard Armory.

--Western Inaugural Ball - AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY, AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, OK, GUAM/AS invited guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

--Neighborhood Inaugural Ball - DC residents, additional guests; Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

--Commander-in-Chief’s Inaugural Ball -- Enlisted active-duty and reserve military; National Building Museum.

The Times’ own Mary Forgione has an even more detailed account of the Obama balls over here on our Daily Travel & Deal Blog.

Also, be sure to click on the ‘Read more’ line below to see the actual menu from Lincoln’s Ball. Looks like they put on a pretty good feed back in those days! Our favorite item: Beef a la mode.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Illustrations from the Smithsonian Institution.