Everybody should get a chance to go to a Presidential inaugural ball at least once in their lifetime.  If you're packing up and heading to Washington, here are some tips to ensure you get the most out of the experience.

There will be a total of 8 "official" balls.  These are the ones where the new President and First Lady actually show up and Dance.  And these are the ones that are mobbed.  And this year, there are more "unofficial" balls than I've ever seen.  If you can, do an official ball.

At Clinton's first inaugural, I had to do the whole thing - the speech, the parade and a ball.  That year, the Arkansas, New York and MTV balls were supposed to be the best, and a colleague's husband scored 2 tickets to the New York Ball.  Whoo Hoo!  So I curled my hair, put on my fancy dress and my dancing shoes and headed to the DC Armory with my tuxedoed ex-husband. 

Now, this advice is based on my experience of attending one ball 16 years ago.  But some things never change.

• Eat before you go.  There's almost no food served.
  
• Unless using Metro is an option hire a driver.  You won't be able to find a parking place anywhere in the city.
  
• If you want a drink, have a bottle of champagne in your limo on the way.  It's almost impossible to to find significant alcohol at these things.
• Do not wear a dress with sequins.  It's so crowded that your sequins could get stuck on someone else's sequins while you're standing around.
• The little bit of booze in the place mostly gets spilled - probably on your beautiful ball gown!
• Wear comfortable shoes!

But hey!  If your guy just won and you want to be part of an amazing historic event, it's so totally worth it!

Bill Clinton showed up at my ball at 11:00 pm, just in time for the late night news feeds.  He not only danced across the stage with his wife, but he grabbed a saxophone and joined the E Street Band in a rendition of "Your Mama Can't Dance".  I was in heaven!  And it was worth having warm beer spilled on my snagged sequins!

Will I go this year if I can score tickets?  Sure!  If Mitch Hall will come down from New York and be my date!