A night at the ball

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/20/art.bidensdance0120.gi.jpg caption="The Bidens are making the rounds at the inaugural balls Tuesday night."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - It's Joe Biden's home states ball, but it could be any giant prom or wedding party.

The ball is one of six official galas in the Washington Convention Center on Inauguration night. There's nothing here representing Biden's home states of Delaware and Pennsylvania, but hundreds of revelers were still enjoying themselves, noshing on pasta italiano and crudite.

Lots of people got tickets from friends or coworkers, but if you had to dish out the $150 for a way in, you still had to pay $12 for a glass of champagne. And don't expect Dom Perignon, either. But the dance floor is packed listening to the 11-piece James Gerard Orchestra playing classics like "My Girl," "The Way You Look Tonight" (Sinatra version), "Brick House" and "I Will Survive."

The theme here seems to be business from the neck up, formal from the neck down, as most women are wearing their hair down and very minimal jewelry with their ball gowns. Typical of a black tie event there are a lot of black dresses, but people here were not afraid of color. Many women were wearing coral, red and turquoise, with plenty of sequins and beads all around. A surprising number of women wore sandals and open toe shoes, considering the frigid temperatures that DC'S been experiencing.

An equal number of party-goers asked me if Barack Obama was going to show up and what time "Maroon 5" would be playing. Vice President Biden also was expected to stop by in the next hour.