Meek said she took the warning to heart.

''It's got me thinking flats,'' she said of her shoe choice.

The officially sanctioned events are far from the only shindigs: Dozens of additional balls will be held across the city, with two aimed at Floridians. The Florida State Society -- one of a number of nonpartisan state societies that have hosted inaugural events since 1861 -- is teaming up with Florida House, the state's Washington ''embassy,'' to put on a dance and dinner at the upscale Corcoran Gallery of Art. Also on tap: a gala billed as the ''Florida Inaugural Celebration,'' to be held at the National Museum of the American Indian.

The two ''unofficial'' events won't feature visits by the president-elect, though members of Florida's congressional delegation, who traditionally get free tickets, are expected to make appearances.

Hayes & Associates, a public-relations firm that organizes the party at the museum, said it began the private parties after hearing complaints about the official balls.

''If you've ever been to an official ball, they have no food, you have to stand in line to get drinks, you may lose your coat, there's not even valet parking,'' said founder Leslie Hayes.

`PAY TO PLAY'

Obama's campaign has capped donors to the inauguration at $50,000 and banned lobbyists and corporations from contributing to inaugural events. Corporate donors like Florida Power & Light and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida have contributed to private parties, though.

Critics note that most contributors to the presidential inaugural committee and the private parties are well-connected political donors.

''This really is pay to play,'' Craig Holman of the watchdog group Public Citizen said of gala financing.

Bart Hudson, executive director at Florida House, says the same companies that keep Florida House running are contributing to the inaugural event -- allowing Floridians to party together.

''There's not a penny of tax dollars spent,'' Hudson said. ``All of us have a right to celebrate, and this is an opportunity for Floridians to do so among fellow Floridians.''

CLOSER TO HOME

Floridians who can't make the trip north have alternatives. The Miami-Dade Democratic Party is hosting a party at the Rusty Pelican on the Rickenbacker Causeway and Broward Democrats have hired a band to entertain at the Deicke Auditorium in Plantation.

''A lot of people can't go, but they want to be part of it,'' said Mitch Ceasar, the Broward party chair.

State Sen. Frederica Wilson, an Obama elector, has seats for the inauguration. But she isn't yet sure which ball she's going to attend -- she has a number of invitations. The Miami Democrat famed for her fabulous hats already has a dress. Gold. And hat to match, natch.

''We're going to be standing in Washington watching an African-American man installed as president, and we'll be watching him in front of a building that was constructed with slave labor,'' Wilson said. ``I can't think of any place more important to be than in Washington on that day.''

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