Road to January 20: More Stars, More Balls

I haven't seen an official tally lately on just how many inaugural balls --- official and unofficial --- will be held in the four days of inaugural festivities, but it is surely north of 50.

One recent one to land on my desk: the Latino Inaugural Gala on Jan. 18 at Union Station, with performers such as Marc Anthony and stars like Rosario Dawson and Wilmer Valderrama in the mix. Recently announced: Alejandro Sanz, Lila Downs and Michael Salgado.

Huffington Post is co-sponsoring a pre-inaugural ball on Jan. 19 at the Newseum, co-sponsored by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the Musk Foundation. Huffington writes in a recent blog entry, "Just before midnight we are going to have a Countdown to a New Era. It's a new era not just because the Bush Years will officially be over, and not just because Barack Obama will be president, but because taking on the challenges America is facing will require a new era of citizen responsibility and engagement."

As for official events, Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee is working on entertainment plans, trying to nail down talent to appear at the dozen or so balls and other events where the new president is expected to be president. Names approached include Barbra Streisand and Beyonce, and, in the name of including all musical tastes, I'm told that Faith Hill and Tim McGraw also are expected.