Venue: Thurgood Marshall Ballroom, Marriott Wardman Hotel


Crowd: Millennials, first-time voters and hip-hop music fans

Dress code: "Dress to impress; but no jeans, no hoodies, no sneakers or ball caps will be allowed."

Which means: Dressy wear from Sean John to Juicy Couture, four-button suits, diamond ear studs.

Quote of note: "This is definitely a formal ball. I think Ludacris will be wearing a tuxedo, for example, but the young kids who voted for the first time take more risks in their attire. We expect they'll come out wearing their finest in their own way." -- Komeka Freeman, associate producer, American Music Inaugural Balls

Second Life Capitol Hill Inaugural Ball

Host: Clear Ink

Venue: Your computer

Crowd: Silicon Valley poli-sci wonks, RPG programmers and former D&D gamers

Dress code: "White tie"

Which means: White vest, white bow tie and black tailcoat for men, floor-length evening gowns for women.

Quote of note: "In Second Life [an on-line virtual community] it's just as easy to conjure up a white tie as black tie and it's after 6 p.m. so we de- cided to go fancy.. .. .. . If we really have a problem with someone [dressed inappropriately] on the dance floor, we can always click on their avatar and reject them." -- Steve Nelson, co-founder and sponsor of Capitol Hill Second Life.

adam.tschorn@latimes.com