“If I had a powder-blue one, I'd join him,” said Ward 1 Councilman Jason Wiener.
The Missoula County Democrats are hosting an inaugural ball for the Garden City and inviting people to gussie up on the night Barack Obama becomes president. The bash starts 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the upstairs ballroom of the Elks Lodge. It doesn't end until 1 a.m. Wednesday. Tickets cost $5 - even for disappointed fans of John McCain and, apparently, Ralph Nader.
“This is a civic event more than it is a political one,” he said.
The party has its own Facebook page, titled “Inaugural Bash” in Missoula. Some 55 people were listed Tuesday as attendees and some are digging out their strappy sandals. At the ball, Tom Catmull and Bob Wire will provide tunes.
The invitation recommends spiffying up (“Semi-formal dress suggested, funky style welcome”) but those who opt for Missoula casual won't be turned away or tampered with.
“We're not going to supply jackets and ties to people who don't bring them,” Wiener said.
Montana James, a senior political science major at the University of Montana, said the event sounds like a good time and she figures some students will turn out.
“I think people are still pretty excited and hopeful,” James said of the election outcome.
James, a Missoula native, said the dress code in town is more fleece and blue jeans than tuxes and gowns. But if she heads to the ball, she'll get fancy with a knee-length dress - and funky below the knee.
“I'd bring in the funky on the shoes,” she said.
Obama's inauguration speech will be screened at the party, and the local Democrats invited nonprofit and advocacy groups to set up tables there, too. Donations of groceries will be accepted for the Missoula Food Bank as well. Registered volunteers can get in free and “volunteer opportunities abound.” To volunteer, e-mail missoulademocrats@
yahoo.com by Jan. 16.
Wiener said the idea for a bash was floating in the ether: “Everyone knew what a great time we'd had on election night. This was a natural follow.”
Reporter Keila Szpaller can be reached at 523-5262 or at keila.szpaller@missoulian.com.
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Brandon Horton wrote on Jan 7, 2009 7:48 PM: