Al Franken is in D.C. to celebrate the inaugural–and while he was in town hosted a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser for his recount fund at the Willard Hotel. This was Franken’s first trip to Washington, D.C. since he was declared the winner by 225 votes in the Minnesota Senate race–a status that his opponent, Norm Coleman, is now challenging in court.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Franken was using the trip “to meet with major donors and top party officials, including outgoing Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean.”

The Associated Press reports today on the “scores” of parties that “lobbyists and corporations are hosting around the capital to mark Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration.” Companies and organizations with Pennsylvania addresses are also hosting get-togethers today so guests can watch the inaugural parade in comfort.

Reporters Alan Fram and Julie Hirschfeld Davis give the scoop on one such bash, hosted by NBC Universal and parent company General Electric Co., an invitation-only affair at the National Museum of Women in the Arts whose guest list included members of Congress, incoming Obama administration officials, and celebrities.

Richard Cotton, the executive vice president and general counsel for NBC Universal, explained why they threw the bash, complete with sushi and jazz:

“Obviously there’s a new Congress, a new administration. These are people we work with in many different capacities, day in and day out. This is an opportunity for people to get acquainted, at least on an informal basis.”

The National Journal’s “Under the Influence” blog, via reporter Bara Vaida, has the scoop on parties announced so far for President Barak Obama’s inauguration. She notes that while Obama’s presidential inauguration committee has limited contributions from individuals to $50,000 apiece, and won’t accept any from corporations, political action committees, and lobbyists, there are plenty of unofficial parties where these rules don’t apply.

She points to the gala thrown by Obama’s home state Illinois State Society party, which Politico reports has benefitted from big contributions from Illinois-based companies such as Exelon, American Airlines, Abbott Labs, Kraft Foods, Navistar, and Monsanta. The rumor is that Obama may stop by the event, and one cocktail party may include members of Congress.

Here is a list of parties announced so far compiled by the DC Convention Authority.  Here’s another from presidential-inauguration.com. We’ll work on getting them into our Party Time database.