East Wing Rules

Presidents & Royal Visits

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:41:00 +0000

Buckingham Palace Ballroom seats 170 for a lavish State Dinner that will occur for the Obamas on Tuesday.

State Visits are timed to the second, including cocktail chatter and making the receiving line move along like a well-oiled people conveyor belt. Going to Buckingham Palace (it is not ~~ham~~, but more like hum in England) has other dangers. During a state visit at the Royal Dinner, once the Duke of Edinburgh gets his plate, by jove, you better dig in and finish rather like a champion hot dog eater because when he is done everybody's course is swooped up and replaced with what's next, regardless if you are done or not. Each speech by either Head of State is no more that 9 minutes long. Heckling by Her Majesty's husband if one does not conclude on time, is not unheard of at the head table.

The Obamas will stay officially at Buckingham Palace in the Belgian Suite. The same suite the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge used for their wedding night.

A State Visit to Britain is always initiated by the Queen. Her Majesty usually gets a reciprocal state visit during a second presidential term in the USA. That means a white tie affair which is very formal. QEII has the world's best bling and she is not shy about wearing it at state affairs. (I'm still astounded that with all the ice head gear the royals have, Kate Middleton chose to wear a training tiara so to speak....) Laura Bush had an excellent table setting for that event, her husband however, made several notable public gaffes with the queen. Winking at Queen Elizabeth II after calling her a couple of centuries old on one visit shall live in infamy among the protocol or those with home training skills. Other people will scream about Michelle Obama hugging the queen on her first visit, yet they have struck up a warm friendship. The Queen ensured Sasha & Malia Obama received a carriage ride through the gorgeous grounds for their first visit to Buckingham Palace.

The president and first lady usually stay at Winfield House while in England and will host a reception there during the state visit. It won't be a "knees up" affair like the party the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge had after their big do at Westminster Abbey. However, the newlyweds are expected to make an appearance on Tuesday to meet the Obamas, but Clarence House has yet to send out a formal message.

Every head of state gets a carriage ride after reviewing the troops. The head of state reviews the troops with Prince Phillip then rides down the mall in a regal procession with liveried footman to Buckingham Palace with the Queen in a gilt carriage. Lately the Queen has had more state events at one of her favorite palaces, Windsor Castle. However, the Obamas are staying in Belgian Suite on the ground floor of the Palace. Marine One will be nearby on the lawn. So...not sure if that particular carriage ride is on. (This carriage is carrying the Queen and President Zuma of South Africa last year.)

One of my favorite anecdotes happened on this side of pond during President Gerald Ford's one term. He wanted to dance with a more lively number and the President's Band jumped in with ... The Lady is A Tramp...She laughed out loud.

Obamas Do Sedate Mocha & Honey Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:51:00 +0000

Wallpaper is not new to the Oval Office or the White House. The New York custom made light mocha-ish stripes are reminiscent of the bold gold ones in the sitting room of Blair House. Abraham Lincoln's presidential portrait, no doubt, garners a better view from the Obama refurbished Oval as both presidents hale from Illinois. In President Obama's private office outside the formal Oval hangs a large portrait of Justice Thurgood Marshall that traveled up Pennsylvania Avenue with him in 2009. President Bush is getting back the southwestern sunburst rug that First Lady Laura Bush picked out upon his ascension in 2001. Every president has had a replica of the Resolute Desk put in their library if they used it while in office. Each first lady puts the finishing touches on their husband's workspace.

The former George W. Bush rug with presidential seal.

This one took some time to evolve. The Obamas turned down the $100,000 budget given to every new president for additional decorating. However there was money leftover from the Inauguration. Nancy Reagan with & Hillary Clinton both moved fast to get their husband's imprimatur on the Oval as quickly as possible. Michelle Obama had more of a quandary as the economy had hit the skids and any efforts to redecorate would have garnered unwanted attention. The first lady worked with the White House Historical Association and her designer Michael Smith, while the Michigan sewn rug (The Scott Group) was donated. Those folks know their rug as they also did the Clinton royal blue Oval Office rug. I am very much hoping the drapes get some badly needed attention as they are now 10 years old.

The fact that nineteen months in and the Bushes needed their rug back for their upcoming library opening changed the circumstances to a need rather than a want. The President would have been staring at some gorgeous unadorned hardwood quarter sawn oak floors if they had not had the decorating done while the family had their ten day vacation. It is customary to borrow the predecessors rug until theirs is ready - and it takes time.

The rug however; has politically meaningful American quotes rather than the usual stars. Laura Bush redid the Cabinet room during her husband's second term and the bold russet red carpet has gold stars now. Two toned vertical stripes of tan & beige wallpaper accentuate the height of the 29 foot room with what looks to be a border of oxblood the presidential seal embedded on the ceiling. The chocolate leather parson chairs have not been a solid color in ages.

Upcoming interior upgrades are happening for the Yellow Oval Room on the second floor of the residence and the large Center Hall and West Sitting Hall.

Sophmore Season

noreply@blogger.com (Nana R) — Wed, 19 May 2010 23:18:00 +0000

The State Dinner for President Calderón of Mexico got off to a slippery start for White House veteran and current State Department Chief of Protocol, Capricia Marshall. Both of the Obamas admonished the press NOT to print the picture of her falling in a lovely pink gown on the White House steps. That fall is nothing compared to Desiree Rogers freshman and final State Dinner featuring the security gaffe seen round the world. This is Take Two in the Obama Administration on many fronts. But there is one dessert that is making a first appearance: Goat Cheese Ice Cream. One thing that remains a trend for the Obamas is a guest Executive Chef that specializes with a particular type of cuisine. In this case a hometown fave of the president's and first lady, Chef Rick Bayless. He last tweeted about his sauces and mole earlier this morning before rushing off to the siren call of his pots and pans at the White House.

Another signature hallmark that is appearing from the first lady for her state dinners are bold color palettes for the table settings. This state dinner is half the scale of the November Dinner for Prime Minister Singh of India. Two hundred guests for dinner in the East Room with the historic paintings of George & Martha Washington overseeing the festivities from their gilt frames and then a fabulous switch to the outdoor entertainment tent/building which will see a glamorous Beyoncé. This dinner has a better weather forecast than the November diplomatic soirée that took place on one of DC's most rainy fall days. Prickly pear is making an appearance in the floral arrangements along with fuschia and delicate roses.

Photo courtesy of Getty

Another signature hallmark that is appearing from the first lady for her state dinners are bold color palettes for the table settings. A mix of rectangular and circular tables allow the room to squeeze in a couple hundred perfumed and tuxedoed guests. The gold rimmed table settings look like the Clinton china which will be filled with Wagyu beef in black mole sauce with grilled beans. This will be Juliana Smoot's first time out on managing a State dinner as the new Social Secretary with a much lower profile. This also a first for the Francophile, new White House Chief Florist, Laura Dowling who breached protocol by announcing her new high profile job on facebook before the first lady released a statement.

President Calderon, his wife Margarita Zavala with President & Michelle Obama in the North Portico of the White House.

First Lady Pat Nixon was the most active with dinners beating out all others since the first state dinner held on behalf of the King of the Solomon Islands which included the now state of Hawaii back in the days of Ulysses S Grant. The guest list includes a two-time appearance by Gayle King - accompanying avid tweeter and Newark's mayor, Corey Booker. Mayor Villaraigosa of Los Angeles was present as was the resplendent Eva Longoria Parker sans hubby. Another 100 people get in for the after dinner entertainment on the South Lawn.

More to come...
Confirmations: saw up close it IS the Clinton China.
This was the first State Dinner where the Obamas as First Couple descended the Grand Staircase for a State Dinner in public view. The Staircase was designed specifically by President Truman for formal entrances of the American Head of State

State Dinner Tuesday with the Obamas II

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:30:00 +0000

This was a plate (mid bites) prepared by White House Chef Sam Kass for the governor's formal dinner in February 2009. The presidential seal is on the dessert chocolate and notice not a smudge - each one is checked for perfection. This was Mrs. Obama's first formal dinner at the White House and she chose the Wilson China.

Watch C-SPAN for coverage that is uninterrupted and filled with salient tips from experts on everything from military protocol to the floral arrangements. A State Occasion, let a lone a dinner, is lavish and meant to welcome a head of state with the finest of American hospitality at America's most famous address. First Ladies traditionally show off their arrangements and release details regarding floral wonders, china selection, silverware settings and other details during the day. The room (which is actually a tent on the South Lawn) tent is already arranged and the menu selected. It is written by hand for each setting by the White House calligrapher's office. Each course is designed, pre-tasted by the first lady and a small group of insiders and every seat has a handwritten name above each plate. Mrs. Obama's press secretary Katie Lleyveld will be overwhelmed today as most microscopic minutiae will be fodder for the press and interested folks like me ... and you!

This is a state formal dinner using the Ronald Reagan dinner service. by Mrs. Bush. Note the coloration of the American Beauty Roses and the plates. These are decided once the gown is selected for the evening. Photo courtesy the White House.

The custom is to not have spouses seated next to each other. Mrs. Obama will be at a different table than her husband. President Obama will toast his guest from the podium with the gilded eagle. In the past year, President Obama got a sample of his first snafu at a fancy official White House dinner when the eagle podium collapsed as he was giving a toast. The Chief Usher and the Head Butler were probably close to heart attacks as they plan down to the nano-second absolutely everything and always ensure there are back-ups for the back-ups. There is even spare pantyhose and other necessities for any guest who faces a wardrobe malfunction - within reason. The floral designers have special pieces for the table settings and all thirty-five bathrooms, especially those on the state floor.

Mrs. Obama greets an esteemed guest at her first international state hosting assignment for the G-20 in Pennsylvania at Rosemont Farm before the world's first ladies sent down to a formal dinner on the patio. The tablecloths and the china were a direct reflection of the dress Michelle Obama wore that evening. Photo courtesy of the White House.

An assortment of contractors has been vetted and hired for this state occasion. The kitchen is tense with anticipation, yet calm and orderly under the direction of veteran Executive Chef, Cristeta Comerford. It's tight as a tick in the cramped quarters and everything is done in an efficiency experts dream of a manufacturing assembly line. The dessert by Bill Yosses, the WH Pastry Chef and his assistant will feature a theme and down to the most exquisite drops will be completely edible. (The Pastry team from March 2009 at the White House prepare each plate in the State Dining Room. Photo courtesy of the White House)

Here is the original post outlining protocol for the state dinner back in October.
More to come after I do my physical therapy...

11/24/09 UPDATE 1: From the Photo Spray held by FLOTUS displaying tonight's table settings on the South Lawn. The beautiful grounds and rolling green lawn seem to be a key part of the inspiration. It also is quite reminiscent of the Green Room with its silk moire in the White House where the Obama family had their official family portrait taken by Annie Libowitz.

Here what we can tell from this photo - Its the William Jefferson Clinton China with the gilded flatware from Barbara Bush. The cushions on the chairs match the tablecloth and the linen napkins. That means a stunning backdrop for what FLOTUS or Michelle Obama has chosen to wear. (Photo courtesy CBS.) The brand spanking new White House Chief floral designer, Laura Dowling (last week's East Wing hire is how new), will have an amazing centerpiece which we do not have photos of yet.

Update 2: Michelle Obama held a luncheon for young women while featuring the protocol and precision involved in a state dinner. The luncheon was held in the State Dining Room. That Room was later used to showcase the table in a green reminiscent also of the Indian state colors of India and incredible green gems. It is off set with plum colored stemware and vibrant floral decor. (Photo courtesy of AP)

Mrs. Gusharan Kuar at the arrival ceremony with a stunning jade and silvery moss colored sari as Mrs. Obama brings saffron or a buffed up mandarin orange with an India inspired embossed ensemble at the State Arrival ceremony. The ceremony had to be moved indoors to the East Room so the military pomp and circumstance was absent with November weather teardrops on the White House Lawn.

Update 3 - The piece that inspired the dinner - The Dress by Naeem Khan.

Guests run the gamut from Robin Roberts of ABC to Jeff Immelt of GE. The tent seats 400 and the entertainment includes Kurt Elling and Jennifer Holiday. In the above image they are in the Cross hall of the state floor where its customary to have your picture taken if the dinner was held inside the White House. A guest chef helped with the vegetarian menu and the dessert pears were poached in the honey made by Mrs. Obamas bees.

Weekend Fall Gardens Tour at 1600

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Just outside the Oval Office and the Cabinet
Room the Rose Garden in fall bloom. Most only see the grass during
press conferences but the area is trimmed in trees , pruned hedges and
a variety of flowers and of course, Roses. Photo courtesy The Los Angeles Times

In November 2008, President Bush and President-elect Obama walk past a gorgeous visage of fall roses and flora on the West Colonnade past the Rose Garden.

Pat Nixon started the idea of a garden tour for the White House. These 18 acres are one of the glowing crown jewels of the National Park System. For two days each fall and spring the White House opens its doors to the public to see and tour the botanical landscape in two vastly different seasons, yet with stunning blooms. Someday I will actually arrange to take this tour and stand outside and wait for my first come first serve ticket on the Ellipse. (Fall 2008 Rose Garden courtesy all natural annie)

Burnished autumn leaves and bountiful cornucopias herald the arrival of the fall season. Michelle Obama's bees are slowing down. The first lady has her resident carpenter/beekeeper to thank for granting her the ability to bestow a unique White House gift of homegrown local honey upon the G20 wives for her debut as international hostess. One can only goggle what her honey would go for on the open market on eBay. Yet, the tranquility of fall is a beautiful time at the White House as the crisp air warns of the coming holiday season and the upcoming social season in the executive mansion. Now is the last time for 2009 to take in the tour - weather permitting, of the White House in its seasonal splendor. Perhaps, there may be other tours once the holiday decorations go up but that is for the inside of the manor. October 17th and 18th are the days set aside to bask in the air outdoors to view the blooms in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden, the South Lawn and a better look than the spring of Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden.

The pergola is just barely visible where a great place to sit and contemplate or host a tea party in the gardens on the East side of the White House with the perfectly shaped topiary trees.

Vivid blooms will be found in the East Garden, more formally known as the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The Children's Garden with its climbing tree, little iron sitting spots and the cement preserved hand prints of presidential kin is charming. It leads to the garden most discussed around the world, Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden. That garden is only eight months old and produced a bumper crop of greens and vegetables that made it to the family plates and in salads a number of guests consumed, including members of congress. On the White House website, Michelle Obama and chef Sam Kass give an overview of the idea and their thoughts about eating locally.

Tuesday was Latina Fiesta night for an Evening at the White House performance broadcast tonight on PBS. As a chef with two successful restaurants in New Jersey his menu blended Latin foods from a variety of geographical zones and ethnic identity. The rare oooh & ahh moment came for Chef Maricel Presilla as he was able to go to the Kitchen Garden and harvest greens, tomatillos for spicy pepper sauce and use some of the honey. Part of the bumper crop from the White House gets donated to a local nonprofit to feed the hungry and the homeless. Its popularity leads to Michelle Obama kicking off the 40th season of Sesame Street on November 10th talking about gardens and local food. It is this garden that many in the public are anxious to get a closer look atm but it is strictly look, don't touch. You would be eating Malia & Sasha's food for next week!

This is the Children's Garden during a spring Garden tour. The little ones are fascinated by the handprints of many of the first children started by President & Ladybird Johnson and the fish pond.

Handprints in the Children's Garden flagstone of President & Barbara Bush's granddaughters done during his time in office and not while their parents were in the White House. Photo courtesy the Bush White House (We do not know if Sasha & Malia did their handprints over the summer - maybe someone on the tour can report back and let us know!)

It would not be the White House, rich with presidents who were farmers first, to not tie in famous quotes on the land and its use. Thomas Jefferson rotated crops and found good crop yields at Monticello. He brought the idea of the formal English style gardens to the White House along with the colonnades as an eighteenth century garage for horses.The magnolia tree planted by Andrew Jackson, the trees dedicated by President and Mrs. Hillary Clinton, the South Lawn treehouse loving built by grandpa, otherwise known around the world as President Jimmy Carter.

This is the Thomas Jefferson quote placed in the Obama Kitchen Garden by the White House culinary staff. Photo courtesy Obama Foodorama.

The garden tour is almost forty years old now. It is a ticket that will take advantage of seeing the White House scenery at its best for fall. Here is the link to the Spring Garden tour, exactly 6 months ago, Gardens of the White House.

Michelle's First State Dinner for India

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:11:00 +0000

The George W. Bush China Service

India, a democratic superpower has over a billion citizens with its own arsenal of nuclear weapons and the shared disgrace with America of being one of the top three polluters on the planet will have the distinct honor of being the first nation to receive the full ceremonial honors from a state visit. No doubt, difficult topics will be discussed by the heads of state. Yet, it is Michelle Obama who is going to hold the spotlight as she chooses, flatware, table coverings, floral design, china patterns, glassware, the menu(s), entertainment and music, seating arrangements, invitations for teas, luncheons and the attendees for the historic first state dinner on November 24th while choosing a never before seen fully formal gown to be discussed for eternity. Believe it or not, the gown actually helps settle the detailed choices of color used in the State Dining Room's or the East Room's table decor. Either room may be used and the East Room would hold more elegant diners, but makes the after dinner entertainment space a new challenge. If Michelle Obama is a last minute dress chooser - oh dear. (Photo of Obamas going up the Grand Staircase back to the residence after greeting Ambassadors to the US.)

Her staff has been on the case since May. No rest for the weary as November looms large in the Obama White House cultural portfolio. Michelle Obama received kudos for her first turn as an international hostess with the G20 heads of state and their spouses. Her choice of a gift for the event was rare and a keepsake. The huge state dinner is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving which makes it doubly rich for grand and gravy leftovers. That Wednesday the president should pardon a turkey - lately the saved pre-poultry birds have dined on some incredible tranquilizers before meeting the president due to some of the wilder pardon photos.

This is what Michelle Obama gave as hostess to the G20 spouses. It is an exclusive porcelain tea set mirroring the Lincoln china in the White House with US national flower (American Beauty Rose) at the bottom of the teacups made by a one hundred year old Illinois company. The little vials of honey and the larger container is honey produced directly from Michelle Obamas world famous Kitchen Garden, Photo courtesy LA Times

Mrs. Obama must also make Blair House ready and work with the State Departments protocol experts on name pronunciation, food requirements, allergies and taboos, complete with full black tie etiquette. A briefing book has already been compiled and the secret invite right now is for the under two dozen friends and staff that get to attend a tasting menu featuring choices for the meals. Her residence staff is theming floral pieces for all of the bathrooms and a host of contract workers need to be ready to produce the pièce de résistance of an elaborate multi-course meal for at most 140 people. It will be the hardest ticket to obtain in Washington DC since the inaugural. All those people who have spent time sucking up to the first lady's friend and Social Secretary while writing puff pieces about her are about to find out if the investment was worth it.

In February 2009, the Obamas had a trial run at a high level black-tie event for the US governors. Here they dance in the East Room to Earth Wind & Fire playing live.

The East Wing communication staff will arrange a day of photo spray for the press to see Mrs. Obama in front of a fully set table complete with hand crafted calligraphy table cards while explaining which China pattern she is choosing to use. The menus for each setting will feature the salads, American vintage wines, entrées and desserts all in the same calligraphy style. It is usually a keepsake from the White House along with the invitation requesting the honor of their presence. That is definitely still a secret, but the Wilson China has made a debut. Part of the decision is made on which full sets of China are available in the right colors for a state dinner - Ronald Reagan China in a bold red, the George W. Bush set - never yet used in a green with basketweave pattern, the Clinton China with the golden rims and 24-karat gold images of the White House dead center, with which full set of flatware is available. The last first lady to purchase a full set of gilded formal flatware, late 19th century reproductions from Kirk Steiff of Baltimore, for elegant entertaining in the White House is Barbara Bush. Her daughter-in-law also purchased large sterling silver serving pieces.

The stunning table arrangement here is the 2007 white tie setting for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. White tie is usually reserved as a royal honor. This was an excellent use of the William Jefferson Clinton china service by Laura Bush. This table is set to handle five courses rather than the usual four for a state dinner.

Formal arrival ceremony

The newly re-elected fourteenth Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Manmohan Singh and his lovely wife, Gursharan Kaur will receive the full ceremonial honors of arriving at the South Lawn. After a troop review and opening remarks, the couples will go through the Diplomatic Reception Room and usually share some time together before the spouses go one direction and the heads of state another. After a luncheon, the next arrival will be on the North side of the White House in view of the world's press as they are formally greeted by the president and first lady in formal attire on the red carpet. They will go upstairs and have a moment to share in the Yellow Oval Room in the private residence. Just before dinner, Ruffles and Flourishes will announce the president and first lady as they descend the Grand Staircase with their honored guests to stand and welcome each invited guest in the Entrance hall as the President's Own plays and photographers film. There are vast differences in height so the images will need some thinking through by the professionals. (Gursharan Kaur with Michelle Obama from April in London during the Obamas first meeting of the G20.)

Prime Minister Singh, President Barack Obama, Mrs. Gusharan Kaur and Mrs. Michelle Obama at the arrival for the working and spouse dinner.

Michelle gives welcoming remarks at the dinner party held on a patio at Rosemont Farms for the G20 spouses. Photo courtesy the White House

Can't wait for November 24th. All of the public ceremony is usually covered in full by the wonderful station I love, C-SPAN.

UPDATE: The latest Obama State Dinner post is here... State Dinner Tuesday with the Obamas

Children, Presidents & White House Living

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Small handprints randomly placed low on window panes and glass patio doors adorn many homes with children. The White House has a skilled housekeeping staff that can spot a spider web, eliminate dust mites with top of the line oils or stamp out a lost ant colony at 10 paces. Bringing children into the mix just puts them on a higher level of alert and ups their game. For this years Christmas season, it will be a contest to see who drops the most crumbs, the children, Bo or the ostensible adults. Television pioneer Art Linkletter made a living a while back at watching the things children do and say. Two children live in the White House now with usually nary a peep. However, each and every one of them have their moments. Sasha plays hide and seek in the Oval to try and scare her dad. Her feet are just a few feet away from the phone that can contact anyone securely on the planet.

The Bush twins, Barbara & Jenna, put their young hands in cement for the White House's Children's Garden during their grandfather's term in office. While their dad President George W. Bush was in office, they went off to enjoy the college life at full throttle. Caroline Kennedy rode her pony across the South Lawn while she and her baby brother splashed in the famous fountain. Yet, there are always the unscripted moments. Caroline Kennedy was about five when she gave an impromptu interview. A reporter asked what was her father doing. Caroline replied, nothing. He was upstairs with his socks and shoes off. Caroline was treated to endless entreaties to be America's new Shirley Temple. Chelsea did not feel well at her new school and the nurse needed permission to dispense an aspirin and was about to call her mom. Chelsea interrupted and said no, she was too busy, please call my dad. Dad wins a Nobel Peace Prize and the Obama daughters liken it to the big events in their lives - Bo Obama's birthday and a three day weekend. And so it goes, those little moments that end up in the history books. (Caroline & John Kennedy, Jr and the president right outside the Oval Office with her pet horse, macaroni. This is just steps away from where Sasha & Malia's swingset is today. Photo courtesy Clinton Presidential Library)

The Clintons on the South Lawn and in the 2nd image in China with the famed Terracotta Soldiers. Chelsea traveled along as many presidential children do on major trips.
Not everyone's dad has a helicopter with your favorite candy right at your seat or a hulking plane that stars in its own major motion picture and gets fighter jet escorts. A ride to school for most kids is to get out of the minivan or SUV as soon as it seems like it stops so no one sees you with your parents. Instead the newest kids of a president get an armored up SUV with fully armed guards to ride with you to school each and every day and knows whether you are finishing a piece of homework hastily in the car or got in a mite of trouble. When riding on official business with dad there are flags on each side of the hood of The Beast and a presidential seal is everywhere and imprinted indelibly on everything. For all the requirements, the unscripted moments still occur. (The Bush Twins, Barbara on the left and Jenna on the right. They traveled more in the last year of their father's presidency.)

Going to Martha's Vineyard for vacation it looks like Bo is saying are we there yet as an aide carries a a baby car seat required even for presidential niece Savita (Dr. Konrad Ng's & Dr. Maya Soetero-Ng's youngest daughter) for the car ride to their destination. That's just not a recent run of the mill WH exercise toting baby gear. Below is Savita learning to walk in the Oval Office.)

Travel is always a great time for presidential kids to meet he sons and daughters of other heads of state and make life long friends. Many of their father's counterparts have children younger than the Obama children. The rarity of children calling 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home in the last fifty years increases the interest because many people see a your family just like theirs, but with circumstances no one will ever know unless they actually live in the Executive Mansion. With kids involved, the unexpected always happens. When Bo officially came home, the Obama girls were the initiators of meeting the press. It was a very young Sasha that high-fived Vice president Cheney when her father was sworn in as a senator in 2005. President Obama and the first lady went with their children's wishes on that occasion. Pretty sure there are more to come. Here are a few impromptu moments courtesy of Malia & Sasha.

Yes, presidential limousines require seatbelts for the children. This is leaving the Vatican and guess who has kicked off their shoes as big sister just smiles... See above. It looks like Michelle Obama bursts into laughter when she sees Sasha after the megaton door to the presidential limo is opened providing photogs with an irresistible moment.

First Lady Michelle Obama helps Malia remove sand from her hair as they wait for the incredible edibles. Note the awesome adventurous blue nail polish Malia is sporting. This from the Obama August vacation on Martha's Vineyard.

Stay tuned! Christmas is coming to the Obama White House and in the not too distant future should be announcing the East Wing theme for 2009. With all of the children in the place it ought to be a spectacular pictorial Holiday Season.

Modern Art Work & The Obamas

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:23:00 +0000

Every modern first lady shows interest in the arts with some being avid fans of a particular form or style. Jackie Kennedy loved the ballet with an exquisite eye for centuries old antiques while beautiful photographs adorned her private space. Lady Bird Johnson loved wildflowers, especially those indigenous to Texas, while kick-starting forerunners to environmental projects focusing along highways. Michelle Obama has eclectic taste and is being ecumenical in her choices for the residence. When a new first family moves in and during their tenure, the nation's museums are open for them to select what they want to display on the their private residence walls in addition to what is available from the White House Art Collection replete with 18th & 19th century artists. Laura Bush was quite fond of the impressionist Claude Monet's tranquil water scene gifted to the White House by the family of JFK. She chose to have it in the West Sitting Hall right across from the door to the Master Bedroom where she could look at it while reading or chatting on the phone. Hillary worked hard to innovate with a sculpture garden with annual exhibits during her stay as first lady. (Monet in White House private collection courtesy George W. Bush archives)

Alma Thomas (1891 -1971) an abstract artist who was the first African American to earn a 1971 solo exhibit at the prestigious Whitney museum Art of (Hard Edge), Watusi (completed in 1963) is one of the paintings the Obamas placed in the residence. The other abstract from this artist is named Skylight.

President Obama, Malia & Michelle watch the video montage on the modern artists while in Paris at the museum known as the Pompidou in June 2009. Photo courtesy of the White House.

The President & Mrs. Obama made some modern choices for their walls. Modern art is a theme shown over the past few months with a trip to the Pompidou Centre or the Centre Georges Pompidou during time in Paris. The Kandinsky Exhibit was quite fun Mom & Dad, but for Sasha & Malia they got to try their hand at making art based on the Alexander Calder (1898 - 1976) exhibit. It is part of the experience for all children visiting that section of the museum. Wonder what Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky (1866 - 1944) would think.

Richard Diebenkorn (1922 -1993) painted Berkeley No.52 circa 1955. The colorful abstract has a place of honor at the Obamas.

Art is a theme throughout the young tenure of the Obama presidency. Thursday starts the First Couples foray as hosts entertaining heads of state. A philanthropist married to a United States senator will entertain the Obamas and their guest at her Rosemont Farm. Teresa Heinz Kerry just missed being a first lady, but 2004 is where Barack Obama came into prominence with the American public. The Farm will supply the vegetables and meets in a true locavore element that pleases Michelle Obama, though she will not be photographed (today) picking the greens and vegetables herself. Gardens are a form of art to her. While the spouses negotiate, the first lady will host a tour for the G-20 spouses (mostly wives) at the Andy Warhol Museum complete with a spectacular luncheon in Pittsburgh. Prior, the tour will hear more art performed by students, Yo-Yo Ma (performed at the inaugural), Trisha Yearwood and Sarah Bareilles. An interesting choice of Warhol (Andrew Warhola 1928 - 1987) given the need to treat the international honored guests to sophisticated Americana known as pop art and Warhol was born in Pittsburgh. President Jimmy Carter feted Warhol in the White house in the 1970s where Warhol presented an art piece that was a rendering of the president. Warhol has many pieces that explore erotica as well. Its fraught with interest because the tour will have a climatic ending as one of Warhol's time capsules is due to be opened. Ought to be quite the topic over lunch - even with all the translators.

Ed Ruscha (born 1937) titled this hip 1983 piece I Think I'll... This pop art piece particularly underscores the modern element to the Obama's tastes. Since 1964, Ruscha paints words into many of his paintings. Sometimes they are satirical and often with touches of humor.

Upon their return to the White House, the splendor of the choices of the Obamas own artwork will reign supreme. Michelle will enjoy the serenity of the art for a few days before taking off to Copenhagen next week to champion Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics. Not one, but two paintings depicting Homage to the Square from Josef Albers (1888 - 1976) adorn the walls at the White House on loan from the Hirshorn Collection. Albers was also a poet. The painting pictured left is Homage to the Square: Midday and completed sometime between 1954 - 1957. The painting for the Homage series started in 1949. Like abstract artist Alma Thomas shown above, Josef Albers was also a teacher. Upon retirements, they both dedicated the remainder of their lives to their art works. (Photo courtesy The Independent)

A definite nod was given to winner of a 2005 Alphonse Fletcher Foundation Fellowship Glenn Ligon (1960 -) who painted Black Like Me #2 (1992) who is just a year younger than the president. Again, continuity reaches through the Obama art pieces as Ligon like Albers uses words and paints in acrylic on canvas. Ligon who is openly gay and an African American from New York has juxtaposed family albums with old school gay porn in one piece. It is part of the art that many artists of vintage and antiquity along with their modern counterparts push the edges during their times.

Glenn Ligon's piece on loan to the First Family.

It's fascinating to review a couple of the choices the Obamas have to look at during their home life. For traditionalists, there is the Edgar Degas bronze figure of Dancer Putting on Her Stocking, a Cézanne (1839 - 1906), yet they mesh with Jaspers Johns lead relief of Numerals, 0-9. Michelle has a wide range of tastes and its reflected in the art selection and her personal style that is not totally dependent on the old masters. Another voice in the selection of modern and abstract art pieces is the Obama interior designer, Michael Smith of Santa Monica who also worked with the White House curator William Allman.

Another young talented but terribly depressed artist met an untimely death by suicide. In fifteen years Nicolas de Staël (1914 -1955) produced over a thousand paintings including many abstract landscapes. This painting is entitled Nice completed in 1954.

Royal Meet & Greets with the First Family

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:51:00 +0000

Her Majesty Queen Rania meets with First Lady Michelle Obama in the Yellow Oval Room on the second floor and private residence. Queen Rania is an active mom that also attends her children's soccer matches as do the Obamas. Photo courtesy of White House.

Royal status arrives upon birth or a wedding fit for a king, queen, prince or princess. A first lady must travel the interstate and freeways of the nation and meet thousands upon thousands of happy, upset, aggrieved or excited people in the tiniest hamlets and the biggest cities before getting the keys for a four year stay to the world's most famous executive residence. The White House at 55,000 square feet with 35 bathrooms is rather small in comparison to Tokyo's Imperial Palace, Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Versailles. Modern royals interact more with people and promote causes and charities on the international stage.

Traditionally, the formal place to meet privately with royal guests is in the Yellow Oval Room. It is also where select guests meet before two heads of state descend the Grand Staircase for a formal state dinner of which the Obamas are yet to host. Barbara Bush gifts Princess Diana with a book dictated to her by her dog, Millie. Photo courtesy the George H. W. Bush Library.

Friendships that last a lifetime spring up among American first family's with many royals as they are very familiar with the shared isolation known as the impenetrable Bubble and the protocols for heads of state. One of my favorite stories from last year was candidate Obama went to the Middle East, including Jordan and to the Aqaba palace. As a candidate he did not have formal privileges to get a ride from the State Department. King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein drove him to the airport in his own personal car. They broke the speed limit and both president and the King are Trekkies. As seen in the top image now their powerful spouses are getting a chance to know each other as well. From Former First Lady Nancy Reagan came to the White House for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall's visit for the formal dinner. Nancy Reagan and the president both attended Lady Diana's 1981 royal wedding deluxe to Prince Charles. She hosted the very famous dinner for their visit that had a svelte Princess Diana twirling across the floor with John Travolta in the Grand Foyer which works marvelously well as a dance area.

Prince Charles & The Duchess during their visit with President George W. Bush and the First Lady.

The Place setting from the formal White House dinner hosted by the Bushes

Malia's will get a teen-scale briefing on the formalities for her first formal state dinner akin to the scene from the movie Pretty Woman where all the knives, forks, goblets get a full explanation. White tie dinners at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue are rare and usually reserved for Kings & Queens. Black tie is for everyone else of extraordinary rank including the Prince of Wales and Camilla on their first visit after their nuptials. The last was in 2007, when President & Laura Bush entertained Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II & her husband Prince Phillip on a full state visit. Michelle Obama & the Queen Elizabeth are quite chummy with phone calls and two visits to Buckingham Palace by the First Lady. Malia & Sasha got a personal tour and met Her Majesty afterwards for a spot of tea and what had to be some delightful scones. A former Princess and mother of two princesses, Sarah Ferguson quietly went to the White House to lobby Michelle to participate in a charity project. The Duchess of Cornwall and her husband Prince Charles met the Obamas during the G20 summit at a social even hosted by the Queen. He focused on the Kitchen Garden. Not too many are aware that the Queen has started a little patch with her own veggies on the palace grounds.

President Clinton, Queen Noor, Hillary Clinton and his Majesty King Hussein of Jordan have an American style Lunch complete with french fries. It was one of the last happy visits to the USA before King Hussein succumbed to his illness.

Kings have friends among American presidents. The American-born Queen Noor visited the White House often with her husband King Hussein. In 1998, Hillary Clinton held lunch for the King & Queen of Jordan on the Truman Balcony. The balcony is accessed from the Yellow Oval Room where a more casual setting can take place. First Ladies plan each detail when meeting with royals. The amount of protocol can be overwhelming as Michelle found as she exchanged a fond pat with Queen Elizabeth.

At the reception in Buckingham Palace, the bonding Moment seen round the world.

President & Mrs. Obama meet for the first time in Her Majesty's formal living room at the Palace.

The waves of royals have a generational component that works well with the Obamas. Felipe, HRH The Prince of Asturias has a very young family with former television anchor as his Princess, Letizia. His suave parents the King & Queen Sophia of Spain are still on the throne. From Japan, the new Prime Minister's wife has made no secret of her desire to meet Michelle Obama. The Emperor & Empress of the Chrysanthemum Throne will be a highly structured first meeting for the Obamas. The Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan & his American educated former diplomat & lovely wife Crown Princess Masako have yet to meet the Obamas and they have a young daughter near Sasha's age.

In the Yellow Oval Room (seen from another angle) the Obamas host the Dutch Crown Prince, Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange & Crown PrincessMáxima of the Netherlands in September 2009. Their oldest child is five.

Note: My hand is now better and I have better motor control to type. My shoulder well we'll keep hoping....Stay tuned for the next post.

Gorgeous Green Room in Silk

noreply@blogger.com (Nana R) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:16:00 +0000

First Lady Mamie Eisenhower (blue dress) with guests in the Truman version of the Green Room.

Moiré patterned silk covers the walls of the salon, Green Room. Formerly a daintier yellow, Thomas Jefferson had a green camouflage dropcloth functioning as a rug to catch the crumbs that missed his mouth in what was slated to become a dining room. It is sandwiched between the East Room and officially Michelle Obama's favorite, the Blue Room. Of course, it got a redo into the French Empire style after the Jeffersonian era because the British BBQ'd the entire White House in the War of 1812. Later, Victorian style gave way to Colonial Revival championed by McKim, Mead & White in Teddy Roosevelt's day throughout the room. Laura Bush redid the room in the summer of 2007 and added African American artist, Jacob Lawrence's (1917-2000) The Builders to the collection of art adorning the silk walls. At the time, the White House Acquisition Trust purchased the sixty year old painting, it sold for $2.5 million dollars and is one of only five pieces of art by an African American artist in the formal White House collection. The rule to command a spot as an artist on many of the state room walls (absent presidents) the painter gets the honor after dying and the work has to be more than twenty-five yeas old. Laura Bush with The Builders over her shoulder. She took some flack because the picture is of black men doing hard labor. Photo Courtesy the Washington Post.

Lighter Relieving (1847) Farmyard in Winter (1858) Bear Lake, New Mexico Georgia O'Keefe (1930) from the White House Art Collection located on the walls of the Green Room

Art in the Green Room covers many styles. Holding pride of place is an iconic painting of Benjamin Franklin by David Martin sitting right above the oldest mantel in the White House - circa 1819. Abigail Van Buren's portrait also graces the room. Louisa Adams portrait in oils is a period piece painted by Gilbert Stuart. Scenes form the Mississippi River in Lighter Relieving a Steamboat Aground by George Caleb Bingham in 1847 is above the north door.

The urn and candlesticks on the coffee table in front of the Duncan Phyfe striped sofa are part of the silver pieces from John & Abigail Adams.

In 1961, during Jacqueline Kennedy's interior revamp, she employed a French designer that focused on a Federal style for the Green Room. Fireplace mantels endured switch-outs from a modern for nineteenth century standards circa 1852 to something decades earlier bought by James Monroe. The room suffered though the 1904 white cane furniture and then, seized upon the idea of the fluffiest Turkish chairs to decorate the almost 627 square feet of space. That is more complicated than one might suspect for any designer because there are separate 6 doors to the Green Room as well. Jackie Kennedy believed heartily in themes and located things from important Americans, including Daniel Webster's Duncan Phyfe sofa and an urn Abigail Adams purchased. She hung the watered silk on the walls and varying degrees of that have been there ever since. (Green Room at conclusion of Jackie Kennedy's historic redo)

Pat Nixon's curator tut-tutted the wrong era moldings for the room and had them replaced along with appropriate ceiling medallions. One thing about the White House, do not forget to look up as the ceilings are works of art as well. Even the Oval Office has a ceiling medallion. Draperies in the rooms also have exquisite attention to detail along with carpets be they an Axminster in Jackie's heyday or after the Pat Nixon overhaul. Laura Bush's rendition thirty-six years later is closer to that with a brighter hued color palette.

President Obama waits to be announce into the East Room by aides.

The picture contains the rosier color of the Martha Washington club chairs in front of the WH's oldest mantel with the author of Poor Richard's almanac staring down on President Obama with the late Senator Ted Kennedy, Liberal Lion of the Senate. Photos courtesy of the White House by Peter Souza.

Duncan Phyfe has several pieces to enchant in the room. Scalamandr did the original wreath and butterfly motif that Texas designer Ken Blasingame, the White House preservation authorities and Laura Bush chose. The room has had many incarnations with the Monroes settling on making it the Card Room for their fierce games of whist.

Barbara Bush gives an interview to CBS with her dog, Millie utterly unimpressed.

Before the makeover, the same Eisenhower set up, Jackie Kennedy greets the wives of astronauts in the Green Room

Marta Sahaun de Fox of Mexico with Lara Bush in 2001 before her makeover of the room. Notice the more plain fabric on the chairs. Just over Mrs. Fox's shoulder is a magnificent piece of furniture with all kinds of hidden compartments. Atop it resides the Argand Lamp from the late 18th century.

Each first family finds different functions to hold in the Green Room. The first declaration of war was signed in the green room by President Madison. On February 24, 1862 Willie Lincoln who died upstairs was put in his coffin in this room to keep Mary Lincoln. had The appropriation of Green did not come until the time of John Quincy Adams and his wife (1825-1829) made it the Green Drawing Room while Grace Coolidge thought it the perfect backdrop for some semi-nude art after decreeing the room needed genuine Federal period (tons of eagles) placed in the room that started as a Lodging Room. It's also a room for interesting receptions and entertaining. Eleanor Roosevelt spent time with Amelia Earhart in the Green Room.

The Green Room at the time of Andrew Johnson.

Green Room in time of the 1904 Roosevelt administration. Just outside the doors is the Grand Staircase as it used to open right to the Cross Hall before the Truman renovations. Ghastly choice in furniture & art during the Roosevelt era in my opinion.

Missing History & Opportunity in the Obama East Wing

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:05:00 +0000

What a heady and tumultuous eight months that whirled by with the first biracial president and African American first lady. My focus is the East Wing of the equation. For the Obamas, two cute and curious kids, an internationally famous puppy and so many inspirational firsts or twists on the past such as the incredible Michelle Obama Kitchen Garden that are now part of the American presidential fabric. But not the electronic strand that marks a spot for the current generation or future ones. It also takes time to coalesce all the moving parts of a White House experience in the first year especially with appointed staff learning the history of the People's House, its contents and all who lived there since the muddy time of John & Abigail Adams. The White House is an eighteen acre bubble shared by an energetic family, military trained attack dogs, eagle eyed snipers, priceless antiques, a rambunctious puppy, incredible works of arts, thousands of daily visitors, vintage trees, a one hundred member staff dedicated to the Residence and now, the newest first lady's bees. That's just the stuff you see if on the premises. It is for those who are not on the premises that my post encompasses.

After leaving the Vatican, the First Family heads to Air Force One to go to Ghana.

The only way to understand the White House is to read voraciously or look at the pictures or if one must, suffer through the soundbites the traditional media thinks are important. What endures is the White House legacy. To that end if one is reading this post online, one should also be able to go to the White House website and find the riches and beauty of the house. It takes a while before new first ladies find their sea legs. Only two first ladies had a relative to call upon to get a multitude of details on the operations of a White House, Louisa Adams had her mother-in-law Abigail Adams as Laura Bush had Barbara Bush.

The West Wing side of the Obama Administration shows savvy at the White House website with a blog, policy briefs, and a YouTube channel. Nothing like it exists readily for the Obama East Wing. Yes, there are a couple of photo albums for the first lady, Michelle Obama, but no blog, no fulsome history of each of the State Rooms, the extensive White House American Art collections, no White House Residence senior staff profiles, no details of events hosted by the first lady that resonate - the music series, the output of the $200 investment of the Kitchen Garden or the choices of China, silverware or floral arrangements used at events. Those things must wait for chronicling by a haphazard news media that misses points for posterity. These details are important and will be part of the record of Michelle Obama's tenure as first lady, especially as the first African American. (Photo courtesy the White House of Michelle Obama meeting the retired Chief Florist Nancy Clarke's new granddaughter at a staff party in the mansion.)

Content on the White House website is important and even the West Wing is struggling to capture everything and get pieces filled in. The East Wing should join alongside the West in providing rich, detailed content about state or official events at the People's House. A great piece has been the live streaming of events on the White House website by both the president and the first lady. Time marches rapidly and before we know it, a year will float by before attention turns to making information available on the website.

The Lincoln Sitting Room off the Lincoln Bedroom on the second floor of the Residence. Cataloging once again the art works for the public is critical.

Certainly Laura Bush had some gaps, but one thing about her being n ex-librarian is that it was extremely thorough on her side of the White House web ledger. It was beyond outstanding and a model that future first ladies should follow with attention to detail to pieces of furniture, pre-scheduled Ask the Staff live chats, individual first ladies portraits and biographies, 3 D tours of renovated spaces - including the Cabinet Room and the Situation Room. Interesting and shocking that President Obama can be comfortably ensconced in the Oval Office decor of President Bush but not the technology savvy displayed on his website. A news sighting of the changing of the White House fountains to Celtic Green for Saint Patrick's Day was duly noted by the press, but its not captured as part of the new thinking the first lady is bringing to White House traditions. I'm waiting, but patiently not so much, as too much history is going by too fast.

Michelle Obama oft repeats that she wants to bring the White House to people who have never seen it and offering up a robust web presence would do that for millions in this nation and millions if not billions more outside of it. Nothing has captured the imagination of global interest like her garden and the implications for nutritional value of home grown local food. Prince Charles waxed ecstatic about the Kitchen Garden and members of Congress along with other guests plus the family eat the fruits of the labor of the kids at Bancroft Elementary, Mrs. Obama, the White House chefs and the landscape crew. It would be great to talk about the garden in terms of healthy eating right at the site - rather than through the occasional news article prompted by a photo op.

Every White House Pet is special. There was a Barney Cam - yeah, he bit a reporter for which first lady Laura Bush wrote a handwritten apology, Socks was a superstar cat and Bo is threatening to need his own reporter assigned to him because he garners so much attention. It was a wonderfully weird presidential picture as the Obamas went on vacation to see a baby car seat (for Maya's infant daughter) and Bo leave a helicopter in the same image. The East Wing smartly came up with a Bo piece that went into bags for the troops. It was pretty cute to watch Malia intently read the doggy bio information before she placed it in the backpack she was supposed to be filling at a service event.

Malia is reading every detail.

All great things in good time, I suppose. Please, Obama East Wing staff - please pay attention to the mound of details about the White House, its environs and the furniture of history that many in the public are acutely interested in for the first time. It is an opportunity so many want and few have have to make such a lasting impact on learning about the White House and its internationally famous first family. The archives of what Laura Bush did is an excellent example from where to start and innovate. We need more information, history lessons and access on the White House website - Please, Please, PLEASE with a vermeil candelabra on top. (Michelle Obama in her East Wing office with her new Chief of Staff, Susan Sher.)

Michelle's First White House Christmas Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:07:00 +0000

Lynda Bird Johnson Robb celebrating Christmas in the Blue Room with the presidential grandchildren in 1968. Photos courtesy the White House

Plans proceed apace as the Sundbacks of Sheperdstown, West Virginia won the White House Christmas Tree Sweepstakes or better yet, are now known officially as the Grand Champions of the National Christmas Tree Contest. Since 1956, the couple, Eric & Gloria Sundback, now in their eighties, have discouraged deer and fought hard against Mother Nature's more harmful weather whimsies to keep the trees growing strong while some are tall. Their tenacity won spots to have their trees ferried to the White House several times over the decades. Horticulture and forestry experts, they started because they could never find a tree that suited them, so hence their own orchard. Rosalynn Carter & Nancy Reagan also decorated trees from the Sundback farm. Michelle Obama's first Christmas in the White House will see her taking receipt of a Fraser Fir tree from a lifetime of hard work finding better needle retention and increasing branch strength on a horse drawn sleigh. This is the third year in a row the Fraser Fir has beat out the Pines, Spruces and Nobles.

Hillary Clinton had a spectacular tree skirt from 1993 as part of her A Visit from St. Nicholas theme. The ornaments were from architecture students that was pretty spectacular under this 1995 Fraser Fir. For comparison below, the 1993 Tree which was Hillary's first at the White House.

There are exactly 118 days until Christmas, but the Obama White House must have the up to nineteen foot tree (and no higher) selected from Eric & Gloria Sundback Trees delivered a few days after the presidential turkey pardon on the picturesque sleigh. The tree will have a special topper that cannot brush the ceiling directly below the gilt ceiling medallion to make the holiday tableau wonderful for what will be one of the most highly photographed and trafficked areas for the Obamas first Holiday Season. The velvet ropes around the tree keep people form handling the sometimes delicate or antique ornaments. Pat Nixon sent waves a shock through the choice of an atomic symbol rather than the sedate star normally used. As discussed on White House Christmas in July post on the volunteer elves need three days to trim out the place with decor that follows the theme which remains a closely guarded secret for the Obama White House. Sasha, Malia and Bo will have some definite ideas about what goes on the tree and under the tree. A gingerbread house is in order for this year and perhaps Michelle will ask Roland Mesnier to consider making one and decorating it as he has in the past for Laura Bush.

President Kennedy & Jacqueline Kennedy displayed this official tree as part of the Nutcracker Theme of 1961 inaugurating the idea of a theme. Barbara Bush repeated the Nutcracker Suite theme in 1990. Hillary Clinton took another swing at the popular Nutcracker theme in 1996.

In 2002, Laura Bush had an almost nineteen foot Noble Fir delivered from Hedlund Christmas Trees from the northwest in Elma,Washington. They too were experienced with the rituals of White House Trees having made the trip a few years before after winning the honor to give first lady Hillary Clinton the tree. You have to win the contest from the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) first. Next, the tree selected for either the White House or The Vice President's place at One Observatory Circle is a direct result of a full scale competition complete with airline reservations, refrigerated trucks and professional tree handlers. My best analogy is its like the Westminster Dog show for elite, carefully bred living trees with 5 categories and a gnarled tree twist. One American farm gets to enter their top two trees and if selected the winner by a panel of outside judges, that farm is retired from competition for the next three years.

This is the 2007 delivery of a Fraser Fir with Laura Bush as she kicked off the Holiday in the National Parks theme that required an ornament to commemorate each of the 391 National Park Service sites.

The trees take almost a decade to get to the required height, but that may be more accidental than planned. Since 1966 the NCTA has presented the tree. The first lady's team in the East Wing strive to come up with a theme that the Residence staff of exemplary pastry chefs, carpenters and electricians work to implement. In 2008, the Obamas spent Christmas in the Aloha State before changing climates to arrive in an icy DC in time for the girls to start a new term at a new school in their new home city. This is Michelle Obama's maiden Holiday season and it will be interesting to see how many fresh and exciting new ideas she can come up with to celebrate a cherished part of the Season! We shall be eating a few sugar plums with joyous anticipation as snugly in bed as the laptop allows and watching ... closely just like Santa Claus does for the Obamas. It will be so different from 2008 getting the tree.

Malia & Dad go searching for their last tree in Chicago as a family before entering the White House. A new level of entertaining ahead as the White House has not had presidential children to celebrate the Holidays in decades.

Update: Here is another link explaining a bit more about the White House Holiday planning process that picked up steam in July.

Painted Ladies of the White House

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:27:00 +0000

There were a number of firsts with the painting of Hillary Clinton's portrait. The first African American portrait artist Simmie Knox did a tandem of her and President's Clinton's official oil portraits. She is wearing a pantsuit with her hand touching her best selling book with an example of historic White House China on the table. The painting hangs on the Ground floor in the Hall. Portraits courtesy of the White House Collection.

All over the White House the painted eyes of presidents and first ladies watch the new occupants as they settle into the presidential manor. President Nixon used to speak with the portraits and keep himself in the wilting humidity of a Washington summer closeted in
the Lincoln Sitting Room with the fireplace crackling. Nancy Reagan was very particular about the portraits and where certain first ladies would grace the walls. Her portrait is a stunning red visage that matches perfectly the red carpets on the Ground Floor and Cross Hall - it was not an accident. Part of the tradition in modern times is to select a portrait artist and the result is part of a White House Ceremony unveiling the art. Usually, the second term in office is when the president and first lady start thinking about their formal portraits and start to select or audition painters of the first brush. The styles change over the years, with portraits of the first First Couples being part of living in the early days of the republic. (President Obama & Nancy Reagan on Ground Floor in the hallway pass her portrait on the way into Diplomatic Reception Room as he signs The Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission honoring his memory.)

Teacher for the Deaf & crochet expert Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge 1923 - 1929 as First Lady Teetotaler Lucy Ware Webb Hayes 1877 - 1881 as First Lady Daughter-in-law Angelica Singleton Van Buren acted as hostess/First Lady 1839-1841 as Hannah Van Buren had passed away. Permanently displayed in the Red Room. Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams (1825-1829) is the daughter-in-law of Abigail Adams is the first lady who advocated for females and their rights.

Wearing French empire and showing shapely cleavage, the Dolley Payne Todd Madison portrait (1804) in oil by her friend Gilbert Stuart is so well known it graces alongside presidential portraits. She was the official hostess for Thomas Jefferson when the portrait appeared and later she became first lady With 44 presidents and 46 first ladies in total, (some presidents were widowers and remarried or bachelors or married for the first time while in office), the wall space in the 55,000 square foot Executive Mansion has prime space and lesser space. The current president and first lady select who goes where. One prime piece of real estate is just beneath and around the Grand Staircase just off the foyer or anything on the state floor and mostly, it is the presidents in the corridors with special first ladies or hostesses of presidents inside the colored salons off the Cross Hall.

Tourists see the Vermeil Room on the ground floor where its incandescent light makes Jackie Kennedy's acclaimed portrait seems as if its always hung there in its rightful prominent place. Martha Dandridge Custis Washington has the most prominent space along the same wall and same height of her husbands Gilbert Stuart painting of her husband George in the White House's largest formal space, the East Room.

Elizabeth Kortright Monroe's (tenure 1817 -1825 though her daughter Eliza stepped in most of the time as hostess) oil portrait by John Vanderlyn retains a prominent place near the South Portico just before the entrance to the Green Room. Her ermine shawl is perfect for the French Empire design of the Blue Room she and her husband worked so hard to furnish.

The artists themselves are varied with some interesting stoeirs. Anders Zorn painted the youngest first Lady ever, Frances Folsom Cleveland. Howard Chandler Christy painted Grace Coolige with her collie, Rob Roy, beside her and the South Portico of the White House over her shoulder. Boldly sporting a nineteenth century pompadour, Henry Inman painted Angelica Van Buren who was related to Dolley Madison by marriage. Inmans work populates the vast White House Art Collection with many paintings of The First People. Modern twists occurred with Eleanor Roosevelt (1933 - 1945) the hands never still and Mamie Eisenhower (1953-1961) in her inaugural ball gown. Florence King Harding has a memorable coif immortalized in oils by Philip Alexius deLaslode lombos in 1921.

The chair pose is almost as popular as the ones with the White House as a backdrop.

Completed in 1967, Elizabeth (Bess) Wallace Truman seems to be the modern start for the seated pose. Above, wearing the famed triple strand is Barbara Pierce Bush (1989 - 1993) from 1992 painted in oils by Herbert E. Abrams. Elizabeth (Betty) Bloomer Ford painted by Felix De Cossio. It took awhile post presidency for the portrait of Rosalynn Smith Carter (1977-1981). In 1984, the softly hued oil portrait was completed by George Agusta. Rosalynn Carter has nothing on Martha Washington (1788-1796) whose official portrait came from Eliphalet F. Andrews who used a live model and dress from the nineteenth century when she was definitely a person of the eighteenth. The portrait was finally done a hundred years after the founding of America in 1878.

A new twist with oval portraits and using two Ediths. Edith Carrow Roosevelt (1901 - 1909) used a different frame, the south White House gardens while sitting on a bench. Edith Bolling Galt Wilson (1913 -1821) was the second first lady of the Wilson Administration who approved who and what the president saw during his illness and recovery.

First lady oil paintings are fascinating with the variety of styles and choices for what they want to project for the American People in the centuries to come. These portraits are waves from the past that reflect on style, culture, and the individual - the American way!

These three are My favorites

Helen (Nellie) Herron Taft (1909 - 1913) had the idea of the South Portico First in 1910 painted by Karl Bror Albert Kronstrand

(Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (1961 -1963) Photo courtesy of Robin at Big Red Kitchen) Aaron Shikler completed Jackie's in 1970 and indeed, did the famous oil painting of President Kennedy that has pride of place just outside the State Dining Room. Seventeen years later he created new magic with Nancy Davis Reagan's (1981 - 1989) oil portrait

Which are your favorites?

Note: An official photograph is also issued with the advent of technology. Mrs. Obama in oil ought to be as spectacular as the full official photo.

Washing, Waxing & Cleaning the President's House

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Mary Kaltman works with chef on 1965 Christmas Cookies in White House Kitchen. Photo courtesy White House Historical Association.

Lady Bird Johnson had Mary Kaltman as food-coordinator-housekeeper and for a while she did the same for the Nixons in the White House. She wrote a book Keeping Up With Keeping House: A Practical Guide for the Harried Housewife for those female denizens against dust (known in the day as homemakers) who wanted the information on how to perform the domestic arts in grand style. In school, the subject used to be called Home Ec (for Home Economics), which made cooking and cleaning a subject for mostly girls. In prior years, Mrs. Mary E. Sharpe took upon herself as the housekeeper to make President Truman's waistline trim.

But Mrs. Kaltman was tough enough to send the domestic side of the Johnson white House into domestic hostility, sometimes famous in the East Wing. Seems she and the oo-la-la famed French chef, Verdon René, hired in April 1961 for his epicurean skills, ran into the budget minded housekeeper/Queen of Food at the White House who insisted on frozen foods, recipes from a common book and a president that wanted his fish slathered in sauce with the skin still on. Mon Dieu. They had a similar arrangement to what the Obama Family has now - on the second floor Sam Kass is in charge of the personal meals and he came with them from Chicago while the Executive Chef handles state functions. A hundred years earlier another battle ended as Mary Todd Lincoln had the housekeeping staff report directly to her. Now, that subject is split into two functions at the Executive Mansion, with cleaning it and cooking for it being two different, yet equal professional career paths. (Sasha clearly knows the ropes and speaks to one of the long tenured White House butlers about exactly what she wants while the First Granny looks on.)

Using the latest tools in 1955, the spic and span brigades wore ties while sanding, cleaning and waxing in the East Room during the Eisenhower era. Photo courtesy the White House Historical Association from a series on the Working White House and the national Archives and Records Administration.

The Cross Hall and Grand Foyer getting a thorough polishing in the Obama White House.

Wiping down, waxing a nations antiques, polishing heirloom silver and vacuuming the nap only one way on priceless rugs every day in the White House is akin to auto detailing a pristine parade of 100 Rolls Royces every 24 hours. Mrs. Kaltman believed in good old fashioned elbow grease and did not cotton to fancy tools or words. Her successor Shirley Bailey was of the same mind and used paste wax, one male person polished the brass fixtures and cleaned the little chandelier danglies day in and day out. She had her folks hand ironing all the linen napkins for events after they came out of the industrial strength washers and dryers. (From the Reagan era vacuuming the Blue Room)

There is a wonderful movie, Back stairs at the White House made on the life of an early twentieth century maid. Many of those at the White House worked for the first family while also working with an aunt, uncle, mother, father and brother. No matter the messes made, memoirs and anecdotes focus on the history and the occasions rather than any grist for the mill. Many serve for decades. An amusing anecdote shared by first lady Hillary Clinton came at the hands of an exuberant tween, Chelsea who had entertained friends with a movie. The popcorn did not exactly land in mouths and Hillary was horrified. The White House staff was in shock as Hillary had Chelsea clean up every kernel and they were not allowed to help. Kind of like Sasha & Malia have no bed service in the mornings - bed made with their own hands before leaving for school and they must help carry in the dishes in the morning for their breakfast.

From 1877, the staff/servants during Lucy Hayes' time as first lady. Almost sixty years later the staff was integrated by Eleanor Roosevelt. She felt the need to make White House domestic staff help African Americans only which kept wages lower and reduced any rancor. Photo courtesy Hayes Administration and Bob Cesca.

The Smithsonian has an exhibit, The Working White House, traveling the nation for the next two years about the Working White House and the staff that makes the Executive Residence run amidst thousands of daily events, an active family, and it being the home of the American head of state with an ambitious entertaining schedule. Christine Limerick, the Chief housekeeper during the Clinton years makes appearances to discuss what happens off camera and what the staff does in their daily and special circumstances. There are butlers, ushers, a presidential valet and a small staff of housekeepers who are mindful of the products they use on the nation's antiques. Laura Bush toted up almost 1500 formal events in eight years. That's a heap of cleaning done with dedication and attention to every fine detail. (Shirley Bailey on the second floor residence in the Nixon White house early 1970's.)

Shirley Bailey in 1970 learned her craft working for hoteliers before setting her keen eye about the executive mansion. The job always has perils such as the hate between the president and the person in charge of the food in the 1930s & !940s. Henrietta Nesbitt as the stern housekeeper overseeing cooking for FDR & Eleanor Roosevelt courted fame for the lousiness of the food served during her tenure. In 1926, single lady Miss Ellen Reilly was hired as the head of housekeeping for the White House and even traveled with President Calvin Coolidge being hired from managing a cafeteria at a retailing outfit in Boston. Blair House, the presidential guest house, has the same attention to excellence and the opportunities to transfer over to the White House when an opening becomes available allows them to serve the president directly.

Its not only the floors, walls, and dishes that get a good scrubbing in the White House. Liberty could usually be found in the Oval Office, but here is Susan Ford with Frankie Blair providing a vigorous doggy bath.

First Ladies Doing Vacations Their Way

noreply@blogger.com (Nana R) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:37:00 +0000

Mamie Eisenhower had no shame in her game going on vacation in the dead of winter. Back in the 1950's longer plane rides made for longer presidential vacations. For 10 days in February 1958, Mamie Eisenhower hung out in Georgia with her husband. On the 23rd of February, the president went on his private plane - Columbine III with the usual assortment of staff and announced the next stop was Phoenix, Arizona where he would lunch with friends at Elizabeth Arden's Maine Chance Farm. The first lady was staying on to soak up the sun in Arizona, and he would be doing a power lunch with pals and turning right around to go back to DC. Even back then, lots of screaming between the press secretary and the press about who was paying for that,.. I was more interested that the works at the Arden beauty farm was $400 a week. Sheesh! In a top flight spa you can do that before you put on the robe. (Mamie sampling her birthday cake - she really was a popular first lady. Photo courtesy AM New York)

Now Jackie Kennedy picked exotic places, but this has to be a 1960's thing that had no etiquette precedent in the First Lady Rule Book. What do you wear to ride a camel with your sister in Pakistan? Date line: Karachi, March 25, 1962 the answer is Kitten heels, pearls, hair immaculate that dares the wind, and a designer dress as you sit sidesaddle above a bunch of men leading your walking, humped spit creator. Jackie's vacation trip was at the suggestion of the Ambassador to India, John Kenneth Galbraith.

This is a first lady who loved horses. Sardar was very dear to Jackie Kennedy and she even chats about the talented horse in her memoirs. He had a nickname that was partial to her father and gambling. The horse had the unofficial moniker Black Jack given to the gelding by the first lady. There are some famous photos of her and the horse. That horse was beloved and went with Mrs. Kennedy after she found a Virginia farm for her family. (Photo courtesy JFK Library)

Pat Nixon did her vacationing on a 125 acre island in da Bahamas mon while in the White House and afterwards. Florida was another favorite as the Nixons also hung out with very wealthy friends. Lots of presidential and first lady time was clocked in what became known as the Winter White House on Key Bisayne in Florida and the Western White House in San Clemente, California for the Nixons. Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter have a very active lifestyle post presidency. They build houses for charity, travel the world and its hot spots and while in Plains, Georgia, ride their bikes. (President & Mrs. Carter Photo courtesy of the The Carter Center & Charles Plant)

The First Family & extended family of President Obama's sister & niece got a great look at the Grand Canyon at both Powell's Point & Hopi Point.

Michelle Obama is wearing shorts in the blistering heat of the Grand Canyon. No one knows what the attire was for the whitewater rafting in the midst of pouring rain and hail while the president went flyfishing in Montana. A trip to Old Faithful was casual as they hiked to see one of America's treasured geysers. The Obamas shared thier treats of picking a basket of peaches in Palisades area of Colorado as well. All in all vacations are fun and its historically rare seeing first ladies fully being themselves while on vacation. Hillary Clinton was photographed twice in a bathing suit to her horror, but the 21st century is rewriting a first family's leisure time.

Poor Bo, left home again...

Social Secretary: The Iron Butterfly

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Weddings between centuries old protocol and the technicolor of modern life can embrace or clash in the White House. Work of or through the Office of the Social Secretary keeps evolving as presidential terms today require public and private events coordination with efficiency and effectiveness on everything from a private coffee clutch for the first lady to events with tens of thousands of excited citizens or the president meeting a head of state or his cabinet. Its a tough job and no two people bring the same skills or approach. In the future, certain White House gender roles have yet to reach cosmopolitan cross-pollination, but the future holds promise for the first female Chief Usher, male Social Secretary (A Deputy is male) or a couple with the first female President and First Gentleman. Sterling events shape the tenor of White House. (Floating toy sharks going into the South Lawn Fountain for the June 2009 Congressional picnic that was an Obama Ohana Luau. Photo courtesy AP)

Desiree Rogers day of the Congressional picnic as she checks last minute details on her blackberry.

Amiability and ability to get along and communicate with multiple departments and constituencies for each and every White House moment with scheduling changes at the last moment make it seem like juggling revving chainsaws, grisly if you miss, and any near misses or straight out flops are seen by everyone. Who can forget Queen Elizabeth being greeted at the White House for a state visit in the early 1990's with her voice heard from the podium, but only her magnificent hat could be seen as there were no steps for the rather tiny Queen of the British Empire to stand upon. The Social Secretary is responsible for ensuring that those sorts of details are clear. Gerald & Betty Ford had their own fun social gaffe when the president asked the Queen to dance and the Marine Corps band went straight into their repertoire of music from Rodgers & Hart, The Lady is a Tramp. Catchy.

White House Social Secretary is a central component of a fully pledged East Wing Operation. Most of the Social Secretary's of the past came with experience at cotillions, collegiate network and a Rolodex in Washington that made things sparkle behind the scenes. Some were absolute nightmares because of their ties to the first lady while others could soothe troubled waters with smooth as silk words. No Social Secretary will be successful in a modern White House without paying homage to the person who is responsible for every direct White House hire, event and procurement, the Chief Usher. During the Camelot era, Letitia Baldridge brought a state department background a social pedigree to the Kennedys as she served both as Social Secretary & the first lady's chief of staff. Ann Stock was the Clinton social secretary from 1994 until 1997. The position also opens doors to other opportunities as Capricia Marshall was the Clinton Administration's Social Secretary with a current nomination to be President Obama's Chief of Protocol that the White House Social Secretary office must work and with daily.(Letitia Baldrige 1961 - 1963 upper left, Capricia Marshall 1997-2001 courtesy of The Washington Post)

Laura Bush's Social Secretary, Lea Berman, ran a tight shop that sat few state dinners but smaller versions of them, but she did one large mega event for the Queen of England in 2007. Lea succeeded Cathy Fenton after the 2004 election, hired straight from being Lynne Cheney's Chief of staff. She cleaned house, exiting the Executive Chef like it was a TV reality series and with the urgent need to find a pastry chef that could live up to Roland Mesnier one of a kind pastry & gingerbread house standards. At that time, the East Wing had everyone in an intense state of roiling stomach acid there was so much turbulence and turf protection. (Lea Berman, Social Secretary for Laura Bush 2005 - 2007 walks along the East Colonnade towards the residence Photo courtesy the Washington Post)

The blowback in the current administrations Social Office has been minimal so far. Desirée Rogers has handled many thing really well by virtue of her executive experience, education and foremost her relationship with the first lady. Innovation in White House entertainment is part of the Obama Charm with the Easter Egg Roll, picnic and the Governor's Ball. Desirée has had a jaw-dropping gaping hole in her judgment by even considering having herself photographed in Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden wearing an Oscar de la Renta ball gown and needed a veto from the West Wing before the idea was fully dropped. As previously fretted about, Desirée Rogers penchant for publicity is a two-edged sword as the role is not at all about her - yet her self-stylized branding is about her being a cultural liaison (do the Obamas need a translator) before she has even put on a full state visit. The ramifications of even thinking of a state dinner in this economic climate would be as loopy as even dreaming of having your picture taken wearing a high-end designer trench coat by Viktor & Rolf and Cartier earrings in the East Room and your not even the first lady.

The recent contretemps in the East Wing With the 4 month on the Job Chief of Staff, Jackie Norris, leaving for a lower profile job with a volunteer organization has some genesis in the friction between her & Rogers. Susan Sher, Norris's replacement, is a great friend of Rogers and senior West Wing official Valerie Jarrett and a former boss of the first lady. A noticeable detail is how much the Social Secretary is photographed with the first lady or the family at events. The Secret Service are probably the best at being omnipresent and positioning themselves out of the frame of certain shots.(Photos courtesy Wall Street Journal)

One of the toughest jobs for a Social Secretary had to be during the Carter presidency. Gretchen Householder Poston was the WH Social Secretary at an an intense time that saw a reduction in lavish entertainment by Mrs. Carter during a recession and a scaling back due to the Iran Hostage crisis. There was also an intense negotiation to get the Camp David Accords and the resulting event at the White House is now world history.

Each one has had challenges, intrigues and time will tell how this works out for the Obama presidency. Most do not stay the full tenure of a president & first lady as the job is a tough, time consuming one that encompasses the needs of the West Wing with the changing demands of the East Wing. Hats off to all who have had the opportunity to serve in this capacity!

Happy Birthday Mom! From both of us, NanaRh.

White House Christmas Starts in July

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:20:00 +0000

First ladies get a bit of a throbbing lump in the stomach around this time of year. The rest of the East Wing Staff in the first year look at each other askance as they discuss Holiday Greeting Card themes, who gets a card, then start looking at the Holiday Party Schedule on top of their day to day activities. A theme ties all of the decor together and it has to be chosen early. President & Rosalynn Carter sent out over 60,000 cards and the numbers have only increased since the 1970's.The Obamas choice is a closely guarded secret. For Laura Bush's last year she chose a Red, White & Blue holiday theme. Sometimes events inspire the cards, as the tragic circumstances of 9/11 had Laura Bush select a scene for her first card featuring a Psalm and the hall from the residence in the White House. Laura Bush's choice of a deeply Christian message in the 2007 card caused some controversy. (2001 Christmas Card from the George & Laura Bush)

Many of the most magical scenes and beautiful times at America's First House begin right after the president pardons a huge turkey in the Rose Garden. The first lady dresses up, not too much, after our national day of giving thanks and stands in the driveway to receive a Christmas or Holiday tree that goes into the Blue Room because its the official one. Next, the family scampers off for a couple of days while hordes of pre-screened festive volunteers turn into White House elves with direction from the Ushers office and decorate more than a dozen trees, the State Rooms, the Truman Balcony placing garland, ribbons and bells everywhere. Pat Nixon resuscitated the use of wreaths as decorations for the Holidays.

Bo's curiosity is going to be quite hard to control. It's almost a sure bet that when President Obama lights the National Christmas tree, which is seen from The Washington Monument and the Truman Balcony, that it will be Sasha pushing the button.

(The stately tree arrives trussed up on a holiday style sleigh ususally led by horses, I think Clydesdales.)

The selection of the tree is political. From which state does it originate (can't have one state furnish the tree year after year complete with much care to ensure it is not an old-growth tree. Like a sports team, the trees are scouted for height (usually 20 feet tall), color suitability and the density of its branches to take the weight of lights and many handcrafted and heirloom ornaments sent to the White House for just this holiday. Mamie Eisenhower decorated 27 trees in 1958. Jackie Kennedy introduced the idea of theming the decorations. For the Carters last year in 1980, it was a Victorian Christmas. In 1994, Hillary Clinton had great fun with the Twelve Days of Christmas. A catalog of each of the ornaments must be made. But the incredible dinners, bountiful buffets and cookies need planning as well. The tremendous amount of floral work need careful scheduling as the refrigerated room to keep blooms fresh is rather small. Add to the fact that the Chief Floral Designer, Nancy Clarke, retired her pruning shears in May, brings more tension to this first Holiday. If asked, many retirees with special skills return to help out during this time.

The Cross Hall glammed up for the 2008 Red White & Blue theme. The door with the seal above it is the blue room where the majesty of the official tree reigns. Photo courtesy the White House

For under $17, excluding shipping, the official 2009 ornament will be sold exclusively via the White House Historical Association. Grover Cleveland is the object of this years version. President & Mrs. Frances Cleveland had toddlers in the White House for his second term. Snow capped rolling lawn with frosted trees gazing at the majestic South portico is the view on the ornament from an eastern angle. Margaret Huddy is the watercolor painter chosen to render the images. This is the second ornament to feature the nineteenth century during the Clevelands terms in office. President & Mrs. Reagan did a modest engraved gold angel blowing a trumpet in 1981. That marked the first time ornaments were offered to support the WHHA. The ornament selected is always featured on the tree in the Blue Room.

Christmas parties are traditional for staff, Congress, the press and family among meeting diplomats and other soirées. Tours go up as the rooms are filled with elaborate gingerbread houses and holiday treats. As this year will be the first for the Obamas in the grand old house, planning the first one is a full time event. There is no question that it will get lavish press attention and television time as well. Sasha & Malia have already put sleds to good use on the South Lawn, but this year will see their imprint on the decorating. It's all in the planning and the volunteer elf army.

Update: Michelle's First White House Christmas Tree - it explains the selection process and shows other First Lady's Christmas trees.

More From EWR later today

noreply@blogger.com (Nana R) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:08:00 +0000

A wedding and some sad news has made us unavailable for a bit. We will be back later today with more from EWR!

Thanks for so much patience and bearing with us!

Congratulations Jim & K-K.

Where to Dine at the White House

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 03:37:00 +0000

The first formal Dinner for Michelle Obama in the State Dining Room for the National Governor's Association February 2009

A formal Dinner in 2007 for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall planned by Mrs. Laura Bush in the State Dining Room.

Food at the White House is among the best in the world when prepared by the Executive Chef and staff. A bevy of butlers, in formal attire, serve the dishes. Where to eat depends upon the occasion, the number of guests and/or the first family's preferences. Nancy Reagan had TV trays set up in the West Hall or the Solarium for dinners together with the president. Choices for dining in the White House include indoor and outdoor venues and are only limited by a president's or first lady's imagination. There have been garden parties on the roofs of the colonnades - which used to be tree lined, and in the Rose Garden as well as the fabulous Jacqueline Kennedy Garden next to the East Wing. (Mrs. Betty Ford used the Red Room of the White House for a formal dinner rather than as a reception salon photo courtesy Gerald Ford Library)

Michelle serves salad from her Kitchen Garden for the outdoor dining her invited guests from Bancroft Elementary in the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden off the East Colonnade.

Dining arrangement inside the executive mansion have always varied depending on the occupant. Thomas Jefferson dining room was what is now the beautiful silk wall papered Green Room where he actually had a green drop cloth on the floor to catch food crumbs. Jackie Kennedy's very young children needed high chairs. It drove her nuts that the family had to pack up like on a vacation to go down two or three levels to the state floor through the State Dining Room to get settled in the formal Old Family Dining Room to eat a regular meal. A bedroom that mirrored hers, now the presidential master suite, right across the wide hall from hers was turned into a private dining room, The President's Dining Room, complete with antique wall paper. The fact that the wall paper is papered over currently with gold damask puts some historians into catatonic shock. Pat Nixon covered it up too, Rosalyn Carter took it down, Barbara Bush covered it up and there it remains lost to look at while swallowing the morning oatmeal, even with its fearsome battle scenes. (Nancy Reagan & Michelle Obama in the Private Family Dining Room on the 2nd floor, The President's Dining Room of the residence. Note the bland gold damask wall paper. Photo courtesy Samantha Appleton)

Laura Bush used the Ronald Reagan China Service for the 40th anniversary of the NEA in the State Dining Room. Photo courtesy of the White House

The sunny Family Dining Room off the State Dining Room on the State Floor was the scene for a working luncheon with the Prime Minister of Israel, May 2009. President & Prime Minister served first according to protocol. Photo by P. Souza, courtesy the White House

The Congressional Picnic took place on the resilient South Lawn as a luau for Ohana in June

For the height of formality, state dinners and other functions meant to showcase the White House while eating a world class gourmet meal take place in the State Dining Room. It seats, at most, 140 for a sit down state dinner. Just past the State Dining Room, the Family Dining Room this past spring hosted its first Seder attended by the First Family. On the first floor, the Family Dining Room is usually where holidays are celebrated with favorite dishes served at the White House for invited personal guests if the family is in residence on the holiday.

On the third floor (above ground) in the family quarters is the Solarium which has a small kitchenette. Facing the Washington Monument, the light and bright Solarium is where Chelsea celebrated a birthday with friends from school and Ronald Reagan recovered from an assassination attempt. It is also very homey with no signs of the antiques found through the rest of the presidential home. There is also a private dining room for the president off of the oval office. Just downstairs from the Oval in the West Wing complex is the White House Mess where certain invited guests can purchase a hamburger or a steak or see the WH staff eating on the run. The Mess also has a private dining facility for meetings. (On the left is the president's private dining room off the Oval Office where he has private teas or lunch meetings.)

In the West Wing complex, White House Navy Mess paneled in dark wood throughout is where President Obama met with reporters in the private facility. Staff and guests pay for the food ordered off the menu. The ceiling tiles just ruin the look doesn't it? Photo courtesy the White House

Can you name all the dining places to eat in the White House?

First Ladies Meeting the Pope

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:31:00 +0000

The Obama Motorcade arrives in through the square carrying all of the Obamas.

US presidential and papal visits have a storied history. President Reagan and Pope John Paul II had a real kinship. First lady Jackie Kennedy met Pope John XXIII on March 11, 1962. She was suitably attired complete with a mantilla and floor length gown. Laura Bush visited the pope just before the 2004 Winter Olympics in Turin on an individual tour as well. She was accompanied by one of her daughters. On June 9, 2007 Laura Bush also formally accompanied her husband to meet the new pope at the Vatican. She was veiled at that time as well. The traditional color for meeting the pope in an official capacity as an American spouse to a head of state is black. In 1982, Nancy Reagan too wore a veil for the new pope John Paul II There was no doubt that Michelle Obama would too wear a veil in the traditions of first ladies.

My first trip to the Vatican required females to have a covering for their hair. More than anything, it delineates the male dominated Curia and its change over time. When presidents and their spouses visit the Holy See together, a female spouse usually gets a tour. It's what made Jacqueline Kennedy's trip to the Vatican all the more historic. Jackie Kennedy went alone as a practitioner of the faith, sans hubby, and had a private audience where she and the pontiff discoursed in French.

Jackie Kennedy being escorted by a cardinal while others in the Curia applauded as she approached. Photo courtesy the JFK Library

President & Mrs. Reagan greet the pope formally in the Vatican in 1982.

A veiled Laura Bush and her daughter Babara meet the pope. Barbara bush is bare headed as were the Obama daughters, Sasha & Malia

President & Mrs. Clinton greeting Pope John Paul II in a larger audience. Update: There is a photo with HRC in veil - still looking for it. Finally...

Hillary Clinton with Pope John Paul II

June 2007 meeting for the Bushes with Pope Benedict

Michelle wears a veil in a moment of highest protocol meeting with His Holiness at the Vatican in the papal library.

When presidents go to the Vatican, they see the Corps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard of the world's smallest yet sophisticated army that protects the pontiff. Brightly colored uniforms lull tourists, but each is trained as a world class member of the military. There is a beautifully appointed room in the papal apartments set aside for meeting dignitaries. The array of cultural history over a millenia makes an impression because it is everywhere the eye touches from the gardens to the statuary to walls and famous ceilings. Visiting Vatican City is a state visit as the Vatican City is a sovereign state. Pope Benedict XVI receives President Barack Obama & Mrs. Obama as a head f state and the Universal Church. (Just over the president's shoulder and behind Obama's Lead Security, J. Clancy, is the Swiss Guard. Photo courtesy AP) UPDATE: Pete Souza, official photgraoher at the White House took this extraordinary picture of the Obamas being escorted by the Swiss Guard below. Note how tall they are.)

The chapel is set up for the selection of the Pope in this view. Each of the Michealangelo fresco is painted on a wall panel or a section of the ceiling. It usually has wooden benches and a crowd. On the direct Wall is the scene from The Last Judgment.

Michelle Obama and the girls toured St. Peters Basilica, where everything is interesting including the floor and a private viewing of the Capella Sistina or Sistine Chapel. After their father's private meeting with the Pope, the girls also met Pope Benedict XVI. Malia was dressed in black as well.

The participants walk over for the formal gift exchange.

Update: Why are a few people freaking out over the veil? A few more examples.
President and Pat Nixon on September 29, 1970 in a sit down setting in the same papal library with the same painting.

President Harry S Truman & Bess at the Vatican with a private audience with the Holy See.

Gelato, Group Hugs & Earthquake Damage

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:10:00 +0000

The Obamas enter Quirinale Palace - home of the president of Italy.

Touring devastated areas remains a must do for people ravaged by the forces of nature. President Clinton filled sandbags and hugged during the 1990 floods that washed away farmlands with too many family dreams and memories in the drowned homes. President Bush received summons to Homestead, Florida in the debris path of category 5 Andrew's direct hit. One image I remember because it was quintessentially American as I remained in Rome during this, was a lone rooftop painted with a plea and profanity telling the president to get down there now. First ladies usually do more humanitarian things visiting dislocated people in evacuation centers in a Red Cross controlled environment. Laura Bush was seen and welcomed several times in the Gulf Coast after the Bush Administration's horrific non-response of Katrina.

President & Mrs. Obama greet President & Mrs. Napolitano of Italy inside the palace looking particularly tall in this shot.

In Italy, there are several tangled problems. Italy's lusty Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi owns most of the media that is currently covering his marital affairs with excruciating attention to detail. His political appointments include a former topless model, now a minister charged with guiding presidential wives through the earthquake wreckage of historic stones and with frightened families in tent cities, because the Italian first lady is in the midst of divorcing the prime minister. Michelle Obama toured L'Aquila today with the other spouses or first ladies. As recent as Monday there are still sizeable aftershocks. As of yet, she has not had to visit a damage zone in the infancy of her husband's administration.

G8 wives with a dozen more heads of states spouses and the lovely table in preparation for their lunch at the museum.

A tour lets you walk around the edges of the Coloseum to look down into the underground parts of the edifice. The tour can take visitors underground or to the floor as well. First Granny is wearing the red top.

Malia made it to the gift shop clutching a book about Rome upon leaving.

Coming in the middle of the week, the kids have their own agenda in Rome. My guess was correct on the gelato trip - no way anyone worth their sweet tooth misses Italian ice - Malia and Sasha went to Gilotti and made their own blackberry and banana flavor gelato. This is not spontaneous, but well thought out due to security and Michelle's wishes for her daughters to have a memorable stay that lasts the rest of their lives as they tell their grandchildren. The Palazzo del Quirnale sits atop the highest of the hills in Rome with stunning vistas. I would love to see what they thought was interesting to take a picture of with their cameras. (Sasha already had one camera confiscated by the First Grandma at a church service just before the inauguration)

In the Kennedy administration, there was a nanny. In the Obama administration it is the Granny. The Obama daughters need supervision and there is a coterie of people involved in the logistics of the First kid's and Grandma Robinson's separate schedule. The East Wing has to speak with the State Department that in turn sends out scouts and garners suggestions and recommendations for the First Lady. Final arrangements must be cleared through the Secret Service that involve routes, transportation modes, background checks, advance security to clear out public areas and a clear communication of those activities. That all has to then be communicated with the Arma dei Carabeineri (elite Italian police) and their diplomatic counterparts. Since Michelle has a separate schedule her security coordinates with the head of the protective details for both Malia & Sasha. The kids are vaguely aware of it, but they mostly meet pre-screened strangers and heads of state. Sasha Obama retaining that wonderful sense of being a innocent, obviously had problems sleeping amidst all the glitz plus the time change. She decided that was an excellent time to recap the wonderful things she saw in the Kremlin and Winter Garden tea by waking her parents up at 4am to discuss her day.

Even on the steps of AF1 she's still talking as they leave Moscow.

Colosseum incandescent at twilight. To the right of it is the Arch of Constantine.

Rome is an ancient city with many treasures being thousands of years old. The Capitoline Museum is host to recovered treasures that had been curated at the Getty Museum here in Los Angeles. Michelle Obama ate a celebrity chef lunch with a picture perfect view of the Eternal City with the wives and the Italian first lady's stand-in among statues of Marcus Aurelius. The Coloseum beckoned all of the Obama ladies. Next to the ruins of the gladiators, is where chariot races were held in Nero's time. Not too far away are other architectural wonders and the fountains, oh the fountains. Crossing the Tiber River on bridges that are more than two thousand years old to Vatican City will be a highlight on Friday viewing the awesome symmetry of Bernini's columns, Dante's works on the doors of St. Peters Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and a museum filled with the creative genius of Da Vinci and Michael Angelo amidst the wonders of what were the Borgias thinking. Of course meeting the guy in the pristine white papal robes and the red leather shoes will become an immediate historic image.

Funny thing that not one of the Obamas will get to see first hand on this trip is a staple of Rome. Horns blaring, motor scooters darting about and drivers screaming colorful things at each other as they creatively cut one another off in traffic.

Grazie, Ciáo & Arrivaderci!

To Russia With Love

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:17:00 +0000

First family leaves for the 12 or so hour flight to Moscow after getting of the president's chopper and headed towards the 747. Photos courtesy AP

The first family trundled off of Marine One towards Air Force One looking very holiday driven rather than a business trip. Magical things will happen aboard Air Force One. Both honored staffs of the president (West Wing) and first lady (East Wing) are briefing the couple, ensuring wardrobe choices and preparing press releases. Other staff members and the press are already waiting in Moscow to cover the first family's arrival. The president will have pool sprays - cram the press in a little area to take pictures for a hot sec and perchance ask a question for a couple of minutes then herded back out to their holding pen until a more formal press conference. Currently only the president has a formal press conference schedule. Svetlana Medvedeva is not a flashy Russian first lady. Mrs. Putin has the Q factor of a character in the television show the Partridge Family. Raisa Gorbachyova was an iconic Russian first lady that clashed terribly with Nancy Reagan as she was the initial modern Soviet first lady to actually tour with her husband and do events at home and in other nations. Alas, first lady Michelle Obama is identifiable from remote fishing villages in the Aleutian Islands to the space station. Guess who's press shop needs a daily "guidance" announcement. (Before the Obama invasion, on Saturday Svetlana celebrated the Day of Love in Murom, Russia. Photo courtesy AP)

The Michelle show as she makes a quick stop to at a children's store in Paris.

Mrs. Obama's freshly engaged to be married press tsarina Katie McCormick-Llelyveld is going to find new levels of exhaustion. What was Mrs. O wearing, who did she meet with and her exact remarks at each and every stop will be demanded. The president and first lady will dine with the president and first lady of Russia. Hopefully, the kids will be able to sneak out to the Russian amusement zone in Gorky Park. As I have previously stated, the only first lady that caused a near melt down like this was in June 1961 for the grand European state tour of Jacqueline Kennedy as she accompanied her husband, JFK. Add the Obama kids and MELTDOWN is about to ensue.

One of the Russian Federation's most famous tourist sites, Moscow's Red Square. It separates the Kremlin from where the Russian president lives and will play host to the Obama's on Monday evening.

Red Square is a UNESCO World Heritage site one of only a thousand designated throughout the world that represents a cultural or landmark that is worth preserving for the next millennium. Even though Russia is a state currently embracing communism, it has an amazing amount of beautifully wrought old world cathedrals and an endless supply of topnotch art to embellish the gilded and frescoed walls. The Obamas will be a another rare sight as they arrive for a state visit in Russia. Updated with photos and to correct a few spelling errors.

The Obama girls in their matching trench coats depart AF1 holding the hands of thir parents as they meet the official Russian greeting party.

First official activity is the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Russia. The military high step as done by the Russian military proceeds the president and the first lady.

The Obamas enter the Kremlin - AP Photo

The Russian First Lady, Svetlana, and US First Lady, Michelle, get to know each other as they have water as they tour the beautiful museums inside the Kremlin managed by the first cosmonaut's daughter

Kremlin, Vatican & Ants Ahead for Obamas

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:20:00 +0000

The Kremlin from the air that the First Family will see when arriving in Moscow and if, the Obama family stays at the Ritz a great view of Moscow's Red Square.

Like their personal shadows, the White House and all its security gear, protocol and communication equipment travels with the first family wherever they go. Onsite secret service along with the one chosen as food taster and an advance team travel with the president and family members. Hotels are secured from above and below and embassies in the destination nations go on high alert. Historically, the president is most often alone on these missions. On momentous occasions and commemorative events, the First Lady and the First Family travels along. Former First Daughters Barbara & Jenna Bush expressed deep regret that they did not travel with the president often until his last year in office.

Arriving in Korea with former first lady Laura Bush, is president Bush and Jenna Bush on one of her rare official international trips.

Malia & Sasha Obama are not of an age where they are free to chart their own course or itinerary and the East Wing is putting final prep on their schedules. The littlest Obamas, minus puppy Bo, will be on for another international frenzy as they touchdown with their parents on Air Force One and alight first in the Russian capital of Moscow, on to Italy and the ravages of the earthquake zone in L'Aquila and to Africa for a final stop in Ghana. A week that will be historic for the adults as well as the children, for the next week, as youngsters have not traveled with a president on official business in the 21st century for an extended period. It will be viscerally different after viewing their first fireworks display at the White House on Malia's and the nation's birthday. Even the First Grandma is along for the ride on this official trip.

On September 5, 1995, Hillary Clinton traveled alone to China to deliver a speech at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing on women's rights and abuses that thrilled the world and the and horrified the Chinese communist hosts. Chelsea Clinton did not attend this event but did travel with her parents. Laura Bush went to Afghanistan alone to promote projects about and for women right against the crushing force of Taliban misogynistic fundamentalism.

In her first six months as first lady, Michelle Obama has not traveled alone of official business internationally. Her private trip with her daughters took her to the Élysée Palace to lunch with the famed fashionably French Sarkozy First Family to the English gardens of Number 10 Downing Street with Sarah Brown and to meet the head of state in England, her new British buddy, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The only place Mrs. Obama had been prior as first lady was her stay at ambassadorial residence of Winfield House where she stayed for the Obamas official visit to England. I am all for a side trip for the kids to go to one of, if not the most beautiful museum in the world, the State Hermitage built by Catherine the Great in St. Petersburg. (Hillary Clinton speaking in Beijing, China where there state run media had orders to not cover her speech, lest it give people ideas.)

First family on the Fourth on the South Portico welcoming military families as their last function before leaving for a week of travel. Sasha has a lot on her mind.

Friday, the Sistine Chapel and a papal visit await President Obama and the first lady at the Vatican. The first lady will be as selective for her attire with the Holy See, Pope Benedict as she was with the Queen for her first meeting with her majesty. Rome is hot this time of year and has so many things for the First Daughters to see, the catacombs, the Coliseum, and the Spanish Steps with scrumptious gelato everywhere, which may be difficult for them to eat without security permission. Rome presents many choices for the Obama girls and its not too far for a day trip to Pompeii. It is a time of maximum exposure to the continent and this will be their second trip to Europe in less than a month.

Ghana is a thriving nation in Africa. Three years ago, while their father was a newly minted senator, the girls and their mother went to Kenya. It had none of the additional staff and level of security now present. Any activities the girls now partake of ill be worldwide news monitored by the East Wing and the communication shop. The final stop on this official odyssey will be to the west coast of Africa to Accra, the capital of Ghana. On Saturday, Malia & Sasha should get a good giggle from the fact the name mean ants, but watch the industrious women in awe who can carry a variety of goods balanced on their heads for great distances. (The posters already line the streets of the Capital of Ghana in advance of his address to the Ghanaian parliament on Saturday Photo courtesy VOA)

Interesting just the president is mentioned on the US Embassy in Ghana purple poster though the First lady, Michelle Obama will have an impact on Ghana as well. It will be interesting to hear the East Wing describe Mrs. O's official activities on these state visits. These visits are for the history books and we shall have a first draft of history.

White House Fireworks, Family & the Fourth

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Families have celebrated inside the white house for generations as guests and occupants. John and Abigail Adams were the very first occupants to live at a swampland muddy mansion sans any landscaping. Thomas Jefferson, the scholarly widower president, occupied the White House during the White House's first Independence Day, July 4th 1801 being served by slaves. The first tiny public celebration of July 4th, was in 1804 and the tradition is now as much of the White House tradition as is the gilt-framed Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington in the East Room. Three American presidents have died on the Fourth of July, two Founding Fathers on the fiftieth anniversary in 1826 with another, James Monroe passing away on the 55th anniversary. Today is also the 11th birthday of the current First daughter, Malia Obama, who had one whale of a girly party with friends from DC and Chicago at Camp David. President Calivn Coolidge was also born on the fourth of July. (Malia, last month in Paris)

America celebrates this year with hearty and hale tourists mounting the steps in a return to the crown of Lady Liberty, an animatronic President Obama installed in Disney Worlds's Hall of Presidents as a 1,000 immigrants become Americans and with over a thousand US military personnel and their families spread out on the rolling green South Lawn to express delight at the mysteries of powder and powerful rockets that shall light the night sky. The backdrop of the Washington Monument against the tidal basin is clearly seen from the South Lawn and the Truman Balcony. Just beyond, stands the twentieth century's stone wonder of the tribute to America's 16th president and his inaugural words.

In 1941, under FDR, July 4th became a legal, national holiday in 48 states with no shoehorning it to the nearest Monday or Friday. Its still weird to think of our parents being born with less than fifty states. Independence, Missouri is famed for another president, Harry S Truman. (Fireworks explode beyond the Washington Monument in 1986 while President & Mrs. Reagan lived at the White House.)

Michelle Obama has made military families part of her portfolio of missions upon entering the East Wing. In the first six months, military families have been at the White House for a race kick off to aide disabled vets and for working muscled elbow to veteran elbow with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the president to pack support items for the troops. This even allows the White House to carry on the tradiition of being open to all on one of the days most treasured by nation for what it costs to be free. (Will update with images when they become available.)

Update:
President & Mrs. Obama leisurely stroll back to "The Beast" after visiting the troops at Fort McNair on the Fourth.

The South Lawn during the BBQ portion before the Foo Fighters and Jimmy Fallon.

Have A Happy & Safe Fourth!

Ohana Luau at The White House, Aloha!

noreply@blogger.com (Nana R) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:06:00 +0000

Barack Obama & daughters enjoying shave ice in 2008 on vacation with friends in Hawaii

Ohana is famous to most people from Disney's Lilo & Stitch. The word means family. The families of the Obama Administration along with Congressional pals, partners and little people are invited to enjoy a pre-Independence day celebration with the Obama Family.

Update here is stage being set photo courtesy CBS. Everyone will get a lei and there is a dunk tank for Charity too.

UPdate 2: from the actual event

Bo got to come with his sporty leash sans lei - he already had one at his first visit to meet the folks.

Presidential Dad & Sasha delivered a dunking to the White House Chief of Staff as well.

Hawaii is the fiftieth state, coming to the stars and stripes officially in August of 1959. On August 4th, 1961, a bi-racial baby was born on the island of Oahu, in Honolulu, that would grown up to be the president of the United States. Hawai'i's traditions of shave ice, body surfing, calmness and tropical "cool" with the shaka are part of the heritage. For the first president ever from the pineapple state, a luau is landing on the South Lawn. Historically there is nothing to compare it to for other first families. With abundant joy, the Reagans vacationed in Hawaii. Most presidents venture to the state to visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial or as a pit stop on the way to Japan. (Photo of President & Nancy Reagan's enjoying the warm waters of the Pacific in Hawaii)

Thursday night is the big draw for the lu'au. Tihati Productions will provide some of the festive flaming entertainment in DC that they do in Hawaii for tourists anxious for poi, pineapple and a roasted pig with an apple in its mouth alongside the hula and the flames. For me its more a Euro style luau rather than the ones I have participated in with the cooking of the pig in a pit with my native Hawaiian neighbors. My youngest was born at the same hospital as the president, albeit quite a few years later. Now I see luau's again through the eyes of a mainlander as will the guests of the White House. (Tihati Productions Luau performance photo courtesy of Jay Metzger)

"The White House specifically wanted a Samoan knife twirler," she said. "Well, we will bring six fire-knife dancers, who will do a pyramid formation."

Tihati performances draw on the traditions of Hawai'i, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, the Cook Islands and Maori New Zealand. To fill out the cast for this special performance, the Thompsons raided Tihati productions at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, The Royal Hawaiian, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Hyatt Regency Maui, the Hyatt Regency Kaua'i and the Waikoloa Marriott.

Congressional picnics are an annual event meant to bring together a couple thousand people on the lawn right before the Fourth of July holiday. Food, music, and the ubiquitous red checkered tablecloth are the usual accoutrements. This is going to be quite different though familiar for those who on the Hawaii tourist circuit. Alan Wong is the Hawaii celebrity chef following last week's celebrity chef for the Father's Day Event, Bobby Flay, by providing meals with the foods and fusion arising from the islands. Macadamia nuts and corn on the cob will be side by side at the buffet picnic. Some of the ingredients will no doubt come from Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden as well. Yep, that means spam, in flagrante, too. (President Bush & Speaker Pelosi in 2007 at Congressional Picnic, photo courtesy AP)

(Mardi Gras was theme of the 2007 Congressional Picnic with formal hayrides offered to the guests by Harmon's Hayrides.)

In 210 years, the stately mansion at 1600 has witnessed many a new idea brought about by a toughtful first lady and her staff.

Note: Maureen's eyes have been particularly bad lately. We apologize for the lack of posts. She thinks she's on the mend finally and thanks everyone for their forbearance while health problems took precedence. She's working to gain a few pounds too!

Mahalo & Aloha!