The First Family apparently isn’t letting a piddly security breach stop them from rooting against the home team. The entire First Family cheered for Oregon State this weekend in their basketball game against GW. Why did they traitorously root against the home team? Because FLOTUS’ bro, Craig Robinson, is the coach, of course! All that presidential cheering must’ve worked–Oregon State beat GW 3-2. Maybe Obama and co. should start cheering for the Redskins…
Just whisper your secret to health care reform...(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Come on! Robinson's DON'T LOSE!!! (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Maybe Craig can give his bro-in-law a few tips on the art of dunking. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
As the country gears up to celebrate Thanksgiving, Obama followed a tradition started by George Bush in 1989–that of pardoning a turkey. Courage was this year’s lucky fowl, and Sasha and Malia helped with the pardon. One may ask–what does a POTUS-pardoned turkey do after Thanksgiving? Go to Disney World, of course! After Courage serves as grand marshal at the Disney parade, he’ll spend the rest of his days there in safety and solitude.
Can we keep him, Dad? I'm sure Bo wouldn't mind! (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Later in the day, the entire First Family traveled to Martha’s Table, an organization serving DC’s neediest, to volunteer for an hour handing out pies, stuffing, fresh veggies, and turkeys (not all gobblers were so lucky this season!). The Obamas were joined by FLOTUS’ mother Marian Robinson and POTUS’ sister and brother-in-law Maya and Konrad Ng. What a family–going from a gala dinner to serving food to those in need!
Packaged biscuits? What would the Pilgrims think? (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
As for Thanksgiving dinner, the White House has been mum on plans. Maybe they’ll have leftovers from yesterday’s State Dinner?
Last night’s event can’t be considered anything less than success for POTUS’ first State Dinner! This much glamour hasn’t hit DC since…the inaugural balls?
The invitation list was a veritable who’s-who of South Asian A-listers, including Deepak Chopra, Bobby Jindal, Kalpen Modi, Sanjay Gupta, Jhumpa Lahiri, Amartya Sen, Fareed Zakaria, and M Night Shyamalan. Other guests included Colin Powell, Katie Couric, Steven Spielberg, Alfre Woodard, and Blair Underwood. In addition to Jennifer Hudson’s vocal stylings, AR Rahman, Oscar winner for the “Slumdog Millionaire” score, also provided entertainment.
Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? Hands down, FLOTUS! (Kamm/Getty Images)
FLOTUS donned a gorgeous dress by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan. The dress apparently took 40 people three weeks to custom create for the First Lady.
Is this the Oscars or the State Dinner? (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Is Katie wearing a sari??? (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
Kalpen really pulled a "Kumar" here--did someone not get the "black tie" memo? (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
We know who was there, but what did they eat? Guest chef Marcus Samuellson prepared a mostly vegetarian meal, and used arugula, pineapple sage, fresh dill, oregano and thyme from the White House Garden. Guests had their choice of roasted potato dumplings with tomato chutney, chick peas and okra or green curry prawns and caramelized salsify with smoked collard greens and coconut aged basmati for the main course, not to mention a bevy of dessert options. Yum!
As the White House prepares for POTUS’ first State Dinner, it’s not international relations with India and guest of honor Dr. Manmohan Singh that are of utmost concern. The media is abuzz about who will show up and what FLOTUS is gonna wear: Will she sport a new hairdo? Show off her blazing guns? Looks like the First Lady has always been a fashion plate, even as a wee lass at her 1984 senior prom.
Va va voom! FLOTUS is scandalous with that thigh high slit! (Splash News)
Word on the street is that Jennifer Hudson will provide some American Idol-style entertainment at the gala event. Other rumored guests: Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Bobby Jindal, and Kal Penn. BoL can’t wait to see who else will grace the “red carpet” tonight!
Be sure to catch the live streaming of the State Dinner tonight at 8:15 pm.
The Obamas are getting ready to host their first State Dinner Tuesday night, and all the A-listers have been clamoring for an invite. While the formal guest of honor is Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, we all know people are hungry to rub shoulders with POTUS and FLOTUS!
That ain't no REI tent! (Reuters Pictures)
Because the White House doesn’t have space to accomodate the huge dinner (400 guests!), an enormous tent is being erected in the South Lawn. The White House has been discrete about the invitation list, so BoL figures our invitation was lost in the mail. Rumor is that Kalpenn Modi (better known as Kal Penn or Kumar), resident White House desi, received an invitation–maybe so Singh doesn’t feel lonely?
Kumar is in the House! (White House Photographer Pete Souza)
The dinner is so fancy that the White House invited guest chef Marcus Samuelsson of New York’s Scandinavian restaurant Aquavite to prepare the meal. While the menu is undisclosed, we know one thing–Dr. Singh is vegetarian, so Samuelsson’s specialty below better not be the only option!
POTUS finished his trip to China with visit the Great Wall. Notwithstanding the frigid temps (Obama exclaimed he wasn’t aware China got as cold as Chicago), the President squeezed in a half hour tour of this World Heritage site.
Can't believe I had to travel all the way to China for some peace and quiet! (EPA)
Obama also met very briefly with his step-brother Mark Ndesandjo, who was still “over the moon” about the mini-reunion. Apparently, the brothers haven’t seen each other since POTUS’ inauguration, but Obama got to meet Ndesandjo’s new wife and catch up on family chit chat.
We just hope Obama was able to pick up a pair of these awesome kicks before heading to South Korea.
These would be perfect for dunking on Reggie Love! (AFP Getty)
So, what does the leader of the Free World do on his first trip to China? Eat and see the sites, of course! POTUS was honored with a state dinner reception at the famous Great Hall of the People in Beijing, replete with a multi-course meal, peafowl, and the Military Band of the People’s Liberation Army. The somewhat odd musical choices included performances of Wonderful Night, I Just Called to Say I Love You, and In the Mood. What happened to some good old fashioned Chinese opera?
Szechuan peacock with noodles, anyone? (AP Photo)
Obama also checked out the sites, including the Forbidden City.
For a Forbidden City, there sure are a lot of people here! (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)
Of course, the Oba-mao shirt isn’t the only product coming onto the Chinese market. It could be hairy deciding what to come home with…
This replica is made entirely of human hair. You decide: creative, creepy, or just plain gross? (Jason Lee/Reuters)
The American media is abuzz with POTUS’ first official visit to China. China’s pretty excited too, as evidenced by a variety of Obama-swag coming on the market. One particular piece of attire is making Chinese officials nervous, though, enough so they’ve banned the “Oba-mao” shirt out of fear it will upset Obama. Interesting in light of Obama’s comments yesterday on the benefits of an uncensored society…
Coming soon to hipsters and Urban Outfitters near you... (David Gray/Reuters)
Yes you CANnot sell this t-shirt! (Frederic Brown/AFP/Getty Images)
Obama will also be meeting his half-bro Mark Okoth Obama Ndesandjo, who lives in southern China. Ndesandjo recently published “Nairobi to Shenzhen,” which includes passages about his abusive father Barack Obama Sr, which our POTUS has yet to comment on. Could be an awkward meeting, you think?
Maybe I should've named my book "Screams From My Father" (Ym Yik/European Pressphoto Agency)
The First Lady didn’t need directions since she celebrated Sesame Street’s 40th birthday this week, joining the ranks of other First Ladies who’ve visited the famous address including Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. The segment, taped in May, focused on gardening and healthy eating. FLOTUS talked with Elmo and other Sesame Street children, not to mention Big Bird, who exclaimed that he and Michelle must be related, since they’re both tall and eat seeds. At nearly 76 years and strong, Big Bird’s puppeteer Caroll Spinney must be doing something right!
Even Fruit Cookie Monster has been jumping on the health-bandwagon:
BoL thought it appropriate to celebrate the anniversary of the night that made Barack of Love possible. That’s right–today marks 1 year since that amazing, fateful night when we heard that Barack Obama would be our future POTUS, and what a night it was! Just thinking about the excitement of that day brings a tear to BoL’s eye..
The White House flickr site has some beautiful pictures from behind the scenes. Here are some of our favorite election night moments:
The suspense is killing me! (David Katz/Obama for America)
Even Aussies love him! (Rob Griffith/AP Photo)
Jesse Jackson's face says it all (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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