Saturday
May302009
Date Night in the Big Apple
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 5:30 PM 
Photo by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
First images here. More to follow!
This evening, the President and First Lady are enjoying a date night in New York City, where they'll see the Broadway show 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone' at the Belasco.
Mrs. O wears a square neck black dress, with horizontal bands of ruffles through the skirt. To accessorize, the First Lady adds a stack of diamond bangle bracelets, a blue clutch and Jimmy Choo Lantern heels.
Update: "Another Mrs. A" reports spotting a doppelganger Alaia dress in white at Barneys. Several people have suggested Alaia and we agree - the body hugging fit and detailed ruffle work seem to fit the bill.
tagged Alaia, Jimmy Choo in Outfits
Alaia, Jimmy Choo in Outfits
Reader Comments (354)
This link of photos has been updated with them inside the theater last night:
www(dot)dailykos(dot)com/story/2009/5/30/737087/-Love-Birds-Nestle-in-New-York(UPDATEDNite-Cap)
Hmm, I don't really care for the dress, but I love that they're taking a date night! How normal and cute!
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
I love the dress. Jersey doesn't work for me because I jiggle way too much but the cut and fit suit Mrs O. I just have to say forget Thunder and Lightning, I want her upper back.
Here's what happened at the restaurant last night!
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/05/31/2009-05-31_president_barack_obama_michelle_oba
Hi, everyone. Love this forum. LOVE Mrs. O and she looks fab as always. As hard as our President works, he needs a luxe night out. Although I'm a casualty of downsizing, I gladly pay for this. I rest assured that they're working feverishly on my/our behalf. May God continue to bless them all. Have to ask this as I might be out of touch, is there a reason for spelling out (dot) when posting a URL? It makes it harder to link having to replace "dot" with "." Or, am I missing something?
Janelle, you beat me to the punch with the link to DailyKos. I love the excitement that this date night is generating, and the fussy complainers can just wallow in their fussy complaints. I would much rather see the Obamas going to NYC together than watch endless footage of President Bush cutting brush on his fake ranch (and what was Laura doing while he posed for the cameras, I wonder?) any day!
JOJO is MJMR is MARA...and such miserable so and so's-
Enough said!
@Wes, I got excited too seeing them---they make me feel calmer. I just had to post this excerpt from the NY Daily News about the dinner part of their date. There's so much negativity out there today about last night, this made me smile:
"As President Obama and his wife, Michelle, ate their date night meal at the classy Blue Hill restaurant, most of the others at the eatery tried not to stare.
"He was amazing," Susan Korchak said. "It was great. He was very tall - statuesque and gorgeous."
"They're a very special couple," her husband, Richard, said. "It was their date night and it was our date night, too."
With a table right next to the Obamas, the trick was tougher for Dana Hubbe and her daughter Chloe, 8.
"He was so nice," Hubbe said, gushing.
She said Obama asked her daughter how old she was and whether she liked living in the city.
Michelle Obama had two martinis, and the President had the wine that accompanied the tasting menu, she said.
Hubbe said she couldn't help but compliment the First Lady.
"I told her, 'All politics aside, you look amazing,'" she recalled. "She said it was all about Pilates."
Levit said the President didn't make eye contact with the rest of the room during dinner and was locked on his beautiful wife until he got up: "And then he said, 'Hi, guys.'"
www(dot)nydailynews(dot)com/news/politics/2009/05/31/2009-05-31_president_barack_obama_michelle_obama_surprise_fellow_blue_hill_patrons.html#ixzz0H5VtK4OC&B
It really does my heart good to see the First Couple so enjoying each other. I love the dress, just love it. Mrs. O looks so chic and so ready for dinner and a Broadway show with her handsome hubby!
And a comment to the RNC: Get your own house in order and stop the snarking before you completely tear your party apart. Maybe if more of you showed as much respect and love for your spouses and families, you wouldn't be in the mess you are in.
The Republican party speak of family value, but in reality, they have none. This President love his wife and children, and I know the GOP's hate that fact, and will do everything in their powers to try to destroy this family. However, I love the Obamas, for I see a couple who really love each other and work very hard to have a good relationship. They are a good role model for many, and they try to talk the talk, and walk the walk.
Oh, I just love those diamond bangles!
"Have to ask this as I might be out of touch, is there a reason for spelling out (dot) when posting a URL?"
Annie - it's because links with URLs are moderated, and don't get posted right away. So if someone wants her comment to show up immediately, she spells out the "."s.
Personally, I'd rather wait for the link, but that's just me!
I think it shows more class to not bring up negative things about either party and to just talk about the clothes. Bringing up politics is divisive. Take a page out of Michelle Obama's book, and just say nothing about people who are critical. Just keep smiling.
@Lily, The trip may have cost taxpayers a lot of money, but do not forget the President and first lady are taxpayers to, and have been for a long time like many of us.
I am ecstatic that the First couple has regular date nights and that they allow the press to tag along. Like others have said, I think it's great that the President, no matter how busy, takes time to pamper his wife and keep his marriage alive.
I love the way that Mrs. O understands high fashion and doesn't feel obligated to "match" her accessories all the time. Some of my fellow bloggers don't get that. Try viewing high-end fashion and couture websites and you'll see that Mrs. Obama is so on-trend that it's bananas! I don't think we've ever had a FLOTUS with such a keen fashion sense. Nancy Reagan was great but she was much more traditional than Ms. O.
They took THREE planes. One for themselves and two for staff and reporters. THEY TOOK REPORTERS ON THEIR DATE???? why?
And why do they get a chi chi date on our dime while the rest of us have to sacrifice?
i think this dress is surprisingly flattering on mrs o. i agree it looks like Alaia but i disagree about the dress looking like the 20's. the trimming doesnt look like fringe to me, more like lace.
Lil -- unfortunately, the president always travels with a reporting pool. Reporters accompanied President Bush to Crawford as well, as did White House staff.
I actually tend to agree with you partially; I don't think it's worth having reporters tracking their every move. And heck, they could have asked Amtrak Joe Biden how to get up to NY on a train; I'm sure he would have told them! But security concerns and pre-existing understandings with the media prompt all this.
I do have to ask you - did you feel this same amount of anger when President Bush made trips to Crawford or Camp David? If you didn't feel the same way, is it worth asking yourself why. We taxpayers paid for every trip Bush took while he was in office. I didn't really care, because my issues with Pres. Bush had nothing to with how he spent his free time.
The Republicans are jealous that the President has a real marriage, that's all. They would never have done that for their wives, because they do not know what being a good husband really is.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/05/31/2009-05-31_president_barack_obama_michelle_oba
Also, Lily, you may not know this but I'm sure it'll be a bit of comfort to you because I know you're interested in saving taxpayer money -- media agencies reimburse the government for their reporters' trips to accompany the president. (That's why we have a lot of "pool" reports, so that there aren't a lot of redundant expenditures.)
I'm sure that's a relief to you in a small way, as is the fact that the Obamas didn't take the jumbo Air Force One to Manhattan, but a smaller, 12-passenger plane. I actually haven't seen anything about staff and reporters accompanying them on two separate planes, but I'm sure you're correct and couldn't be getting that from biased sources. I'll keep looking.
J'adore how she always uses brightly colored accessories to add a real wow-factor to the ordinary little black dress. :)
http://cafefashionista.blogspot.com
The Republican complained last month as well, when the President took his wife out for dinner. They feel that this President should stay in the White House and work 24/7 without any breaks, for that is what slaves does.
For all those complaining about Tax payer price tag think of it this way he could have spent tax payer money covering up having an affair with a Fat mistress named Monica aka the Bill Clinton way of doing things...lol
I rather see him waste money on his wife and family. Or Obama could have wasted the money at a fake ranch like Bush did with Luara.
The ironic thing is that this jaunt to NYC is probably cheaper than if he had gone to Chicago for a weekend. So I guess from this complaint, Obama will not be able to travel at all for pleasure. I guess he is a Magic Negro for some, meant to work all day and night with no chance to get away.
Anyway, I think this is one of those things where people will have to agree to disagree. If anyone thinks Obama planned a dinner and show with his wife, and thought it would be great to invite the media and White House staff for the heck of it, then they are a lost cause to reason with.
President Obama did not "invite the media" anywhere. There's a small "pool" of reporters that are constantly with him. Knowing President Obama, I'm sure he wishes he could rid himself of them.
Dear All, Please let's not focus too much on the political parties and their motives for criticism. There are other forums, better suited for discussing this. Sometimes our "off topic" discusses are challenging and in the end, fruitful. I'm afraid this is just one that's going to go in circles. xoxo, Mrs. T
Dear Eleroy; No, no, no....I am just MJMR. I am not JOJO or MARA. I just love clothing, fashion, good jewelry, governmental relations and affairs, history, preservation and maintenance of the White House and other historic buildings and of course presidential activities and anecdotes.
Lily go AWAY! You are on the wrong website expressing your venom. This is the wrong outlet for the topic you are on. The majority of the people on this site are here to express our opinion about Mrs. Obama's fashion and not to hash over GOP talking points. Go to the website for Fox News to express that crap! Did you express this much disdain when President George W. Bush made many trips to his ranch in Texas or his summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine? Hmmmm...let me guess....NO!
@IVA---Bingo! Once again, you've nailed it. Some would prefer him to look more and more worn down, fatigued, less calm and relaxed, and for his marriage to crumble...by any means necessary. This NYC trip was definitely cheaper than a Chicago trip. Well, I just hope he just goes to Camp David more often (the WH says that's getting tougher with the girls' many sports activities on Saturdays and the girls don't always want to go to Camp David---I think they prefer being with their friends and sleepovers, per the Time interview). I say the Obamas should go to their soccer games on Saturdays, and then leave for Camp David in the afternoon just the two of them for overnight trips more often----no media, no press, no leaked stories, just a great getaway in nature and he can still get work done there too. Marine One takes them straight to Camp David without having to go to Andrews AFB. Mrs. O loves it, and I hope they do that when the pressures for her husband get too much or she needs to just breathe.
Lilly, you asked: "And why do they get a chi chi date on our dime while the rest of us have to sacrifice?" Almost everything the President of the United States does has always been "on our dime." Always. Why should it be different for this President? I question the motives of anyone who thinks there should be different standards for THIS President. And who's stopping you or anyone else from going on a "chi chi date?" You want a 'Pretty Woman' date night? Ask your man to give you one. Don't be grudgeful and irrational. It's unbecoming and blemishes your credibility.
Mrs. T, you're right. It's not correct to conflate one spokesperson with the Republican National Committee as representing widespread sentiment, and it is going around in circles.
Date Night is done, can't be undone, and now, I'm curious to know who made the dress! Also, I have a friend in New York who has been to Blue Hill restaurant, and apparently it is just amazing. And toward the end of this week coming up, the Obamas will be having another "date night" in Paris -- that'll be a fun outfit to check out.
Apropos of nothing: I don't know if it's like this nationwide, but I went to Target a few days ago for something else and only a few pieces remained of the Tracy Feith line there. Even online, many pieces are sold out. Personally, I'm glad some of that stuff seemed too young for me anyway or I would have been very disappointed!
a Feb article about how so many are fascinated by the Obamas and their marriage -
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/WireStory?id=6866241&page=1
First, let me just say that it is good to see the President and First Lady's effect in stimulating businesses, whether it be a burger diner or an eclectic restaurant owned by small business owners and theater as with the play "Joe's Turner Come and Gone", whom many may not have even thought of supporting. To me these are positive effects in stimulating the local economy whether it be in D.C. or New York. (meaning stimulating the paychecks for cooks, waiters, hostesses, stage hands’, etc.
Secondly, First Lady Michelle Obama has begun to set a standard for First Lady’s to come by making fashion choices, whether they be high end or low end, for hosting congressional colleagues, visiting ordinary Americans and corporate boards. This also includes her choice to wear high heels or ballerina flats. Why is it that if one chooses to wear flats as opposed to high heels, that somehow it denotes that one is not showing themselves as being ‘respectful’ ?
Third, First Lady Michelle Obama looked gorgeous in her ruffles. I could just hear the ruffles as she shimmies into the Big Apple.
Lastly, and I know that Mrs. T. said that we should move on, but for those who may not be as educated on travels for Presidents, please reference the following comment from www(dot)politico(dot)com/arena/
“….Surely the RNC knows that the expense involved is necessary to protect the President and his family. Any harm to a President or his family would have devastating consequences for the United States. Everywhere the President goes is expensive, whether it's California where Reagan went for weekends or Crawford, TX where Bush went frequently. Hugely expensive. But it's hugely expensive for the president to stay put in one place for that matter. That expensive security is vitally important to the nation.
The burdens of the presidency are staggering and ever present. (President Reagan once said, "President's don't have vacations. They just have a change of scenary.") But Americans realize how important it is for a president to have a rewarding marriage and family life, even if the demands of security make that marginally more expensive….”
I cannot wait to see our President and First Lady in Europe. I am sure that we will be in for a treat.
@Janelle - thanks for the link to DailyKos. The picture in the theater was the only close-up I saw, and revealed how lovely Mrs. O's make-up looked.
Regarding spelling out the (dot) in a URL: I've been doing that, too, but it no longer works for me to escape having my comment go into moderation. So, it's really best to post the URL as it is, because it makes it much easier for others to go to the article/photo one wants to share.
I posted a link to a NY Times review of the play above. Besides the review, there was an audio with slides from the play. It gave me a teeny little glimpse into the weight of this well-acted play.
I'm so glad that President and Mrs. O had this great night in NYC. In my opinion, they get away from it all far less than previous presidents, and none of the others faced anything like the number of crises and stresses our beloved Obama faces. I want them to get away as often as possible.
The President used to just love going for walks. Remember when he went to Hawaii to see his dying grandmother? Even there, he just went out to walk in the neighborhood. I think it was a great stress-reliever for him. This outlet is totally denied him now. The White House really is the most expensive prison in the world. The more getaways for them the better. I loved the recent pictures of him playing ball with Bo on the White House lawn.
President and Mrs. O don't have a Ranch to escape to like Reagan and Bush did, they don't have a Kenibunkport, Maine, they don't have the Kennedy compounds. Because of their children's activities, they don't get to return to their beloved home in Chicago as often as they had hoped (every 6 weeks). Only the haters and those who want to destroy him could possibly complain about the few little getaways they've taken.
Don't mess with my President and His Lady! (smile) They have more than earned whatever was spent on last night's outing.
Since Mrs. O's itinerary is never released in detail for overseas trips as to her hour-by-hour schedule, I hope she gets to spend time with some children like in London. I'm hoping in Ghana she gets to speak to some young ones and pass on the US love through her great hugs. I love her travelling fashions, but I love when she's connecting with others and being motivational to those who need it. She's such a warm person, and since we all can't tell other countries how we feel, I hope other countries feel the good vibes from the U.S. through the Obamas this week.
I know the (dot) thing is annoying -- it annoys me -- but it's pretty easy to deal with if you just cut and paste the spelled-out URL into the web address line. The replace the dots with the proper symbols and you're good to go.
@Willow - I think URLs for you won't go into moderation if you also drop h t t p : // And actually, let me try someting out...
http : // abcnews . go . com / Entertainment/WireStory?id=6866241&page=1
I find it terribly disconcerting that the childlike response to the criticism is "well they did it first!" there are reasonable explanations for the date night in new york taking three planes without dragging president bush into the situation. President Bush was one of the most disliked presidents in American history who was highly scrutinized, but thats neither here nor there. the answer for why it should be okay to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars on a date should lie in the Obama administration.
Okay, that didn't work, I'm in moderation. Oh well. I was trying to experiment with better ways of spelling out URLs. It will be nice if we get to a point where we can post them directly.
Just an FYI - the (dot) situation won't be an issue for much longer. The reason they go to moderation is to prevent our troll from linking to inappropriate material. Soon (as in the next 2 weeks) we're upgrading to a system that has user registration, so we'll be able to relax some of the filters.
@Rory, I disagree that the reason has to come from the obama administration. This is an issue of precedence. The past presidents all travelled back and forth to their home states as frequently as they wanted. If Bush is not the best comparison, then how about Reagan going back to Carlifornia or Clinton to Arkansas or Bush I to Maine, did anybody question the taxpayer costs of that? Obama went to NY for one evening instead of Chicago for the weekend which by precedence he would have been entitled to if he chose.
If the perks of the job were suitable without complaint for the previous 42 occupants, why does the 43rd have to explain/justify his use of the perks?
@ Rory - it's called providing context. It is not meant to justify anything, as much as it is done to blunt the idea that President Obama is doing something out of the ordinary of previous U.S. Presidents.
@ Janelle - I, too, hope Mrs. O gets a chance to address a young girls' group while in Ghana. That would be thrilling and very uplifting for much of the region. I have been following the news out of Ghana, as well as other countries in Africa, and many are excited, although Nigeria is feeling a bit slighted. It appears that many heads of state from other countries will be descending to Ghana to meet with Obama. I'm sure at some point, Mrs. O will get away and do something special while Mr. O is meeting with other leaders.
I have just two comments in the question on the price tag for this trip, and they've probably already been covered, but here goes.
First of all, no matter how much the President and/or his wife might like to put on a great big pair of dark glasses and maybe pull a hat over their heads, jump in the car, and zoom off for a little alone time, that just simply isn't an option for them. Even those little burger runs cost more and are more complicated than ours because of the necessary security. So the options are (1) stay confined to the White House so that no one will complain about how much it costs to go out or (2) go out to keep themselves sane but be as frugal as possible given all the extra requirements. I personally think the Obamas have been as frugal as possible given all the extra requirements. They don't take these little jaunts every Saturday night. And comparing their travels to the Bushes' isn't just "dragging President Bush into the situation." Comparisons are made to show that the expenses are normal for whoever is President; President Obama isn't doing anything new and is spending no more than, and possibly even slightly less than, some of his predecessors. And as for "inviting" the press corps to go along on his date night, puh-leeze!!! Does anyone really think these two wouldn't love to go somewhere to enjoy each other's company without being followed around all night and seeing the reports in every news outlet the next day! Actually, by the time they get in that night!
Second, we all know that work can be stressful; and stress has its effects on every aspect of our lives: health, relationships, and even success on the job. We also know that the more stressful the job the more essential it is to destress by taking time to attend to health, relationships, etc. We've all seen both privately and very publicly the disastrous results of not following that advice. So when you give someone the job description "leader of the free world," I'm guessing it just doesn't get any more stressful than that!!! And since he's working for me--among others--I have a special interest in keeping him healthy and happy, because I'm a couple of years away from retirement, so I really want him to get things in good shape. So even though I live on a relatively modest income, I'm more than happy for him to spend a couple of my tax dollars to keep himself in shape for the enormous challenges he faces, because not only does his health and happiness depend on it, but so does mine. And I love what someone else pointed out: the Obamas are also tax payers!
Well, there's my soapbox for the day. Let's stop giving the detractors any more fodder. They're doing a good enough job of burying themselves without our help, so let them go.
Here's a good comparison; Laura Bush paid $493,000 for china and $87,000 for a rug in the White House. Where was the out rage?
the obamas are a young corporate family on steroids, guiding a nation through perilous times, everybody has to de stress, and if i have to pay for a date better that than war!
@ pat - I heard that money for the china was donated. But once again, who cares? Laura Bush's china purchase didn't put us into the current financial bind, and it wasn't going to get us out of financial ruin. Obamas' trip to NYC isn't going to save GM, nor will it hurt them. But you know what, that china now contributes to the rich history of our country, and Obamas trip to NYC helps free his mind and reaffirm his bond with his wife. I say those 2 things are priceless. That is all I can say about this matter.
On a side note, there are 2 videos on the CNN webiste about the trip, and there are some first-hand accounts of people who were at the show, or dining at the restaurant, and everyone was thrilled. It may sound trivial, but I think it lifts people's spirits to know that the leader of their country is LIVING LIFE and choosing to spend part of his time amongst the people.
I think HATERS are going to hate cuz that's what they do. There is no point in discussing it with them, trying to give them examples of comparisons, because no matter how hard we try they will never get the point. Believe me the Pres knows what to do about those haters; he just dusts his shoulders off and keep it movin and if you don't believe me look on youtube for Barack Obama-Dirt off your shoulders
www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=agI6OceAP5U&feature=related
This isn't the best look for Mrs. Obama. Hasn't anyone else noticed a lack of "support" around the chest area? She needs a better bra and possibly some SPANX to pull this look off. I'd also like to see the hem a bit higher. The dress is too long. Next...
They look so nice. Now dont jump down my throat, but in this economy do we need them to fly at our expense to NY to see a show and hve dinner? I didnt follow the Bushes activities, and maybe all presidents act like air force one is their private rich guy jet, but this is really a bit much.
oops, that's what I get for not reading the previous posts. Everyone has already been crucified for noting the likely cost.
"oops, that’s what I get for not reading the previous posts. Everyone has already been crucified for noting the likely cos"
yes because this is a moot point and we all know it, It is fake outrage. Next subject.