Barack and Michelle Obama: A night out on the town

[kskiska]

Source: Chicago Tribune


President-elect Barack Obama and Michelle Obama leave Spiaggia restaurant in Chicago after dinner on Saturday night.

President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, spent three hours at Spiaggia restaurant on Saturday night, their first dinner out together since the election victory.

The four-star destination seems to be among their favorite spots for special occasions. That's where they spent their anniversary on Oct. 3 and Michelle Obama's birthday earlier this year.

"Yes, I can say they did dine here," said the woman who picked up the phone at the posh Italian restaurant on Sunday afternoon. "But other than that, we will not make any comment."

The Obamas left Spiaggia about 11 p.m. Saturday. Dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, Obama waved to an ecstatic crowd gathered across the street--which caused some watchers to cheer and hug each other.

(snip)

"The candidate made no attempt, however, to hide his anniversary dinner plans this past October. Obama and his wife, Michelle, celebrated at Spiaggia, the luxe Italian restaurant with a commanding view of Lake Michigan that Esquire food critic John Mariani has called one of the top destinations for Italian cooking in the country."

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-barack-obama-dinner-1109,0,7456004.story

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Aren't they BEAUTIFUL people? (Inside and out) I'm so happy! nt

[polly7]

2. Wow. What a gorgeous First Lady (to be) she is.

So nice to see them finally able to relax and enjoy themselves.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. What a great shot! They look so cosmopolitan. I can't wait.....(nt)

[pfitz59]

11. Nice threads!

Oh baby...The times they are a changing!

[buddysmellgood]

4. They look so freaking cool. Check that out.

[file83]

47. She looks so happy!! And look at those boots - va-va-va-voooom...

:blush:

[awoke_in_2003]

53. She looks much better in boots

than the Wasilla wacko.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. THANK GOD... sophisticated people who enjoy fine dining! (n/t)

[silverojo]

12. I don't give a shit if they eat at Mickey D's

All I care about is what's in their heads and their hearts...and how that translates into becoming the best First Couple ever!

I gotta admit, though, Barack is going to be the coolest Prez in the entire world! ;)

[Fire1]

48. I hear ya, silver. Get this housing market back on track!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

51. Why can't they eat at both?

I do. :shrug:

I appreciate your sentiment, but will add that there's nothing wrong with a Prez and First Lady with refined tastes. I want the stench of fake cowboy/Joe-Sixpack (cringe) out of the White House. Hell, DC!

[Why Syzygy]

58. Bush eats at the Pretzel Barn.

I'm starting to feel sorry for him, so I best stop making fun.

[tanyev]

29. Be fair. When Bush hosted Sarkozy he had his choice of a hamburger OR a hot dog.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

49. Oh yeah... that was at Kennebunkport, wasn't it?

Kee-rist, you think he would have been offered at least a damn lobster roll! Lobster bisque. Lobster something.

[MercutioATC]

6. Europe has nothing on us any more.

We now have the coolest first family on the planet.

[Posteritatis]

7. Now I not only lack, but want Italian food. Consarnit. (nt)

[Vektor]

8. Stunning!!!

How cool it must have been for those folks who were standing nearby to see him, just out of the blue like that.

I LOVE our President and First Lady.

[CoffeeCat]

9. A three hour dinner...

Wow, I'm happy for them. I'm married with two young girls--and I don't remember the
last time my husband and I sat down at a restaurant and dined and talked for three hours.

Three hours!

These two deserve it.

Can you imagine how they both feel, with the campaign finally over...and they WON!!

I bet this was such a lovely, romantic, high-energy, fun, celebratory dinner.

They deserve all of the excitement and happiness that they must be drowning in right now.

Amazing!

[Athens30603]

17. A traditonal, multi-course Italian dinner

generally takes at least 3 hours. Often times a lot longer. I went to a wedding once and the meal was Italian and it took over 6 hours until desert was served. And it wasn't like people were waiting around to eat. Everyone working was busy the entire time.

[man4allcats]

10. I'm happy they had a good time.

After the campaign, they were certainly due one. Truly great folks! Gobamas!

[TahitiNut]

13. Beats Chef Boyardee.

:dunce:

(Bush haute cuisine.)

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

14. ELITISTS ELITISTS ELITISTS!

If you go anywhere better than Pondarosa for special occasions you aren't a real American!

[gauguin57]

36. I love Ponderosa! The salad bar there rocks (fabulous French dressing!)

But if I could afford Spiaggia ... I'd be there in a heartbeat!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

50. I dropped $30-something on a steak at Ruth's Chris once...

won't do that again. I can honestly say the $12.99 steak I had at the Ponderosa in Morgantown, WV was far better!

[EFerrari]

15. What a relief to be able to enjoy and not cringe at a photo of the first couple.

Thank you, God.

lol

[glowing]

16. Isn't it wonderful to see such an independent woman and a secure man.

She's in the lead with a smile on her face, and he's lopping behind her, thinking.. "I'm gonna get lucky.. yeah!"

[awoke_in_2003]

55. How does he always manage

to look so relaxed? It will be nice to have a president that exudes calm and confidence and not bluster and bs. I have not seen a bad pic of him yet.

[Peace Patriot]

18. Barack Obama reminds me of Fred Astaire, the most graceful man ever to step out

on Planet Earth. So light-footed and lithe--as if his bones were hollow like a bird's. He even has Astaire's long, sardonic "funny face" with pokey ears. Flying out of this restaurant, he looks like he is about to tag her on the shoulder--as in one of those corny Astaire-Rogers pre-dance skits--take her hand and spin her out onto the dance floor sidewalk, and onto the dance floor street, and into the starry "city lights" evening, to "Night and Day" or "The Continental."

As self-images for Americans go--WOW!

[monmouth]

20. You know who else is graceful like Barack? Maybe it's because

they're both tall, etc. but I saw John Kerry down here in FL during his run for Pres. and when he came up on the stage, it was as if he floated to the podium. Very tall, slim and graceful moves. Haha, funny how we notice these things, eh?

[blackbart99]

27. Body language baby..

It gives me great comfort that he is so confident about the job before him...his grace and poise
speaks volumes....watch out for the supremes though...they are gonna try and take it away from us.
Are you ready for the fight of our lives???
:hide: :tinfoilhat: :shrug:

[monmouth]

31. You betcha!...n/t

[customerserviceguy]

32. You just reminded me

of something I'm going to look forward to at the Inaugural balls!

[democracy1st]

19. thats a terrific picture, I always heard people talking about what a snazzy

dresser Michelle was. During the campaign she played it down a few notches,but now I see what they were talking about.

[BR_Parkway]

21. 11 pm? George would have been passed out by 8:30 at the latest

No wonder Laura has such a prune face

Congrats to this beautiful couple again

[Dangerously Amused]

22. Has there been a more beautiful and classy first couple, anywhere, EVER?!

Beauty and brains, now that's MY First Family! SO proud to be an American these days!

(Well, okay the Kennedys maybe came close... though I am too young to remember it. :) )

[zeemike]

23. No Jack and Jackie were a good comparison

The one thing that people commented on about JFK was his gracefulness.
And that was even with him having a back problem that often required him to wear a back brace.
But they were never described as classy and cool, but this first family is defiantly that.

[goclark]

26. I remember the Kennedy era and they were a striking couple

The clothes that she worn were to dream about and she wore them with such style and grace.

She just had IT -- whatever IT is.

It was magical until the press worked to make statements about Jack and Marilyn etc.

Even then, it was a fabulous time to be proud of America and proud of the first family.

Jacqui was wealthy all her life - Michelle was not.

That's what makes her story closer to the American Dream.
And, she speaks her mind and is not afraid to show the world that she Loves her MAN!

What I wouldn't give to be dining there that night and see her put on that coat and lead him out that door!

You go girl!

[chimpymustgo]

24. Good looking. Hope they had a lovely time.

[No Elephants]

25. Would it be too disrespectful to the POTUS Elect if I noted that he has the confident look of a man

who knows he is for sure about to "get lucky," as the saying goes?

[mopinko]

34. hey, she has the look of a woman who is about to get whatever it takes!

i think they are so cute.

[awoke_in_2003]

54. I don't think it disrespectful...

and I think the POTUS should get laid more- when you are well laid you are less likely to cause trouble.

[MaineDem]

28. Look at the guy in the background

Happy to see them. :)

This is so cool. It does remind me of JFK and Jackie.

[peaches2003]

30. And NO COWBOY BOOTS!

What a thrill it is to have a President who dresses like a sophisticated man and not a stupid yahoo.

[here_is_to_hope]

33. Sigh...will it ever be ok to wear cowboy boots again?

My horse laughs at my tennis shoes and thinks I might be better off on a pony...:P

[WorseBeforeBetter]

52. Yeah, if you're a cowboy. (n/t)

[gauguin57]

35. Well, that pic will make the Freepers' heads explode. Their model prexy is some beer-swilling moran!

They want "someone you could have a beer with." They want a moran who doesn't know that Africa is a continent. They want someone who would never THINK of looking chic and going out to a nice restaurant (because that makes them evil elitists, don'tcha know?). (Yet, somehow, Nancy could spend multi-K-$ for china and she and Ronnie could always wear top-of-the-line clothes and hobknob with a lot of Richie Riches, but that was fine. :crazy: )
Three cheers for the intelligent, chic, sophisticated Obamas!

[Kind of Blue]

37. Feels like Camelot! Beautiful, elegant, graceful. Glad they got a chance to relax!

The mythical King Arthur is supposed to return. But I most feel like our Camelot has returned.:loveya: :applause: :toast:

[hamsterjill]

38. "Down time"

Glad to see him (and her) be able to enjoy a little down time.

[knitter4democracy]

39. They both exude class. It's so good to see that in a President and First Lady.

She's so pretty, and she knows how to wear those kind of boots (unlike Palin), and he's so handsome. I can't wait for the day when he does the State of the Union and, for the first time in ages and ages, I don't turn it off in disgust.

[Obamarama]

40. I eat at Spiaggia a couple times a year. Obama has great taste!

This place is EXCELLENT. Good choice, Barack. Pricey but worth it. I usually go to the regular Spiaggia for dinner just once (any more than that and I'd have to tap into my home equity loan), and then once or twice at their less pricey adjacent place Cafe Spiaggia.

[ThatsMyBarack]

41. That's MY kind of Prez and 1st Lady!

I love Italian food, too. God, I want some Fettucine Alfredo right about now... :9

[bbernardini]

42. Cue the DU food snobs in 5...4...3...

Oh wait, they're already here. :)

[crispini]

43. Classy, classy people.

Hell yeah!

[SoCalDem]

44. But But but..George & Laura are a power couple too..

[malaise]

45. The word that describes them is

panache!!

[onefreespiritedchick]

46. What a stunning couple

And, such a since of style.

[Why Syzygy]

56. That restaurant better plan to enlarge their space.

They are GORGEOUS! Love them!

[Blue-Jay]

57. Damn. I just had a burrito.

Nobody took MY fucking picture.

[bumblebee1]

59. Enjoy it while you've can.

It will be difficult to do this while in the White House. Just imagine the preparation it takes.

[Matariki]

60. I gotta say it...

They are HAWT! Wow.