Obama

Obama's Vacation Bad News For Small Planes In Hawaii

Filed under: Wings

President Obama's first vacation in Hawaii as President may be good news for Hawaii's struggling tourism industry but according to Aero-News Network it's a big headache for those operating small planes in the area. A Presidential Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place for most of Oahu will restrict most of the general aviation in the area during the Christmas holidays. The TFR does not affect regularly scheduled commercial passenger and all-cargo carriers operating under TSA-approved standard security programs and procedures. Flights that can't take place include training flights, practice instrument approaches, aerobatic flight, glider operations, parachute operations, ultralight, hang gliding, balloon operations, agriculture/crop dusting, animal population control flight operations, banner towing operations, sightseeing operations, model aircraft operations, model rocketry, and unmanned aircraft systems.

Pilots and aircraft operators in the area are said to be outraged by the restrictions. The restrictions are based on the ones used to protect President Bush while at his Crawford, Texas ranch but the area being covered is much different. Many pilots feel that their having their wings clipped because of a Presidential vacation is unfair. In the article a seaplane tour operator said that he was forced to but his business on hold for two weeks because of the TFR. For small businesses taking off these two busy weeks surrounding Christmas can be devastating.

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Tags: aviation, hawaii, oahu, obama, travel

Tips for Decorating Your Christmas Tree

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The first written record of a decorated Christmas tree was in 1510 in Riga, Latvia when men representing the local merchants' guild decorated a tree with artificial roses, danced around it in the marketplace and then set fire to it. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, roses were used for many years and are considered to be a symbol for the Virgin Mary.

During the 17th century, apples were commonly used in Germany to decorate Christmas trees, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. This practice was a holdover from the 14th and 15th centuries when evergreen boughs hung with apples were the only prop used in the "miracle plays" that were performed at the churches on the day before Christmas. December 24th was known as "Adam & Eve's Day" in the early Christian calendar, and the plays were used as ways of teaching the Bible to a largely illiterate population.

During the 18th century, edible ornaments were so commonly used on Christmas trees that they were often called "sugar trees." During this time, lighted candles started being used as decorations in France.

German settlers introduced the Christmas tree to the United States during the 19th century and they rapidly grew in popularity. At first, Christmas trees were tabletop in size before the floor-to-ceiling-sizes became more commonly used, according to the association.

Do you want to make your Christmas tree a striking one this year? Here are a few tips to help you:

1. Choose a theme and color scheme
Begin by choosing a theme and color scheme for your tree. Such is the tradition in the White House, where First Families have selected a theme for the White House Christmas Tree each year, beginning with the Kennedy family in 1961. There's no need to throw out old ornaments that don't fit into your current theme, as they might be work with themes selected in the future. This year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York decorated its 20 ft. tall blue spruce (above) with a collection of 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs among its boughs. Flanking the tree's base are groups of realistic crèche figures flanking the Nativity scene at its base. The tree is currently on display in the Museum's Medieval Sculpture Hall.

2. Work from the inside out
Once you have figured out what your theme is, work from the inside out. Be sure to string your lights before hanging the garland and ornaments. Metallic-colored ribbon works well as garland.

3. Hang your "filler" ornaments
Decorate the backdrop of your tree with your filler ornaments (solid colors or simply decorated) before hanging the thematic ones. Wire or ribbon works best for hanging ornaments, as they will provide more stability. While many ornaments come with hooks attached, these tend to fall off the branches easily.

4. Hang large ornaments low and small ones high
Larger ornaments often work best on the lower branches of the tree; use the smaller ones for the higher branches. Metallic ornaments and garland are a great choice, as they will reflect the light emitted from your Christmas lights.

For a peak at some of the most beautiful Christmas trees in the world, click on the slide show below. Here you will see a range from traditional Christmas trees to those that are futuristic.

Gallery: The World's Most Beautiful Christmas Trees

Christmas Tree at Plazza Del Duomo in Milan, Italy

The 2009 Official White House Christmas Tree

Tags: awards-main, awards-module, awards-promo, decor-pedia, luxist-awards, main-pedia, metropolitan museum of art, MetropolitanMuseumOfArt, national christmas tree, NationalChristmasTree, obama, u.s. capitol, U.s.Capitol, White House, WhiteHouse

The Gingerbread White House Gets A Garden Too

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

The gingerbread White House is a holiday tradition but the first Obama White House has a few renovations. The replica White House, made out of 400 pounds of gingerbread coated in white chocolate took six weeks to make according to White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses. For the first time it is missing a wall revealing an interior with a tiny miniature State Dining Room with furniture created of dark chocolate. Outside the massive gingerbread house there is a marzipan version of Michelle Obama's kitchen garden and the first dog, Bo, is also rendered in marizipan. Check out the hi-res images in the gallery below for close-ups of the intricate masterpiece.

Gallery: The Gingerbread White House 2009

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Tags: bo, gingerbread, gingerbread house, GingerbreadHouse, marzipan, obama, white chocolate, white house, WhiteChocolate, WhiteHouse

Spike Lee to Sign "Design for Obama" at Taschen Store New York

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Art, Books, Celebrity Design

It is hard to believe that it is already the first anniversary of Barack Obama's election as the first African-American President of the United States. In honor of this historic occasion Taschen books New York is holding a book signing to celebrate the publication of Design for Obama. Posters for Change: A Grassroots Anthology. Taschen a publishing house originally started in Cologne, Germany 1980 by 18 year-old Benedikt Taschen, who found himself with a huge collection of comic books, has become renowned for being the premier international publisher of stunning art books.

Unbeknown to many, hundreds of artists and designers supported Obama's campaign in an unusual way, with their talent at DesignforObama.org founded by one of the books editors Aaron Perry-Zucker. This web-site built upon the concept of volunteerism during a history making campaign provided an online forum where artworks could be uploaded and downloaded for free.

Filmaker Spike Lee and Aaron Perry-Zucker chose the best of the submissions and have compiled them into a book commemorating the 44th President and the artistic creativity that helped him win the historic election last fall. In addition to curating the artwork in the book, Lee, Perry-Zucker and design historian Steven Heller wrote essays to complement this collection of over 200 pro-Obama posters designed by everybody from renowned graphic artists to those who practice their art on the streets of our cities.

If you want to have your copy personally signed by the editors head to Taschen's New York SoHo location where the editors including Spike Lee will be on hand on November 4th, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Tags: books, bookstore, election, graphic artists, GraphicArtists, Obama, posters, Spike Lee, SpikeLee

Rothko, Diebenkorn and Degas join Obama in the White House

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Celebrity Design

The world's latest Nobel Peace Prize winner also has excellent taste in art. President Barack Obama has skipped the staid portraits that are usually pulled to adorn White House walls and instead opted for three dozen pieces with a bit more of an edge. Works have been pulled from the National Gallery of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Smithsonian American Art Museum to decorate the building the symbolizes executive authority in the United States.

The Obama family is definitely leaning modern, with Rothko, Degas and Diebenkorn among the artists represented. They've also included a word painting by Ed Ruscha. Not wanting to deprive the public of the opportunity to view works on display, the Obamas limited their choices to artwork in museum storage.

There's now a lot of money hanging from those White House walls. "Red Band" by Rothko, "Berkeley No. 52" by Diebenkorn and "White Line" by Sam Francis together are estimated to be worth between $20 million and $30 million. Throw a piece by Jasper Johns into the mix – specifically "Numerals, 0 through 9" – and you get a sense of the collection the Obamas have assembled.

Even with access to a collection of that caliber, though, I'd still never take Obama's job. And, there aren't enough Rothkos out there to change my mind.

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Tags: art, art collecting, art collection, art museum, art museums, ArtCollecting, ArtCollection, artist, artists, ArtMuseum, ArtMuseums, artwork, barack obama, BarackObama, degas, ed ruscha, EdRuscha, hirshhorn-sculpture-garden, jasper johns, JasperJohns, mark rothko, MarkRothko, michelle obama, MichelleObama, museum, museums, national gallery of art, NationalGalleryOfArt, nobel peace prize, NobelPeacePrize, obama, president, president barack obama, president obama, PresidentBarackObama, PresidentObama, rothko, smithsonian, smithsonian american art museum, SmithsonianAmericanArtMuseum, white house, WhiteHouse

What Oprah & Obama Will Be Watching This Weekend

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Charity, Children, Big Givers

No, not the latest bloated-budget Hollywood thriller, but something much closer to home: The Providence Effect, an award-winning documentary about Providence-St. Mel, a small school in Chicago's gritty East Garfield Park that has achieved an incredible 100% college acceptance rate against all odds.

Oprah deserves at least some of the credit; she gave the school $1 million to help fund the educational juggernaut that has been called the future of education. Obama meanwhile visited the school in 1998 and gave an incredible inspirational speech that showed he was destined for the highest office in the land.

The movie centers on the equally inspiring journey of the school's principal Paul J. Adams III, who has challenged the Chicago school system for 30 years with his revolutionary approaches to teaching, and also founded the Providence Englewood Charter School. Of course the Obamas and Oprah have been sent copies to view in their personal screening rooms, but the film opens in select theaters nationwide this Friday.

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Chicago, education, Obama, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, OprahWinfrey, school

Vacation with the Obamas on Martha's Vineyard

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green

Okay, so you're probably not going to get anywhere near the Obamas on their planned August getaway to Martha's Vineyard, as the Boston Globe reports, but it's hard to imagine a nicer place to be in late summer.

No word yet on where the Obamas will be staying while on the Vineyard, but a good pick for presidential accommodations could be the newly renovated Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown. (Sidenote: I visited last September, and on a sunset cruise of the harbor on the hotel's restored center-console wooden boat Stardust, spotted Walter Cronkite's house, and Walter reading in his living room. R.I.P.)

Besides its many large suites and private cottages for staff, the Harbor View has liberal street cred, since the owner, Scout Capital Real Estate, has a focus on sustainability. It's replacing single-use plastic bottles with reusable bottles and installing water stations throughout the property, for example, using solar heat for its pool, and during the renovation, donated furnishings, cabinetry, appliances to Habitat for Humanity, among other charities.

Scout's also got a nifty sustainability laboratory property on Esther Island off Nantucket where it's playing with other green technologies that might have use at its hotel properties, which includes generating all of its own electricity through a combination of solar panels and a power-generating wind turbine. Of course, wind turbines have been something of a political third-rail in these parts, so probably best for Obama not to mention that during his stay.

Tags: green, marthasvineyard, obama, walter cronkite, WalterCronkite

Obama Poem Becomes Jewelry Collection

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

The market for Obama jewelry is still going strong. The range of jewelry runs from the inexpensive and symbolic to the extravagant diamond Obama necklace. Somewhere in the middle range is the "Elements of Change" collection from jewelry designer Jeanine Payer. The line features pieces inscribed with excerpts from President Barack Obama's inauguration poem by Elizabeth Alexander, "Praise Song for the Day."

The collection includes three necklaces and three bracelets offered in sterling silver and 14-karat gold. The bracelet shown above has a 14k gold medallion hanging from a sterling silver multi-chain. The engraving appears on the pendant's front and back and the piece sells for $620.

[via National Jeweler]

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Tags: bracelet, elizabeth alexander, ElizabethAlexander, jeanine payer, JeaninePayer, jewelry, national poety month, NationalPoetyMonth, obama, poetry

Miami Cigar Manufacturers Brace for SCHIP

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

President Obama wants to create jobs, yet he isn't too worried about some that already exist. Miami's cigar manufacturers are watching April 1, 2009 with grave concern. The new State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) takes effect on that date, resulting in a 900 percent tax increase on every cigar made in the United States – or imported here.

What's at stake?

For Miami, it's the many people responsible for rolling 75 percent of the 272 million cigars rolled in this country. Manufacturers and retailers alike are bracing themselves. A tax that takes the surcharge on hecho a mano sticks from 4 cents to 40.26 cents is cause for alarm.

So, as my sergeant used to say, "Smoke if you got 'em." At this rate, you may not have 'em much longer ... or at least not as many.

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Tags: barack, barack obama, barack-obama, BarackObama, cigar, cigars, cigarshop, florida, miami, obama, president obama, PresidentObama, schip, smoke, smoker, smokers, smoking, tax, taxes, tobacco, tobacco industry, TobaccoIndustry

Obama Stays At Hotel In Foreclosure

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

President Obama changed things up when it came to his first hotel stay in Arizona. Presidents traditionally stay at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix at least once while visiting the Valley but Obama chose the new InterContinental Montelucia Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley, a resort that just happens to be already facing foreclosure. The Arizona Republic says that the resort was fully booked Tuesday night with Obama's entourage and other guests. There are two presidential suites which cost $3,000 to $4,000 per night. The Biltmore also has two presidential suites, It was also the site of John McCain's election-night concession speech. While the McCains live within walking distance of the Biltmore they were also at the Montelucia on Tuesday for a fundraiser.

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Tags: arizona, montelucia, obama

Obama's Big Bucks Bulletproof Wardrobe?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

There's been a lot of speculation over whether Barack Obama actually wore bulletproof clothing when he was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on Jan. 20. There were certainly a number of extraordinary security measures in place. One thing's for certain however - the only person capable of making bulletproof clothing that's indistinguishable from your average Hart Schaffner Marx ensemble is Colombian designer Miguel Caballero - but it costs a hell of a lot more.

(For the record, Caballero's rep declined to comment when we asked if they'd furnished the President with any clothing.)

Back in October we told you about Caballero's stylish $10,000 quilted riding jacket. Known as "The Armani of Armor", Caballero developed a proprietary lightweight anti-ballistic fabric which he fashions into a number of garments, including a bulletproof tuxedo shirt (above). This allows for maximum flexibility and discretion while providing protection from weaponry ranging from a 9mm pistol to an Uzi, depending upon the security level you select.

Caballero's high-end Black Label line, favored by such security-conscious VIPs as Prince Felipe of Spain, President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia and President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, also features a $12,000 bulletproof polo shirt, a trench coat, leather jackets and even ski gear. An additional stab-proof lining is optional on most garments. Check out the gallery for some more of his attack-proof designs.

Gallery: Miguel Caballero Bulletproof Clothing

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Bulletproof, Colombia, Miguel Caballero, MiguelCaballero, Obama, Security

Obama's Tux Maker Goes Bankrupt

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

Hartmarx, the Chicago-based clothing company that made President Obama's dodgy tuxedo for the inaugural ball (above), as well as several of the suits he wore on the campaign trail, has just filed for bankruptcy the Chicago Tribune reports. Obama favors the firm's fairly bland Hart Schaffner Marx line, but the company also makes high-end men's clothing under its Hickey Freeman label, that, to our way of thinking, is much more suitable for a stylish young Chief Executive (it even has a Presidential Collection). Hart Schaffner Marx sales have picked up a bit thanks to Obama, but not nearly enough.

A newer, hipper Hickey Freeman spinoff, hickey, has recently become a fashionista favorite, and will hopefully survive the process. The company plans to continue operating while it undergoes a reorganization, but said it may sell some or all of its assets. Hartmarx, the largest maker of men's tailored clothing in the U.S., traces its roots to 1872, when brothers Harry and Max Hart first opened a men's clothing store in Chicago. The company also owns the downmarket Sansabelt and Palm Beach brands, and has licensing agreements with several well known labels.

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Black tie, BlackTie, Chicago, hart schaffner marx, Hartmarx, Hartmarx Corporation, HartmarxCorporation, HartSchaffnerMarx, hickey, Hickey Freeman, HickeyFreeman, Obama, Suit, Tuxedo

Jewelry for the Obama Inauguration

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Diamond and Pink Sapphire Cherry Blossom Brooch

The 2009 Presidential Inauguration is inspiring special commemorative clothing and jewelry all over the world. We found two jewelers in/near Washington D.C. whose pieces are truly extraordinary: Ginger and Chas Schwartz & Son.

Featured in our gallery are cherry blossom items, like the pink sapphire and diamond Cherry Blossom Brooch you see here ($36,000), silver and gold monuments, and a $10,000 diamond Obama necklace or brooch certain to create some real Obama Drama.

The designers include Chas Schwartz & Son as well as Suzanne Somersall and R-Nichols, both available from Ginger (in Bethesda, MD and Winter Park, FL). If you've never bought inauguration commemorative jewelry before, perhaps 2009 is the year for a change.

Gallery: Inauguration Jewelry

pink sapphire and diamond Cherry Blossom Brooch from Oscar Heyman at Chas. Schwartz & Son

Sterling silver cherry blossom drop earrings

Sterling silver cherry blossom charm necklace

Tags: 2009, brooch, brooches, charms, chas schwartz son, ChasSchwartzSon, commemorative, ginger, inauguration, inauguration day, InaugurationDay, jewelry, necklace, necklaces, obama, pins, president, r-nichols, suzanne somersall, SuzanneSomersall, washington dc, WashingtonDc, white house, WhiteHouse

Michael S. Smith Will Design Obama White House

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The Washington Post has announced that interior designer Michael S. Smith will be designing the new Obama White House. Known for his work with high-profile celebs like Steven Spielberg and Rupert Murdoch, Smith hails from Santa Monica, California, and creates a sunny aesthetic that seems like welcome change at Penn. Ave.

In a statement released by Michelle Obama, Smith was lauded for his "family-friendly style," and is rumored to be shopping already at kid-focused "everyday retail stores," according to the Post.

Smith's released statement noted the family's casual style and desire to showcase contemporary American artists and affordable decor. Looks like Mrs. O's high-low fashion aesthetic may transfer to the White House.

Check out Smith's Top 10 Rooms over at Domino, where he first mentioned his desire to redesign the White House back in April.

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Tags: interior design, InteriorDesign, michael s. smith, MichaelS.Smith, obama, steven spielberg, StevenSpielberg, white house, WhiteHouse

Obama Coins Are Not An Investment

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

No sooner was the election over than floods of Obama commemorative coins started to be advertised. Just in case you were thinking that these coins might be a smart investment, the Professional Numismatists Guild, a non-profit organization composed of the nation's top rare coin dealers, is advising consumers that the coins honoring President-elect Barack Obama are not now nor will be later an investment deal. They caution that the coins should be considered only as souvenirs. In other words, buy them because you like them, not because you think they might be worth something later.

"All of the items we've seen offered so far on television and online are merely political mementos that certainly may be enjoyable as a keepsake, but typically will have little or no re-sale value later in the mainstream numismatic market," said Gary Adkins of Edina, Minnesota, Professional Numismatists Guild President. He warns that some of the Obama coins are layered or plated with a very thin layer of gold and that there is usually very little bullion value on plated pieces. For more info on what not to buy when it comes to coin collecting, check out the PNG website.

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Tags: coin collecting, CoinCollecting, coins, numismatics, obama

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