PresidentObama

Value of the White House Drops by $15.5 Million

Filed under: Estates

Even the White House isn't immune to the nationwide housing slump - the famed presidential mansion in Washington D.C. plummeted in value by $15.5 million to $292.5 million over the past year, according to a new study by real estate site Zillow. This marks the second year in a row that the landmark's value has fallen, making for a total loss of $39.5 million since 2008, meaning it was once worth $332 million. Designed by Irish architect James Hoban, built in 1792 and much improved and expanded since, the gated residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue now stands at 55,000 square feet and sits on 18 landscaped acres. It also has 132 rooms including 16 bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, three kitchens, three elevators, 28 fireplaces and an underground bunker. Don't get to thinking that the loss is purely President Obama's, however - we the taxpayers actually own what is increasingly looking like a white elephant.

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Tags: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 1600PennsylvaniaAvenue, President Obama, PresidentObama, Washington D.C., WashingtonD.c., White House, WhiteHouse

Christmas in the White House: Presidential Trees Throughout the Years

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Beautifully decorated Christmas Trees are a longstanding tradition in the White House. The first known decorated, indoor Christmas Tree was displayed in the Yellow Oval Room during the Benjamin Harrison administration.

Jacqueline Kennedy launched the tradition of thematic Christmases in the White House in which the First Family chooses a motif in which to highlight. In 1961, First Lady Kennedy chose to decorate the White House Christmas Tree with a "Nutcracker" theme derived from the Tchaikovsky ballet. The tree was decorated with toys, birds and angels (see gallery).

Themes for White House Christmas Trees throughout the years have ranged from the Regan's theme of Mother Goose theme in 1986 to "Home for the Holidays", which was the Bush theme in 2001 (see above).

This year, the Obama's Official White House Christmas Tree is a beautiful Douglas Fir from Shepardston, West Virginia (see gallery). According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the Blue Room Christmas Tree was officially presented to First Lady Michelle Obama by Christmas Tree growers Eric and Gloria Sundback. The Sundbacks earned this honor by winning the National Christmas Tree Association's (NCTA) national Christmas Tree contest held in August 2009 in Chattanooga, Tenn., and becoming Grand Champions.

While there are typically several Christmas Trees on display throughout the White House during the holiday season, the one located in the Blue Room is traditionally the "official" tree. Members of the National Christmas Tree Association have presented the official White House Christmas Tree for display in the Blue Room since 1966. For decorating ideas, see "Tips for Decorating your Christmas Tree".

Gallery: White House Christmas Trees Through the Years

Tags: christmas, christmas tree, president, president bush, PresidentObama, white house

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

President Obama Checks In To The Beverly Hills Hilton

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

Every President from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton stayed in The Beverly Hilton's Presidential Suite and the tradition continues now that President Obama has spent the night there. The President is in Los Angeles as part of a tour of southern California that includes appearing on "The Tonight Show."

The Presidential Suite is a three-room suite that measures 1,870 square feet. It includes a master bedroom and living room and has views of Wilshire Boulevard. Amenities include two 42-inch plasma televisions and a 13-inch LCD screen in the spa bathroom as well as a patio, fireplace and library area. The suite is said to rent for $4,000 a night.

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Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, beverly hills hilton, BeverlyHillsHilton, president obama, PresidentObama

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