How do you celebrate the nation’s first black president? The 19.3-acre, $850 million complex is more than a decade in the making.
today, Obama Presidential Center opens to the public — and if the 225-foot Obamalisk wasn’t a sign, it’s nothing like your average presidential library. Inside, guests can enjoy the Obama family’s chili and Mrs. Robinson’s red rice, enjoy spectacular views of the city from the Sky Room, and tour the presidential museum.
Some highlights: some of Michelle Obama’s looks; a copy of Obama’s Oval Office and Desk (with his beloved Blackberry, no less); what Barak called “probably my favorite exhibit in the whole place”; and some of the 28 original works commissioned by the couple, incl their first official portrait together. All of that in addition to a fruit and vegetable garden, an NBA-sized basketball court, a winter sledding hill (unbelievable for a former first lady), and a new branch of the Chicago Public Library – with thousands of books selected by the Obamas and reading chairs similar to the books at home.
Of course, you can’t open a library without a proper celebration first. Yesterday, the Obamas had a star-studded ceremony in which some of the biggest names in Hollywood (see: Quinta Brunson, Oprah Winfrey, and Stephen Colbert, who one of Barack’s most controversial fashion choices), a very big Malia and Sasha Obamaand (almost) every living president, including George W. Bush, who actually gave to Michelle. another Altoid.
One person does not participate? President Donald Trump, who (probably surprisingly) did not prepare the invitation list. And while the festival included performances by the likes of John Legend, Bruce Springsteen and Jennifer Hudson (check it out) our formal request that she sing the national anthem at every important event), was Michelle, who really brought the house down Barak joked with a very touching remark, “I will look down“Before it really started. Barack, we got it.
