Obamas Host State Dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao...

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama (wearing Alexander McQueen!) welcomed China's President Hu Jintao to the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, for the State Dinner.

[photo via Getty Images]

Obamas Welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House..

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed Chinese President Hu Jintao (with his back to the camera) during a State Arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, January 19, 2011. Hu said Wednesday he could see 'new progress' in his country's ties to the United States as he was welcomed to the White House by US leader Barack Obama.'Since President Obama took office with concerted efforts of the two sides, our cooperation in various fields has produced fruitful results and our relations have achieved new progress,' Hu said.

First lady Michelle Obama at the State arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House January 19, 2011 in Washington, DC. Obama and Hu are scheduled to meet in the Oval Office later in the day, hold a joint press conference and attend a State dinner.
[photos via Getty Images]

POTUS and FLOTUS Celebrate the 2nd Day of Hanukkah...

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama watched as Molly Retik lights a Menorah on the second night of Hanukkah during a Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, December 2, 2010. The Menorah, loaned from Congregation Beth Israel in New Orleans, was discovered after Hurricane Katrina by cleanup crews covered in mold, filth and sewage.

 [photos via Getty Images]

Michelle O. Makes Ornaments, Cards & Treats at the White House...

First Lady Michelle Obama ate a cookie given to her by a child in the State Dining Room to learn how to make holiday ornaments, cards and treats, at the White House in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2010.

First lady Michelle Obama worked on paper decorations while welcoming military families to the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, December 1, 2010.

First lady Michelle Obama is pictured in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010, after speaking about the Toys for Tots program which distributes toys to needy children.
[photos via Getty Images, Reuters, and AP Photo]

Happy Halloween with the Obama's at the White House...

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle O. participated in a Halloween trick-or-treat on the steps of the North Portico of the White House in Washington, October 31, 2010.
[photo via Reuters]

First Lady Michelle O. Hosts a Dance Tribute at the White House...

First lady Michelle Obama (in a Byron Lars dress and Azzedine Alaia belt) stood at the lectern as she welcomed the audience to a dance tribute to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Judith Jamison in the East Room of the White House in Washington, September 7, 2010. Click READ MORE below for more pics and FULL VIDEO from this event...




Linda Celeste Sims of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed during 'The White House Dance Series: A Tribute to Judith Jamison' in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 7, 2010. First Lady Michelle O. invited world renowned dance companies to perform at the Administration's first event celebrating dance. The event was organized to tribute to Judith Jamison for her outstanding career as an American dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for the past 20 years.



US dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison smiles during a dance workshop in the East Room at the White House in Washington on September 7, 2010.



WATCH VIDEO FROM THE WHITE HOUSE DANCE TRIBUTE


Students from different dancing schools took part in a workshop in the East Room at the White House in Washington on September 7, 2010.



First Daughter Malia and Sasha arrived to attend The White House Dance Series: A Tribute to Judith Jamison ceremony in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 7, 2010.



US First Lady Michelle Obama embraced Judith Jamison during The White House Dance Series: A Tribute to Judith Jamison ceremony in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 7, 2010.
[photos via Reuters, Getty Images]

Michelle O. Hosts The 2010 National Design Awards...

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted this year's National Design Awards winners for a luncheon at the White House. According to pool reports, Michelle wore a bright pink pantsuit by Isabel Toledo for the occasion. Among the 144 attendees were Graydon Carter of Vanity Fair, Stefano Tonchi of W, Jenna Lyons of J. Crew, Sally Singer of the New York Times and Glenda Bailey of Harper's Bazaar. Michelle was seated next to Tim Gunn, which she sounded excited about, saying "How cool!" Here's another cool part: all of the guests got ViewMasters, which contained images of the winners' work. Read first lady Michelle O's full remarks HERE.

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Michelle O. Switches From Her Usual Dresses to a Pantsuit...

First lady Michelle Obama spoke during a dress rehearsal of 20 dance students from Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the Joy of Motion Dance Center ahead of the White House music series celebrating the arts featuring Broadway performers in the East Room of the White House July 19, 2010 in Washington, DC. As part of the music series, the students are participating in an educational workshop and rehearsal of a segment from the Broadway show, 'Hairspray.'


[photos via Getty Images]

The Obama's Celebrate the 4th of July [VIDEO]

First Lady Michelle Obama applauded during a Fourth of July barbeque for military members and families and government employees and families July 4, 2010 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC.



President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama made their way to greet guests during a Fourth of July barbeque for military members and families and government employees and families July 4, 2010 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC.



First Lady Michelle Obama hugged a guest during a Fourth of July barbeque for military members and families and government employees and families July 4, 2010 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC.



President Barack Obama waved as he and first lady Michelle Obama stood on the balcony as families gathered for Independence Day festivities on the South Lawn White House July 4, 2010 in Washington, DC. The Obamas honored the families of military service members at a barbeque and called for the nation to celebrate civil rights and the spirit of America.
[photos via Getty Images]

Obama's Pose with President Felipe Calderon & First Lady Margarita Zavala..

*Scroll down for more pics*

President Obama and first lady Michelle O. (wearing Peter Soronen) emerged to welcome Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala to the White House State Dinner in their honor.



President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pose for a photo with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala after they arrived for the State Dinner at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. [AP Photo/Charles Dharapak]
Looks like the first lady had her Peter Soronen customized.






[Photos via Reuters and Getty Images]

Preparing for the 2nd Obama White House State Dinner...

The East Room at the White House in Washington, DC is ready for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon on May 19, 2010. [Photo credit TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images]



The entertainment tent at the White House in Washington, DC is ready for the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon on May 19, 2010. [Photo credit TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images]

Click here to see more preparation pics for the Obama's 2nd White House State Dinner.

The Obama's Welcome the President of Mexico to the White House.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome the arrival of Mexican President Felipe Calderon (L) and First Lady Margarita Zavala (R) on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, May 19, 2010. Obama and Calderon will juggle the hot issues of immigration and drug violence with the pomp and ceremony of a state visit when the Mexican leader comes to the White House on Wednesday.



First lady Michelle Obama, Mexico's first lady Margarita Zavala, President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon watch the arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 19, 2010.


[photos via Reuters and AP Photo]

Chef Rick Bayless Cooking for the Obama State Dinner on May 19, 2010

via HuffPo:Celebrity chef Rick Bayless is the second guest chef that Mrs. Obama has requested to cook and help to oversee the all important White House State Dinner for Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderón. In November, award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson prepared a meal for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The White House wants NO DRAMA at the 2nd State Dinner

The first couple are no strangers to Bayless' cuisine, having dined out on his cooking in their hometown. Bayless has called them "adventurous" eaters and said they ordered tasting menus.

Bayless was inspired by Mexican market foods more than two decades ago. He's the author of several Mexican cookbooks, appears in his own PBS series, "Mexico – One Plate at a Time," and has competed on Bravo's "Top Chef Masters."
See first lady Michelle O. and first lady of Mexico, Margarita Zavala

He has also earned his share of awards: In 1988 Food & Wine named him best new chef. Three years later, the Beard Foundation named him best Midwest chef, then national chef of the year in 1995. Bon Appetit magazine named him cooking teacher of the year in 2002.

But he considers preparing a White House state dinner a career highlight. "It's moving into a different realm that I don't usually cook in," Bayless said. "I'm really honored to be able to offer what little thing I can offer to creating this special moment."
Read all about the elite waiters that will serve at The Obama's 2nd State Dinner

Planning for the state dinner started months ago, when Bayless said he proposed several menus and narrowed them to the best choices. Then White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford visited Bayless in Chicago for a special tasting and to see plate presentations.

"I went to the table to ask them how everything was," Bayless said. "It was very clear that Chef Comerford was not there to have a good time. She was there to do her job." Bayless passed muster with Comerford and aims to prepare a state dinner "that will be both well executed and really interesting."

Cooking at the White House, he said, does have some restrictions. He said officials have to know where all the ingredients come from. At one point, he was told he couldn't bring his own knives (eventually he got permission.)

"I said that's like asking a famous runner to run in someone else's tennis shoes," Bayless said. The chef said he never would have expected his type of modern cooking to be served at the White House.

"It's really a testament to the Obama administration," Bayless said. "They're really taking the wraps off everything and saying what's appropriate for right now."

Michelle O. Hosts a Mother's Day Tea at the White House...

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama chatted with a member of her mentoring program, as her mother Marian Robinson looked on at the State Dining Room of the White House May 7, 2010 in Washington, DC. Guests at the events included former first lady Rosalny Carter, former first daughters, spouses and mothers of soldiers, and young women from Mrs. Obama's mentoring program and the notable women in their lives.



Also in attendance at the Mother's Day event, Anne and Susan Eisenhower, granddaughters to former President Dwight Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox, daughter of former President Richard Nixon
[photos via Getty Images and AP Photo]

The Obama's Host the National Medal of Arts Ceremony at the White House

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama (wearing Jason Wu) arrived in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, for the 2009 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal ceremony.



President Barack Obama, not pictured, acknowledged actress Sarah Jessica Parker, as first lady Michelle Obama looks on, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, before he presented the 2009 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal.

First Glimpse of Michelle O. at the 2010 Governors Ball [PHOTO UPDATE]

[photo via Getty Images]

First lady Michelle Obama (wearing Thakoon) raised her glass during the White House Governors Ball in the State Dining Room on February 21, 2010 in Washington, DC. The nation's governors are congregating in Washington this week for their annual National Governors Association annual meeting.


[Official White House Photo]

The Obama's Welcome the Nation's Governors to the 2010 Governors Ball [VIDEO]

The President and First Lady welcome the National Governors Association to the White House for the 2010 Governors’ Ball. Includes toast by Governor Jim Douglas of Vermont.

The Obama's Celebrate Black History with a Concert at the White House

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrived for a concert entitled In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" in the East Room of the White House Washington February 9, 2010.

Via the AP:
Crediting civil rights-era protest songs and their spiritual predecessors for his election, President Barack Obama on Tuesday sat in the East Room of his White House and listened to an all-star lineup of performers pay tribute to the music that he said fueled freedom marches and civil disobedience.

"The civil rights movement was a movement sustained by music," Obama said as he welcomed his audience. He said activists from coast to coast were inspired by spirituals, felt their will sharpened by protest songs and base broadened by artists of hope. He said their work paved the way toward a more just America that allowed him to make history in 2008 with his election.

"Tonight, we celebrate the music of the movement," Obama said.

Info on when you can catch In Performance at the White House: Music of the Civil Rights Era in the video below:



[photo via Reuters]

Michelle O. Honors National Mentoring Month...

First lady Michello Obama (wearing Talbots) smiled as she sits among mentors and their mentees while President Barack Obama delivers remarks at an event in honour of National Mentoring Month in the East Room of the White House in Washington January 20, 2010. The White House mentoring program pairs high school students with White House staff members to encourage them to maximize educational opportunities.


[photos via Reuters and Getty Images]