UPDATE, 8/4/2010, 8:45PM: President Obama is having his birthday celebration dinner at Graham Elliot Restaurant at 217 W. Huron Street on the near northside of Chicago.
UPDATE, 8/4/2010, 5:15PM: President Obama returned to Chicago at approximately 5:00PM this afternoon, greeted by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. There are several reports suggesting the restaurant Obama and close friends will be dining at this evening for his birthday dinner, but most sources say he will be dining at his South Greenwood Avenue home in the Kenwood/Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's southside. A group of protesters were on the street hoping to get his attention, saying he hasn't done enough for youth violence in Chicago. No word as to whether he noticed as his motorcade sped to his southside home.
Original article: President Barack Obama will celebrate his 49th birthday in Chicago next Wednesday, August 4th. Since he is scheduled to be in Chicago the following day for three fundraisers and a trip to a Ford auto plant, he decided to come a day early to celebrate at his Kenwood-Hyde Park home.
- Related article: President Obama's Chicago Home and Neighborhood (photos)
He will not be accompanied by family members. Instead, it is believed that the President will come to Chicago with his Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Emanuel has said that he is interested in running for mayor of Chicago if Mayor Richard M. Daley does not run again. With recent poll results regarding Daley’s lack of popularity with Chicagoans, some analysts believe there is a strong possibility that he won’t run. By accompanying Obama, Emanuel will be able to reconnect with Chicago politicians for his mayoral bid, should it occur.
Also, Obama’s friend and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett is coming along on the trip. Jarrett was the person named often during the Rod Blagojevich federal corruption trial as Obama’s choice to fill his own senate seat which he vacated when being elected president.
The day after Obama’s birthday, on Thursday, August 5th, he will be attending a $1,000 to $2,400 per person fundraiser at the Palmer House Hilton for Illinois Democratic Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias. Another scheduled fundraiser is a dinner at the home of developer Neil Bluhm to raise funds for the Democratic National Committee – 50 persons will attend at $30,400 per person. Thirdly, there will be a $250-per-person reception at the Chicago Cultural Center in Chicago's loop along Michigan Avenue.
Additionally, during Obama’s visit, he will be stopping by a Ford auto plant to tout the automobile industry's turnaround. Ford, of course, was one of the companies who wouldn’t take government money to be bailed out which ultimately met with the public’s approval and boosted their sales this past year.
There is also an electronic birthday card, initiated by First Lady Michelle Obama, which is designed to keep track of Democratic supporters and refresh the Democrat’s database.
- Related article: President Obama's Chicago Home and Neighborhood (photos)
Sources: WGN-news, Sun-Times
Comments
so what
Is it november yet?
James - What do you mean "So What?" I took this as a fair warning that traffic is going to be tied up wherever Obama chooses to go in town, no airplane zone to affect air travel, and another disgrace as to how the President wastes his time on "politics" rather than running the country in the right direction. I say, "Thanks for the warning!"
It's normal for presidents to do fundrasiers to help the politians that helped & supported them...Obama is doing the best he can which is more than Bush ever did...
Alexi is a crook! He and brothers mad bad loans, then pulled $80 million out of Broadway Bank, knowing the ship was going down. Nice to know us tax payers are now footing the bill for our president to be here in Chicago, appearing at his fundraiser. What ever happened to our newsman in this City, why don't they ask Alexi the tough questions? We need a balance of government in Illinois
Hey, 1111 - Nice to know that you think it's all right for Obama to be doing "what politicians normally do." So where's the CHANGE, pal? Where is it? There's no change - it's business as usual by this CHICAGO politician named Barack Hussein Obama!
How does Obama know it's his birthday? He can't produce a birth certificate! Yeah, Rahm.. I guess Chicago wants to clean up it's image by considering that guy! He hasn't had his sainthood voted on yet,,but he certainly is capable of being honored by Notre Dame University by then, which has Obama on the fast-track to his realizing HIS sainthood. And both ares equally honorable!
Why are you spying on the President's home? It appears you are giving specific details to any hatemonger that would attempt to go to his home; what's the point of all your clear, specific details of his neighborhood and surrounding areas? Did you do this on George Bush and Bill Clinton too? I am certain the answer is no. Our President and First Family do not deserve the blatent disrespect that "your kind" displays.
To the examiner and people like you...get a life, get a real job and leave our President alone to enjoy his birthday. Jelousy and envy and bigotry shows in the comments of your article, ie blacks and latinos live near by, abandoned buildings are a block away--please, we understand what you are trying to say. Also, I am certain the our President's brilliant parents know when and where he was born-how would your readers like for your birthwright to be chllenged?? It is simply racism!!
To "concerned": You're joking, right?
Reporting where our President is when he's in town is called excellent reporting! People are interested in knowing. If you don't want to know, why did you open up this article? You want to know as much as the rest of us - that's why you're here. What a phony you are, "concerned"...
Good job, Scott! Keep reporting!
To "Bored": Your criticism must be of the "Obama's Chicago Home and Neighborhood" article. I need to defend that article also by saying that I travel through Obama's Kenwood neighborhood often. Just last weekend, as a matter of fact. And I found that article to be very open and honest. You're so negative in stating the negative things about the neighborhood when the article sites so many positive things about the neighborhood as well. You're being over-critical and unjustly so. Again, these articles are nothing but open, honest reportings. Can't blame the writer for what's posted in the Comments - that is reader's writings only. Please don't discourage honest reporting when we finally get it from someone.
concerned and bored --- both of you better call Channel 2 News and yell at them. I just watched the 10 o'clock news, and they reported the same thing written here, but just an hour or so later. I'm sure the other news shows have reported it by now too. So call Channel 5, 7, and maybe even CNN and FOX... Go ahead, yell at everybody for giving us news. What jerks you two are. BTW, Obama has great taste in restaurants!!
Both commentors "bored" and "concerned" are typical Obama voters - fuggin' stupid!
Mr. Paulson, I found your article about Pres. Obama's birthday plans in Chicago to be very well written. You are a truly gifted writer. Sir. I have a personal best friend that is from Chicago and was supposed to meet with Pres. Obama today (said he was having lunch with him actually). He called me at 1:01 today tho and said he was in Oprah Winfrey's studio. He often tells me (and other of our friends) that he consorts with various celebs. I hate to be so bold as to ask; but can you do some checking for me to verify his claims.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!