'First Grandma' Moving Into White House

Resident mom-in-law good for the nation, if not the Obamas

(NEWSER) - With the Cabinet-pick mania waning, Beltway buffs are left speculating on whether first granny Marian Robinson will join the Obamas in their new residence. One poll places the move-in likelihood at 70%, and there's a petition going that supports "her presence in the Obama White House." Even Barack Obama, in uncharacteristic son-in-law fashion, says he "hopes" she'll move in, the Boston Globe reports. More»

If predecessors are any sign, Malia and Sasha are in for 'a helluva good time'

(NEWSER) - If Malia Obama sneaks a boy into the White House, it won’t be an action without precedent. The generations of girls who occupied what Margaret Truman billed “the Great White Jail” form a sort of underground society, Lauren Collins writes in the New Yorker. The Johnson sisters, for example, planted notes to welcome the Nixon ladies to the home where they surreptitiously entertained dates. More»

They may even grow hops in White House garden

(NEWSER) - The Obamas turned heads in the beer world when word broke that they’d served something called White House Honey Ale at their White House Super Bowl party. It turns out that ale was indeed brewed by White House chefs, using homebrewing equipment the Obamas bought out of their own pockets and honey from the White House beehive, the Obama Foodorama blog reports. And there’s more to come. More»

For Michelle's 46th, Barack lines up friends, family

(NEWSER) - Even after a year in the White House fishbowl, President Obama can still pull off a surprise—as he did last night, when he threw a private dinner for Michelle Obama's 46th birthday. The first lady, whose birthday is actually today, knew they were dining out, but not where or with whom. A group of friends from Chicago and Washington, as well as Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, met the Obamas at Restaurant Nora, an organic eatery not far from the White House. More»

Michelle Obama wore Naeem Khan, and other tidbits

(NEWSER) - Didn't have a ticket to the country's hottest social event? No worries. Here's the who and what of last night's state dinner honoring Indian PM Manmohan Singh:

• The outdoor tent was decorated with local, sustainably harvested magnolia branches and ivy; centerpieces of hydrangeas, roses, and sweet peas evoked India's state bird, the peacock.
• Obama greeted his guests in Hindi.
• Michelle wore a strapless, silver-sequined, cream-colored gown custom-made by Naeem Khan; it reportedly took three weeks to complete the dress—with 40 people working on it.