When Barack and Michelle Obama announced they were sticking around DC, those of us who live here imagined seeing them around town. Barack browsing at Kramerbooks and draining jumpers at the Y. Michelle bouncing between urban gardens and SoulCycle. Together, skipping lines at Bad Saint and Red Hen.
Yeah, not so much. Sure, they were spotted in Ocean Prime Friday, and Michelle Obama made some high school students incredibly happy last month. But as the former President begins the public phase of his former presidency, those of us who don’t have sweet rentals in Kalorama have to ask: Why are our new most-famous neighbors hardly ever around?
Here he is in Palm Springs 🙁
https://twitter.com/lovebscott/status/823294677977677824
Former US President, Barack Obama was seen playing golf for the 1st time since he left office https://t.co/ZQh2vVxiIF pic.twitter.com/7lrej7pa75
— Bishop Ikedi (@Bishopikedii) January 22, 2017
Not so relaxing there, IS IT?
https://twitter.com/ToniMuskett/status/823301884819677184
What real Washingtonians would choose the British Virgin Islands over DC in February?
Obama's on vacation with the hat backwards. He's never coming back. pic.twitter.com/RUakcwwgtT
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/OldHarryKnit/status/829993300182630401
When you finally block America's number. pic.twitter.com/SVSNo93jol
— 🫧. (@emefa_xyz) February 7, 2017
Oh hey, great, he’s in New York City. No ex-Presidents ever go THERE.
Who would not want to be in this photo? #TonyShalhoub #JessicaHecht @MarkRuffalo @DannyDeVito @BarackObama #MaliaObama pic.twitter.com/3Vkhx8pnq6
— Cynthia Reynolds 💫 (@CindyReynolds) February 25, 2017
I got to take a 4 hour train ride and all my wife got was lunch with (well, near) @BarackObama at @GramercyTavern. (Photo by E. Collins) pic.twitter.com/07FYuiJ5nd
— Jason Yarn (@kalyarn) February 24, 2017
BRB, gotta make a stop in French Polynesia.
#Tahiti:@BarackObama chooses #solar #PV powered #ecoresort @TheBrandoResort to take a break from @POTUS#Renewableshttps://t.co/4Malz1tmQr pic.twitter.com/nriIKf1ahA
— Dr Thomas Hillig • #EUSEW2024 Ambassador (@THEnergyNet) March 28, 2017
Read up on The Brando, voted the #1 Resort in the World by Conde Nast readers: https://t.co/DOOXCHTRTf @TheBrandoResort pic.twitter.com/OhqBhjQbC0
— Hidden Doorways (@Hidden_Doorways) March 16, 2017
Book leave can be tough, so they brought over a few friends.
https://twitter.com/2_highlyfavored/status/853338187296632832
It turns out @BarackObama is an iPad photographer, a fact that probably seals the deal of that whole mom jeans thing https://t.co/hHzgYgKUyw
— Eli Yokley (@eyokley) April 18, 2017
After a few weeks of island life, it was time to wade back into politics. French politics.
Let’s keep defending our progressive values. Thank you for this discussion @BarackObama. pic.twitter.com/8rhNdHkLo8
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 20, 2017
After Monday’s town-hall meeting at UChicago, Barack Obama will pick up a “Profile in Courage” award at the Kennedy library, and pal around with Angela Merkel at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.
He’ll be back eventually.
King of dad jeans “@BarackObama: Ready for Opening Day. pic.twitter.com/O2auWAQaQ7”
— Mary Mooney (@mary_mooney) April 1, 2013
Just don’t expect to see any dad jeans.
►I miss him … @BarackObama's Post-Presidency Fashion Evolution Includes a Leather Jacket ♥ https://t.co/Ce447ISrJM
— Susan Cooper 💙🌊💙🇺🇸💙 (@BuzzEdition) March 6, 2017
Noah Lanard is an editorial fellow. Before Washingtonian, he freelanced for the Guardian, Fusion, and Vice in Mexico City. He was born in DC, grew up in New Jersey, and went to college in Montreal.
