Last Tuesday was one of those typical New York winter days: freezing cold, clear sky and bright sun. At 11 am on that sunny winter day, we witnessed a historic event: the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama.
Obama is an alumni of Columbia University so we figured that this was the best place in New York to follow the inauguration. In front of the library, a big tv screen was set up and several thousands showed up to see Obama sworn in as the first black, but also the first Columbia alumni, president. The crowd was very enthusiastic but at the same time, amazingly quiet during Obama's speech. Although I am not a big politics fan, I have to say that I was impressed with his speech (you can read Obama's inaugural speech here).
More photos and video here.
On a side note, Mrs. Obama is gradually becoming the next Jackie Kennedy and every move she makes is closely followed by the American fashion industry. At the inauguration she wore a yellow spring outfit by Isabel Toledo, an American designer born in Cuba, whose outfits are only for sale at Barney's. As soon as Barney's found out on Tuesday morning that Michelle Obama was wearing a designer dress exclusively sold by them, they immediately changed their Madision Avenue store's windows display featuring "Michelle Obama's Isabel Toledo" - great marketing. As of March 2009, drop by at Barney's for Mrs. Obama's inaugural outfit and feel or at least dress like the United States' first lady ... for a meager $1500.
