As a Canadian it seems a bit silly that there is such an interest in the President of the United States and his family. Personally, I couldn’t care any less about our Prime Minister’s personal life.
Being in Obama’s hometown of Chicago last week only heightened my awareness of just how much he is loved.
Posters and photos of him can be seen all over town. No area I visited, however, could compare to Hyde Park.
Walking through the streets I couldn’t help but
notice how many houses still had Barack Obama and Joe Biden signs in their front yards from the election. Even more homes and apartments proudly displayed the President’s portrait in their windows.
Hyde Park businesses were no different. Valois Cafeteria (1518 E 53rd Street), the last place Obama ate before heading off to Washington, D.C., has renamed Obama’s favourite breakfast Obama’s Breakfast.
A few blocks away on East 55th Street, the small store What the Traveller Saw had a life-size cardboard cut out of Obama tucked away beside a stand of nightlights, not to mention countless other items clad with Barack and Michelle Obama’s faces.
What The Traveller Saw is the store where the Ugly Doll that Sasha Obama has been spotted wearing on her backpack came from.
Store owner Laurel Stradford is extremely proud to have come from the same neighbourhood as Obama. “If you think we have a lot of Obama merchandise now, you should have seen it before. There’s really not much left” she said as I snapped photos of everything Obama.
Of the neighbourhood Stradford said “it is a really great place. Very forward-thinking.” She herself has travelled all over the world, but says that “Hyde Park is home.”
Back towards East 53rd Street, is Hyde Park Hair Salon, where Obama used to get his hair cut. One of the barbers informed me that “he’s not allowed to” get his hair cut there anymore. He quickly added that if he did though, he would just be another client. “Everyone who walks through those doors is just a client.”
The Obama collection at the Hyde Park Hair Salon had to of been the most impressive I collection I saw while in Chicago.
Obama’s barber Zariff (who had the day off the day of my visit), has a gorgeous photo of him cutting Obama’s hair, as well as another photo of him and another barber standing with Obama.
Walking into the shop, I was greeted by a black leather barber chair behind glass—signed by Barack Obama.
There were two plaques; one reads “this is our moment,” and the other reads “change we can believe in.” The rest of the entrance was filled with paintings and photos of the President.
Seeing and hearing so many people talk about Obama with such pride and admiration was actually very cool. It kind of made me wish Canadians felt that way about our Prime Minister.
Maybe some day.
Being in Obama’s hometown of Chicago last week only heightened my awareness of just how much he is loved.
Posters and photos of him can be seen all over town. No area I visited, however, could compare to Hyde Park.Walking through the streets I couldn’t help but
notice how many houses still had Barack Obama and Joe Biden signs in their front yards from the election. Even more homes and apartments proudly displayed the President’s portrait in their windows.Hyde Park businesses were no different. Valois Cafeteria (1518 E 53rd Street), the last place Obama ate before heading off to Washington, D.C., has renamed Obama’s favourite breakfast Obama’s Breakfast.
A few blocks away on East 55th Street, the small store What the Traveller Saw had a life-size cardboard cut out of Obama tucked away beside a stand of nightlights, not to mention countless other items clad with Barack and Michelle Obama’s faces.
What The Traveller Saw is the store where the Ugly Doll that Sasha Obama has been spotted wearing on her backpack came from.Store owner Laurel Stradford is extremely proud to have come from the same neighbourhood as Obama. “If you think we have a lot of Obama merchandise now, you should have seen it before. There’s really not much left” she said as I snapped photos of everything Obama.
Of the neighbourhood Stradford said “it is a really great place. Very forward-thinking.” She herself has travelled all over the world, but says that “Hyde Park is home.”
Back towards East 53rd Street, is Hyde Park Hair Salon, where Obama used to get his hair cut. One of the barbers informed me that “he’s not allowed to” get his hair cut there anymore. He quickly added that if he did though, he would just be another client. “Everyone who walks through those doors is just a client.”
The Obama collection at the Hyde Park Hair Salon had to of been the most impressive I collection I saw while in Chicago.
Obama’s barber Zariff (who had the day off the day of my visit), has a gorgeous photo of him cutting Obama’s hair, as well as another photo of him and another barber standing with Obama.
Walking into the shop, I was greeted by a black leather barber chair behind glass—signed by Barack Obama.
There were two plaques; one reads “this is our moment,” and the other reads “change we can believe in.” The rest of the entrance was filled with paintings and photos of the President.
Seeing and hearing so many people talk about Obama with such pride and admiration was actually very cool. It kind of made me wish Canadians felt that way about our Prime Minister.
Maybe some day.
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1 comment:
Love the window pix of Obama!
Good story...
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