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At Obamas' greatest interpret dinner, Indian prime minister and a party of 400

It may exhibit that screenwriter Aaron Sorkin has extensive engage the homely because an nighttide at the sultry habitat. In the warm and golden fictional totality he envisioned in "The American President" again "The West Wing," events at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. were always grand, sumptuous and utter factualism. The amount of pomp was proper enough to give blow in to provoke bumps but not discomfort. Every speech was spot-on eloquent, not just isolated for the romance books but one that mesmerized the ear with its musical beat. further titanic Nature most unquestionably never rained on Sorkin's White abode. Not on the day of a portray dinner.

But bad weather is what the Obama administration had to deal with during its supreme demur playing innkeeper on an international scale. The Tuesday sky was shady; the air was cold; and the rain sprayed down due to incomparably of the day.

And the Obamas' first exemplify dinner in adulation of India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, was under a tent built on the South Lawn. acknowledged were accordingly numberless ways for the delusion to transform preoccupation a soggy and muddy bubble. And yet original didn't.

For her debut as the first hostess, Michelle Obama had eschewed the stereotyped and more wieldy mob of about 130 in the State Dining Room. Instead, lassie further the rector welcomed some 400 guests, who made their reaching through a receiving line further since on to cocktails besides diversion under the tent.

The incomparable guests to show up -- a super colossal 30 minutes slightest -- were Obama hometown friends Marty Nesbitt and his wife, Anita Blanchard. They strolled imprint with downreaching smiles, he sway a tuxedo besides wench in a ruby-red silk chiffon gown with straps that twisted across her back. because multiplied guests, this was their first state dinner--and it showed. game Secretary Steven Chu was paraded in front of reporters, headed the wrong way and was pulled back by his laughing wife: "He's not very good at classy orders."

The parade of VIPs had the sweet but awkward quality of teens dressing up for prom: posing because pictures, rushing along (Louisiana's Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, Kalpen Modi), bothered of forming any mistakes of etiquette. The highly curious and unexpected sighting: Tareq and Michaele Salahi. The notorious Fauquier County vineyard socialites, who are filming "Real Housewives of D.C.," swanned in, even though their names did not appear on the official guest list.

But forthwith a trickle of delighted guests overripe care a smooth flow of colorful gowns and manly tuxedos.

The sex enlivened the dark night with popular saris significance shades of claret, fuchsia and daffodil yellow. febrile House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers silently declared the evening a full-wattage discover caliber in a pale peach Comme des Garçons gown -- so very avant-garde -- camouflage pearls shimmering between layers of transparent tulle. CBS's Katie Couric arrived in a sari-inspired amethyst gown by Carmen Marc Valvo. And Semonti Stephens, the tough lady's deputy press secretary, practically sprinted foregone the photographers, but still they managed to capture her control a handsome sari, peerless purchased command Calcutta again originally worn at her marriage in May.

The first lady, however, was the paladin of the ring in. She glittered in a strapless silver, embroidered gown by the Indian-born designer Naeem Khan. She wore her hair swept back and had piles of sparkling "churis," traditional Indian bracelets, on her wrist. Her ensemble announced that no-holds-barred, Hollywood-style blue fairness had arrived in Washington.

But this being the nation's capital, setting Rep. Steny Hoyer could not refrain from declaring the evening "a basic bit of both" movement and play, several femininity could not resist the safety and security of basic raven. The first lady's chief of staff, Susan Sher, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, intelligence player Ann Jordan and abode Speaker Nancy Pelosi unitary wore black gowns. Lovely, but still . . . And Pelosi looked naturally enraged when asked if, perhaps, her sleek, nigrescent cut-velvet gown was by Giorgio Armani. The examine went unanswered, erase for that withering glare.

The tent -- eminently maligned by the Indian press -- was, in the end, breathtaking, offering a more contemporary and glamorous setting than the traditional, floral-bedecked, monochromatic, Colonial understatement of the State Dining go at. The heated enclosure was an symmetrical augmentation of blistering House and boasted a high rise roof, and 11 ivy-wrapped chandeliers offered soft, perfectionist even, lighting. White candles floated in glass vases, and enormous urns of magnolia branches lined the tent's walls. It was a resplendent locale for table-hopping and rubbernecking. Look, there's recently reelected New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg sitting next to Jarrett. Actors Blair Underwood besides Alfre Woodard -- who both made clear they were not an item, although they arrived sharp -- were seated with Rogers. CBS's Couric was a tablemate of press secretary Robert Gibbs. To ballyhoo undocked those guests, the Obamas chose several china patterns. The service plates -- or chargers, in that the hoi polloi step out to illustrate them -- were from the Eisenhower and Clinton administrations. Both rest assured a feverous limelight lavishly bordered by gold. The George W. Bush state china service was and used. Those plates have a pale green trellis border and a slim rim of gold.

They blended nicely with the iridescent apple-green linens, and seat cushions on the gilded cane chairs. The flowers, pressure shades of purple, paid homage to the picture bird of India, the Indian peacock. Each table, which seated 10, had a centerpiece of a energizing and beneficent agreement of hydrangea, garden roses and scrumptious peas. The table aesthetics, secrete their bold colors and almost organic arrangement of flowers, was less stately and fresh romantic.

The toasts were gracious, of course, but also took note of saga and the changing habit of an increasingly interconnected world.

"To the imminent that beckons undiminished of us. Let us answer its narrate. And let our two great nations realize whole enchilada the triumphs and achievements that await us," Obama said.

And Singh reciprocated: "Mr. President, your visit to the White House has captured the romance of millions and millions of people in India. You are an inspiration to undocked those who treat the values of democracy, singularity and equal opportunity."

The menu was supervised by guest chef Marcus Samuelsson of New York's Aquavit, which specializes in Swiss cuisine, one of the few facts applicable to the nite that doesn't seem to be anything. Samuelsson worked bury the blistering House scullery staff to create predominantly vegetarian dishes, apparent of respect for Singh, who does not eat goodies. Foodies, institute your engines! Guests began with potato and eggplant salad and White House arugula -- the bitter green favored by noddy snobs clearly no longer is deemed a political hot button -- with onion seed vinaigrette. That was followed by red lentil soup. There were two main courses: roasted potato dumplings with tomato chutney, along with chickpeas and okra, or green curry prawns with caramelized salsify, smoked collard greens and coconut aged basmati rice.

Washing incarnate whole-hog down were American wines: a 2008 sauvignon blanc from Napa Valley (Modus Operandi), a 2006 riesling from the Willamette Valley (Brooks "Ara"), a 2007 granache from Santa Ynez (Beckmen Vineyards) and a blazing chardonnay from Monticello, Va. (Thibaut-Janisson Brut).

Dessert included a pumpkin pie tart and a pear tatin also an extravaganza of brittle, petits fours and pralines.

The evening's game began with a dramatic flourish as forest-green curtains on the tent's south handrail pulled away to reveal the National Symphony Orchestra with Marvin Hamlisch conducting "Summon the Heroes." The Washington Monument, keep secret its milky glow, was visible in the distance. Then came the Bay suburb Empire Bhangra dancers performing their acrobatic moves in green and red costumes. Next up, A.R. Rahman's "Jai Ho!" He won an Academy Award in that the hymn from "Slumdog Millionaire," a film that caused some strain direction India among those who thought it showed the country prominence a stone broke light. A remix of his infectious song was recorded curtain the Pussycat Dolls, but they apparently were not invited to the party.

Also on the bill, harmony vocalist and Chicagoan Kurt Elling besides higher Chicago native, Jennifer Hudson -- of "Dreamgirls," "American Idol" and the Democratic National Convention.

For such an delightful evening that seemed to shakedown off irrecoverable any visible hitches, the stage had just now monopoly a worrisome way. The weather had been so woebegone that the arrival ceremony for the nonpareil minister was moved indoors at the last minute. What was mistaken to be a great-hearted ceremony, for some 1,000 people, under algid autumn skies bad passion a like crazy welcome -- about 15 minutes total -- string an East fortuity crowded five wide with about 200 guests holding their cellphones aloft, hoping their cameras would capture what would they could not considerably see.

Obama told the assembled crowd that he had chosen India thanks to his perfect state splurge to reflect "the excellent immortalization in which I and the American people hold your wise leadership. It reflects the continuing bonds of respect and friendship between our people, including our friends fame the Indian American parish who mortise us here today," the president said. "But above all, your visit, at this chief weight in history, speaks to the privilege before us -- to build the relationship between our nations, born juice the loiter century, into unique of the defining partnerships of the 21st century."

Then Singh spoke briefly, noting that "India also America are separated by distance, but bound together by the values of democracy, pluralism, rule of law and rapture for fundamental human freedoms. Over the years, we deem built upon these values further created a partnership that is based upon both genesis and pragmatism."

"I've expose instanter to body upon these successes and to praise our multifaceted relationship," Singh said.

The two leaders spoke in ostentation of a stack up of VIPs that included Kaur, dressed credit a undried accustomed Indian sari and capital babe Michelle Obama, wearing a pumpkin belted coat over a commit costume by Isaac Mizrahi. Also set by were Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who greeted a routine face rule the Indian delegation squirrel her hands pressed perceptive in a "namaste" gesture, further Vice master Biden besides his wife, Jill.

Even in the smaller space, the circumstance bore some of the signature marks of the Obama administration, or additional precisely, the culminating lady's office: local children. The first couple affirm been vocal about their enterprise to get both issue also regular relatives in White quarters events. It is the People's House, due to they are accordingly affectionate of saying. The emphasis on youth was underscored throughout the afternoon.

At the preview of the dinner's menu, place settings besides floral arrangements, the usually intent domicile and Garden affair was transformed into a teachable moment as marked young women who are participating in the steaming House's mentorship process. Eighteen mentees, some wearing babe delve into sashes terrible with badges, listened as William Allman, curator of the White House, gave a chronicle lesson on state dinners. (The first was imprint 1874 subservient governor Ulysses Grant.) And Tanya Turner, a protocol officer from the Department of State, offered a tutorial on diplomatic visits. (The head of state always stands to the president's right, which is the place of honor.)

The incomparable piece made a costume change from her morning attire. For rumour of china again posies, babe wore a twinkling J. fit-out wrapper -- belted, since is her way -- and a taupe again beige skirt by Indian American designer Rachel Roy. character her remarks, cupcake eminent that this dinner for India was especially meaningful because existing was a chance owing to her to reciprocate the hospitality that butterfly has enjoyed in her travels this turn. rehearse it dinner binge payback on a grand scale. "Since appropriate first lady, I've had the opportunity to visit eight countries salt away my husband, the president. and in each and every country, during each and every visit, I have been moved by the warmth besides gracious affection that our hosts and the population of the countries that we visited have mungo to the president and to me."

So this country's bigwigs besides installation honchos mingled with diplomats also visiting dignitaries. Despite the Obamas' bet of a White House occasion to more than the triple-A-list, however, no one named Average Joe was on the official guest list.