Barack Obama was seen enjoying inauguration weekend in Washington, D.C., on Saturday evening without his wife, Michelle Obama.
Sources spotted the former president at a lively dinner party held at Stephen Starr’s latest D.C. hotspot, Osteria Mozza. Michelle, who is reportedly skipping the inauguration, was not present.
Witnesses said the restaurant was taken by surprise when Obama made his way to a private dinner upstairs.
While Obama was described as “very nice,” a source noted that he “didn’t stop and take photos with people.”
Obama joined a small gathering that included President Biden’s Chief of Staff, Jeff Zients, who arrived shortly after him.
Michelle, who celebrated her 61st birthday on Friday, was not with her husband. Despite recent speculation about their marriage, Barack posted a heartfelt tribute to Michelle, calling her the “love of his life,” on Friday.
Michelle is familiar with Osteria Mozza: Page Six previously reported that she helped “christen” the California-style Italian restaurant in November, just two weeks after its Georgetown location opened.
At the time, Michelle hosted a 10-person holiday dinner for her team, including her makeup artist Carl Ray and hairstylist Yene Damtew.
A source revealed that the restaurant staff mentioned to Michelle that she was the first to book their private dining space. She responded enthusiastically, saying, “Well, let’s christen it!”
However, Michelle appeared less enthusiastic about spending the inauguration weekend in Washington, D.C., than her husband.
The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama previously announced that Michelle would not be attending the inauguration, but no reason was provided for her absence.
