Mrs. Obama to be care taker to Nato Spouses

WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama will give the spouses of NATO leaders a taste of her native South Side on May 20 before a private dinner for them at the Art Institute of Chicago, her aides said Monday.

She's inviting the group to tour the Gary Comer Youth Center, which offers educational, arts, physical education and other enrichment programs — and boasts a rooftop garden. The center is at 7200 S. Ingleside Ave.

Performers slated to entertain the dignitaries include the Soul Children of Chicago, the South Shore Dance Drill Team, which makes its home at the youth center, and the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, known for African and African-American dance, music and folklore performances.

Noted Chicago chef Paul Kahan, an Obama favorite, will work with young people from the youth center to create a private lunch for the spouses. He is with the restaurants avec, Blackbird and The Publican.

Later, the first lady will entertain the NATO leaders' spouses at a gala dinner at the Art Institute.

A day earlier, while President Barack Obama meets with G-8 leaders at Camp David in Maryland, Michelle Obama will host their spouses for a tour of the White House led by its curator, Bill Allman.

In preparing that day's lunch, White House chefs will be joined by guest chef Jose Andres. Born in Barcelona, Andres is a restaurateur, television chef and big booster of the first lady's "Let's Move" program to battle childhood obesity — plus he just made Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.