Tickets On Sale Now for Michelle Obama Book Events
Plus, the FLARE auction continues. And, coming in November: White House History and china and more talks from first ladies insiders and experts.
Tickets are on sale now for two events featuring former First Lady Michelle Obama and her forthcoming book, The Look.
A discussion between Mrs. Obama and Tracee Ellis Ross, is slated for Nov. 5, 2025 at 8 p.m. EST at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in New York City and on Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. EST at Sixth & I in Washington, D.C. for a discussion between Mrs. Obama and Wesley Morris.
The Look takes readers through Obama’s evolution, from the moment she entered the public eye during her husband’s U.S. Senate campaign through her time as the first Black first lady and today as one of this country’s most influential figures. Featuring the voices of Meredith Koop, Mrs. Obama’s trusted stylist, as well as her makeup artist Carl Ray, hairstylists Yene Damtew and Njeri Radway, The Look brings readers behind the scenes revealing how her most memorable looks came together.
The programs will be part of a live podcast taping as part of a special six-part limited series IMO: The Look, a companion podcast to IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, from Higher Ground, the media company founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Read more
FLARE Auction Continues with Browsing and Bidding
The browsing and bidding continues through Nov. 7 for the First Ladies Association for Research and Education’s first online auction. Items include historic tour packages, cocktail parties, vacation experiences, fine jewelry and one-on-one conversations with noted authors and experts. Dubbed “A Curated Auction of Exceptional Experiences and Finds,” the FLARE auction, which is open to the public, offers something for everyone. Among the auction items are:
A deluxe vacation house in New York on the Finger Lakes for two nights
Exclusive tour packages of Mount Vernon, the National First Ladies Library & Museum, the Gerald R. Ford Museum, the Barnes and Calder Museums and more
Cocktail parties, teas and curated events at memorable and historic homes
One-on-one virtual conversations with noted authors, editors and writers
Unique customer services including designing a logo
Designer scarves by Hermes, Ann Hand and the White House Historical Association
Fine jewelry including a beautiful bracelet, pendants and a pin
East Wing Magazine is a member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education.
Calendar
November 12, 2025
Talk With a Curator
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents an online exclusive look behind the glass with Michelle Gullion, Director of Collections & Research at the National First Ladies Library & Museum. From rarely seen artifacts to personal insights on curating exhibitions, Gullion will guide attendees through what it takes to protect and interpret the legacy of America’s First Ladies. Highlights include: behind-the-scenes stories from the archives, a look at the newest and most fascinating acquisitions, curator secrets on preservation and research and a live Q&A session. Read more
November 18, 2025
White House History Live: Official White House China
The White House Historical Association presents “White House History Live: Official White House China,” a live-streamed event on the White House Historical Association’s Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 5:30 pm ET on November 18. Former curator of the White House William G. Allman will discuss his book, Official White House China: From the 18th to the 21 Centuries. In addition to highlighting the history of presidential china and historic china within the White House Collection, Allman will detail the evolution of State Dinners and State Services, and how these pieces serve as a touchstone of the American presidency and a key part of cultural diplomacy. Read more
November 18, 2025
Deck the Halls: Holiday Traditions at the White House
The George W. Bush Presidential Center presents an exclusive behind-the-scenes look in “Deck the Halls: Holiday Traditions at the White House from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. local time from those who helped bring them to life. Join Dori Thornton Waller, former White House Deputy Social Secretary, Sara Armstrong, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Mrs. Laura Bush, and Susan Whitson, former Press Secretary to Mrs. Laura Bush as they share memorable stories from their time at the White House during the holidays. Conversation will be moderated by Kristin King, Chief Operating Officer of the George W. Bush Institute. Read more
November 20, 2025
Third Thursday: A Widow’s Work—Jacqueline Kennedy and the JFK Legacy
The National First Ladies Library & Museum in Canton, Ohio, presents an in-person discussion from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with historian Karen Dunak for a compelling evening exploring JFK’s funeral, the “Camelot” myth, and Mrs. Kennedy’s lasting influence on presidential memory. Dunak, author of My Jackie: Public Claims on a Private Life, will share how Jacqueline Kennedy transformed personal grief into national legacy. Read more
Now Through Jan. 4, 2026
See Martha Washington’s “Neoclassical Swag” Quilt Top
Martha Washington’s “Neoclassical Swag” quilt top will be on view for the first time at Mount Vernon through Jan. 4, 2026. The quilt takes its name from the most prominent printed cotton border, which features elegant swags of ribbons and flowers.
This artifact is a dramatic example of her artistry as well as the needlework tradition she passed on to her granddaughter. She pieced the center section with its circular appliqués, but left it unfinished upon her death. Martha Washington’s granddaughter Eliza Custis Law inherited the quilt top and finished it in 1815, as described on the original note that still accompanies it. Her descendants carefully preserved it for the next 200 years. Read more
FLARE Calls for Submissions for New E-journal
The First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) invites submissions to a new e-journal, FLARE’s Journal of First Ladies Studies, which is scheduled for launch early in 2026. The journal welcomes scholarly submissions based on original research on any aspect of the study of first ladies, including work that examines them within a historical context, adopts a comparative perspective, presents a theoretical approach, or offers an interdisciplinary framework for analysis in fields such as history, women’s studies, communication, sociology, political science, material culture, and historic preservation.
Inquiries about potential articles in the journal should be directed to the journal’s editor, Christopher J. Leahy, Professor of History at Keuka College, at cleahy@keuka.edu.
Submit calendar items, announcements and press releases to East Wing Magazine at jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.