Obama Celebrates Birthday in Chicago

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Even if you're not attending Wednesday night's presidential birthday party, there's a chance you'll still by affected by the Commander in Chief's quick visit home.

• Air Force One is expected to land at O'Hare International Airport at 6 p.m.  The landing of the presidential aircraft will temporarily halt arrivals and departures, a standard practice.
   
• From the airport, President Obama will travel via Marine One, the presidential helicopter, to an as-yet unannounced landing point in the city. Previous visits had him landing at Soldier Field and then a motorcade took him on a closed Lake Shore Drive to his destination.
   
• In Uptown, the north and south sides of Lawrence Avenue from Broadway Street to Sheridan Road are closed until 11 p.m.
   
• Parking is restricted on Clifton Avenue and portions of Winthrop Avenue and Ainslie Street.
   
• Pedestrians won't be allowed on portions of Lawrence Avenue beginning at 4 p.m.  Residents will need to show identification and/or proof they live in the area.
   
• The Chicago Transit Authority will temporarily halt stops at the Red Line's Lawrence station while the president is in the area. Stops at the station are expected to resume at about 9:45 p.m.
   
• There may be delays on the Red Line during the event.
   
• The CTA's Route 81 Lawrence buses will also be detoured around the venue. 
   
• Obama is scheduled to depart O'Hare at 10:05 p.m. for the one hour, 45 minute flight back to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Wednesday's presidential bash and campaign fundraiser is being held at the famed Aragon Ballroom, at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. About 1,000 general admission tickets were issued, but a private dinner with Obama will set donors back just shy of $36,000.

Several Republicans were quick to criticize the president's fund raising efforts in the midst of a struggling economy, but Mayor Rahm Emanuel was among those defending Obama.

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