Image via Creative Commons/ Talbot Troy

On Friday afternoon, President Barack Obama’s main squeeze, Michelle Obama, will be in town to rub elbows with locals and throw some publicity Attorney General Martha Coakley’s way. Coakley is the democratic candidate for Governor of Massachusetts.

The event is a fundraiser for Coakley, a campaign rally, and there’s no better headliner for the leftwing candidate than the top dog herself, #FLOTUS.

“I am honored to have the support of the First Lady, a leader in creating economic and social justice,” said Coakley in a statement. “I look forward to joining the First Lady and thousands of our grassroots supporters in Uphams Corner, to discuss how we will turn our economy around for all of our families.”

It’s great that Coakley landed one of the biggest fish in the game, but perhaps the real story here is that the event is being held at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester’s Uphams Corner neighborhood – a favorite haunt of Mayor Marty Walsh, and ground zero for his mayoral campaign last year.

The Boston Herald reported Friday that Mayor Walsh is also expected to back Coakley in her bid for Beacon Hill.

“It’s a good opportunity to let the broader community see the jewel that the Strand has once again become, thanks in large part to the last city administration under Mayor Menino that pumped in some $8 million to renovate the theatre,” wrote Dorchester Reporter managing editor Bill Forry. “This is a big month for the Strand.”

The Upham’s Corner neighborhood has been in Mayor Walsh’s sights for revitalization efforts since the earlier days of his still young administration, some of which were also directed at the Strand. Back in April Mayor Walsh announced a $3.1 million investment in the Uphman’s Corner Main Streets District, including a number of public art projects and infrastructure improvements.

Approximately $1.5 million of that allotment was thrown at the Strand, which Mayor Walsh announced… at the Strand.

It’s clear that Dorchester, not just Upham’s Corner, is one of Mayor Walsh’s priorities and it fulfills a campaign promise to activate the Boston neighborhoods that aren’t necessarily the go-to for tourists and residents alike. But now, with Mayor Walsh’s direction, they’re being brought back into the fold and becoming hot spots in their own right.

Doors open to the event at 11:30 a.m. and Michelle Obama is expected to take the stage at 1 p.m. Unfortunately for some commuters out there, it’s likely to cause a bit of congestion on the road.

But that’s okay, because: AMERICA.

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