Michelle Obama's Birthday Surprise Party At Restaurant Nora (PHOTOS)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama has treated first lady Michelle Obama to a surprise birthday party at a tony Washington restaurant known for its commitment to organically grown food.

Surprising the birthday girl Saturday night at Restaurant Nora in Washington's Dupont Circle neighborhood were her mother Marian Robinson and friends, including Attorney General Eric Holder, White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett and Jocelyn Frye, who is a domestic policy adviser to both the president and first lady.

Mrs. Obama walked into the restaurant in a dark, knee-length frock. President Obama was dressed casually with no tie.

• • • •

Michelle Obama will turn 46 on Sunday but her husband is expected to be in Massachusetts campaigning for Martha Coakley, who is in a tough fight with Scott Brown to replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy and retain the Democratic party's 60-vote majority in the U.S. Senate.

She spent part of her last birthday on a train from Philadelphia to Washington, as her husband made his way to the Capitol to be inaugurated.

Restaurant Nora claims to be a pioneering organic restaurant, with 95 percent of its food produced by organic growers since 1999.

Comments

[peewii]

10:35 AM on 01/20/2010

Michelle comes before anyone or anything.

[ECJLA]

06:08 AM on 01/19/2010

What makes this unseemly is that Saturday night was the 4th since the horrific earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday evening. As ABC News reported Monday night, medical supplies were STILL not getting to the doctors and nurses practicing Civil War style triage and primitive medicine on the survivors. Nor, in hindsight, were sufficient search and rescue teams deployed and by now it is clear that many hundreds if not thousands of lives were unnecessarily lost.

Since the U.S. military has been integrally involved in providing humanitarian relief, and Obama is commander in chief of the American armed forces, It is abundantly clear that the buck stops with him. Where was the White House "war room" on Haitian relief? Why wasn't the President personally running it? Why was he disengaged and delegating instead?

In light of his other priorities the Haitian people in general, and those slowly dying while trapped beneath the rubble (and their helpless loved ones) in particular, are entitled to plaintively lament, as singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman did in her song Sub-City:

Here in subcity life is hard
We can't receive any government relief
Won't you please, please give Mr. President my honest regards
For disregarding me

Eric C. Jacobson
Public Interest Lawyer
Culver City, California

[GirlOutWest]

03:22 PM on 01/19/2010

You Sir are just ridiculous.

[capitaldysfunction]

02:53 AM on 01/19/2010

Our country is becoming ungovernable thanks to the filibuster and the Repugnantman's 41st gridlock vote, but it is still comforting to see our President and his beautiful loving wife enjoy themselves.

What a magnificent contrast the first family offers to the evil and disspiriting Repugnantman.

[GirlOutWest]

07:34 PM on 01/18/2010

I just saw this article and wondered how the haters would spin the President taking his wife to a Birthday dinner and Lo and Behold...they didn't let me down. First comment was a whiney Republican. It's comforting to know that some things never change and the negativity of HP posters are consistent. Ah...all is well.

[txrunner]

06:15 PM on 01/18/2010

I'm sure he was hoping for a larger turnout of media.

It would have been the perfect birthday if he was able to do a press conference, talk about how he feels on her birthday, or how his Presidency has made her birthday more special.

Nothing but the best for the self serving President

[ArtsyJane]

06:05 PM on 01/18/2010

Barack is really HOT. There's no going around that.

[ArtsyJane]

06:03 PM on 01/18/2010

Happy Birthday to the First Lady!

[lyta]

05:35 PM on 01/18/2010

You can see the presidency is already taking it's toll on Obama, he looks as if he has lost enough weight to be noticeable not to mention the graying of hair. Becoming a US President is a bit like being thrown in a meat grinder.

[ChillUpMyLeg]

04:07 PM on 01/18/2010

Nora is a very good restaurant - their soups are fantastic.

[ekimnedrab]

02:41 PM on 01/18/2010

Or
the next thing ya know
we'll be electin'
Al Bundy!

[manelady]

03:34 PM on 01/18/2010

Why so mean????

[ekimnedrab]

02:40 PM on 01/18/2010

Presidents can't get TOO casual.

[militarymomforobama]

06:08 PM on 01/18/2010

He's the President of the United States--not a king or a deity. Every President has been seen in casual attire. And by the way, it's not like he was schlupping around in a sloppy white t-shirt with a scruffy beard.

[ekimnedrab]

02:38 PM on 01/18/2010

I hope
Pres. Obama
wore a belt.

[jsijason]

02:04 PM on 01/18/2010

Surprise parties are Socialist!

[ColoradoBrad]

01:18 PM on 01/18/2010

I'm no fan of our president but I don't see a problem with him celebrating his wife's birthday. I think it's great that he can find time for her with such a busy job. My fellow conservatives need to learn to pick their battles instead of blasting him for everything.

[RationalDubSteppa]

01:39 PM on 01/18/2010

@ColoradoBrad Buddy I think you might be the one!! The sensible Conservative...LOL! Just kidding with ya mate. I agree with your comments. Agree with him or not, taking your wife out for a celebratory birthday diner is a non-issue, and is a kind thing to do for the one you love.

[Fretchen]

02:37 PM on 01/18/2010

I am a conservative and I agree with your statement. Birthdays are there to be celebrated, let him and his wife do so without chatter.

[cbates]

12:22 PM on 01/18/2010

I'm not sure what an average person gain by bashing this man and his wife for celebrating her birthday. I'm also not so sure what is gained by replacing Sen. Kennedy with a republican. Go figure. The potential of this loss is not the fault of anyone other than the people of Ma. wanting a change if it happens. I have healthcare and a strong retirement package if it comes to me only caring for myself. At the end of the day I rely in Gods grace and mercy.

[ellenst]

04:10 PM on 01/18/2010

A sense of power when you feel powerless.