About 48 years after witnessing Marilyn Monroe famously serenade President John F. Kennedy for his birthday during her first White House assignment, Helen Thomas was on the receiving end Tuesday, serenaded by the president who shares her birthday.
President Obama surprised Thomas prior to a press conference Tuesday, bringing the longtime White House journalist a plate of cupcakes from Baked and Wired while leading the press corps in singing “Happy Birthday” for her 89th birthday. And reportedly Obama opted for a pecan pie from the same Georgetown bakery for himself to enjoy later.
As for the president, he seemed to have done most of his own birthday celebrating this past weekend at Camp David, celebrating with friends and family from Chicago and Hawaii who cheered him on as he bowled a much better score of 144, compared to the embarrassing 37 he racked up on the campaign trail.
And there was plenty going on around town for everyone else that wanted to celebrate his first birthday in Washington.
Madam Tussauds’ threw the wax Obama, his wife Michelle, Bill and Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush an over-the-top birthday party in a balloon decorated “Oval Office.” An Obama-theme cupcake tower from Georgetown Cupcake — complete with presidential seals and birthday candles — was served to the party-hat wearing wax figures amid a sea of balloons and a nine-foot tall balloon column. Beyonce (in wax) served as the special guest.
Domino’s Pizza also got in on the action. Knowing no party is complete without birthday cake, Washington area stores were offering their new Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake free of charge to anyone who came in and wished the president a “Happy Birthday.”
Z Burger in Tenlytown is apparently capitalizing on Obama’s love of the hamburger – they gave out free ones Tuesday to 48 people to honor his 48th year. They also gave out slices of a 1,000 square foot cake and unveiled an “Obama Burger.”
Seeing that he’s been spotted at area joints like Ray’s Hell Burger and Five Guys, sounds like Z Burger is looking to get a little love from the president as well.
Photos: Carrie Devorah
