“Supporters seek glimpse of Obama”

Posted: 04 Aug 2010 08:40 PM PDT

Without his wife or daughters, President Barack Obama celebrated his 49th birthday in Chicago on Wednesday, and everyone from a little girl on the side of the road holding a "happy birthday" poster to the staff at the local restaurant seemed to want to make him feel at home.

A sightseeing bus, trolley and two gals and a guy on a bike tour were among the first to swing by the blocked-off corner leading to Obama's Kenwood home early Wednesday afternoon. It is the president's first trip home since Memorial Day weekend.

Judy Harmon looked on from behind the police barricade long before Obama reached his house. "It's nice to have the president home," she said.

Having him home on his birthday was an added treat, said Harmon, who turned 49 in June. "I'm older than the president," she exclaimed with a wide grin.

For those whose curiosity meant a detour from work or an afternoon bike ride, it didn't take much to delight them. "Just a glimpse," said Wendy Brannen, in town from New York.

The crowd, braving the rain and humidity, appeared thinner than usual, but security remained tight. Hours before Obama arrived, police had closed off the streets near his home and stationed squad cars at every corner for a few blocks.

The president received two happy-birthday calls from first lady Michelle, who is in Spain with their daughter Sasha, 9, and from big sister Malia, 12, who is away at summer camp, Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Air Force One before Obama arrived in Chicago.

Obama, along with aides Rahm Emanuel, Valerie Jarrett, Gibbs and Patrick Gaspard, arrived at O'Hare International Airport around 5 p.m. Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Richard Daley greeted the president.

After Marine One landed at Soldier Field, with first dog Bo in tow, the president's motorcade reached his house in the Kenwood neighborhood just before 6 p.m.

"Excuse me while I take a picture," Sophia Tuttle said as the president arrived.

"Pretty exciting, huh?" she said as she turned to her 7-year-old nephew Adam, who smiled in agreement.

After a quick stop home, the stream of black SUVs, white vans and Chicago police cars made their way down South Greenwood Avenue but encountered some familiar Chicago traffic before they made it downtown for dinner.

Where Obama would dine for his birthday had been the topic of much speculation. When he finally settled on Graham Elliot, a restaurant in the River North neighborhood, an eager crowd of onlookers formed almost immediately. Obama's guests at the birthday dinner included Jarrett, University of Chicago Hospital Vice President Dr. Eric Whitaker and businessman Marty Nesbitt, according to the White House.

Owner Graham Elliot, one of Chicago's most celebrated chefs, runs one of the most highly regarded restaurants in the city. Elliot is currently a judge on the "MasterChef" Fox television program.

The president's evening out stands in contrast to his Thursday plans, which include three campaign fundraisers — including one for U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias.

But Joe Brown wasn't thinking about fundraisers when he rode up earlier near Obama's block. Clutching his cell phone, Brown hopped off his bike in hopes of snapping a few shots of Obama's birthday homecoming.

When he realized the president's motorcade zipped by 15 minutes earlier, he jumped right back on. "I've been told that he may be at Starbucks tonight," he said as his voice dropped just above a whisper.

Melissa Wansley suffered a similar fate. "We missed it?" she asked after spending time slowly repeating "Ba-rack" three times to her 9-month-old daughter.

The news didn't faze her 11-year-old son Deandre Allen, who called the first African-American president his inspiration.

"I wanted to tell him 'Happy birthday' and that he's doing a good job," Allen said.

Reports from the presidential press pool contributed to this story.

deldeib@tribune.com

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