D.C. businesses hope Obamas will venture out

Some presidents ignore the city around the White House, but the new first family may be different

WASHINGTON -- At Ben's Chili Bowl, the soon-to-be first family has an open invitation to dine for free on chili-smothered sausages.

A couple of miles away, the owners of the city's only Kenyan restaurant know exactly what they'll serve if Barack Obama stops by for a taste of his African heritage: tilapia smothered in onions, tomatoes and cilantro.

Washington residents far from the city's power center are hopeful the 44th president will differ from his predecessor in more ways than just politics.

The expectation is that Obama -- already at ease in big cities from his time in Chicago -- will venture into town more than President George W. Bush, who rarely made forays into unofficial Washington.

"There's a joke that around Lafayette Square, in the bars and restaurants, you had to turn the music down at 9 p.m. because the president went to bed," said William Hanbury, president of the city's tourism bureau. With the Obamas, "we're hoping that they'll be able to get out more and enjoy D.C."

Many recent presidents have had a somewhat distant relationship with the district, rarely venturing beyond downtown, presidential observers say. Bush prefers spending time in Crawford, Texas, and President Ronald Reagan seemed far more content at his California ranch.

George H.W. Bush also wasn't known for mixing with the locals, though he did put a Chinese restaurant on the map with frequent trips to the Peking Gourmet Inn in the suburb of Falls Church, Va.

Bill Clinton was the exception. The former president's forays included frequent jogs through the city, even stopping to refuel at McDonald's. Shortly before taking office, he strolled through a business district in a black neighborhood, shaking hands with the locals.

Not as easy as it looks

There's an unfortunate side effect, though, for any leader seeking to escape the White House bubble -- nightmarish gridlock caused by road closings for the president's motorcade.

Vehicles have even been hauled off city streets with little warning to eliminate the threat of car bombs as the commander in chief makes his way around Washington.

"Presidents end up being very sensitive to disruptions they cause when they go out," said Norman Ornstein, a scholar with the American Enterprise Institute. "They want to make sure they don't do things that create problems."

Still, Ornstein doesn't expect that will keep the Obamas at home. The Obamas seem intent on staying connected as much as security allows.

"Both Barack and I believe that we can have an impact in the D.C. area," Michelle Obama recently told "60 Minutes." "You know, in terms of making sure we're contributing to the community that we immediately live in. That's always been something that we try to do."

On a blighted stretch of Georgia Avenue, William and Alice Mukabane are hopeful the first family will dine at their Kenyan restaurant, Safari DC.

Posters and photographs of Barack and Michelle Obama hang behind the bar in an area they call "Obama Corner." The centerpiece is a large white banner where customers have scrawled well-wishes. Four squares remain empty -- reserved for the first family's signatures.

"We know he has so much in his hands, but we have faith he'll be able to make it here to sign it for us," Alice Mukabane said.

At Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street, black owned and operated since 1958, a small sign hanging behind the counter where chili hot dogs and burgers are served up announces a very brief list of those who eat for free: Bill Cosby and the Obamas.