Friday
Apr232010
PHOTOS: First Couple Off to Asheville for a Weekend Getaway
Friday, April 23, 2010 at 11:14AM Aminah 
After spending the last few months battling childhood obesity, big food companies, and the ubiquitous right wingers the First Couple is off for a little weekend getaway to Asheville, North Carolina.
According to White House Pool Reporter Carol Lee of Politico...
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama boarded a baby Air Force One on a sunny Friday morning, kicking off their weekend vacation in Asheville, N.C.
The smaller plane was to accommodate the first couple's short flight to the modest Asheville airport in Western North Carolina, where they plan to enjoy a quiet weekend with no scheduled public events. (Forecasted thunderstorms in Asheville, however, could foil any presidential golf plans).
Marine One landed at Andrews AFB at 11:58 a.m. The first couple boarded baby AF1 at noon. POTUS is dressed in suit and tie. FLOTUS is more casual, in all black, hair swept back and sunglasses on, carrying a lime green handbag.
After arriving in Asheville the First Couple stopped at a local restaurant, 12 Bones, for lunch.
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stirred a frenzy inside the small, 12 Bones restaurant when they entered shortly after 1:30 p.m.
Diners eating at picnic tables settled on gravel in a covered, open air porch at one end of the restaurant rushed toward the side door and stood on the tables to oogle the first couple.
12 Bones is a one-story, rectangular-shaped building with a flat, maroon rooftop. It's set back on a small road, with warehouses and industrial businesses.
Customers order at the counter, take a number and then sit at one of its basic table to wait for their food, which is what POTUS and FLOTUS eventually did. But first the Obamas greeted some excited patrons near the ordering counter. They made small talk with them, shook their hands, put their arms around them and posed for photos that other diners snapped with cell phone cameras.
"It didn't work?" POTUS said to a young woman who had come back for yet another cell phone photo with him.
"Alright, c'mon," he said posing.
After the cell photo was taken, he proclaimed: "That's the one right there."
Your pool couldn't hear what POTUS and FLOTUS were saying, as they greeted fellow diners, except intermittent "How are yous" and such.
"What'd you guys get?" POTUS asked a couple of women. He appeared to recognize some people, perhaps from the last visit.
POTUS was at the cash register ready to order and summoned "Michelle," who was busy chatting with some customers.
POTUS asked the woman behind the cash register her name.
"Courtney," she replied."Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet YOU," POTUS said, shaking her hand.
A few minutes of discussion ensued, during which FLOTUS asked about a blueberry something and he asked her if she wanted ribs.
Apparently she did because POTUS then ordered two rib plates. (More precisely what they ate, per Bill Burton: ribs, greens, baked beans, corn pudding, mac & cheese and corn bread. All washed down with a couple of sweet teas.)
After ordering, POTUS and FLOTUS took their order number 99 and sat down at one of six tables in a dining room between the ordering counter and the porch with picnic tables (diners were still standing on them, trying to get as close to the open door as possible).
The first couple chatted with a woman who was sitting at the table next to them. In all, there were about a dozen other patrons in the room. Pool was ushered in for a quick photo op, during which POTUS turned to photogs and said he knows at some point they'll stop taking pictures.
Pool was ushered out of the restaurant at 2:46 p.m. and held in the bus while the POTUS and FLOTUS ate.
A 12 Bones employee told co-pooler Michael Shear: "Everybody waits in line here. We serve 600 people in five hours here on Fridays."
By the time POTUS and FLOTUS left the restaurant at 2:07 p.m. a sizable crowd had gathered at the corner of Lyman and Riverside, which the motorcade passed on its way to Interstate 240.
Crowds of people lined both sides of the street as the motorcade sped down Charlotte Street after exiting the interstate. A few of them had "Welcome" signs.
Others had a couple of large signs that read "We love Sasha" and "Howdy Malia"
Pool is now holding at POTUS and FLOTUS's residence for the next couple days: Grove Park Inn, which we arrived at via Country Club Drive.
Also, Burton informs your pooler that "baby AF1" is a C-32, about the size of a commercial 757.
Carol Lee, POLITICO
How cute are the signs for the weeMichelles? I hope the First Couple has a wonderful weekend in Asheville despite the forecasted rain. It's great to see that despite their busy schedules and the constant scrutiny from all of the self-appointed accountants, that were nowhere to found from 2000 to 2008, that the Obamas can still find time to as a couple.
Posted by Aminah Hanan
Reader Comments (20)
@BC.....I agree. I have to respond sometimes also. I know it won't do any good. But you know what BC, they also know all their hot air won't do any good either. And we for sure have to respond to their lies.
Don't feed the trolls! Ignore!!
I'll try to ignore them. They are only here because like spoil rotten children, they seek attention.
THE GIRLS ARE WITH THEM ALONG WITH THE GRADMOTHER BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SHOW THEM AT ALL JUST THE OBAMAS.THE WHOLE FAMILY WENT WITH THEM IN TWO PLANES. SO THEY ALL ENJOYING THE VAC.
Well Lavaughanm, whilst you were trawling the internet looking for places to spew your hate, Mr & Mrs Obama were up early working out in the gym, like they do most mornings. They have now gone on a hike to work off those calories. So............. I would say that they have earned the right to splurge, after all they are on holiday and isn't that what most of us do.
And for your information, her attire consisted of leggings and ballet pumps, very appropriate attire for travelling in and the last I noticed, millions of men get on a plane in their suit, after all he is the President.
Trying to make something out of nothing, huh ?
I'm glad they got away - just the two of them....and the traveling journalist pac....lol
as for their food...one does not go to North Carolina for sushi and vegetarian pizza.
you go for what they went for....and wash it down with diabetes-in-a-cup iced tea.
Go! Have fun! You deserve it! I love the photos!
Me too, Darton but sometimes I just HAVE to respond although I know that silence is better.
I know, Red. I know. I should ignore but ...........
@ Darton, what the haters fail to realise is that it takes more energy to hate than it does to love and their hate is only making the Obama's more successful, more happy, more hardworking and more stronger.
Do you know if the young people holding the umbrellas work for FLOTUS? I wonder if they are assistants? Lucky kids!
Michelle, According to press pool reports and accounts in the news, the children did not accompany the couple on this trip. This trip was just the two of them, and 2 other couples.
Jane
The young lady holding the umbrella is Kristen Jarvis. She has been Michelle Obama's travel aide since the campaign days. Kristen is like a personal asst but only when the First Lady travels. i.e Once Mrs O leaves the White House, Kristen follows. I found a link online once (can't find it now) where she talks about her fab job and how she has seen the world...........travelling on Air Force One !!!!!!!!!!! London, Paris, Rome - what a life.
My husband and I have stayed at the Grove Park. An expensive, but wonderful place!!!
How absurd! Can't FLOTUS carry her own umbrella like any other mortal?
This little girl wanted to see the President, so she and some friends went to the golf course where they saw the President. She told him he was the best president ever. Kids are so much smarter than adults. Anyway the President gave the little girl an White House golf ball. She seem so thrill. Look like the Obamas had a relaxing enjoyable time in Asheville.
"My husband and I have stayed at the Grove Park. An expensive, but wonderful place!!!"
Kellie, I'm glad that you and your husband enjoyed your stay. It seems that the President and First Lady may just have had an equally enjoyable time, at Grove Park, too!
I know, Red. I know. I should ignore but ...........
@ Darton, what the haters fail to realise is that it takes more energy to hate than it does to love and their hate is only making the Obama's more successful, more happy, more hardworking and more stronger.
President and Mrs Obama ROCK!!!
Lavaughanm are you for real? I think you're playing Devil's Advocate. Your comments about Mrs Obama's choice of food and whether she can carry her own umbrella like other mortals seem like you exist solely to pick on the negative side of every positive news report. I can't remember ever seeing something positive written by you about Mrs Obama. ls your cup half empty or half full?