President Obama speaking LIVE on CNN at Xavier University in New Orleans. Photos!

[flpoljunkie]

President Barack Obama, with daughters Malia and Sasha, second from right, and first lady Michelle Obama, arrive in New Orleans to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010. AP Photo/Cheryl Gerber)


U.S. President Barack Obama (C), first lady Michelle Obama (L) and their daughters Sasha (3rd L) and Malia (2nd L) place a food order at Parkway Bakery and Tavern in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 29, 2010. REUTERS/Jim Young


President Barack Obama visits the Parkway Bakery and Tavern in New Orleans, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)


U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd R) greets patrons and staff at Parkway Bakery and Tavern in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 29, 2010. REUTERS/Jim Young


President Barack Obama and daughters Sasha, second from right, and Malia, right, pause as they shake hands with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu as they arrive at Louis Armstrong International New Orleans Airport, in Kenner, La., Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

[quiet.american]

1. Thanks for the heads up and the gorgeous photos! nt

[flpoljunkie]

2. Thank you, quiet.american.

[BayouBengal07]

3. Cool!

He gave a shoutout to Ben Franklin High School! C/o 2003

[jaxx]

4. It's good to see Malia again....

Great pics, thanks!

[flpoljunkie]

5. MSNBC has followup. It's also on C-Span.

http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN.aspx

[Pirate Smile]

6. "As POTUS was working the room, a voice came over the loudspeaker and said, "Barack pickup."'

Pool Report:

Pool #4

New Orleans: unscheduled lunch break at the Parkway Bakery and Tavern.

Motorcade strolled along emptied motorways from the airport, then took Canal street and Jefferson Davis Pkwy.

It came to a halt at the Parkway Bakery and Tavern at 12:30. POTUS, FLOTUS and their daughters entered the crowded place and POTUS ordered at the window.

POTUS hugged the woman who took his order and then kissed her on the cheek.

He turned to a handful of people standing behind him along the wall and apologized for cutting in line, after posing for a photo with them.

"We're just glad to see you thanks for coming down," one woman he cut in front of said.

POTUS, who had dropped his jacket, and FLOTUS then mingled with the crowd and shook hands with at least three dozen beaming customers under the covered terrace, as cheers and applause broke out. A few lucky people also got hugs.

He thanked diners for their hospitality and promised to stay focused on their city.

"We're still here and we're just gonna keep on building. We're going to keep on working, alright?" he said.

As POTUS was working the room, a voice came over the loudspeaker and said, "Barack pickup."

B.B. King, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash posters adornated the walls of the restaurant among other vintage style memorabilia (including a 20's or 30's Ford coupe in the nearby yard).

A row of Ziploc bags full of water were hanging from the ceiling above the counter, where some people were eating.

"I appreciate you coming here," one woman told POTUS.

"Of course," he replied.

After spending some time with the diners, Obama headed to his seat.

"Alright I better go sit down before somebody steals my sandwich," he said.

Asked what he ordered, Obama said, "I got the shrimp."

"Somebody said the roast beef's good too," he added.

A young man standing beneath one of those Ziploc bags told POTUS to "get the surf and turf, on top of each other."

"The combo thing," POTUS replied knowingly. "There was a time I could do that. When I was your age.

At 1:10 PM Central, we're holding in vans as the First family is enjoying Southern food. It's now raining.

(Hat tip to fellow poolers Carol Lee and Ari Shapiro for their help).

WH press office also gave us this background:

Background courtesy of owner Jay Nix and his sister Eileen Nix. Eileen and her three children work here at the restaurant.

Jay's fiance Sandra Kruse works here as well. She was the one telling POTUS about her recent engagement.

The restaurant is in the Mid-City neighborhood overlooking Bayoux St. John. The Restaurant has been on this corner for 100 years. These are the third owners. First owner was a german baker.

Current owners bought it and it was dormant for about 10 years but the community clamored for it to be reopened because it had been such a community fixture.

The current iteration opened its doors in December 2003.

When Katrina hit they had 6 feet of water in the bar and 10 feet on the street. Working together as family they reopened 88 days later.

They also raised the rear building 19 feet so they'd never flood again.

For those asking about the hanging bags of water: they keep the flies away.

[flpoljunkie]

7. Thanks for the pool report.

[lillypaddle]

8. Hanging bags of water

keep the flies away? Who knew? :shrug:

(Thanks for the report!)

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. "at least three dozen beaming customers under the covered terrace, as cheers and applause broke out"

Oh, but he's much hated, we learn on Fox News and from some elements on DU...

:eyes:

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. Excellent pics. (nt)

[Merlot]

11. Love the pic of youngest daughter shaking hands with mayor

She may have a future in politics!