Bo vs. Champ

Our nation's capitol has been abuzz with activity and visitors over the past few weeks. Between the droves of visitors who descended upon D.C. to attend college graduation ceremonies, the hordes of journalists here for the White House Correspondents' Dinner (and after parties!) and the stream of tourists intent on recreating Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian at the real Smithsonian, it's been hard for us to get around town. We're fighting crowds everywhere we go!

Speaking of crowds, it seems that tourists and local citizens can't resist patronizing restaurants at which President Obama has been spotted eating. We've heard for a while about the long lines at Ben's Chili Bowl, a Washington institution where Obama stopped for a half-smoke last January. Now, we're hearing that Ray's Hell Burgers in Arlington has been experiencing its own Obama sales bump since the President and V.P. ate there last month. No word on whether the crowds at Ray's have been ordering their burgers medium-well, as the President famously did.

Finally, we're told that the newest member of the First Family – Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog given to the Obamas by Senator Edward Kennedy in April – is doing well at his new home. First Lady Michelle Obama has said that she gives Bo early morning walks. "I got up at 5:15 to walk my puppy. That's how my day starts. I love my Bo," Mrs. Obama said. By the way, Bo will star in is own children's book, Puppy Power: Bo Obama, to be released this September.

But despite all the attention and affection, Bo isn't quite top dog with V.P. Biden, who is the loving owner of a German shepherd, Champ. Biden told a group of students that Champ, is the "smartest, coolest dog in the world," according to The Christian Science Monitor. "My dog is smarter than Bo," Biden said.