Photo by christaki

The Washington Post reports that President Barack Obama will make a rare appearance at a church somewhere in the District this morning, though the White House isn’t saying where. This will be only his second appearance at a local house of prayer since the inauguration. Like President George W. Bush before him, President Obama chose to make the nondenominational Evergreen Chapel at Camp David his church home away from home.

Somewhere in the District, he’ll be delivering a talk about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Later — before jetting off to Massachusetts to stump for Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley. That doesn’t leave much time for the First Couple to celebrate First Lady Michelle Obama’s birthday. (Happy birthday, First Lady!) Last night, the Obamas celebrated her 46th birthday by joining friends for dinner at Restaurant Nora in Dupont Circle. The Chicago Sun-Times has the guestlist: The Obamas dined with friends from Chicago.

One of the things that had the District very excited about the incoming Obama administration was the return of a White House resident who was locally engaged with the community. The Bushes never went out, but restaurants could reliably depend on a “Clinton bump” the day after Bill and Hillary dined out. The Obamas dine out less than the Clintons did, reportedly, and don’t attend church in the District. Their Chicago connections are still their most important. A year in, are the Obamas still settling in?

UPDATE: Hamil Harris says that President Obama is expected to speak at Vermont Avenue Baptist Church in Logan Circle, where Rev. King delivered a sermon in 1968. UPDATE II: Video here.