Big Bird speaks to kids at Martha’s Table about fruits and veggies.

/ Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser

Big Bird speaks to kids at Martha's Table about fruits and veggies. Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Kids play with Count von Count at Martha's Table.Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Big Bird is joined by Mayor Muriel Bowser at Martha's Table.Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser

If your heart swelled when you saw the guys from Queer Eye taking photos by the cherry blossoms, take a look at our beloved, banana-loving Big Bird yukkin’ it up with all the other tourists down by the national memorials.

The visit is part of Sesame Street’s nationwide road trip, which is stopping in Washington, D.C. as part of its 10-city tour to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary. The muppets are filming at local hotspots for a segment for the show, which will air its new season in November.

“B” is for busy when it comes to Big Bird, who spent the morning with Mayor Muriel Bowser at Martha’s Table, sharing his favorite fruit with the youngsters assembled (he provided some hints: it’s a yellow fruit that begins with the same letter as his name). “There’s so much to see here,” Big Bird said, extolling the virtues of the nation’s capital. “I saw the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and the Air and Space Museum, too!” Then the whole crew sang a rousing rendition of the song “Apples and Bananas.” (Count von Count was in attendance as well.)

“B” is the first letter of Bowser, who proclaimed June 7 of this year as Sesame Street Day, as a way to encourage Washingtonians to “celebrate the television program’s significant milestone.”

“B” brings us Ben’s Chili Bowl, where Grover claimed to be a waiter after he scoped out some monuments himself.

“B” is the first letter of basura, the Spanish word for trash. Predictably, the garbage receptacles were the part of the National Mall that most intrigued Oscar the Grouch (who also took the trip over to Ben’s Chili Bowl).

“B” also stands for booked, which is the status of Saturday’s live performance and event with the Sesame Workshop crew over at KIPP DC College Preparatory, replete with a giant maze.

“B” is for but, as in, but, you have one final chance to soak in the wonder of the Sesame Street crew. NPR recorded a Tiny Desk Concert with Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, and more—that will be released on Monday. “A newsroom is a serious place to work in, but for two days, the Sesame Street Muppets kept our hosts, reporters and the NPR Music staff grinning,” said Tiny Desk creator Bob Boilen in a release. “I got to bond and sing a song with Grover and spend time with a band full of felt and feathers who have taught the world to spell and care through song.”

This story has been updated with more muppet goings-on.

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