PHOTOS: President Biden, first lady make stop to see Christmas tree at DC’s Floriana restaurant

Floriana Restaurant bar manager Dito Sevilla was in the shower Friday morning when his phone started buzzing.

He had received a bit of a heads up that the first lady, prominently featured on this year’s Christmas tree outside the D.C. restaurant that celebrates America’s educators, may stop by on Christmas Eve. He ran outside after someone told him Secret Service had taken over the street.

Moments later, to Sevilla’s surprise, both President Biden and the first lady stopped by to see the tree. The Bidens’ trip came about a year after then-vice president elect Kamala Harris and her husband made a stop at the restaurant.

“We embraced, we shook hands,” Sevilla said. “She asked about some of the teachers and some of the ornaments on the tree. The President placed an official 2021 White House ornament on it.”

Dr. Biden, Sevilla said, “was delighted and a little bit embarrassed,” because the tree features 40 photos of her. It also includes names of teachers at nearby Ross Elementary, and boasts about 160 names after Sevilla asked customers, friends and family members to honor teachers who have inspired them.

The tree will be up through the beginning of January, Sevilla said.

“Serving as the angel for this particular moment resonated with [the first lady] because she understood that it was about all of the educators that the public had contributed the names of to the tree,” Sevilla said.

Sevilla and Jamie Branda, the Dupont Circle restaurant’s owner, decided on the theme after reflecting on the challenges teachers faced during the pandemic.

See photos of the President and first lady’s stop below.