[Phillips:] So, did you know the answer? What color were Elvis' eyes? The King had those wonderful baby blues. And when you combine his good looks with those gyrating hips, well, here's what happened. The girls get all shook up. Where's the picture, guys? Where's the picture? It's coming. It's coming 1957 at a concert in Philadelphia. That's right. A teenager could not hold back. Her friends seem a little more amazed at her than the King, actually. Well, a private tour of Graceland, a big old platter of ribs. If Koizumi doesn't feel like a king today, well, he never will. Japan's prime minister and lifelong Elvis fan got the ultimate Presley experience, meeting Priscilla, and flesh of Presley's flesh, Lisa Marie the trip a special gift from Koizumi's Oval Office pal, President George Bush. The two have a friendship that goes way beyond diplomatic relations. So, of course, they broke bread together at a Memphis landmark. We have got Nick Vergos on the phone to dish about the Rendezvous. Nick, how did it go?
[Nick Vergos, Restaurant Owner:] Kyra, I just couldn't begin to tell you how wonderful it was and how warm the president and the prime minister and Laura Bush were. They absolutely enjoyed every second of their visit to the Rendezvous.
[Phillips:] Well, tell us about the menu, Nick. What did you make them?
[Vergos:] Well, we we started we started off with appetizers of barbecue nachos and cheese, the world-famous Rendezvous cheese and sausage plate. And then their dinner was consisted of ribs, chicken and chowder.
[Phillips:] So...
[Vergos:] And we had apple cobbler It was just a great day. I don't know what else to tell you.
[Phillips:] Well, give well, give us some scoop. Give us some scoop. Did the president say something that he liked? Did the prime minister say there was something that he liked? I mean, give us the inside you know, be the the the bird or, what is it, the fly on the wall for us.
[Vergos:] Well, the prime minister went up and sang an Elvis song with this great rockabilly band, The Dempseys, who are actually in the Johnny Cash movie.
[Phillips:] Wow.
[Vergos:] And the president stood up there with him, did not sing. The president was just went around and shook everybody's hands, had more pictures probably than than he normally would. He was just in a great mood and having a great time. And, obviously, got there 20 minutes early and stayed the and left the time he was actually supposed to leave. So, he stayed for over an hour.
[Phillips:] So, Nick, the when you got the call that the president and the prime minister were coming to your restaurant, how did you react? Did you believe it? What did you tell them? Have you been stressing out ever since?
[Vergos:] Not stressing out. The people the staff that works with the president and really plans his schedules couldn't have been any more cooperative. And we just actually just kind of hit it off. We the first time we met was a week ago of last week, Friday of last week about the time the president arrived at the Rendezvous. And we just hit it off really, really well. And there was just never anything that we
[Phillips:] Well, now, Nick, did Elvis eat at the Rendezvous on on a regular basis?
[Vergos:] Elvis Elvis never ate at the Rendezvous.
[Phillips:] Oh.
[Vergos:] But he but Harry Caray tells a story. And I believe it to be true, because I know that Elvis liked Rendezvous ribs, because he people would take them to him all Harry Caray tells a story, the announcer for the Cardinals and then the Cubs. When he was at Saint Louis Elvis loved baseball. Here Elvis would send Lisa Marie to Saint Louis, get Harry Caray on the jet, bring him back to Memphis. The limo driver would take him to the Rendezvous. They would go down and get ribs to go. They would take him out to Graceland. And they would talk until the ribs ran out. And then he would send Harry Caray back to back to Saint Louis.
[Phillips:] So, did the president and the prime minister talk until the ribs ran out?
[Vergos:] They talked about until the ribs ran out. There may have been a piece of rib here or there. They basically cleaned their whole plate. The the president loved our barbecue hot sauce. I think he drank the hot sauce. So, it just couldn't have gone any better.
[Phillips:] Well, you know I have to ask. Did the president leave a good tip?
[Vergos:] The president the well, the president certainly doesn't have to leave a tip, and and but they are certainly going to pay. The president's presence there was just so remarkable. I mean, I am just I was standing way off to the side with one of my daughters. And the president kind of looked over and caught her eye, and and asked her over to the table. And the picture-taking basically was over while they were eating, and the president winked at her, invited her over, put his arm around her while she was sitting at the table, insisted that the photographer come over and take it. He must have spent five minutes with her. Then he got my other daughter and took a picture with my son, Nicholas, who was actually his busboy and took a picture with Nicholas in the middle with the prime minister and the president on each side of him. He took a picture with all the cooks, with all the just everybody that was there. It was just a remarkable day. It couldn't have gone any better. I guess you can tell how excited I am.
[Phillips:] I can tell. No doubt, that's just the time of your life and especially for your kids, but don't sell yourself short. The president and the prime minister of Japan got is those Rendezvous ribs. I hope I get a chance to try them some day. That's right. OK, Nick.
[Vergos:] You just let me know next time you can come.
[Phillips:] That's a deal.
[Vergos:] Have a great holiday weekend, OK?
[Phillips:] Happy fourth, Nick.
[Vergos:] Thanks.
[Phillips:] All right. Well the long Fourth of July weekend is almost here, but that could cause some big headaches for travelers and airline workers. Susan Lisovicz, live from the New York Stock Exchange with that story. Now, Susan, before we get to the air travel, I know you have been to The Rendezvous, have you had those ribs?
[Susan Lisovicz, Cnn Correspondent:] I have and you know what? I was really curious, Kyra, because we have these great pictures of the president and prime minister walking in, real nice and polite and clean. I would like to see them digging into those ribs, because it's not the...
[Phillips:] With a big, old bib around their necks?
[Lisovicz:] Yes.
[Phillips:] Yes, exactly. Did, you know, he wipe his hand on his shirt? And did you put your business card up on the wall like everyone else did?
[Lisovicz:] I certainly did. And, you know, I'm curious, Kyra. I didn't hear it in the interview. I think that a gentleman can't wear a tie there, and I noticed that the president and the prime minister are not wearing ties. Now, maybe it's a casual Friday. I don't know.
[Phillips:] No, that's a good point. They usually cut it off, don't they? And do they stick it up on the wall still?
[Lisovicz:] Yes, I mean, that's one of the many great legends of going to The Rendezvous. It's also in the basement, as I recall.
[Phillips:] Very good memory. All right. Hopefully that will be another one of our trips that we make on our girls' trip.
[Lisovicz:] Exactly. It's going to be a cross-country trip, Kyra.
[Phillips:] Tell us what's happening now about air travel. Yes, exactly.
[Lisovicz:] OK, so let's talk about the holiday that is forthcoming. This Fourth of July holiday expected to be the busiest travel weekend of the year, and according to the Air Transport Association, this summer will be the busiest ever for air travel, with more than 200 million passengers taking to the skies. Over the weekend, airlines expect planes to be more than 90 percent full, up from about 80 percent on most days. That means travelers will face long check-in lines, long security lines, even lines at the airport Starbucks, not to mention packed planes. The airlines have seen a pickup in demand this season back to pre-911 levels. At the same time, carriers are scaling back operations to reduce costs and boost profits, meaning fewer and smaller planes and fewer airline employees. It sounds like a perfect recipe for a hectic weekend, Kyra.
[Phillips:] Well, when it comes to airports, some are a little more comfortable than others. What do you think? Which are traveler's favorites?
[Lisovicz:] Yes, and what happens in Vegas isn't staying in Vegas according to this study from J.D. Power. Las Vegas' McCarran International tops the list of big North American airports. McCarran serves more than 44 million passengers a year. New York's John F. Kennedy Airport and the Philly International Airport tied for second, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and Detroit. J.D. Power scored the airports in eight categories: accessibilities, check-in, baggage checking, security facilities, food, beverage you get the idea. Travelers said they consider waiting time to be the most important issue in airport satisfaction.
[Phillips:] All right. What's happening on Wall Street? Well, Franny Martin is founder and owner of Cookies on Call in western Michigan. She isn't traveling the world during her retirement, but her homemade cookies are. Valerie Morris explains in this week's "Life After Work."
[Franny Martin, Cookies On Call:] This is the beginning of the best chocolate chunk cookie that you'll ever taste.
[Valerie Morris, Cnn Correspondent:] It may be a simple cookie recipe, but to 60-year-old Franny Martin it is her calling.
[Martin:] I started baking with my grandma when I was 4 years old and I was so fascinated with what she did that I was just set up at her side. It's in my blood. It's what I love to do.
[Morris:] The former marketing and public relations executive opened Cookies on Call after retiring from the corporate world.
[Martin:] I wanted to do something that had meaning for me and that would make other people have.
[Morris:] Martin's business began out of her home with delivery and online orders. She had just one cookie, the chocolate chunk hazelnut. There are now 61 kinds, and a retail shop in Douglas, Michigan.
[Martin:] We do upwards of 700 a day, and we ship them all over the world. One customer actually said that the angels should take care of my hands, because he thought the cookies were that good. My business keeps me happy and happiness keeps you young. I feel younger at 60 than I did at 19. It's just I have a few more wrinkles and my back is not as strong. Valerie Morris, CNN, New York.