Ed Rendell has a surprise for Barack Obama

The National Governors Association is in town, and Pennsylvania's Ed Rendell got Old City's City Tavern to do something different for tonight's dinner, whose guest list may include President-elect Barack Obama.

Paul Bauer, director of events and marketing for City Tavern at Second and Walnut Streets, said this afternoon that Obama's appearance had not been confirmed. Chef-owner Walter Staib said that he is expecting "between 30 to 150 people" -- everything as of 5 p.m. was in flux as "every security detail in the world has been through here."

Bauer said Rendell requested not a fixed menu -- the standard at such banquets -- but asked that attendees be allowed to choose off Staib's circa-1773 restaurant's a la carte menu. Staib says Rendell wanted the guvs to get an "upscale, 18th-century experience."

Medallions of venison? Turkey pot pie? We recommend the wiener schnitzel.