The Obamas Enjoy Date Night At Blue Hill New York

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
May 31st 2009 at 8:01PM

Diners in New York City's Greenwich Village got a surprise Saturday night when the President and First Lady joined them for dinner. The First Couple ate at the Blue Hill restaurant before seeing a Broadway show "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" at the Belasco Theater. The NY Daily News reports that when the couple left the restaurant the other diners stood up and applauded them. Diners were searched before going into the restaurant and the entire block was closed off.

The menu at Blue Hill New York focuses on local food sourced mostly from Blue Hill Farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Guests can choose from the regular menu or opt for the "Farmer's Feast," a five-course tasting menu. Entrees including Hudson Valley chicken pot au feu and Berkshire pig stew are in the $30-$40 range. The President and First Lady have expressed an interest in gardening, farming and healthy food options so this restaurant, which showcases fresh fruit and vegetables and simple preparations was a natural choice.

Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, blue hill, blue hill restaurant, BlueHill, BlueHillRestaurant, michelle obama, MichelleObama, restaurant

Filed under: Dining

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Corey May 31st 2009 11:27PM

Tomorrow's Headline "The Obama's Take a Dump in the White House Lavatory"

Seriously? This is important?

Andy May 31st 2009 11:37PM

The importance is that they took 3 aircraft for their date. 2 helos and 1 Gulfstream at the cost of at least $24,000.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05312009/news/nationalnews/obama_keeps_his_big_apple_pledge_171810.htm

Jim Jun 1st 2009 1:04PM

Andy-

You mind totaling up the expenses for GW Bush's RECORD amount of vacation days?

All those trips down to his ranch in Texas cost FAR more than 1 night out in New York.

Seriously, let's have some perspective here.

Valerie Jun 1st 2009 3:47AM

Glad they got to get away and have a nice dinner and see a show.Cheers to you Mister President and First Lady.

just me Jun 1st 2009 12:36PM

Bravo. Damn the repuglicans, yes, we may be in a recession and yes GM is going to hell, but people must still live and enjoy life. The Obamas set a great example of keeping the spark and love in your relationship, and that's very important to the country too. Even if it cost $24,000 to get them there--that's just part of being in the job. Would it have been any different had they gone to Camp David? They have to get away some time.

Angelina Jun 1st 2009 3:29PM

Our publicity whore President could let Prince Harry upstage him in NY so he had to plan something in NY to outdo that.

Roberta Jun 3rd 2009 5:12PM

Why couldn't the night out have waited until the next time the President had a scheduled political visit to NYC and save us this wasteful expense. Their nights out in DC are less expensive and do not require so many Secret Service, not to mention the aircrews. Add up all the salaries involved in this one night and so many people in the US could have benefited with that money.

Tim Jun 1st 2009 8:57PM

would the cost of driving or taking a train - surely a good idea given his interest in spending on infrastructure - but would that have been any cheaper in terms of security and all that sort of thing ?

Corey Jun 2nd 2009 4:51AM

What a great way to end a week. Fire thousands at GM and then go spend $25-100k for a SINGLE NIGHT. You think they are spending their money for this? Try again. So, $100k-400k a month for dates is appropriate? I thought this was the presidency of change. Spend less not try and match what Bush did. But, hey, he already spent trillions in the first 4 months, what is another $100k for dinner?

Rachel Jun 2nd 2009 12:22PM

They looked so happy and were dressed to the "9's".
I was trying to figure out how to pay my bills and at 67yrs. old cutting my grass.
Why the hell does anyone think this is so wonderful.
HOW MANY HUNGRY CHILDREN HERE IN THE USA COULD THAT HAVE FED?
SICKENING TO SAY THE LEAST.

HVD Jun 3rd 2009 6:24PM

To think that this extravagance came from the same president who lambasted the auto execs for flying corporate jets to make their case in DC. Granted the auto execs could have flown together in one jet. What happened to fiscal resposability? Great example the leader is setting for the rest of the nation!

Ann Jun 3rd 2009 9:25PM

1. Ground crew at Andrews and at the NY airport were on call and on overtime.

2. The cost of fuel and the aircraft crew, on overtime after six.

3. The helicopter crew in NY to move them all to the city also on overtime.

4. The medical stand by personnel complete with ambulance.

5. The NY police to cordon off streets so the cavalcade can pass.

6. Another aircraft with fuel and crew to carry the security cars.

7. The Secret Service who had to scope out the area before the trip and their overtime.

The talk around DC is that it cost next to $250,000 and that was not from Mr. Obama's personal bank account.