As their Vineyard vacation draws to a close, the Obamas finally hit the beach Saturday before heading out to dinner in Edgartown. The president also squeezed in another round of golf.
The president, first lady and daughters Malia and Sasha arrived at a private beach off Pohogonot Road at around 10 a.m. Saturday morning. The rural area, accessed down long dirt roads, offers access to Edgartown Great Pond and the Atlantic Ocean. The Obamas have visited the beach during other Vineyard visits.
The morning at the beach followed a late night in Oak Bluffs, where the family watched the annual fireworks show from Valerie Jarrett’s North Bluff rental home. The Obamas arrived back at their Chilmark rental home just after midnight.
After spending a few hours on the beach, President Obama went back to the golf course for the fifth time this trip. He arrived at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs at about 12:45 p.m.
Mrs. Obama, Sasha and Malia stayed at the beach.
The president’s golfing partners today were U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Glenn Hutchins and Larry David, according to the White House. The latter two have deep Vineyard roots.
Mr. Hutchins, a private equity investor, is chairman of the board of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard. The institute’s annual forum on the Vineyard, hosted by Henry Louis (Skip) Gates Jr., has been named in his honor.
Mr. David, co-creator of Seinfeld and star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, is also a seasonal resident. He starred in the HBO movie Clear History, which aired last week. Large parts of the movie take place on the Vineyard, though the movie wasn’t filmed here.
In a slight departure from routine, the Obama family spent Saturday night in Edgartown having dinner at The Boathouse, a private club on the Edgartown Harbor. The family arrived at the restaurant at about 7:30 p.m.
At about 8:15 p.m., traffic was backed up driving down Main street — hardly unusual for a summer evening — and the sidewalks and restaurants were full. The foot of Main street right outside the restaurant and part of Dock street were blocked off to traffic, and yellow tape blocked off the area immediately around the restaurant, which is on the second story overlooking the harbor.
There was a strong police presence, with rows of motorcycles, security vehicles, secret service, state police and Edgartown police on hand. Security was sweeping people before they could enter the Atlantic restaurant, which is below The Boathouse.
Curious onlookers gathered in the Dock street parking lot, many eating ice cream, and stared at the restaurant. By the time the Obama family left the restaurant at about 9:30 p.m., a crowd had gathered across from the restaurant. Some hoped to get a glimpse of the president and his family, and others gawked at the secret service officers and their equipment. Several people pointed out flashes visible through a restaurant window — perhaps the staff taking a photo with their honored guests.
The family quickly left the restaurant and entered a waiting SUV. The motorcade, including press vans, an ambulance, several police cars and unmarked vehicles, whisked back toward the Obamas’ Chilmark rental house. Soon the crowd spilled into the streets and a secret service agent started taking down the yellow tape barricade.
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