Nights out on the town, time at the golf course and the beach punctuated by a brief break for business marked the second week, as President Obama’s seventh Vineyard vacation neared an end.
The First Family is scheduled to depart Sunday for Washington, D.C.
The Summer White House has followed familiar patterns this year, staying low-key and quiet.
But President Obama took time for some political business on Monday as he spoke at a Hillary Victory Fund event in Chilmark.
About 60 people attended the event on the lawn at the hilltop home of Hank and Carol Goldberg on Peaked Hill off Middle Road in Chilmark. Those who attended reportedly contributed $10,000 while the hosts donated $33,400.
During a 13-minute speech the President rallied the audience to get out the vote for Mrs. Clinton.
“I know this is not an audience where I need to make a hard sell. To some degree, I had you at hello when it comes to voting for Hillary,” the President said to laughter from the crowd. “What I do want to emphasize is needing a sense of urgency and finishing the job of getting her elected.”
He praised Mrs. Clinton, adding that he has known and worked alongside her for years. Wearing a light-blue windowpane plaid shirt and khaki pants, Mr. Obama briefly mentioned Donald Trump, though not by name. “Frankly I’m tired of talking about her opponent,” he said. “I don’t have to make the case against her opponent because every time he talks, he makes the case against his own candidacy.”
He asked the crowd to keep working until the election, and noting younger people in the audience, urged them to volunteer.
Mr. Obama was introduced by Carol Brown Goldberg, who recalled attending a 2004 fundraiser for the President “right across the meadow” at the home of Eli and Phyllis Segal.
The President thanked the Goldberg family and said he remembered the 2004 fundraiser. He paid tribute to Eli Segal, the businessman, politician, and philanthropist who died in 2006, saying that his spirit “lives on through all of us.”
Members of the press were invited to hear the President’s remarks but not the questions afterward. No photographers were allowed.
As the press was led out, Mr. Obama could be heard praising the Vineyard weather. “We’ve got good weather, people. Whoever is in charge of the Vineyard weather, I want to thank you,” he said.
During the rest of the week the President and First Family took advantage of the hot, sunny weather with days outside on the golf course or on the beach. The President has played eight rounds of golf during the 11 full days of his vacation so far. On Thursday afternoon he was at Farm Neck with actor and seasonal Vineyarder Larry David, former UBS Investment Bank president Robert Wolf, who owns a home in Katama, and Jonathan Lavine, chief investment officer of Bain Capital Credit.
The first family has also taken three trips to a south shore beach in Edgartown off Pohogonot Road. The White House said the President has also tended to other business, including monitoring and receiving updates about flooding in Louisiana. The Obamas have spent evenings out at a wide range of Island restaurants, including some for the first time.
Last Thursday Mr. and Mrs. Obama ventured into downtown Edgartown for dinner with friends at Detente in Nevin Square.
The restaurant is owned by Kevin and Suzanna Crowell, who also own The Sweet Life Cafe in Oak Bluffs, a frequent dinner destination for the Obamas during past visits.
Last week was the President’s first visit to Detente, Mr. Crowell said this week. “It was a great experience.”
The President had a multi-course tasting menu and took the time to take a picture with the kitchen staff and with the Crowells.
“They were very generous with their time,” he said.
Mr. Crowell and other restaurant owners said having the President visit can mean an increase in business and extra attention.
“It’s always nice to have a little bit of extra recognition after the President comes through your doors,” Mr. Crowell said. “It can do nothing but help.”
Earlier in the vacation the President and First Lady ate at Down Island in Oak Bluffs, a new restaurant with a five-course set menu.
Co-owner Adam Jaime said the President enjoyed the courses, which included octopus, sea bass, and chocolate pate that week.
“They were extremely gracious and seemed to enjoy themselves,” he said. “It was really exciting.”
He also said: “It was certainly funny to see people taking pictures of our sign after the motorcade left, people coming in and taking pictures of the space.”
Over the weekend the Obamas also had a meal at l’etoile in Edgartown, the contemporary French restaurant on North Water street led by chef and owner Michael Brisson. Mr. Brisson also has experience cooking for Presidents; he baked Bill Clinton’s 51st birthday cake in the shape of the Edgartown lighthouse.
The next night it was on to Red Cat Kitchen on Kennebec avenue, where chef and owner Ben deForest’s “soulful cuisine” includes everything from ginger-bbq locally-caught wahoo to buttermilk onion rings.
Baker and dessert chef Eric McCarron posted her dessert menu for the Obamas on Instagram.
The next night was a late night out for the Obamas, who arrived at Lola’s in Oak Bluffs well after 11 p.m. for a private social event. The motorcade drove the President home on dark Island streets after midnight.
On Wednesday night most of the Island action was in Oak Bluffs, with revelers filling the Camp Ground for the annual Grand Illumination Night. The crowds also encountered the motorcade, which came roaring into town as the President and First Lady had dinner at Jimmy Seas Pan Pasta.
After their meal with friends, the first couple stepped out onto Kennebec avenue, which was lined with crowds waving and snapping photos. Phone flashes followed the Obamas as the motorcade flew past the Flying Horses and headed up Lake street.
“It was very exciting,” said owner William Craffey, who with his business partner Lisa Huff bought the restaurant at a foreclosure auction, later reopening under the same name. He said the President had frutti di mare — shrimp, mussels, littleneck clams, calamari and scallops in red sauce of linguini, billed on the menu as a chef’s favorite and house specialty. Mrs. Obama had another house speciality, vongole marinara: Vineyard littleneck clams served in red sauce of linguini.
“It was supposed to be my biggest night of the year, but some things aren’t about money,” Mr. Craffey said, referring to the Illumination Night crowds thronging the streets. “I would never have expected in my life, as a high school dropout, that I would get to shake the hand of the President. I bought this business out of foreclosure and my partner and I have worked so hard . . . it was just thrilling.”
Mr. Craffey recounted a moment when the President was leaving and leaned over a half wall to shake hands with the dishwasher. “She held up her gloved hands and said, ‘Mr. President, I can’t shake your hand.’ He said, ‘Well, come on over here then’ . . . . and he gave her a big hug.”
Comments (2)
Comments
Comment policy »