Obamas take a break,eating out & watching theatre

The Obamas escaped Washington on Saturday in search of a quintessential New York evening - dinner and a Broadway show.

The Obamas escaped Washington on Saturday in search of a quintessential New York evening dinner and a Broadway show. They found it at Blue Hill,a low-key Greenwich Village restaurant,and at the Belasco Theater near Times Square for a performance of Joe Turners Come and Gone,the Tony-nominated August Wilson play.

It was the Obamas first joint visit to the city as the first couple. And even cooler-than-thou New York allowed itself a bit of excitement over their arrival.

I thought I was dreaming, said Kecia McCowen,a 45-year-old utility worker and student from Brooklyn; she bought tickets for the show three days ago,but found out that the Obamas would be there only after she arrived. I was like,stop playing!

Story continues below this ad

Along Avenue of the Americas,pedestrians stopped to wave,snap pictures and press against metal barricades as the Obamas motorcade zipped by. Times Square was even more frenetic than usual,as throngs of pedestrians certainly including many tourists lined several blocks waiting to catch a glimpse of the Obamas.

The presidential date night began with a late-afternoon flight from Andrews Air Force Base,with Obama wearing a dark blue suit (no tie),and Mrs. Obama a black cocktail dress and a sleek updo,holding a turquoise clutch. They landed at Kennedy International Airport at 4.45 pm and after taking a quick helicopter ride to Lower Manhattan,the presidential motorcade snaked its way up to Blue Hill,a restaurant off Washington Square Park that specializes in cuisine from the Hudson Valley.

Hours before the show began,the Secret Service cordoned off the entire block of 44th Street between Avenue of the Americas and Broadway,where the Belasco is located. When the Obamas walked down the aisle to take their seats,it was utter pandemonium, said Tim Johnson,who was in the audience.

About 11.30 pm,the Obamas emerged from the theater. Later,a White House press secretary,Josh Earnest,relayed a message to reporters from Obama. I am taking my wife to New York City, the president said in the statement,because I promised her during the campaign that I would take her to a Broadway show after it was all finished.