Hail to the Chief!

On Wednesday night, I wondered why there were "No Parking Thursday" signs all over my street. Thursday morning, Kurt asked if I'd be home in time to head over to Harvey's place on Bank Street.

Turns out movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and Vogue editor Anna Wintour were co-hosting a fundraiser for President Obama at Harvey's New York crash pad on the next block. The "suggested donation" was a bit out of my price range (reports ranged between $30,000 and $70,000), but the presidential motorcade would be going right down our street!

As I exited the subway, there were baricades and cops everywhere, and a command post was set up on Greenwich Avenue.

Would Obama have time to come up for a cup of tea or a stop in for a beer at the Cubbyhole? Not likely, but I joined my neighbors in lining up on the sidewalk.

I got a huge kick out of watching these little boys across the street. The little one looked like he was trying so hard to be dignified for the occasion.

Secret Service...New York cops...motorcycles...it was quite an operation.

Finally...there was the president, in a Cadillac that looked like a cross between a limo and a hearse.

He was facing the other side of the street, so I just saw the back of his head, but I was glad the boys got a good view. My neighbor Nancy and I tried to walk over to Bank Street and see what we could see of the event itself, but the street was of course blocked off. There was a big tent to provide some privacy, but WWD ran photos of some of the guest, including Gwyneth and Chris, Jimmy Fallon, Gail King, Tory Burch, Connie Chung and Maury Povich.

While Obama schmoozed inside the event, I got some pizza at Two Boots and some gelato at Love. One scoop of lemon, one scoop of black currant. Heaven! So tart and refreshing.

I dawdled a bit too much, so I didn't have a good position for the motorcade's exit. I got a giggle out of the bemused expression on the face of the sanitation truck driver who was in charge of blocking Bank Street. With everyone out and about, it was almost like a little street festival.