President's first full day on vacation includes a run to bookstore, golf, and a dinner date with the First Lady...President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dined on Friday evening at a favorite haunt on Martha's Vineyard, the restaurant at the Beach Plum Inn in Menemsha. The lovely, intimate restaurant is perched atop a cliff, and has a stunning, panoramic view of Menemsha Harbor. The First Couple arrived at 7:38 PM, just in time for sunset. Mr. and Mrs. Obama dined at the Beach Plum last summer, too. Tonight, their dinner was two hours long. (Above: The President on Friday morning, outside a Bunch of Grapes bookstore)
The pool trailing the President did not see him arrive at or depart the restaurant, so it is unclear if the Obamas were on a date or joined by companions. The sustainably sourced menu features locally caught seafood from the Atlantic, as well as locally grown produce. The eatery is in a converted house at the end of a long, sandy lane. The interior is decorated with antique furniture, and aged fishing creels and crabbing baskets. White table cloths, mismatched floral arrangements and low candles enhance the "seaside country charm" effect. The Inn is just a short motorcade drive from the 28.5-acre rented estate, Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark, where the Obamas are spending their nine-day vacation.
Vacation fun...
Many of the First Family's activities today were as much of a deja vu as the Presidential dinner date. As he did last year, this morning President Obama took daughters Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10, to independent bookstore Bunch of Grapes, located in tourist hotspot Vineyard Haven. There was a meet n' greet with excited supporters, and then the First Dad and First Daughters shopped the stacks for about twenty minutes. They emerged carrying brown paper bags of books. Bookstore staff declined to comment on the Presidential purchase, unlike last year, when they were quick to spill the details. White House aides said the President's summer reading list would be released "later."
Later in the day, at 1:36 PM, the President played golf at the private Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown. His golfing partners, per the White House, were Chicago pal Eric Whitaker, White House trip director Marvin Nicholson, and Michael Brush, White House senior advance lead.
The President began his first full day of vacation with briefing from senior advisors.
Info: The Beach Plum is at 50 Beach Plum Lane, PO Box 98, Menemsha, Martha's Vineyard, MA 02552. Phone: 508-645- 9454.
*AP photo