Night On The Town: President Barack Obama Raises Money, Dines With Elon Musk In San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) –- During his visit to the Bay Area, President Barack Obama spent a night on the town Friday, raising money and enjoying dinner in Presidio Heights with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
After spending the day at Stanford University for a cybersecurity summit, Mr. Obama headed to a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at a home in San Francisco's Russian Hill.
PRESIDENT OBAMA VISITS THE BAY AREA:
- Fighter Jets Remove Plane From San Francisco Airspace Restricted For Obama Visit
- President Obama: Silicon Valley Cannot Protect Privacy By Itself, Enacts Cybersecurity Cooperation Order
"I've seen the Queen go by a few times, she has a big cavalcade, but it's nothing as big as this, this was immense. So, many cars, so many motorbikes, bomb squads everything," said Nicola Webb, who is visiting San Francisco from London.
After a quick stop back at the Fairmont Hotel, where the president is staying, the president headed to dinner at Spruce.
"I saw flashing lights, lots of noise and traffic and congestion," said Steve Krolick, who lives near the restaurant. "Decided to come outside and I'm very happy to discover the President of the United States in our neighborhood, having dinner at Spruce's."
The dinner was billed on the White House schedule as one with "friends and staff." None other than Musk, who was forced to park his red Model S two blocks from the restaurant.
Crowds of onlookers were kept at least half-a-block away from the president, while diners at Spruce were caught off guard.
"Valerie Jarrett walked right by, and then the president walked in and said hello to the folks in the front, and zoomed right to the back," said Roger Huffstetler, who was dining at Spruce on Friday night.
The president dined at private room in Spruce, away from most of the diners.
Obama returned to the Fairmont Hotel shortly before 10:00 p.m. The president will depart San Francisco for Palm Springs on Saturday.