June 1, 2009

Do-it-yourself Obama date night: $515 + helicopter

The First Couple’s trip to New York City this past Saturday for a “private” date night can be re-created for about $515, based on reports of where the Obamas wined, dined and saw a show.

If you want to arrive in Manhattan the way they did, you can take a helicopter from JFK Airport to the Downtown Heliport near Wall Street on US Helicopter. The price is $159 per-person one-way.

The Obamas dined at Blue Hill at 72 Washington Place. President Obama reportedly ordered the “Farmer’s Feast,” five-course tasting menu inspired by the week’s harvest. The price is usually $72, but the cost varies depending on the week’s ingredients.

He reportedly ordered the wine-pairing, but since that price varies as well, for comparison, use the price for a bottle of wine that another source said they ordered. The Hirsch Vineyard & Blue Hill, A Special Release 2007; Pinot Noir; Sonoma Coast, California is priced at $88 on the restaurant’s wine list.

If you want something akin to presidential-motorcade on standby, try a car service to cover the trip from the heliport to Greenwich Village for dinner and then to Times Square for your Broadway show. A two-hour luxury-class car booking is about $90.

Orchestra-level tickets to the Tony-nominated Lincoln Center production of “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” on Broadway are $96.50 each.

There are cheaper options of course if you want to take cabs or the subway. Balcony tickets to “Joe Turner” clock in at $51.50 per person. Last week, the tickets were available at TKTS for half-off at almost every performance.

And if say, you don’t owe your date a massive thank you for months of watching your back on the campaign trail, you could make do with another choice of wine at Blue Hill, where bottles start at $40.

Prices mentioned above exclude service charges, taxes, tips and other fees. However, you can at least book a reservation at Blue Hill at no charge on gimmick-free OpenTable.com.

Picture credit: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dance at the Governors Ball in the State Dining Room of the White House 2/22/09. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza. Made available through The Official White House Photostream’s on flicker

Earlier: Obamas heading to Broadway to see ‘Joe Turner’

June 1, 2009 11:43 AM in Broadway, Downtown, Drinkology, Foodology, Midtown, Romance

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