Pat Dollard | Young Americans

Politico:

Did Obama skip Bush speech?

By Michael Calderone

President-elect Obama left Blair House tonight at 8 p.m., just as Bush reached the podium, according to a pool report by the NY Times Helene Cooper. It was a 30-second drive to reach Equinox restaurant, where he dined with Michelle. The press pool waited outside.

UPDATE: CBS followed up, and a host in the restaurant told the network that Obama watched a television for “a minute or two,” but was unaware what the President-elect was watching.

CBS:

Did Obama Skip Bush’s Speech?

Posted by Michelle Levi

As his predecessor, President Bush, said his final goodbyes to America on national television, President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle dined at the DC restaurant, Equinox Thursday night.

CBS News’ Maria Gavrilovic, who waited outside the restaurant, reports that there is no indication whether or not Mr. Obama was watching President Bush’s farewell remarks.

The President-elect departed the Blair house, located right across the street from the White House podium from which the president spoke, minutes before President Bush commenced.

A host at the restaurant tells CBS News’ that the President-elect stopped by the only television in the high end establishment, a small screen at the bar, and watched for “a minute or two.” The source said he did not notice what Mr. Obama was watching but that “no” it was not for an extended period of time.

No one from Obama’s transition team has responded to CBS News’ inquiries as to whether he was watching the address.

CBS News’ Bill Plante describes Equinox as, “a sophisticated new American food from award-winning chef Todd Grey and a clientele of Washington insiders.”