It might have been lights, camera, action inside Sarah Jessica Parker and Anna Wintour’s private fundraiser for President Obama last night, but outside, on the corner of West 4th and Charles Street, it was more dogs, barricades and disgruntled neighbors.

The night was warm, the police were plentiful, and The Observer waited on the curb for the president to arrive. Standing behind the police line on Charles and West 4th, it felt like a spontaneous summer block-party.

A group of longtime West Villagers reminisced on the state of the neighborhood pre-Magnolia and Marc. “I remember when Bleecker was all mom and pop shops. When there were actually artists in the Village.” Another resident chimed in, “Yeah. I remember —”

Nostalgia was cut short when a small tour group from Hong Kong, marching down West 4th toward Charles, eyes wide and cameras in tow, stopped and asked The Observer, “What’s going on here?” “President Obama is having dinner at Sarah Jessica Parker’s house,” we answered. In disbelief and in unison, they turned to one another and shouted, “Carrie!” Read More