Bernie Sanders visits Palm Springs en route to New Mexico
For about four decades, Patrick Service and his family have served dozens of big name guests at Las Casuelas Terraza.
But he said his latest visit came about during another occasion.
“My wife jokes that Bernie Sanders just sat right behind me at breakfast, and I told her that’s not possible, until he started speaking and you could hear him,” Service said. “He’s very casual. On our way out, I thanked him for his service to the country. (I) shook his hand, and you can tell he takes a lot of that feedback. He’s very heartfelt, and he’s very appreciative of people saying thank you to him.”
But before they left, Service approached Sanders with one request.
“My wife actually said to give him a business card to try and get him to come here for dinner,” Service said. “And it turns out he was coming here anyways, so we got a phone call around 3 p.m. that he was going to come him at 7:30 p.m.”
Service said Sanders spent a couple of nights in the Coachella Valley, staying at Two Bunch Palms Resort in Desert Hot Springs.
Video from Zak Dahlheimer KESQ: Motorcade leaves Two Bunch Palms Resort
While enjoying a plate of mild pork fajitas Thursday night, Service said the Vermont Senator interacted with many locals.
“They would wave or say nice things and they chanted ‘Bernie’ a few times as they walked by,” Service said. “He was very welcoming to everybody. His security detail was just enough of distance from everyone, but then he went out onto the streets for the Village Fest street fair, and was interacting and taking selfies later. It was very cool.”
A man who got to shake Sanders’ hand, said, “He just came walking up and I just shook his hand, I didn’t have time for any pictures. I was too busy in the moment.”
“It was such an amazing feeling because it feels like I was shaking hands with a normal guy,” he added.
Another festivalgoer,Jutta Mayrl, said Sanders had a, “Great personality. He was very personable. He couldn’t be a more fantastic man. I always admired him. I always believed in what he believed in I love his ideas on where he stands,” said Mayrl.
And while Sanders continues on the campaign trail, Service said he’d welcome to serve him again, in return for Sanders serving many.
“It was a very positive experience for us,” Service said. “To have somebody as big as he is to choose our city and our restaurant was a great honor.”
Sanders left Palm Springs International Airport around 10:30 a.m. to speak at a couple of rallies Friday afternoon in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Campaign members say he’ll return to California on Saturday for three events planned this weekend.
Sanders’ campaign also issued a press release Thursday with Palm Springs listed as the dateline.
Sanders is vowing to stay in the race for the Democratic nomination until California’s June 7th primary.
Here is Sanders’ schedule of events in New Mexico and California his campaign office released Friday morning:
New Mexico Events:
May 20 (Fri) 1:00pm – A Future to Believe In Santa Fe Rally
May 20 (Fri) 4:00pm – A Future to Believe In Albuquerque Rally Official Event Rally Albuquerque Convention Center 401 2nd St NW Albuquerque NM 87102
May 21 (Sat) 10:00am – A Future to Believe In Vado, New Mexico Rally Official Event Rally Vado Elementary School 330 Holguin Rd Vado NM 88072
California Events
May 21 (Sat) 4:30pm – A Future to Believe In National City Rally on Official Event Rally Kimball Park 1243 National City Blvd National City CA 91950
May 22 (Sun) 11:00am – A Future to Believe In Vista, California Rally on
Official Event Rally Rancho Buena Vista High School Stadium 1601 Longhorn Dr Vista CA 92081
May 22 (Sun) 3:00pm A Future to Believe In Irvine, California Rally on
Official Event Rally Irvine Meadows Amphitheater 8808 Irvine Center Dr Irvine CA 92618
