President Obama in LA for Democratic fundraisers

It's always such fun when President Barack Obama's motorcade is in town. As he and his entourage visit rich Hollywood celebrities to raise money for "House and Senate campaigns," you will be expected to wait patiently in traffic, possibly for hours. Of course, you do that on normal days, so what's the diff?

Obama is due to arrive in Los Angeles tonight and leave Friday around midday. Mostly he will be in Westwood, Brentwood and Bel Air.

Although the president's exact travel plans are State secrets (for security reasons), the Los Angeles Police Department provided a list of areas motorists may want to avoid during Obama's visit.

Police recommended that drivers avoid the following areas Thursday:

The area around South Centinela Avenue between Ocean Park and Pico boulevards, from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.;

Sunset Boulevard between Sepulveda and Beverly Glen boulevards, from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.;

St. Pierre Road and St. Cloud Road between Bel Air Road and Beverly Glen Boulevard, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.;

Sunset between Beverly Glen and Royce Drive, from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.;

Hilgard Avenue between Sunset and Weyburn Avenue, from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.;

Tiverton Avenue between Le Conte and Weyburn avenues, from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

On Friday, police recommend avoiding the following areas:

The area around Hilgard Avenue between Weyburn and Sunset, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.;

Sunset between Loring Avenue west to Burlingame Avenue, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.;

Bristol Avenue between Sunset and Westboro Street, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.;

North Cliffwood Avenue between Westboro and Highwood streets, from 10:30 a.m. to noon;

Sunset Boulevard between Bristol Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.;

Centinela Avenue between Ocean Park and Pico boulevards, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Hilgard Avenue will be closed from 4 p.m. today until 1 p.m. Friday.

Malcolm Avenue will be closed from 7 p.m. today until 1 p.m. Friday.

Cliffwood Avenue will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Obama will speak and field questions Thusday night at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser at a home in Santa Monica. Tickets start at $15,000 per couple, including a photo opportunity and dinner, but other tickets range as high as $66,800 per couple, including a VIP reception, according to the entertainmenttrade publication Variety.

The $66,800 price is based on the $33,400 maximum amount an individual can contribute to a national party committee in a year.

Obama will remain in the Los Angeles area Thursday night and speak at a breakfast fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at the home of actor Tobey Maguire and his wife Jennifer Friday morning, Variety reported. Tickets are $33,400 per couple, according to Variety.

Obama is expected to travel to San Francisco following the Los Angeles events.

Around the time Obama is scheduled to leave the Southland on Friday, Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump is expected to hold a news conference in Rancho Palos Verdes. The Trump campaign hasn't provided details of the event, which is scheduled for noon at the Trump National Golf Club, according to the campaign's website.

The visit will be Obama's 25th to Los Angeles and Orange counties as president. He conducted fundraisers during 21 of his previous 24 visits. Obama has conducted 39 fundraisers in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Obama was last in the Southland in February, taping an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" then speaking at two fundraisers.