Isn't she LOVELY?

Monday I took the train to Chicago to stand in a line for 3 hours (in heels) to have Sarah Jessica Parker sign a bottle of her new fragrance--LOVELY at Marshall Fields. I really like SJP, and I really like the fragrance (even though it smells just like Narciso Rodriguez to me)otherwise I think I would have gotten out of line after an hour.

My friend "P" and I met in Chicago to see SJP since we both love SJP, and have loved her since her Square Pegs days. We got to Marshall Fields 1 and 1/2 hours prior to the time SJP was to arrive. We thought that was plenty of time to get a good place in line--boy were we wrong. The line snaked all around the store. For those of you who do not know, Marshall Fields is a HUGE department store in downtown Chicago. Shortly after we took our place in line the line got longer and longer until it was out the door and around the block. Crazy!

While in line, a girl with a microphone and a guy with a camera from the Naked Hippo show walked by and asked if anyone knew any SJP trivia. Well, "P" and I being the nerds that we are were insisting that we knew tons of SJP trivia. She asked us some easy questions, then she asked our favorite SJP line from Sex In The City. I knows TONS of lines from SITC because I can watch a show one time and pretty much have the dialog memorized if the show interests me. I was obsessed with SITC so I knew tons of lines. The line I recited for them was when Mr. Big said he was tired of New York City so he was going to move to the Napa Valley and Carrie says "If you are tired, you take a Napa....you don't move to Napa." It was the show where her and Big danced to Moon River and it was beyond romantic!

When we finally got up to SJP, she was beautiful, and gracious, and tiny. She looked prettier in person than she does on TV. It was awkward--she was behind a table signing bottles. We went up one by one to bow before the Queen. I just told her I was a fan, and that I was a fan of her husband Matthew Broderick. I never know what to say to famous folks.

After standing in line for 3 hours, "P" and I were famished so we headed across the street to the Atwood Cafe. The Atwood Cafe is in the Burnham Hotel right across the street from Marshall Fields at One W. Washington Chicago Illinois. It is on the corner of Washington and State Street. It is a lovely cafe. The interior reminded me of a restaurant in Paris. It is a small restaurant that only seats 75 inside so I would suggest making a reservation if you are going during peak business hours. They have a small patio which is where we had lunch. Sitting right adjacent to us was Tana Goertz from Season 3 of the Apprentice. She was very happy to be recognized, and "P" and I had a few Bedazzler laughs. Yes, I did wave hello and let her know I knew who she was because I am a big ass nerd! I am a HUGE Apprentice fan also. Truthfully I am a sucker for reality TV. As I type this I am mourning the end of Big Brother The Summer of Secrets.

The food at the Atwood Cafe was TO DIE FOR. "P" told me that she had seen their Chicken Pot Pie featured on the Fine Living Network. It was listed as one of the 10 best comfort foods in the country. "P" ordered the famous Chicken Pot Pie and can I just tell you that it was delicious. I had a chicken salad sandwich with sweet potato fries and it was good but nothing like the damn Chicken Pot Pie. For dessert we ordered the peach cobbler with ice cream and the brown sugar cheesecake. Lord have mercy on my thighs because I ate way more dessert than I EVER eat. The brown sugar cheesecake was TO. DIE. FOR. I will deifinitely eat there again. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was great, and our waitress was very good too.

After lunch we went back to Marshall Fields to shop, then headed to Barneys on Oak and Rush to see their new things for Fall. After that we headed back to the train station because we were so tired and full and our feet were killing us.

What I learned from my experience is this: I will never stand in line 3 hours to see anyone ever again....unless and until Jeremy Piven signs perfume somewhere.