Book Launch Party for A BLACK TIE AFFAIR

The Chicago landmark Palmer House Hotel very generously hosted my book launch party for A BLACK TIE AFFAIR on Thursday, January 7. Michigan Avenue Magazine co-sponsored it - covering it for a future issue.

Food, open bar, champagne, books - the place to be that night from 5:30 to 8 pm. Many of my friends, old and new, agreed - over 200 sent in their RSVP's. My good friend, Ruth Glick (Rebecca York) and her husband flew in from Washington D.C. The Book Stall ordered more copies of A BLACK TIE AFFAIR to sell at the party. I bought a new purple dress to match my book cover. It would be a night to remember.

The blizzard started at 4am Thursday morning. Dire predictions of 12 inches and increasingly high winds flooded every news cast on radio, TV, internet. I started getting phone calls at 6:20am -- what was I going to do? I fleetingly thought of those old TV shows, "I Dream of Jeanne" and "Bewitched" and wished I could wiggle my nose and make the snow go away to come another day.

All I could do was follow what I had learned at my Grandmother's knee - "No matter what happens, make the best of it."

A friend picked me up in his jeep and got me to the hotel in time for me to change out of my woolies and boots into my new purple dress to match my cover and my glittery Louboutin shoes.

The book store was there - stacks of A BLACK TIE AFFAIR and TALK OF THE TOWN neatly displayed. The bar was open - the champagne chilled - waiters were standing at attention, armed with trays of shrimp, crab cakes and mini cheeseburgers.

At 5:30 I plastered a smile on my face, determined never to let it waver even if I had to eat every shrimp, crab cake, mini-burger myself, besides guzzle 20 bottles of champagne.

At 5:36 the first intrepid guest staggered in from the storm. I signed the first copy of A BLACK TIE AFFAIR at 5:42 and never stopped signing books until the room captain whispered in my ear at 8:25, "Sherrill, it is after 8, we are going to close the bar."

Yes, it was a night to remember. The night 170 of my friends braved the elements to celebrate with me. I'll never forget it. I wish all of you could have been there.

xoxo

A celebration of friends as family

I grew up in my grandmother's house surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins and friends of my grandparents who needed a place to stay. It was said of my grandmother that "she never knew a stranger."

My grandmother's generosity is what the holidays mean for me.

Several years ago I started giving "An Almost Christmas Eve Party" on December 23 for friends who were alone at the holidays. Each year the party has grown and now includes friends of my children. The party’s theme decor is always where I have traveled in the past year. This year my invitation reads:

It is almost the night before Christmas and the memories of our travels to Akumal, Cozumel, a wedding in Transylvania, Milan Fashion Week, Theatre in London, Canals of Bruges and cruising the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean Seas are dancing through our heads.

Please join us for the cuisine and music of some of our favorite places.


I wish you all could be there. I believe my grandmother would be pleased.