Thursday, May 7, 2009

An epic night at Target...with Chuck Bass

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I had a big night last night, so let's cut the witty intro and get right to it, eh?

This week, Target opened a pop-up store (the Bullseye Bazaar) on Michigan Avenue and it's only open for three days. So, as a city girl with no car or Target nearby, I nearly wet myself with excitement. That is until I was invited to attend its VIP event last night, which is a sneak peek at the store before it opened today. Yes, then I nearly wet myself.

So my joy about attending this event compounded on Wednesday when rumors started spreading on Twitter that Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr from Gossip Girl would also be attending the event. Well that's when the insanity really started on and off Twitter. The event was supposed to be invite-only, VIP, but suddenly everyone in Chicago was invited. Okayyyyy, not exactly VIP or what I signed up for but alrighhhhht.

Cut to post-work, with pouring rain and lightening in Chicago. Suddenly my perfectly selected outfit was covered with my damp coat and my coiffed hair was a frizzy mess. FAIL.

But I met up with some co-workers and my buddy Jenn to head over to the Bazaar and bask in the goodness of Target.

And check out the awesome interior! Look at this, even the chili peppers love Target!


And of course, after a quick glass of champagne, I dove into the racks of stuff. I'm pretty happy with my new treasures! One note though, the hat, which is adorable, has pink stains on it. So that will definitely be going back. But otherwise, everything fits. That's a miracle.


Oh heck, let's get to the really good stuff. So rumors flew that Ed and Jessica would be at the event, then we heard they weren't going to be there. But this girl (aka me) knew better. And sure enough, not long after we got there, the media section start lighting up and suddenly Kate Walsh from Private Practice is talking to reporters.

So I try to wedge my way back there (tastefully) and when I'm denied, I actually say, "blogs ARE the new media." Wow, bitchy, I know. Didn't mean it like that. But it gets me back there (after I flash my bloggy business card) and after more pushing, I get this picture.

Yes, she's gorgeous in person.

Then the main event happens, we hear Ed is in makeup and suddenly he's THERE. Chuck Bass, the man I would like to take advantage of me after we shop at Brooks Brothers is THERE. So we move into more pushing and shoving and I get this money shot.

SOOOOO dreamy.

And then Jessica shows up. She is so nice and personable and petite in person! Jealous. But I'm obsessed with her necklace, which matches my JCrew bracelet, so it should be mine right? Right? She's also from Wisconsin. We're meant to be best friends.

Anyhow, I grabbed her after all the interviews and got this photo, which her publicist seriously could not have taken any faster. Thank god it turned out.

So after some more loitering around/shopping, Jenn and I see Ed again and basically stand around and wait to see if we can snag a photo with him....WHICH WE DID. OMG and I told him I'm a huge fan. Could I be any more of a dork?

*insert angels chiming*
Oh an our outfits match. We're meant to be :)

Best. Night. Ever. Here is a link to the set of photos on my Flickr page too, where all the photos are posted (there are a lot!)

I'm so thrilled and excited that I got to go and get to shop before the store opened to the public. Once I exchange that hat, I'm ready to rock it outside.

Of course, there are a few things I have to share too. First, this was a great evening and I'm so glad that I got to go. And I know this little blog and I are not that special, especially compared to Metromix or Chicago Magazine, but being invited in to the media area to take some pictures, only to be kicked out for more important people, isn't cool. My parents think I'm special!

Same with the amount of shoving and pushing to get us to move back so the celebs could come in from the street. I'm all for fire safety, but being pushed back to make room for a walkway that's already there, is also not cool, especially when you block my shot and shake your head at me. I'm not cattle. Don't herd me.

So despite a few hiccups. I had a great time. And now I'm ready for a quiet weekend :)

Thoughts? Or any other big Target fans out there? Big weekend plans? Happy Mother's Day!

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG congratulations on getting in and meeting people - that looked really exciting :-)

Rachel said...

Let's be honest, if I was there I would have been squealing over the Target stuff but that's only because I don't watch those shows. Looks like you had fun!

Allison M. said...

awesome pictures. I'm 26 and love GossipGirl. It cracks me up every time.
Consider it an act of god you got back there with your business card bc not too long ago Target didn't recognize blogs as media.

LBluca77 said...

OMG Chuck Bass!!!! I would have died. No I actually would have been kicked out for being way too excited seeing him.

What a fun night for you. Lucky girl!

Mandy said...

So. Much. Fun. I was reading your tweets last night and was so excited for you. I had no idea that there were no Targets in the city. So this one is only open for three days? Does it then go to another location in the city? I love target.

EP said...

How exciting! I would have completely freaked out, too, and I don't even watch Gossip Girl! Ah, the fun of living in a big city, huh?

thatShortchick said...

I don't watch GG so those names completely go over my head but Target merchandise AND alchohol all under one roof?!

MAJOR squeals would've been coming from this girl.

Could you explain what the point is of a pop-up bazaar? I've never heard of that before. and that clutch? too cute!

It sounds like those pushy media people are on notice.

Lindsey said...

SO I read all the Gossip Girl books. After about 3 I went to buy the next one at the bookstore. I wasn't sure where it was so I asked. I was informed it was in the teen lit section. So embarrassing (and who would let their teen read those)!

I love the show and LOVE Chuck (almost as much as I love Target)! I can't believe you met him.

So jealous!

Living Dees Life said...

we do 99% of our shopping at Target, this includes groceries. i love having retail and food all in one place. back in arkansas walmart has that but not here in illinois i guess...

i love kate walsh!

hate to sound like a nobody, but the other folks i don't know who they are ...

Pam said...

OMG, you touched Chuck Bass! How was it? Did he smell good? So jealous. I wish Ed kept his accent for Gossip Girl. So hot. And I LOVE the pictures. You are a very lucky girl. When I was looking at people's pics this morning at work, I yelled out "OMG, I WANT TO TOUCH CHUCK BASS." My coworkers now think I'm totally perverted. Oh well.

I went to the Bullseye Bizarre today at lunch. What a zoo! But the place looks fantastic, I loved all the fruit and flowers and everything. Plus, I got this bubble necklace I'm obsessed with and some great eye cream, too. I wish that store was permanent...

shanna said...

AH! How fun is that? I. Never. Meet. Famous. People. The few famous people I've seen/barely talked to were very awkward experience and I had NO GUTS to ask for pictures. You are awesome. Good work and glad you stood up for yourself.

Maki said...

OMG!!!!! This is serious - You are so lucky!! Ed looks so much nicer in real life - oh my, congratulations, Jess!! This is great! We have Super Target 5 mins away from my house, but none of the above would ever happen - really lucky you live in Chicago!

jenn said...

you know what else is epic? My jealousy. I'm literally green right now. Ed Westwick just might be my dream man. *sigh*

SA said...

Jealous. That's all I can say right now. I'm so jealous you got to touch Ed Westwick.

Just more reasons to move to Chicago.

Jess said...

No you didn't! How fun to be a cool new store and see a bunch of pretty people. Good for you Miss VIP.

Lily said...

That is SO amazing! And I LOVE Jessica's style - AH! So jealous!!! :)

Linda said...

Just cracked me up when you wrote "flashed my bloggy business card!" Good job on capturing the event, and thank you for sharing. Loved the excitement in your story.

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com said...

It is so PINK it kills me :) I Love it!

Soph! said...

ahhh! awesome! Glad you had a chance to go!

Lauren said...

I looove Target...and now I love it even more because it had such a cool event. I'm so envious! SO FREAKING ENVIOUS! I'm glad you guys had a blast :)

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

There's always been something about Ed Westwick's look that is conniving, deceitful ... I can't put my finger on it, but I never liked it (and thus him) much. What I'm saying is, I won't knock you down to try to get to him first. He's all yours. hahaha.

Looks like a great night, despite the rain. Personally, I love Target and drop a pretty penny there every few months!

Hal said...

I'm sooo jealous you got to see Kate Walsh! I LOVE her!

Kate Walsh and Target...perfect :)

alexa @clevelandsaplum said...

jess you are my hero with the new media comment.

also, this is so FRIGGIN AWESOME.

Unknown said...

Ooookkkaaayyyyy....I TAKE IT ALL BACK. There I said it.

Though I have no idea who any of these celebrities are...like none. Zero. I'm old and clueless...


You HAD ME AT THE CLUTCH PURSE. Gimme, gimme, gimme. I want it.

P.S. I want to see you wear that hat.

bodelou said...

i freakin L-O-V-E LOVE target. it is retail heaven. i spend many saturday mornings there to unwind. how funny is that?

looks like you had a blast. shit i think you are more relevant (at least to my life) than effin metromix. LAME. ;)

Katelin said...

yaayyy! i'm so glad you got to take pictures with them. i love it. and way to stand up for your blog, woo blogs! :)

Unknown said...

HOW COOL!!! I had no idea this was going down, but it looks like so much fun! Kate Walsh does look amazing, but really, are we surprised?

Congrats on the photos with the hotties! Too cool!

And WTG on elbowing your way in there! That is so awesome!

Katie said...

What a fun night! Target is the best. Glad you got to meet one of the Gossip Guys and a friendly Gossip Girl :o)

Angela Noelle said...

So, so cool :) Vanessa has BIG HAIR!! I love Target so much, I'm glad you had a good time!

LWLH said...

Wow, sounds great, and look at you rubbing elbows with Mr. Bass..*swoon* lol.

Ashley said...

This kind of makes YOU like a celebrity now. Need I say I'm jealous? Seriously though, that's awesome! Just found your blog through 20sb, and I'm liking it!

Maris said...

Now that you've touched Chuck Bass, does that mean I will have too when I stay in your apartment for BlogHer? You know, just by reason of proximity.

NOT THAT IM CREEPY OR ANYTHING

Erin said...

How cool! What an awesome experience. Ahhh, Target, bringer of all that is good.

Hepburn Hilton said...

Wow what a night! I loved Target when I lived in the US.. Worn't yo starstruck though??

Jules said...

I am super jealous! I would LOVE to meet Ed Westwick. He is my favorite character on Gossip Girl and just seems like a cool person in real life. The Bullseye store sounds like so much fun and I love all of your finds, especially that Felix Rey wristlet. So cute :)

That is so cool you snagged some photos of Kate Walsh and Jessica Szohr too!

The Modern Gal said...

How awesome on all the celeb cameos!

Gah, how I wish Target would bring the Bullseye Bazaar to the little people who don't live in places like NYC and Chicago, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much :)

stealthnerd said...

Okay, a picture with Chuck Bass? I am officially jealous!!!

Glad to see you bought a One Star dress at the Bullseye Bazaar :)

Rebekah said...

HOW do you get these gigs, lady?!