Last year when we were in Chicago, Jeff and I went to the American Girl place to get Madeleine one of the American Girl dolls. In case you don't know what American Girl dolls are - they are 18" dolls which have an historical background. For example, we bought Madeleine the Samantha doll (mostly because we thought it looked like her) who lives in 1904. All of her clothes, accessories, books etc. all take place in 1904. For her birthday this year, we went to the American Girl place in LA and we got her Molly - the doll from the 1940's. I've been making doll clothes on the road and mailing them to Madeleine for Samantha, and now I have Molly to dress as well.
Anyway, while Madeleine was in Chicago, we wanted to take her to the American Girl Place so Amanda and I had a girls day out. Amanda made reservations for the American Girl revue which is a little stage show and also for tea in the cafe there. We took the train in and the free trolley down Michigan Ave. or "the Magnificent Mile." Madeleine and Amanda got to see all the American girls. Here is Madeleine standing in front of the Molly exhibit - just a sampling of all the possible things you can buy for Molly
 Molly's exhibit |
 Samantha's exhibit |
. I bought Molly some blue/white saddle oxfords which were just too cute. Amanda got an accessory kit for Samantha which included a gorgeous velvet hat, the "Miss Victory" outfit for Molly, the Molly DVD (yes, these dolls have their own movies - and they're quite good), and a "touring outfit" which was on sale if you spent over a certain amount of money which is not hard to do.The revue was performed by young girls from about 8-14 years old and was very nicely done. They incorporated the stories of all the historical dolls which go back to a Native American Girl and end with Molly in WWII. It was so cute to look out at the audience and see all these enrapt young girls with their dolls sitting on their laps engrossed in the play. Unfortunately Madeleine did not have either Molly or Samantha with her. Due to a packing error, she brought their clothes, but somehow missed getting the dolls packed. Amanda said they didn't realize the missing dolls until they were in Oklahoma or they might have turned around to get them.
After the revue was over, we went upstairs to the cafe for tea
 Tea with American girls |
 Tiers of goodies |
- one of them was a cup made of chocolate filled with a raspberry cream. All the sandwiches and desserts were named for the various historical dolls.They have special seats for the girls' dolls, and even though Madeleine didn't have hers, they have dolls ready to visit during tea. Madeleine picked this contemporary doll to sit with her and the doll gets its own miniature cup and saucer too
 Borrowed doll gets tea too! |
There was a table of men who came in and sat right behind our table. They were speaking French and were obviously impressed with the whole set-up as they were taking lots of pictures. The wait staff brought them dolls too, so they wouldn't be left out.
After tea, it was time to leave the magic of American Girl Place, but we noticed when we left that everyone had obeyed the law
 Everyone obeys the law |
Madeleine wanted to take a picture of Amanda and me, so here it is
 Mom and Grandma - Taken by Madeleine |
