Girl's Gotta Eat

[michelej1]

Chicago Sun Times (IL) October 19, 2007

Michael Sneed; The Chicago Sun-Times

The Fitzgerald file . . .

The day has come!

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is engaged!

It's over for all those single femmes in Chicago and Washington, D.C., hoping one day to snag bachelor Fitzgerald, 46, who turned female heads while spearheading Washington's CIA probe and the Scooter Libby trial.

One of the nation's most eligible bachelors and one of People magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive" plans to marry a Head Start teacher from Chicago named Jennifer Letzkus, 34, whose family hails from Decatur.

And it was the Washington Post that got the scoop.

"We are obsessed with him," said scoopster Amy Argetsinger, who printed the zinger in Thursday's editions.

"We are so happy for them but we want to respect their privacy," said Peggy Letzkus, Jennifer's stepmother, who is married to Jennifer's dad, Gerald. The couple lives in Decatur, where their daughter may tie the knot in a small, private ceremony this spring.

Randall Samborn, a spokesman for Fitzgerald who helps maintain a lid on his boss' obsessive privacy, chuckled at how long it took us to find out.

"Several of you reporters have known for a few days," he told Sneed. "I'm surprised it took so long to come out."

- Background: Letzkus, who was described as a former investment banker and a marathon runner, was formerly married to Chicagoan Jeremy Crisup in 2001 and divorced in 2004. She also reported a burglary based on forcible entry to her apartment in 2006.

The heartbreak blog . . .

Chuckle central: Fitzgerald, who has a terrific sense of humor, has handled his share of personal teasing since coming to Chicago . . . but check out this excerpt from the "The Little Pink Clubhouse" blog about his engagement.

"Patrick Fitzgerald is engaged. This is the worst day EVER!

"Ladies, the day we've dreaded is here. Bring your own Kleenex. This will be legendary!

"This calls for chocolate, more chocolate, and chocolate after that! My heart is BROKEN. He's supposed to be pining away for ME, and he gets himself engaged to some gorgeous marathon running, Head Start teaching, former investment banker? How can this BE? She sounds like she's just perfect for my heartthrob. [sob! sob! sniff!] Congratulations, you two. I hope you'll be blissfully happy together.

"In the meantime, I'll be cleaning out the chocolate supply in a three-state area!"

I spy . . .

Supermodel Heidi Klum and her musician husband, Seal, at the posh RL restaurant Wednesday night. . . . Ditto singer Stevie Nicks at a separate table and Brit actor Malcolm "A Clockwork Orange" McDowell, who was dining and reading a book at the RL fireplace. . . . Comedian Bill Bellamy at Gibsons Wednesday. . . . Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood plus family at Gymboree in Lincoln Park Wednesday.

Pew news . . .

The naming of new cardinals this week by Pope Benedict contains a first: It is the first time in history there have been three Irish cardinals in Ireland at the same time.

Sneedlings . . .