007_COFFEE

007_Coffee!
The IronCupcake:Earth challenge for February is COFFEE! No matter where you travel, it seems that there is a coffee shop on any corner. They have become the meeting place of every community. Did you know that in 1763, there were over 200 coffee shops in Venice? So many start their days with a strong cup, pairing it with a cupcake seems only natural. COFFEE is the challenge for February 2009.

FINAL POSTING DAY is the 24th of every month: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 at 12 noon. All times are CENTRAL time.

TAKE NOTE:
• Photograph your baking experience and then post about it on your blog.
• Posting your recipe on your blog is optional.
• New creations only, please. No previously submitted cupcakes.
• In your post, please be sure mention that you are competing to win the following prizes, be sure to include reference and an active link to our prize providers and sponsors:

Our February ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:

• DIANAEVANS - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5599270
• as well as a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281.
• PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!

As an added bonus for February, SWEET CUPPIN CAKES BAKERY AND CUPCAKERY SUPPLY will be tossing in a variety of cupcaking supplies, http://www.acupcakery.com/index.html.

Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com .

• Please verify that all links are active. If you so choose, you may also include photos of the prizes which will be available at the IronCupcake:Earth flickr group page.
• Post your favorite shot (two if you are showing a cross-section) of your cupcake to the Iron Cupcake flickr group, along with a brief summary of your post. Please include a link to your blog in the description and your blog name in the tags. No photos or summaries will be accepted via email.
• You can enter more than one cupcake, but each counts individually as separate entries. Each cupcake must be submitted to flickr and via email separately as well. NEW CREATIONS ONLY, no previously submitted cupcakes please.
  
• E-Mail your recipe(s), along with your first and last name and blog link to IronCupcakeEarth@wi.rr.com . In your subject line, please include IC:IngredientName. Your cupcake recipe must be emailed in order to be eligible for voting and the prize. Please note: you must do BOTH the email submission and the flickr submission.
• Voting will begin no later than Sunday, March 1 at 8 p.m. at NO ONE PUTS CUPCAKE IN A CORNER, http://mkecupcakequeen.blogspot.com and will be open through Friday, March 6 at 12 noon. Send your readers to that address to vote.
• Winner will be posted the night of March 6, before 11:59 p.m.
• Please refer your readers to the IronCupcake:Earth cuphub at http://ironcupcake.blogspot.com to become a part of the excitement.

GOING FORWARD: New ingredients will always be announced on the 1st of the month (or earlier). The submission time closes at 12 noon central on the 24th of the month, regardless of the day of the week. It had been suggested that I standardize these dates, so here you go. ☺
Also, please be aware of the revised voting procedures, posted on the Iron Cupcake site.

ONE LAST THING: During the past couple of challenges, I have done my best to contact people when an element of their entry is missing. There are SO many folks involved now! I can no longer be responsible for contacting those who have not completed their entry. Any entry that is missing either its flickr post OR a complete email submission will not be included. So…please be sure to submit to both flickr and via email to be eligible for the vote. TIP: The 00X_received tag will be added to your flickr photo(s) when your submission is processed.

By participating in IRON CUPCAKE:EARTH you agree to have your recipe considered for use in a future Iron Cupcake:Earth cookbook – credited with your name and blog address (optional) attached. Actual prizes may vary, at the discretion of the artists/manufacturers.

The Beyotch Bus Travels Far and Fast!

Last week I made a post about my visit with two of my best girlfriends - Julie and Tracy - from high school. We got together while I was home for the holiday. Shortly thereafter, Julie sent an email to her mom (Betsy), her sister Jen (Ween) and to Tracy letting them know that they were on the blog. Keep in mind that Julie ALSO has a blog, Blah Blah Blog, and is quite a writer as well. And thus...the following string of emails has followed:

> From: Julie
> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 3:31 PM
> To: Betsy; Ween; Tracy
> Subject: Sandy
>
> Sandy blogged about our dinner out. GREAT picture of Tracy on her blog...

Betsy went to check it out and had this response:

> Subject: RE: Sandy
> Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:40:31 -0800
> From: Betsy
> To: Julie, Ween, Tracy
> Tracy's Mom raised her wrong.
> Betsy

And then, Tracy chimed in - and included her own mother (Gail) into the mix:

> From: Tracy
> Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:31 PM
> To: Betsy, Julie, Ween
> Cc: Gail
> Subject: RE: Sandy
> Well, now, Betsy..... MY mom is not fodder for a public blog! You, on the
> other hand, are - and very good fodder at that!
> Now, who's mom raised who wrong?? ;)
> (yes, it did take me a week to come up with a response to your email... so
> what?)
> Tracy :)

And then...Betsy came back with this one:

> From: Betsy
> To: Tracy, Ween, Julie
> Cc: Gail
> Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:42 PM
> Subject: RE: Sandy
> God Help Julie when I learn how to post to her blog.
> 12 hours of hard labor, and years of sacrifice and heating cans of
> Spagettios and these are the thanks I get? Batshit Betsy? Motherhood is a
> thankless job.
> Thanks,
> Betsy

Well, Julie felt compelled to defend herself - and include me in the string as well:

> From: Julie
> To: Betsy, Ween, Tracy
> Cc: Gail, Sandy
> Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:23 PM
> Subject: Re: Sandy
> She fed me frickin SpagettiOs and she wonders why I publicly mock
> her????????

Finally, Gail was inspired to speak up:

> On 1/28/09 2:10 PM, "Gail" wrote:
> Ladies, Ladies - a bit of maidenly decorum if you will, please!
>
> I can state with full confidence and a straight face that Tracy's failings
> reflect in no way on me - her grandmother raised her! I stand absolved.
>
> Betsy, isn't it nice to know in your heart of hearts that both of them will
> indeed be paid in spades: they fell into the sack with the first fool who
> asked them, they were careless and now they each own their own can openers!
> And time marches on.
>
> I live by the slogan: Old age and cunning will outsmart youth and brains
> every time - and haven't I proven that right - again!!!

At this point I was laughing so hard that I threatened to post the whole thing to the blog. Why? Because I can...

> From: Sandy
> Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 12:53 PM
> To: Gail, Julie, Betsy, Tracy, Ween
> Subject: Re: Sandy
>
> Holy Sh#t, this is great stuff!!!!
>
> I am thinking of publishing this entire string on the blog with photos of
> you all!

Silly me...I thought that might be the end of it...but NO, I then received the following photos with captions:

From Betsy:

Sandy, here's a picture of me that you can use (above). Save you the trouble of finding one.
xxoo
Betsy

From Julie:

I am dying laughing over here.
But for the record, I'm just not so sure that "old age and cunning" will
outsmart a bitchy soccer mom with a blog.
oxo
Sandy, here's a picture of me (above) for your blog. I set down my glass of gin, in
the interest of decorum.

From Tracy:

Julie, you forgot to add "... in a minivan!" to "bitchy soccer mom with a blog". But still, I wouldn't put "old age and cunning" to the test - she'll beat your ass every time. Take my word for it.
I'm also gonna help you out, Sandy, with a picture (above). It's not really that recent, but it's the standard one I usually send out....
-Tracy

You will notice that Ween, Julie's sister, has wisely stayed quiet during all of this. Smart Jen! And I for one, did point out to the ladies during this string that I have never posted anything but sweetness about my mom on this blog and that I don't even own a damn can opener - THANK GOD!!! Thanks for the laughs, girls!

RISHI Thursday

Hurry Milwaukee! Don't miss your opportunity to bake with delicious RISHI TEAS for the 2/9 IronCupcake:Milwaukee challenge. I am placing our order tomorrow afternoon and will need your request by tomorrow noon (1/29). If you are uncertain of what I am talking about, visit the original post to learn of the awesome partnership details with RISHI TEA for this challenge.

You are not required to bake with RISHI TEAS, but this is a fun opportunity to try some yummy flavors for free! There are 2 pick-up times listed in the blog post OR if you work with or near me, you can pick up from me directly.

Get those orders in today!

Too Damn Funny Not to Share!

I got an email today from a "longtime lurker" of the blog. She thought I would love this clip and she wasn't kidding! Amazingly, I ALWAYS watch E!'s THE SOUP but missed it this weekend and was unaware of the hilarity. Thanks Megan - I welcome all lurkers!! Keep the great ideas coming!

Save Betty!!!!

It's all over the net. Legitimate news sources and gossip pages alike are buzzing about ABC's decision to toss Ugly Betty to the back burner so they can breathe life into Christina Applegate's show, Samantha Who? Apparently, Betty returns at the end of the Samantha run in JUNE – the kiss of death in TV programming land.



If you start to read some of these gossip pages you will see a trend that accuses ABC of "gay-washing" their programming - first with Grey's Anatomy and now... a reason for Betty's bye-bye? Shame Shame to ABC!


I know...where is the cupcake content? Well...if you remember, Betty's dad was big into the little cakes for a while and so I am entitled to bitch about ABC pulling one of my favorite no-brainers on my cupcake blog.

What can we do?? COMPLAIN! Here is the link to the abc.com comments page. Piss 'em off!

“There will never be a time when I won’t need your cupcakes.” – Betty Suarez

Betty - I feel the same about YOU!

Swirlz Gets Sweet for your Sweetie!

One of my fave Chicago cupcake shops, SWIRLZ, is offering these adorable Valentine's Day Dark and White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cupcakes available in store daily and via special order from 2/9-2/14! As an added treat, their Pastry Chef will be available to note a custom chocolate message on your cuppie from 10-6 on Valentines Day. Perfect sweet for your sweetie!

Swirlz Cupcakes
705 W Belden Ave
(between Burling St & Lincoln Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
773.404.2253

The Incredible...Cupcake.

hulk 2, originally uploaded by Aka Cupcake Lady.

Everyone Is Doing It...

SoCalCupcakeRun: Johnny Cupcakes - The Grand Finalé!

I finally made it to Johnny Cupcakes! Most of you know that JC is one of my inspirations for starting this blog in the first place. My mom could not understand why I was so excited to go to a shop. Any shop. She just didn't understand. I had been following the concept, the build, the grand opening, the fanfair...I COULD NOT WAIT to visit.



And it did not disappoint. There is obviously a reason that JC was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The details were PHENOMENAL. Wow, Johnny, Good Damn Job! It is like Disneyland, a cupcake shop, a clothing boutique and a rock house all rolled into one.



Thank God my Mom was taking photos, as I was just too visually overwhelmed, I could hardly focus. I wanted one of everything, right now, and make it snappy.



I was rocking my old school JC shirt and sure enough, the gals at the counter noticed it right away. I walked away from my visit to JC with a cute bakery box full of goodies, great pictures and zero disappointment. Oh ... and now, Mom, "gets" it!

Next stop...Boston and the original!

Johnny Cupcakes
7959 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA
323.653.2253
http://www.johnnycupcake.com


Thanks for following my cupcake run. Stay tuned in 2009 for cupcake visits to San Francisco, Boston and back to Chicago – if all goes as planned.

Back with a Vengeance!

Eat Me Cupcakes, originally uploaded by KristynaM.

Lifted from THESPOOF.COM and censored {beep} for the sensitive, for the unedited version, visit thespoof.com.

Cupcakes are back

Written by Alibanger Wanger

They're back! Cupcakes are on the market again, and they're back with a vengeance. No more nice cupcake - these cupcakes are mean!

Watch out when you're taking off their paper - they will give you a paper cut! They'll {beep} in your mouth while you're chewing them and they'll stab your bowels while traveling through your digestive tract. Insiders who are close to the cupcakes tell us it's because they're tired of being iced like {beep}.

"Go {beep} yourself, {beep}," said one cupcake with vanilla frosting when asked why cupcakes are turning to aggression and violence to express their frustration. Betty Crocker, a long time friend of cupcakes, has recently been shunned by the cupcakes, being called a {beep} and a {beep} and told to go on a diet to rid of her {beep} fat ass."

The cupcakes don't seem to be getting better. They're a-holes now and they're a-holes to stay. They refuse to attend any more birthdays, bake sales, and penny carnivals, and instead vow to make this earth a living hell, one cupcake at a time.

Experts suggest switching to cookies and brownies to anyone who still craves small sweets and things you can eat in three bites.

Cupcakes just won't cut it anymore. Unless its in a literal sense.

SoCalCupcakeRun: Tapas Girls

A definite highlight of the California trip was getting together with two of my oldest - or longest - or whatever - friends; Julie and Tracy. We had a long night of lots of food and lots of booze at Bar Celona in THE hipster part of Pasadena. You know Julie...she has appeared on this blog a few times before. We bitches, we tapas'd our asses off! I know my strengths and weakness and I can recognize those of my friends as well...which is why I will now refer you to Julie's post about our visit. Other than some of the MOST HIDEOUS photos of me ever, she really does sum up our visit perfectly.

But I could not let it go unmentioned that by the end of the night,
Tracy was REALLY excited about our awesome dessert;
Bitter Chocolate with Olive Oil and Sea Salt. DAMN!



Here is all of us girls...lookin' like grown-ups,
but still acting like high schoolers...just with booze. :-)

Sexy AND a Hero!

Thanks to my girl Julie for passing this story to me and is originally posted on the Internet Food Association blog. I wonder...if I were to pass out in Tom's presence, would he give me mouth to mouth??? Something to shoot for!

Tom Colicchio: Hero.

January 19, 2009

By Ezra Klein

There’s a phenomenon in journalism called “burying the lede”: It’s when a writer buries the factoid or argument that makes his story interesting deep in the body of the piece. I do not mean to bury my lede. So here it is: Earlier tonight, Tom Colicchio saved Joan Nathan’s life.

Joan Nathan is a James Beard-award winning cookbook author best known for her books Jewish Cooking in America and The New American Cooking. She lives in Washington, DC. Which is how, presumably, she came to host a sprawling party for the Art.Food.Hope inaugural events benefiting DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table. It was, well, very DC. Bob Woodward was there, and so was Carl Bernstein. Jeff Toobin was in the corner and Rachel Maddow wandered through.

But it wasn’t just politicos. Art.Food.Hope is a set of 12 fundraising dinner parties organized by Ayelet Waldman and Alice Waters and catered by an array of accomplished chefs, most of whom were in attendance at Nathan’s soiree. Jose Andres presided boisterously over the proceedings, and some of his kitchen staff spent the night in the front yard roasting a lamb. Daniel Boulud worked the room, Najmieh Batmanglij — whose son turns out to be in Vampire Weekend, oddly enough — spooned Persian wedding rice onto plates, Dan Barber ambled about, Lydia Bastianich floated through a couple of times, and Tom Colicchio was pinned against the banister deflecting fans (there is grassroots anger over last week’s elimination). Which is how he ended up standing next to Nathan when a chunk of chicken went down her wind pipe.

I was in the next room concentrating on a plate of lamb sausage. Alice Waters flung herself into the banister behind me. She was shouting. “Does anyone know the Heimlich maneuver?” She ran back. This is not what you want to hear at a dinner party. Moreover, this is not what you want to hear in the room full of chefs. Don’t they teach the Heimlich at the CIA? Moments later, Waters appeared again. “It’s okay,” she breathed.

What happened in the interim was this: Tom Colicchio knew the Heimlich maneuver. And the Top Chef judge performed it. On Joan Nathan. So not only can Colicchio run multiple restaurants and anchor a cooking show and win five James Beard awards and cook for the rescure workers after 9/11, but he can save your life. Versatile guy. Think he’d be willing to manage the stimulus package?

Incidentally, I managed to chat with Colicchio and Nathan a bit later in the evening. Colicchio was modest. “I just happened to be nearby,” he shrugged. Nathan was more effusive, “He’s so strong!”

SoCalCupcakeRun: A Visit with the Brother

Until now, the blogosphere has had no idea that I have a younger brother. This is Marty, we are six years apart and he lives in CA. We are two very different people; but we do try to get together whenever I am in CA. We both look forward to it. He is one of those band guys - you know the ones; you see them in the hipster parts of town, tattoos, earlobe plugs, they carry themselves with a screw-em-if-they-can't-take-a-joke attitude. Yeah, that's my bro.



While mom and I joined him for lunch, he shared some of his creative ideas for cupcakes with me. PLEASE keep in mind that he if one funny dude with a huge dose of twistedness -- yeah, we are definitely related.

Good Seeing Ya, Marty! I will stick to cupcakes, you stick to music.

SoCalCupcakeRun: A Couple of Pitstops!

Between all the cupcake eating, we had to have a little savory. Don't fool yourself into thinking that we would go for healthy; you know...to counteract all that sugar. Nooooo, one day we had lunch at the iconic Pink's Hot Dogs. If you are unfamiliar with the place, it is a Hollywood staple that people from all walks of life line up for...into the hours...just to eat one of their creations in a bun. We waiting for at least 60 minutes to order, but that was fine...interesting people watching - stories of the folks in line around you - etc. For the 26 years that I lived in California, I had never eaten there. WHY it dawned on me this time I am not sure, but it is one of those Hollywood experiences that it is fun to say that you have done.



This was our healthy lunch...thats my dog in the middle, with chopped tomatos and coleslaw. It is called the Johnny Grant, named after the honorary mayor of Hollywood. Those chili fries are enough to put you in the ER...but what a way to go!

Pink's Hot Dogs
709 N. La Brea Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
323.931.4223
http://www.pinkshollywood.com
709 N. La Brea Blvd., L.A., CA 90038.
709 N La Brea Blvd., L.A., CA 90038.709 N. La Brea Blvd., L.A., CA 90038.




Just before lunch we wandered into the Betsey Johnson boutique. It caught our eye because of its colorful interior of pinks and greens - what's not to want to see? I had no idea that these little gems would be waiting for me inside! OMG - look how cute? WHICH one do I choose? Ha! WTF - I bought 'em both. I am on vacation after all! The silver cup is now sharing chain space with my bottle cap cupcake and my Tiffany cuppie. The gold, as mom put it, is for special occasions - I rarely wear gold jewelry, partially because I want to have my cupcake necklace on at all times. Now I have a reason to shake things up!



While I was getting my purchases wrapped in their sweet little hot pink satin bags, mom was sitting in the lounge flipping through Betsey Johnson featured pubs. Looks like mom took a stop off on Key West or something, wouldn't you say??

Betsey Johnson
8050 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
323.852.1534
http://www.betseyjohnson.com

SoCalCupcakeRun: The Best of the Best, Part II- Auntie Em's

Auntie Em's Kitchen in Eagle Rock is my other favorite cupcake destination of the SoCalCupcakeRun. Now, being that Bobby Flay felt compelled to challenge Terri Wahl - Auntie Em's owner - in one of his Food Network Throwdowns, I knew that we would most likely encounter more than your usual cupcake. Based on that episode, for some reason I had a much grander local in my mind and I also envisioned it nestled up in the foothills. I was wrong on both counts. This place is a funky little spot with oil cloth tablecloths, eclectic art on the walls...even in the bath and a healthy menu with lots of fresh veggies and local grown goods.



Let's face it though. No one reading THIS blog really cares about the sprouts on my sammy. It is all about the KICK ASS red velvet cupcakes that are as big as your head! That cake is rich and dense and moist. I am so used to red velvet being a little dry - definitely not the case with these! OH!!!!! That frosting! The cream cheese frosting is fantastic as well. Go. Go Now. What are you waiting for??

Auntie Em's Kitchen
4616 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
323.255.0800
http://www.auntieemskitchen.com

Tips for IronCupcake:Milwaukee Bakers - general

Welcome to Iron Cupcake:Milwaukee

REGISTRATION FORM: Please print the registration form. Complete and sign and bring with you to the challenge. Be sure to include your assigned baker number in the noted box. ***THIS IS NOT YOUR DISPLAY SIGN***

POTLUCK SAFETY from the State of Wisconsin. You will need to review this and sign that you have made yourself aware of the information within.

TIME: Bakers should arrive at 60-90 minutes before the event to set up. The doors will open to media preview 30 minutes before, bakers should be fully set-up by this time.

Feel free to bring minimal propping, dress up, flyers - all to better tell your cupcake’s story.
SPACE IS LIMITED. Each baker has approx. 2' x 4' to display.

Bakers will be asked to "man" their cupcake stations during the tasting. This way you can tell your tasters what they are eating, lobby for their vote, etc. This will help keep tasting under control and prevent some from taking too many.

CUPCAKES: Please bring no less than 12 dozen MINI cupcakes. You are welcome to bring more. Full size cupcake will no longer be acceptable. You may use full size for your display, but minis are required for the tasting portion of the event. Mini muffin and cupcake pans can be purchased at most major supermarkets and bigbox stores.

RECIPE: You may scratch bake or doctor up a box mix. It is your choice. You are not required to submit your recipe.

PRESENTATION: Please bring a small sign stating the content of your cupcake. Also please note if it contains nuts or other allergens. This is considered part of your presentation. See photo at end of this post for an example. It is recommended that you label your cupcakes with your baker number that will be provided the week of the event. Stickers under the cupcake or a small flag works well. Other important notes for your display:

• No fire or open flame.
• No alcohol may be served as a partner to your cupcake.
• There is no guarantee that there will be an outlet near your table. If your display requires power, we recommend battery power.
• No spray, spew or any other display tactics that will cause a mess in our event facilities.
  
• Mechanicals are fine if self-contained.
• SAFETY trumps all else.
  

CHECK-IN: When you arrive, please check-in with your completed registration form. You will receive your own ballot at that time. Teams are fine, however; only 2 members will be admitted free of charge.

VOTING PROCEDURE: Each cupcake will be judged by all in attendance. Voting is based on presentation and taste. Tickets will be collected and tabulated to determine the winner. Ballots are then destroyed to keep the game fun and to keep competitiveness to a minimum. The winner of the taste vote and presentation vote will each receive a Gift Card to various businesses around Milwaukee. In the event of a challenge partner, it is possible that the partner company will also reward a "Partner's Pick" prize as well.

STAY INFORMED: If you have not already done so, please join the FACEBOOK IronCupcake:Milwaukee group. This is the easiest way to stay on top of all things ICM. Also, No One Puts Cupcake in a Corner at http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com has a resource area in the left hand column for reference.

IronCupcake:Milwaukee welcomes Rishi Tea!

I am so please to announce to all Milwaukee IronCupcakers that RISHI TEA is joining us for the February 9th TEA challenge! In addition to attending our event and providing a prize pack for our winner - yes, I said PRIZE PACK - RISHI is also generously offering free tea for your cupcake baking. For a limited time, IronCupcake:Milwaukee bakers can email me a request for one of the teas listed on the menu below. (If you click on it, it will enlarge for easier reading.)

• I MUST receive your tea request no later than 12 noon on THURSDAY, JANUARY 29th.
• Send your request to IronCupcakeMilwaukee[at]wi.rr.com
  
• Include your name, address and phone number.
  
• I will then submit our order to Rishi, and then pick up the teas that afternoon.
• You will then need to pick your tea up from me on:

Sunday 2/1 from 2-4 p.m. at the Riverwest Alterra Coffee, 2999 N Humboldt Blvd.


or Wednesday 2/4 from 5-6 p.m at Fratellos

• Please note which time you would like to pick up your tea from me when you email your request.
• If you would like to pay for postage to have your tea mailed, that can also be arranged.
• You are not required to use RISHI teas for your cupcake, but they are available for our bakers at no cost.

MANY, MANY THANKS TO THE FOLKS AT RISHI FOR JOINING OUR COMPETITION!

Its a Very Dark Day in Milwaukee...

I was absolutely sickened to see in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that iconic Milwaukee book seller, Harry W. Schwartz, would be closing their doors. When I went to their website the following letter was posted. There is no charm, no character in a city that offers only big box shopping opportunities. I know that times are tough, but I hope that the 2 independent ventures that will stem from this will continue to offer Milwaukee the creativity and diversity that this city needs.

Dear Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop Customers,

We believe there is wisdom in knowing the appropriate time to say farewell. After 82 years of bookselling, it is with immense sadness that we announce the closing of Milwaukee's own independent Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops. Our doors will be permanently shut as of Tuesday, March 31st, 2009.

For eight decades, we have remained a family-owned business. Harry and Reva Schwartz, followed by their son A. David Schwartz, guided the independent book business from 1927, when Harry opened his first store in the back of a Downer Avenue beauty parlor, to today's age of computer publishing and the surge of Internet shopping.

Unfortunately, profound shifts in how people shop and equally great changes in the book industry left us and many other well-established bookshops with dwindling sales. Although David Schwartz successfully led us into the new century fighting for our ground, the winds of change became gales -- and with David's passing in 2004, we were a wounded business. The most recent economic crisis was, for us, the final blow.

David spoke frequently about the social profit of bookselling as the most important bottom line, the essential result being the positive impact the books have on a community. Nevertheless, to have such an impact a business must be viable, something that is no longer the case.

Amidst our heartache, all of us at Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops take pride in the belief that we have brought you the best literature the world has to offer. We like to think that our bookshops have played a vital role in the intellectual life of our city. Our bookshops have hosted more than 200 authors a year during the past 10 years, and we hope we can take some credit for introducing new writers to the many enthusiastic readers. We're equally proud of the Schwartz Gives Back program, which, with your support, has donated more than $460,000 to nonprofit organizations throughout the community.

Most importantly, we recognize the Harry W. Schwartz booksellers who are a vital part of the Schwartz experience. Over these eight decades the Schwartz Bookshops have been home to hundreds of smart, passionate, and inspiring booksellers, many of whom have considered themselves part of the Schwartz family.

Thank you, Milwaukee, for being part of our book-loving family for 82 years. We wish you the pleasure of many great books in your future, and the delight of sharing them with those you love.

Carol Grossmeyer President

Rebecca Schwartz Chairman

SoCalCupcakeRun: The Best of the Best, Part I - HotCakesBakes

Hotcakes Bakes...a tie for my favorite cupcake shop of the SoCalCupcakeRun! A prime example that you should ALWAYS try things for yourself before you pass judgement. I had read some reviews that made me wonder whether I should even put this place on my list. BOY, AM I GLAD THAT I DID! This was the first stop, as soon as we left the airport, on my first day in CA. Tucked into a non-descript strip of random businesses, other than the signature pink and brown sign, we would have missed it all together.



When we got inside we found an unpretentious little gem of a bakery. In addition to a large variety of cupcakes, they offered these lovely little french cannelles - a custardy carmelized little nugget of sweetness. They were so good, we took some home for Dad - and us!



I had this A-FREAKING-MAZING Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake. The frosting was whipped cream based and thus much lighter and less sugary than your standard cupcake topping. I ABSOLUTELY loved that topping.....(drool).



In addition to their fantastic mini-treats, the were also proudly displaying a photo of the cake they baked for Kobe Bryant's birthday - remember, Los Angeles is Lakers country.
Do yourself a favor...and visit HotCakesBakes!

Hotcakes Bakes
4119 S. Centinela Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
310.397.2324
http:www.hotcakesbakes.com

SoCalCupcakeRun: Bristol Farms

Bristol Farms is a high-end market that has a reputation for artisan and gourmet goodness. I had not planned on visiting until my girls Tracy and Julie said that they had heard that their cupcakes were fantastic. Indeed, these are some good cups! Mom had a Black Forrest and I had a Strawberry and they were both delish! These were big, hearty cupcakes - not so delicate, but really awesome. The strawberry-white chocolate curls on top were such a nice touch!

Bristol Farms
606 Fair Oaks Ave
South Pasadena, CA
626.441.5450
http://www.bristolfarms.com

ICM-To a "TEA"

The next IronCupcake:Milwaukee challenge will be TEA.
Due to the recent salmonella outbreak, we thought it would be best to postpone the PEANUT BUTTER challenge until a later date.

See you on FEBRUARY 9th with your TEA cupcakes!

3 minutes down, 12 minutes to go...

We did it gang! Great piece! Congrats to all ICM bakers and eaters!
Here is my amateur video via youtube, or visit the TMJ4 website to see theirs!

Please take note...the video mentions that the next ingredient is PEANUT BUTTER. IN FACT - The next IronCupcake:Milwaukee challenge will be TEA.
Due to the recent salmonella outbreak, we thought it would be best to postpone the PEANUT BUTTER challenge until a later date.

ICM Makes It's TV Debut!

Don't miss the television debut of IronCupcake:Milwaukee!
Tonight at 10 on Milwaukee channel 4.

Hopefully, I will have a video post of it sometime this weekend!

SoCalCupcakeRun: Polkatots

OK, look at these pictures. Isn't this place cute? It is called Polkatots Cupcakes, in northern Pasadena. Like so many cupcake shops, it is nestled in an unexpected area and just cried out to be enjoyed. Doors propped open - invitingly. Sweet color palette and cute cupcakes. I was excitied to go it and have a taste. But it didn't happen! We milled about the front counter for about 5 minutes and no one ever came from behind the door to the back of the bakery.



So, I have one suggestion...a doorbell...perhaps some more sales will be the result.

Polkatots Cupcakes and Candy
720 N. Lake, Suite 3
Pasadena, CA
626.798.3932
http://www.polkatotscupcakes.com/