That was just PRACTICE!!!
WMSE/IronCupcake:Milwaukee
PRO/AM Cupcake Clash
Sunday, February 13th
MSOE Kern Center
Pitting pros against pros. Amateurs against amateurs -- in a fight to the finish to declare Milwaukee area's BEST CUPCAKE for 2011! IronCupcake:Milwaukee will be partnering with 91.7 WMSE! In honor of Valentine's Day -- Perfect Pairs is the theme! This is THE competition of the year. Bigger and badder and more awesome than ever!PRO/AM Cupcake Clash
Sunday, February 13th
MSOE Kern Center
CELEBRITY & SPECIAL GUEST JUDGES!
As if Duff wasn't cool enough, Food Network Cake Challenge competitors VINNY & MICHELLE GARCIA* of Bleeding Heart Bakery in Chicago will be there as well!
Still not enough?? The always charming and a little bit crazy DEAR RUTHIE* can not help but stop by to check out all those damn cupcakes!!WMSE is a unique, award-winning music radio station licensed by the Milwaukee School of Engineering and operating as a department of MSOE, but financially independent of the university. WMSE Radio, 91.7 FM has been broadcasting for over 25 years. WMSE is made possible financially with the support of volunteers, local businesses, contributing listeners and now, the entire IronCupcake universe!
THE DETAILS
Date: Sunday, February 13th. Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Cupcake voting ends at 12:30)
Tickets:
$6 Entry Ticket/$1 Tasting Tickets available the day of the event -- CASH ONLY. 1 cupcake per ticket, beverages (milk, coffee, tea and; of course, beer) will be available for other amounts -- CASH ONLY. Online ticket sales are now closed.
Where: MSOE Kern Center is located at 1245 N. Broadway in downtown Milwaukee. At the corner of Broadway and Knapp. For more information, visithttp://www.msoe.edu/athletics/facilities/kern_center_directions.shtml
PROUD PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
The list is still growing, but this event would not take place without the help of our AMAZING local supporters. Please buy their products, eat their food and use their services to say THANK YOU For their support!91.7 WMSE
IronCupcake:Milwaukee
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Frontier Airlines
Iron Horse Hotel
Charm City Cakes
OnMilwaukee.com
Sassy Cow Creamery
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AJBombers
IronCupcake:Milwaukee
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Frontier Airlines
Iron Horse Hotel
Charm City Cakes
OnMilwaukee.com
Sassy Cow Creamery
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AJBombers
*scheduled to appear
14 comments:
Just want to be clear on the pricing: $6 gets me into the event, $1 tickets are per cupcake that I want to try? Or does the $1 ticket allow me to try multiple cupcakes.
Thanks, I'm new to this!
I updated the post, it should be more clear now.
Thanks - much clearer now!
I've been a huge IronCupcake fan since the 2009 MAM event. I was going to participate as a amateur baker in the next regular challenge and had even stock-piled mini-cupcake supplies and recipes. But, no longer: I won't be attending, I won't be baking, and I won't be talking up IronCupcake anymore.
Too bad: I thought this was a really fun, unique Milwaukee event. A participant-judged cupcake presentation and *taste* competition? Awesome! But, when you start restricting the number of cupcakes participants try - now to the point of charging per *mini*-cupcake?! - it is no longer a true competition. "Milwaukee's Best Cupcake" is just an empty title and this isn't the community-focused event I thought it was.
Regarding Jennifer's comment...
As stated in the event announcement, this is not a regular IronCupcake challenge. It is a super-sized event with celebrity participation. Because of this, we are forced to find a way to accommodate all of the people who would like to attend. The Pro challenge in 2009 had 8 bakers. This event has nearly 30 bakers with 60 different cupcakes being presented; it would be physically impossible, and purely unhealthy, for any person to try them all. Instead, it is the challenge of each baker/team to make cupcakes that are interesting and enticing enough for people to want to include that cupcake in their choices.
The WMSE Rockabilly Chili Challenge has successfully used this voting/tasting method in the past. Given that this is a fund-raising event for the radio station, that is being held at their facility, it made perfect sense to merge with their practices. Again, this is a much larger challenge than any in the past.
We have worked very hard to make this event fun and exciting for the bakers who compete and for the people who choose to attend. Cupcake tastings, local business samplings, photo booth activities, and the opportunity to meet a cooking celebrity; plus LOTS and LOTS of giveaways for the crowd. We believe that those who choose to attend will have a terrific time.
IronCupcake may not be the event that it once was, but as any business or event grows more in demand, changes have to be made to accommodate the additional people who wish to be a part of it. IronCupcake still focuses on local business, supports local non-profit and allows the community at large to select its winners.
I am nothing but proud of what has been put together for this event and the partnership with local businesses that make it possible. Those who attend will not be disappointed.
I agree with your comments Sandy. Sounds like the concept was misunderstood unfortunately.
I think it will be a fantastic event that will afford a lot of great experiences for those who are pros and amateurs. I know we're all looking forward to it and appreciate all of the hard work and effort that has gone into making this event happen!
Jennifer brings up some important ideas. A dollar for a mini-cupcake (or is it per pair?) is a very un-Milwaukee price, even at a community-powered-radio event.
Leaving aside the upcoming Pro event, Iron Cupcake of late has limited the sanctioned tastings to 10 (or so) cupcakes at events that have 20-some bakers. How can we fairly tell the winner that they made the best tasting cupcake when there were too many to taste?
I bring an egg carton to each event so I can try a bite and take the rest home. *I* will decide how many cupcakes it is "possible" or "healthy" for me to eat on any given day.
Yes, events grow (roller derby had to move to a bigger arena, with ticket prices to match), and that's wonderful. I'm thrilled to see Milwaukee get excited about a food event that isn't focused on beer, cheese, or pizza. But the cupcake competitions aren't spectator sports. If they've grown too big to judge fairly, then have them more frequently (instead of skipping November, December, and now January). True, events take legwork, but the interest is clearly there, so delegate the legwork.
Sometimes I think the Iron Cupcake is more focused on its self-appointed Queen than on Milwaukee cupcake culture.
Personally, I think the idea of Iron Cupcake Milwaukee has been sorely missed! Sandy has done an amazing job of bringing something true and unique to Milwaukee. This all started as a fun thing to do with her friends, and she turned it into a charity event, giving back to the community. It's a fun thing to attend and participate in. As a regular baker, it's given me personally a chance to meet so many great people in Milwaukee that are doing wonderful possitive things. True, Iron Cupcake has grown beyond what anyone has possibly imagined. Sometimes change is in order, and with that comes growing pains. However, shange doesn't always have to be a negative thing. Perhaps it's not as ideal for you, and you are entitled to feel that way and your opinions about it. The Pro event is very different from the regular challenges, so rules needed to be different. Sandy has gone through many lengths and a lot of research to try to resolve any problems as possible. She came up with what she felt would be the best way to focus on the way this event can be the best ever.
I understand that times are tough and that everyone can afford to give of themselves as much as they would like too. Perhaps the idea of paying for per cupcake is a turn off. You have to remember that the venue to hold such a large amount of people needs to be paid for, and that reflects in the price, and that a certain percentage of that money goes to a small non-profit organization that can bennifet from such a donation. This is one way I am able to give, and that's what matters the most to me, and is the driving force behind why I participate.
Iron Cupcake may not be for everyone, but Sandy exhausts herself on trying to bring the very best to Milwaukee and it's people. She's never once tried to make this about her, and that's painfully obvious in her generous giving and friendships. I'm sorry that Jennifer and citizenjill have been turned off to Iron Cupcake, but I hope that many others do not take the change in this chance in a life time event to cloud their perception of the incredible work and dedication that goes into Iron Cupcake.
Iron Cupcake never has been and still is not about Sandy. This is a competition that we, as bakers, are putting a lot of time and money into and how much work actually goes on behind the scenes. As someone who has done Iron Cupcake many times in the past, I've seen how crazy it can be and how much money is put into it. I've seen one person take 10 cupcakes from my table, which doesn't leave much for those who may not be the first few in the door. As the event grows and grows, there needs to be some changes and limits put into place, to not only keep the bakers happy but to allow all of those who attend the ability to sample their fair share of cupcakes. Put yourself in the place of those who have been behind those people that take more than their fair share, or even in the place of the bakers, who went above an beyond.
Moreover, this is a special ICM event, it's not every month that Duff Goldman comes to Milwaukee to judge. I'm proud to be a part of such of a great event, and supporting Sandy. Yes, it's expensive, but to me it's worth the time and money to be a part of it. If you don't agree, then choose not to be a part of it, but don't belittle someone who has put their heart and soul into something that has grown by leaps and bounds. Those of you who think that this event has become about Sandy, CLEARLY do not know anything about her and what she sacrifices for this event. Sorry, but think before you speak.
We cannot wait to attend this awesome event! Thanks to everyone (but especially Sandy) for putting this together!
Sounds like a bargain to me! ICM has been a real treat in Milwaukee. I hope you can raise lots for WMSE.
I am all for change and like the new idea for the most part.
However, I think $1.00 for each additional cupcake is just crazy.
I would be more willing to come & pay 50 cents for each additional cupcake and would understand when the cupcakes are gone, they're gone. Certainly not easy on the budget for a family day. I think you should rethink this for future challenges.
You'd pay $10 for a two-hour movie, right? Think of this as entertainment. You'll have a fun time, and you get to eat cupcakes while you're at it. Other tasting events cost upwards of $50, so please take this minimal cost in stride, and enjoy it for what it is - a cupcake charity event! Have fun everyone!
I have never been to one of these events and am hoping to go this year. I think that $1 per cupcake is reasonable. The entrance ticket price is extremely reasonable. It sounds like Sandy has done an amazing job putting this event together and I am really hoping that me and my family will be able to get tickets to attend. I have eaten at Milwaukee Cupcake and Classy Girls cupcakes in Milwaukee and both charge more than $1 per cupcake. So, to be able to sample competition quality cupcakes from many different people for only $1 each sounds like a steal to me. It gets frustrating to read the comments of people who are so negative about an event that is positive.
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