Cake Byte: CupcakeCamp Baltimore is this Weekend!

Seeking sweetness in Baltimore? Well, look no further. Per a great article on the Baltimore Sun website, "There is still some room left in Baltimore's first cupcake camp on Sept. 24 at Blue Hill Tavern."

As the article puts it,

Cupcake Camp is not about learning how to make cupcakes, it's about eating them. A cupcake camp is, then, an "ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for people to share and eat cupcakes in an open environment."

And this one is an event to be excited about, as it's being organized by Rachel of Coconut & Lime! As you recall, I hung out with her at Wilton in the Chicago area. But I digress. As the article goes on, 

Here's what you need to know about cupcake camp. 

It's free. It's an over 21 event (sounding better by the minute). While it's encouraged, you don't actually have to bring any cupcakes. But let's face it, it will be more fun if you bring them. There's more on the event page. And you have to have to have to have a ticket.

And, of course, the part of the article that made me love it most:

Check out the Charm City Cupcake Camp Facebook page. The Charm City Cupcake Camp illustration, by the way, is by Jesse Olsen, CakeSpy author and blogger. Look, look, look at her rainbow cake.

If you're in Baltimore, visit the CupcakeCamp Facebook page!

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Going to the Emmy Awards with Duncan Hines

So, the other day, Duncan Hines called me and said "Yo, CakeSpy, want to go to the Emmy Awards?". Naturally I said yes. And now, I get to go buy myself a cute party dress in anticipation of hobnobbing with the likes of Jon Hamm and other TV stars.

Well, OK, that didn't really happen. But I do get to go to the Emmy Awards, compliments of Duncan Hines.

I know, I know, I know what you're thinking. "How on earth did this happen?".

Here's the deal. Apparently, Duncan Hines has a program called "Fans in the Stands" wherein the company (an Emmy sponsor, I imagine) sends a handful of cake-lovin' food bloggers to the awards show, where we get to stand not on, but near the red carpet. This is totally fine with me, as I have never even been in the same zip code as a red carpet before. 

And I'm one of those lucky few; apparently they liked what I said in this NY Times article, and they invited me along. Woot! I will be joined by a few other bloggy superstars: Nicole of Baking Bites (who I met at Wilton!), Anna of Cookie Madness (who came to my store!), and Erika of In Erika's Kitchen (who I met in NYC!).

So what does this mean for you? Basically, I am telling you that on Sunday, September 18, you should stay tuned to my Twitter and Facebook feeds because I will tell you all about the celebrity hobnobbing and delicious desserts I am eating.

Thank you, Duncan Hines! I can't wait for my close-up.

Cake Byte: CakeSpy Coming to Chicago for the Renegade Craft Fair, September 10 and 11, 2011

Get excited, Chicago. Get VERY excited. For a few reasons.

For one thing, I'm coming your way for the Renegade Craft Fair next weekend, September 10 and 11! And I will have onesies, socks, original art, prints, and a ton of cards (among other products) to sell to you. Oh, and--just saying--I'll have my book, too. And I will totally sign it for you, after you pay for it.

You'll find me and my crafty BFF AbbeyChristine cute-ing it up at the fair...come say hi! 

But before the Renegade Craft fair, there's also a totally sweet event on September 9 at Busy Beaver Buttons: the Superhero Button Release Party. I designed some buttons for the series! Read more about my button designs here.

For details on the Renegade Craft Fair, visit the official site! But I'll tell you right now, it's both days next weekend, September 10 and 11, 2011, from 11-7 both days.

But wait, there's more! I will be staying a day or two extra in the Chicagoland area so that I can do a mural at Bleeding Heart Bakery! Yeah! (as you know, I have done murals in Minneapolis and Seattle!)

Oh, and did I mention the most important part? I will actually be driving to the fair from Seattle...making a pastry road trip of the journey! Look out for updates on sweets from Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Minnesota and more while I work my way over to Chicago! And of course, feel free to pass on any suggestions along the way.

Road Trip to Chicago: What Bakeries Should CakeSpy Visit?

Guess what, sweeties? I'm coming to Chicago for the Renegade Craft fair, and staying a little extra time to do a totally sweet mural at one of the Bleeding Heart Bakery locations (I think the Oak Park one).

But here's the thing. I'm DRIVING to Chicago, and I need your help! What bakeries should I visit on the way?

I am listing my "best case scenario" including all the bakeries I'd like to visit, but of course I realize that based on a limited schedule, I might not make it to all of them. But let me know if there are any great bakeries (or regional specialties in a given area) that I should make sure to try!

Washington:

Yakima: 

• Essencia Artisan Bakery

Spokane

• Mary Lou's Milk Bottle
• Petit Chat
• Rocket Bakery

Idaho:

Coeur d'alene:

• Bella Rose Bakery
• Frosted Cupcakes 

Montana:

Missoula:

• Bernice's Bakery
• Big Dipper Ice Cream
• Le Petit Outre

Bozeman:

• Sweetpea Bakery

 Billings:

• Caramel Cookie Waffles

 Wyoming:

Sheridan:

• Java Moon

South Dakota:

Chamberlain 

• Indulge

Rapid City:

• Piece of Cake

Sioux Falls: 

• Cookie Jar

Minnesota:

Rochester: 

• Daube's
• Gingerbread Factory

Wisconsin:

Osseo, WI:

• Norske Nook

Madison:

• Daisy Cafe
• Ella's Deli
• Marigold Kitchen

Columbus: 

• Sassy Cow Creamery

Illinois:

Chicago:

• Bittersweet
• Black Dog Gelato
• Bleeding Heart Bakery (duh)
• BangBang Pie and Coffee
• Dinkel's
• Hoosier Mama Pie for the Friday night Pie Flights!
• Medici Bakery
• Molly's Cupcakes
• Patisserie P
• Red Hen Bread
• Sweet Mandy B's
• also, maybe I can catch Flirty Cupcakes (a mobile cupcake truck) 

Oak Park:

• Sugar Fixe 

Add destinations to the comments section or to the CakeSpy Facebook page!

Sweet September: Cupcake Royale Debuts New Flavors for the Month

Say goodbye to summer, but don't say goodbye to delicious: Cupcake Royale has just debuted its September flavors, just in time for Back To School (or, you know, thursday). Here's the 411 on the new flavors:

Huckleberry Cupcakes! This baby starts with local huckleberries (fresh, as in they were picked this past weekend) folded into into their vanilla cupcake and top it with a huckleberry buttercream frosting. This cupcake brings all the bears to the yard. CCR has partnered with local farm Foraged & Found Edibles to provide them with their huckleberry crop this year. In case you don’t know what a huckleberry is, think of it as the little brother to a blueberry but with even more flavor.

Peanut Butter and Jam, sitting in a tree. This classic combo has our vanilla cupcake, filled with fresh local strawberry jam (fresh, as in they made it last week) topped with a super fluffy, salty peanut butter buttercream. Sprinkled with chopped peanuts and a coarse sugar and sea salt.

Now through September 30th at all five of their cafes. For locations and hours, visit cupcakeroyale.com.

Cake Byte: Molly Moon's Ice Cream to Open Queen Anne Location

Guess what, Seattle? As the weather cools down, the ice cream scene heats up: Queen Anne is going to get its own Molly Moon's Ice Cream Shop! It's true. I just received a press release:

Molly Moon Neitzel today announced the opening date of her fifth Seattle-based scoop shop, located at 321 W. Galer St. in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood. Molly Moon’s Queen Anne, the neighborhood’s soon-to-be most popular hangout is slated to open at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Queen Anne residents proved to be Seattle’s most-devoted ice cream eaters this past winter by paying multiple visits to Moon’s big, blue ice cream truck and posting their appreciation for Moon’s creamy, frozen deliciousness on the company’s Facebook page. Kids of the “Shop 3, Where Will it Be?” winning ‘hood are welcome to enjoy complementary scoops at the opening.

“I can’t wait to share our homemade ice cream, sundaes and milk shakes with the people of Queen Anne,” said Neitzel. “I have put so much thought in to the design of the Queen Anne shop, making sure that it fit in perfectly with the neighborhood’s sophisticated vibe. I hope the community enjoys creating memorable moments over scoops of our classic and whimsical flavors.”

In celebration of Moon’s long-awaited Queen Anne opening, kids 12 years of age and under, who visit the shop on Thursday, Sept. 15 between 3 and 5 p.m. will receive a complementary kid-sized scoop of their favorite flavor. Molly Moon’s Queen Anne will be open daily from 12-noon to 11 p.m. beginning Friday, Sept. 16.

 For more info, visit the Molly Moon's Website!

Seeking Sweetness: Daily Snapshot, The CakeSpy Book Has Arrived At CakeSpy Shop

CakeSpy Note: if you follow me on facebook or Twitter, you probably know I'm partial to observing (and sometimes adding) sweetness in the natural world and urban landscape. Here's where I post a daily feel-good photo or image, for no particular reason other than to showcase these sweet little nothings, in hopes that they'll make you smile.

Well, would you look at that. My book! It has arrived at CakeSpy Shop! You can go ahead and buy it! Also, come and see me on my upcoming Tour De Sweet Book Tour!

Cake Byte: the Bake it in a Cake Bakesale Totally Ruled

So. If you didn't make it to the totally sweet Bake it in a Cake Bakesale last week at CakeSpy Shop, I feel very sorry for you. Because there were so many delicious treats and you didn't get to eat them!

But, I do feel for you, really, I do. And so here's a little slideshow of some of the sweet treats--a little virtual snack for you, including pictures of brownies stuffed with oreos, cupcakes stuffed with mini pies, and more! See you at the next bake sale, sweeties! Keep up with Megan's work on the Bake it in a Cake website!

Cake Byte: BYOC Bring Your Own Cake Party at CakeSpy Shop Today

CakeSpy, several birthdays ago.Guess what? On August 1 CakeSpy.com turned 4, and yesterday I turned 30 and I want you to help me celebrate my birthday month.

Since I just turned 30, I definitely want at least 30 cakes in my life this week. So, from 12-4pm today, Saturday the 27th of August (the day after my actual birthday) I am having an open house party at my Seattle art gallery, CakeSpy Shop, which is located at 415 East Pine Street, Seattle WA.

The only catch is that since it's MY birthday, I demand that you bring ME cake. It can be a slice or a cupcake or (if you're so moved) a 7-layer cake, but it's BYOC (bring your own cake!). Presents not necessary, though I am not lying, if you brought me one I wouldn't refuse it.

I'll make sure to have milk, forks, plates, and napkins.

Open House: 12-4 pm

Location: CakeSpy Shop, 415 East Pine Street, Capitol Hill, Seattle.

Or buy stuff online at cakespyshop.com

Cake Byte: Cupcake Royale Debuts August Flavors

Happy August! Keep it sweet with Cupcake Royale's new roster of flavors for this month:

Blackberry Buckle

Rumor has it that upon tasting this new flavor, one of our employees actually teared up. A blackberry cake topped with a blackberry whipped cream frosting is finished with a cinnamon streusel crunch. We can't guarantee that it'll make you cry with delicious happiness, but let's just say that we wouldn't judge you if it did.

Double Chocolate Raspberry

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. First, your tart raspberries and semi-sweet chocolate chips, gently folded into a tasty vanilla cake. Second, how you are topped with a fluffy, white chocolate buttercream frosting and garnished with a fresh raspberry and chocolate curls. It all adds up to a double dose of sweetness with just a hint of tart. Delicious with a latte!

...and for those of you who missed July's Strawberry flavors, you're in luck: the Strawberry Shortcake is sticking around! As they say:

There's no way around it, Strawberry Shortcake was this year's favorite Strawberry Festival flavor! We heard from you on Twitter(follow us!) and Facebook (like us!) and in the cafes. We totally get it especially since we've had more than our fair share of them ourselves. The light, strawberry-flavored whipped cream frosting ringed in graham cracker crumbs goes perfectly with the sweet strawberry-infused vanilla cake. Not carrying it over would have been cruel.

...but wait, there's yet MORE! Per the Cupcake Royale facebook page, there's also a special Peach Cupcake...but you won't find it at their cafes!

Welcome back, Peach cupcakes! Beginning August 1, our Peach cupcakes will be available exclusively at all 6 Metropolitan Market locations. And we mean exclusive - these aren't even available in our cafes. Swing by Metropolitan Market to pick some up. Our seasonal Peach cupcakes start with a delicious vanilla buttercake which is filled with luscious diced peaches and then topped with peach vanilla buttercream. A sweet and simple summer highlight!

Stay updated via cupcakeroyale.com!