Party Like a Lush

Just got news of a new opening of one of my favorite bath and body stores, LUSH. Check them out tomorrow! It seems like there's swag to be had!

Deets:

LUSH Herald Square

44 W. 34th Street

(212)564-0254

RSVP: heraldsquare@lush.com

When: Saturday 10/18 12-5 PM

The Best Little Known Cupcake Secret

NYC has it's fair share of cupcakeries to choose from. There's Magnolia with it's uber creamy frosting, Butter Lane with it's wide array of flavors. Baked By Melissa has the teeny ones and Crumbs has the Big Kahuna ones. West Coast transplant Sprinkles quietly opened up one location in midtown (Lexington between 60th and 61st) and what I'm about to tell you will blow your cupcake mind--they give away free cupcakes EVERY DAY!

Really, I feel foolish spreading this news with the world because I love knowing that should I ever have the craving, I can walk the 1.5 blocks to the shop (aren't I lucky to work so close?!) and grab a little pick-me-up with nothing expected of me in return. However, this deal is too good not to share and I honestly don't think they even give away the 50 or so they are allowed to every day.

How does this magical deal work you ask? Well, every day between 12-2 Sprinkles posts a code word or phrase on both their national Twitter account and Facebook page. Usually the code word will give you a specific flavor of cupcake, but some days you are allowed to choose what you want. You walk into Sprinkles, say the code word and you are handed a cupcake. I often get stares from people waiting in line to buy cupcakes with, you know, money, and that just adds to my overall satisfaction of the experience. Oh and did I mention that this codeword is good at all of the Sprinkles stores in the country? So if you ever find yourself in LA, Chicago, Dallas, DC, etc. you can still score yourself a free treat.

In addition to this lovely little promotion, if you join Sprinkle's birthday club you will get a coupon for a free cupcake on your birthday. Could it get any sweeter?

The Biggins, Nuf Said

Thursday was a very good day. Not only was it a great day for freebies throughout the city (ie: Fekkai styling products and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream), but it was a great day for a Biggins Cupcake from the Cupcake Stop Truck.

I was updated via Twitter that the truck would be giving away 200 of these heavenly monstrosities at 1 p.m. last Thursday and chef Robert Hesse from seasons 5 and 6 of Hell's Kitchen (my guilty pleasure food show) would be on hand to sign autographs and hand out cupcakes. Sugar + Reality Show Celebrity? I pretty much had to go. 

The crowd outside the truck near Madison Square

Now the Biggins is no ordinary cupcake. Talk about gluttony. It's chocolate cake with a secret compartment of caramel and pecans on the inside, topped with a mound of peanut butter frosting and a double chocolate cookie and drizzled in caramel. I was able to pick up mine after only a short wait and I think my taste buds exploded just upon touching the thing.

The Biggins Cupcake

Before I made a mess of myself and enjoyed my dessert, I wanted to get a picture with Robert for the kids back home (that's you guys). He's a really mellow sweet guy - totally different in person than on the show being ridiculed and lambasted by Gordon Ramsay.

Chef Robert Hesse and Me

This is the second time I've experienced a free cupcake from the Cupcake Stop Truck, so if I were you, I'd make sure to follow their Twitter feed so that you can take advantage of the next one. Happy mmmmmm-ing!