After rousing support from friends, family, strangers, and my beloved Cupcake Lovers, I was proud to announce my placement as a finalist for The Black Street Awards. I knew that I wanted to celebrate this victory and say, "Thank you" to everyone who voted, liked, subscribed, followed or ever read my blog.
Hostess Shelby
Drinks and laughs were had all night!
L-R: Adrienne Fikes, Guest,
Sharia B of Socialite Events and
Caryn & Sydney of BottomlessMimosa.com
The event was sponsored by Sweet Themez bakery, CityLifeDeals.com, and WashingtonEats.com. With a venue in mind and the date set, over seventy-five people poured into the Blue Banana Sports Bar (3632 Georgia Avenue) and partook in libations like: The Cupcake Critic (a cherry cran vodka with peach soda and grenadine), Black Forest cupcake (whiskey, ginger ale, blackberry soda and lime) and the Pineapple Upside down cake (Malibu rum and pineapple juice with pineapple chunks). My sister and assistant, Shelby, played hostess as she greeted guests and handed out gift bags.
Guests enjoyed signature cupcake drinks
Jess Harper of U.S. News
The cupcakes were flowing as guest noshed on mini vegan red velvet, chocolate chip, grandma's pound cake with raspberry cream and a coconut caramel cupcake all provided by Sweet Themez bakery. Gift bag recipients enjoyed an extra treat as goodie bags contained a red velvet cake pop also from Sweet Themez bakery.
Obama campaign interns: Toan and Mike
Radio Host & Cupcake Contributor UniversalEm
with Steph White of S. White Events
Ladies enjoyed lovely spa treatments courtesy of Stacia Jackson of Pink Papaya and gift bags from Shannon Burgwald of Stella & Dot. Meanwhile, Leon Bailey and Gerald Watson of CityLifeDeals.com took pics and shot video of party goers who ranged from media members, cupcake lovers, new and old friends.
The Beauty Bar provided by Stacia Jackson of Pink Papaya
Bloggers Ariana Graham and Nicole Crowder
After mixing, mingling, and cupcake carnage, it was time to draw for the door prizes. Photographer and blogger,Nicole Crowder, won the Foundation bracelet courtesy of Stella & Dot. Blogger Waverly B. won a $30 Gift certificate from Pizza Haven (Bethesda, Md) courtesy of WashingtonEats.com. Monique Graham won the $25 bar tab from the Blue Banana Sports Bar. Cupcake Contributor, Curvy CEO won the lip scrub kit from Pink Papaya and event photographer, Tim Peeples, won a dozen cupcakes from Sprinkles Georgetown.
Jenn Farley of Savory Simple and WashingtonEats.com
with prize winner Nicole Crowder
Winner Nicole Crowder with
Shannon Burgwald of Stella & Dot
I took a moment to acknowledge some folks who have been instrumental with the blog. There were so many people to thank but I especially wanted to thank Nisi Bennett of Forever A Pear who would be hosting the Cupcake Challenge for a Cure that Saturday whereby I would be a judge. I was able to present Mrs. Bennett with a pink bracelet specially made for October, being breast cancer awareness month, courtesy of Shannon Burgwald of Stella & Dot.
Nisi Bennett of Forever A Pear
Nisi and I exchange a hug! Aww....Cupcake Love!
By the end of the night, no one wanted to leave and the party went on until 10:30PM with guests still pouring in. Good times were had by all and afterwards, I was ready for NYC. Thank you D.C.
Hey Cupcake Lovers! To quote Rakim and Timbaland: "It's been a long time...I shouldn't have left you...without a dope beat to step to" There's been soo much activity here at Critic HQ that I haven't kept everyone updated with my posts.
My Black Street Awards
First, I'm proud to announce that I am the winner of the Black Street Award for 'Best Blog' and 'Best Website'!!! The awards ceremony was held on Monday September 17th at the Millesime in New York. I am so excited (and exhausted) but still on my award-winning high. Thank you to all of my Cupcake Lovers, family, friends, and everyone who voted for me! Check out this video recap to see snippets of the awards show...
Speaking of awards, I am happy to announce that I am a nominee for 'Best Food Blog' for The Black Weblog awards! Let's keep the momentum going D.C. and show them what we're working with! Voting starts on September 15th and will end on October 3rd. To vote for the Cupcake Critic for 'Best Food Blog' click here....
Me hugging Nisi Bennett of the Susan G. Komen Walking team,
Forever-A-Pear; coordinator for Cupcake Challenge for a Cure
I have been fascinated with pinata cupcakes since early this summer when I saw a few of them floating through the Pinter-verse. How exactly does one bake candies into a cupcake without them melting? Well, with a bit of baker magic, you can create a protective bubble encasing for them, and provide an anticipated treat for the cupcake recipient. Enjoy!
Photo courtesy of La Receta de la Felicidad
Ingredients:
150 Grams of dark chocolate
6 cavities hemisphere silicone molds.
6 cupcakes (any flavor)
Candy for the pinata (MM's , Smarties, Nerds, etc.)
toppings or decorations (optional)
Directions:
1. Melt chocolate in microwave or using a double boiler.
2. Place two teaspoons melted chocolate on each mold cavity, and swirl chocolate to coat every half hemisphere cavity. Keep rotating the mold until the chocolate sets (depending on room temperature. This may take a while)
3. Let the chocolate set.
4. Unmold the chocolate dome carefully, fill with candies and place carefully over every cupcake. Do it quickly as to not leave fingerprints.
Sticky Fingers' Cupcake-Eating Contest/
Photo courtesy of DC VegFest
Meet Doron Petersan, owner of Sticky Fingers Bakery, at the 2012 DC VegFest. The two-time Cupcake Wars Winner will be signing copies of her new cookbook: Sticky Fingers Sweets: 100 Super Secret Vegan Recipes. Stop by the Sticky Fingers booth for some treats and savories then sign up for their cupcake-eating contest. When: Saturday, September 22, 2012 Where: Yards Park, 10 Water Street SE, DC Time: 11AM until 6PM Cost: FREE
Adams Morgan bakery, Sweet Themez, celebrated Adams Morgan Day by cooking up some of their yummy cakes and cupcakes. Owners Adrienne and Maurice were featured on Fox 5 this morning and showcased one of my favorites: their Louis Vuitton cupcakes. Adrienne, Sweet Themez's chief baker, also had her flavorful cake pops on hand. Their red velvet cake pops are also my favorite due to their size (imagine a cupcake on a stick), moist texture and flavor.
Check out my review of their shop and then taste the real thing at the DC to NYC Cupcake Happy Hour hosted by yours truly on Thursday, September 13, 2012 from 6-9PM at the Blue Banana Sports bar. Sweet Themez will be providing some of my favorites: Grandma's Pound Cake cupcakes, vegan red velvet, and Sweet Satisfaction (a caramel turtle cupcake). Be one of the first 25 people there to receive a gift bag complete with a red velvet cake pop. Don't miss it!
Meet Doron Petersan, owner of Sticky Fingers Bakery and 2-time Cupcake Wars Winner, at the Natural Product Expo East in Baltimore, MD on Friday September 21st, at 1PM. She will signing copies of her new book, Sticky Fingers Sweets: 100 Super Secret Vegan Recipes, at the Earth Balance booth. The Natural Product Expo East will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center. For more information visit their site here.
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