Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Cupcake Lovers! 2012 was a year for cupcakes and to commemorate such an awesome year, I've compiled a wrap-up of the highlights from 2012.

Buzz Bakery's Arlington Location
 Copyright of The Cupcake Critic

Treats from Cupcake Blvd in Crofton, MD

The Virginia based Buzz Bakery announces a new location in Southeast D.C.'s Yard development while food trucks like Curbside Cupcake and Cupcake Blvd. set-up brick and mortar shops in Pentagon City Mall, Union Market, and Crofton, MD. 

Warren Brown's Cakelove: How to Bake Cakes from Scratch

Cakelove's Toffee Crunch Cupcakes aka My Boo!

After closing Love Cafe (a U-street staple), Cakelove's Warren Brown pens another book entitled, Cakelove in the Morning and gives a portion of their toffee crunch cupcake sales (aka, My Boo!) to Hurricakes for Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts. 

Crunkcakes display table at Treat Yo' Self
Copyright of TheCupcakeCritic.com

Olivia's Cupcake Shop
Photo courtesy of Olivia's Cupakes

L-R: Raychel and Faith, the Ladies of Crunkcakes
Copyright The Cupcake Critic

Crunkcakes (last year's winner for Best Overall) held their first 'Treat Yo Self' pop-up shop featuring several artisans and other sweet-treat makers where they introduced two new flavors featuring DC Brau Craft Beer: the Brau Rickey and the Fat Cat.  Meanwhile Olivia's Cupcakes (last year's winner for 'Best Red Velvet Cupcakes') tinkers with getting a new food truck and introduces their now famous Ciroc cupcakes.  

The Kallinis Sisters at the LA Opening of Georgetown Cupcake
Copyright of Georgetown Cupcake

The sisters behind Georgetown Cupcake are on Season three of TLC's DC Cupcakes, have a new book called Sweet Celebrations, three new stores in L.A., New York, and Boston; and a baby on the way.

Penny Karas (owner of Hello Cupcake) holding the DC Lovechild
Copyright TheCupcakeCritic.com

The Winning MacTop by The Sweet Lobby

Hello Cupcake debuted their new line of Celebration Cakes as well as an alcohol-inspired new flavor called The DC LoveChild. Not to mention that their second location in Barrack's Row turned one! Neighboring cupcake shop, The Sweet Lobby, won Cupcake Wars and introduced a new cupcake called the MacTop which combines their famous macarons on top of a cupcake. 

SweetBuds Bakery Food Truck at the Bowie Fest

Pretty Girl Cupcakery opens in Hyattsville, MD

Meanwhile new shops like The Cake Courtesan and Pretty Girl Cupcakery are welcomed in cupcake deserts like Prince George's County, MD; no longer leaving shops like The Sweet Tooth and Cakes Plus to hold down the fort. 

Sprinkles Kuwait Storefront is under wraps/ Copyright of Sprinkles

Sprinkles' Cupcake ATM/ Copyright The Huffington Post

Revolutionizing how food is served Sprinkles has been leading the pack with not one but three new Cupcake ATM's in Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston...but still no word on Georgetown's phantom ATM. Adding to the empire, Sprinkles  opened two new ice cream stores with cupcake-themed flavors and they're also set to open a chain of Sprinkles Cupcakes in the Middle East with Kuwait being the first location.

Copyright of Penguin Publishing

Doron Petersan and The Cupcake Critic
Copyright The Cupcake Critic

Doron Petersan, owner of Sticky Fingers Bakery made another appearance on Cupcake Wars defending her crown after releasing her new book,  Sticky Fingers Sweets: 100 Super Secret Recipes. I gave away two signed copies earlier this year much to the delight of my readers. 

Election 2012 Cupcakes from Frosting Cupcakery
Photo courtesy of Frosting Cupcakery 

Hello Kitty and The Cupcake Critic

The Cupcake Critic in Hello Kitty Swag

This year was also an election year causing several stores like Frosting, Sprinkles, Georgetown Cupcakes and The Sweet Lobby to create Election 2012 and partisan cupcakes. Three of my lucky readers won a dozen election cupcake boxes courtesy of Sprinkles Georgetown. Getting in on the action was Hello Kitty who ran from president and set-up headquarters at the 918 F Street building. Georgetown Cupcake provided the presidential themed cupcakes for Candidate Kitty who ran on the friendship party. I shot a vlog after my own attendance at the event; and

  Slava Rubin, Founder of Indiegogo
pictured with The Cupcake Critic

The Sweet Life Tour featured local bakers like Tweets Sweets!
Copyright of TheCupcakeCritic.com

The Cupcake Critic visits Old Fashioned Radio/
Copyright of  The Cupcake Critic

On a personal note, I got to talk to K Street Kate on her show The District Dish and later visited Listen Vision studios twice for Across the Fader and Old Fashioned Radio bearing treats from Delectable Cakery- yum! The blog got a great nod from TheRoot.com and Social Media TV while I was profiled on Google+Local, HuffPost Live, DMV CEO and City Life Deals. 

Actor Isaiah Washington and The Cupcake Critic

The DC to NYC Cucpake Happy Hour

Good times at the Cupcake Happy Hour!

The highlight of the year came from my awesome Cupcake Lovers! Due to their awesome love and support I brought home not one but two Black Street Awards for 'Best Blog' and 'Best Website'. While in New York for the awards ceremony, I got to visit Baked by Melissa, Crumbs (Times Square), Dylan's Candy Bar, Magnolia Bakery (Hail Mary) and Make My Cake. Somewhere in there and threw a pretty cool Cupcake Happy Hour sponsored by Sweet Themez Bakery and hosted the Sweet Life Tour showcasing various DMV Bakers. Overall 2012 has been a great year for beloved cuppies. 

Tell me Cupcake Lovers, what predictions do you make for 2013? 

Honey Boo Boo Loves Sprinkles

Photo courtesy of Just Jared

Pageant purveyor and child star affectionately called, Honey Boo Boo, took a recent trip to the Sprinkles ATM machine. The 7-year old Honey Boo Boo is the realty-star of TLC's, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. The precocious Honey Boo Boo was originally seen on TLC's other child realty show, Toddlers and Tiaras. From the looks of this pic, the southern gal stayed true to her roots and ordered a red velvet cupcake to curb her sweet tooth. 

Sprinkles' Cupcake ATM Featured on 2 Broke Girls!

The CBS show, 2 Broke Girls, featured (a replica of) the Sprinkles' cupcake ATM in one of their recent episodes (10/1). The episode's subplot is centered around the threat that Sprinkles cupcake ATM poses to the ladies' new business. This is not the first time though that the cupcake ATM has appeared on television. The Beverly Hills cupcake ATM has also made an appearance on VH-1's 'Hollywood Exes'. One thing is for sure,  Sprinkles' brings the Hollywood out of cupcakes! Check out this clip to see more! 

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Chicago Gets Sprinkles' Third Cupcake ATM

Chicago's 1st Cupcake ATM
(photo provided by Sprinkles)

While DC waits in cupcake wonderment, Chicago has its first cupcake ATM! Located at 50 East Walton St., the ATM will open at 11AM on Saturday, August 5, 2012. To celebrate, Sprinkles is giving away a dozen free cupcakes to the first 10 customers!  Also, certain cupcakes will be packaged with a golden ticket valid for up to one dozen free cupcakes! 

Cool Cupcake Stuff: Sprinkles Cupcake Mix

Sprinkles' Dark Chocolate Cupcake Mix
(Photo courtesy of Williams-Sonoma)

As DC awaits (with bated breath), the arrival of the new cupcake ATM, Cupcake Lovers will have to traipse to Georgetown to get their sweet Sprinkles cupcake fix. Can't make it to Georgetown or crave Sprinkles' goodness after business hours? Don't fret, pick up a tube (or two) of Sprinkles' cupcake mix in dark chocolate, vanilla, banana, lemon or red velvet. Complete with their signature fondant dots, each canister makes a dozen cupcakes. Pick up yours from Williams and Sonoma today for $14.95. 

Cupcake ATM comes to Georgetown

Photo courtesy of HuffPost

It's official Cupcake Lovers!! After much anticipation Sprinkles announced that they will be opening a Cupcake ATM in Georgetown in August 2012. Like its Beverly Hills predecessors, it will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The ATM will stock 600 cupcakes per day with a price tag of $4. Traditional Sprinkles' cupcakes cost $3.50 and boxed cupcakes are $5. I don't know about you but I'm eyeing that key-lime. Happy Eating Cupcake Lovers!


What say you Cupcake Lovers? Are you excited? 

              

Houston Slated to Get the next Cupcake ATM

A few months back I reported that DC would be getting their very own Sprinkles Cupcake ATM this summer. Well Cupcake Lovers, according to The Houston Chronicle it looks like H-town is ahead of us in getting that sweet-sweet cupcake goodness around the clock. Bummers...but the bright side is that we are still on track to get a Cupcake ATM and...Buzz Bakery is coming to DC! Until then, you have to stand in line with the tourists and bit your bottom lip... 


What say you Cupcake Lovers? Are you bummed? The Critic is listening....


CC: Cupcakes Take the Cake Blog

Sprinkles Celebrity Cupcake Craze

           

Waking up at 6AM to a tweet that pop star Chris Brown made a 5AM  breakfast run to the 24-hour Sprinkles ATM is pretty cool stuff. Further to then get an email with the above clip confirming the celebrity stan-dom of Sprinkles, only confirms my motto: 'Cupcakes aren't a fad...they're a lifestyle'. The only other bit of news that I like waking up to is that Candace Nelson (queen of the Sprinkles cupcake empire and star of The Food Network's Cupcake Wars) confirmed that DC will have it's own cupcake ATM's soon!  Who knows, maybe I'll see DC's own Raheem Devaughn or Joe Biden in the (cupcake) ATM line like, "C'mon already...choose a flavor" If only Cupcake Lovers... ;-)

PS: Happy Raheem Devaughn Day!!

                                            

Cupcakes Aren't A Fad...It's A Lifestyle!

Courtesy of: Chef2Chef.net

The Cupcake Weekly #8

News Bites

Sprinkles' Cupcake ATM Coming to DC?!

I never disappoint my Cupcake Lovers and after posting to Facebook on Tuesday, March 12, 2012 that ‘the word on the street was…’ DC is getting a cupcake ATM, both the Washington Business Journal and The Washington Post confirmed the scuttlebutt rumor with Sprinkles’ spokespeople. Cupcake automats are slated to be in Gallery Place, Columbia Heights and U Street to name a few. But what say you Cupcake Lovers?

Happy Poultry Day!!

Photo courtesy of MyFoodLooksFunny.com

Today is 'Poultry Day' and although no one recognizes these ubiquitous food  holidays other than restaurants, food bloggers and foodies, I must thank the person who decided to top a cupcake with a chicken wing! What else would I have shown you all to celebrate? Ordinarily I would chock this off as a blatant case of cupcake abuse but c'mon, lighten up and eat the cake Anna Mae...it's poultry day!!  

*Disclaimer: In no way does the Critic approve , condone or endorse spousal or 80's rock star abuse. Despite referencing Mr. Turner, we side with Tina, not Ike. Just thought I'd clarify.*

New Additions to the Cupcake Vodka Family 

                                                        

Cupcake Vodka introduces two new flavors to their roster: Ginger Snap and Very Berry. Ginger snap is to have hints of cinnamon and clove while Very Berry denotes hints of raspberry and blueberry but both are described as clean, indulgent and velvety smooth. These flavors will be in addition to the existing four flavors: frosting, devil’s food, chiffon and original. I'm still getting word on which bars carry these flavors however, you can find the vodkas at your local liquor store. 

London Bus Stop Billboard Dispenses Cupcakes

Photo Courtesy of Advertising Age/ StarCom Ad Agency 

British baking icon, Kipling’s cakes, placed cake-dispensingbillboards in bus stops and train stations to promote their new ‘snack pack: cupcakes on the go’ with commuters.  The billboard is cupcake scented with a special cupcake spray to entice travelers to touch the billboard whereby a cupcake comes out.

Events

March 24th: Cocktails & Cupcakes

Inspired cocktails, decadent sweets, festive 

entertainment and the chance to win fabulous prizes. Individual tickets $40 each or $75 per couple. 

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Location: 1025 F. Street, NW, 10th Floor 

Click here for more info

March 24th: Makes Me Wanna Shout! Baking Contest

You and Celebrity Judges decide which Chocolate Layer Cakes go to the Final Five Round for a chance to win $500 for Best Chocolate Layer Cake $250 Gift Card to the King Arthur Flour Catalog  and the winning dessert on the Eatonville Restaurant menu and support the good work of Martha's Table. Tickets are $20

Time: 2:00PM-4:00 PM

Location: Martha's Table

2114 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009

Click here for more info

Contests & Giveaways

Slatkin & Co. Frosted Cupcake Candle Giveaway

Photo courtesy of Bath & Body Works/ Limited Brands

 

This week’s March Madness giveaway is sponsored by Bath& Body Works! Four of my Facebook and Twitter friends will receive their very own Slatkin & Co. three-wick ‘Frosted Cupcake’ candle. Stay tuned for contest rules and Tuesday's product review. 

 

Got cupcake news, pics or event? Interested in advertising on the blog? Contact me! 

Like: @DCCupcakeCritic

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The Cupcake Weekly #7

Cupcake News

Sprinkles' Cupcake ATM crashes after dispensing 1000 cupcakes! Read here

Photo Courtesy of Huffington Post.com

Georgetown Cupcake slated open in Boston in Summer 2012! Read here

Photo Courtesy of Chef J. Jackson 

NYC slated get their own Cupcake ATM
 Read here

Photo courtesy of The Cupcake Critic

The Cupcake Critic is looking for Contributors!

 Are interested in covering cupcake news and events?   Send an e-mail to DCCupcakeCritic.com.

Cupcake Events

March 24th: Cocktails & Cupcakes

Inspired cocktails, decadent sweets, festive 

entertainment and the chance to win fabulous prizes. 

Individual tickets $40 each or $75 per couple. 

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Location: 1025 F. Street, NW, 10th Floor 

Washington, D.C. 

Click here for more info

March 24th: Makes Me Wanna Shout! Baking Contest

You and Celebrity Judges decide which Chocolate Layer Cakes go to the Final Five Round for a chance to win $500 for Best Chocolate Layer Cake $250 Gift Card to the King Arthur Flour Catalog  and the winning dessert on the Eatonville Restaurant menu and support the good work of Martha's Table. Tickets are $20

Time: 2:00PM-4:00 PM

Location: Martha's Table

2114 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009

Click here for more info

Contests & Giveaways

Win a dozen cupcakes from Delectable Cupcakery!!

Cupcakes from Delectable Cakery (Photo courtesy of The Cupcake Critic)

The good folks at Delectabley Cupcakery are giving my readers the chance to win one dozen cupcakes or one Pound Cake. To enter, leave a comment on their review and two lucky readers will receive their choice of a dozen free cupcakes or one pound cake! Contest ends on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on Monday, March 19, 2012 at noon (EST). 

Win a Wilton Easy-Flex Prize Pack! 

Wilton Easy-Flex Prize Pack (Photos courtesy of The Cupcake Critic)

The prize pack includes a set of Easy-Flex silicone baking cups (12) and an Easy-Flex mini-muffin pan. Simply post a comment on the 'Silicone vs. Aluminum' post and two lucky winners will receive a prize pack! Contest ends Thursday, March 15, 2012 at midnight (EST). Winners will be announced on Friday, March 16, 2012 at noon (EST).

Do you have cupcake news or an event? E-mail me at DCCupcakeCritic@gmail.com to be included in the weekly round-up

E-Mail: DCCupcakeCritic@gmail.com

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