It's Hot Chocolate Time!

You may have some in your well-stocked pantry, but if not, never fear. It's time for the 13th Annual City Bakery Hot Chocolate Festival!

Apparently this year to commemorate the occasion, on January 30th from 12-4, Maury Rubin is going an extra step -- shutting down 18th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, bringing in snow to pile up on the sidewalks, and installing a portable ice rink. The day comes complete with free skating (and skate rentals) and a “Design Your Own Snowman” contest.

The monthlong festivities include a featured flavor each day and, as described by New York Magazine, "special attractions ranging from the highbrow (an essay contest, a Moth-affiliated storytelling night on February 22) to the low (temporary tattoos and a mayo-enriched “Red State” hot chocolate)."

For more information, and to enter the essay contest (one question is, "when drinking City Bakery hot chocolate with a homemade marshmallow, is it better to eat the marsmallow first or last? Why?"), see hot-chocolate-festival.com.

City Bakery, 3 W 18th St, between 5th & 6th Aves, (212) 366-1414.

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By Laren Spirer in Food on January 27, 2005 2:57 PM

Comments [rss]

sam

So I stopped by this thing on Sunday, and frankly, it was pretty lame. About 3 people could fit on the ice "rink", which was made out of something called "synthetic ice". And instead of "bringing in snow" for snowman building contests, the seem to have dragged chunks of days old blizzard snow from the sidewalks into the middle of the street - it was pretty dirty and icy. I'm glad I only live 2 blocks away, otherwise I would have actually been pissed off that I traveled to this thing.