Today is not only the first day of spring—it's also the second official annual Macaron Day NYC, celebrating the colorful round pastries with a crunchy outside and soft inside, made with ground almonds, sugar and egg whites. The tradition was started last year by François Payard, chef and owner of François Chocolate Bar and François Payard Bakery, who was inspired by a similar event in France, Jour du Macaron. And if you head to any one of the 16 participating sweet shops, you can get a free Macaron today. more ›

Did you know it's Macaron Day today! According to the Macaron Day NYC website, "To receive a free macaron tell the shop you are there for Macaron Day NYC. Participating locations will provide one macaron per customer with quantities limited by location." Locations include Almondine in DUMBO, Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center, various Maison du Chocolat branches, Dessert Truck Works on the Lower East Side and Francois Chocolate Bar, whose owner François Payard organized the day. And if you have a hankering for more macarons, a portion of macaron sales will go towards City Harvest. [This delicious tip via Outside in New York—thanks!] more ›

Pichet Ong’s last name in print looks a bit like OMG, which is what you’ll probably say when you eat one of the macarons sold at the chef’s store, Batch. If you think of Pichet as a pastry curator and of Batch as an edible museum, then the macaron wing of the roughly 7-foot square West Village bakery is guest-curated by pastry chef Hsing Chen. Chen, formerly of Country, has started a mercenary macaron and dessert company called Sweet Chick. Special missions assignments, like OPERATION: Turn That Frown Upside Down are now being accepted through Sweet Chick’s website. Also, Chen makes cakes for weddings and other special events. more ›