13 Days and Counting Down: Champagne Chocolates

Today's Positive Eye On Small and Local:
Champagne Chocolates in Mount Clemens.

Champagne Chocolates is a marvelous little chocolate factory in Downtown Mount Clemens (54 Cherry Street). They have such a wide variety of tasty chocolate treats that the mind boggles. They have the best truffles anywhere around, various barks, chocolate covered pretzels, potato chips, ginger, and depending on what day you stop by, they may have some of their limited specialties like hand-dipped fresh strawberries or raspberries... or even chocolate-covered bacon! My favorites are the dark-chocolate Rustic Bars with almonds or tart cherries. Deb crushes up the imported cocoa beans herself and they are mildly sweetened with evaporated cane sugar! Right now, they have special holiday chocolates all over the place, but they can make up special chocolates for any occasion in nearly any shape with whatever you want on them... business logo, wedding or anniversary names and dates... you name it! Check 'em out and tell 'em I sentcha!

Halloween is Coming to Downtown Mount Clemens!

Besides the The Halloween Spooktacular, The 3rd Annual Zombie Walk, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, all of which are coming to Downtown Mount Clemens in the next couple of weekends, the individual shops are all doing their own neat little things that contribute to that cool Halloween atmosphere. Here's a couple of fun examples:

Max and Ollie's Vintage Boutique has some nifty Halloweeny-type items for sale...



...and Champagne Chocolates is featuring some sweet and spooky treats!

The Friday Night That Planned itself

   I'd already known for a couple weeks that tonight at 8:00pm would be the only chance I would get to see On Golden Pond at The Box Theater. It does have one more show, tomorrow night (Saturday, April 27th at 8:00pm)... but I've duties elsewhere in that time slot, so its to be tonight or not at all.
   Then I got to thinking about what I might want to do for dinner before the show.
   Just yesterday, I got my answer when I found out that at 5:00pm there was to be a special sneak-preview screening party for tomorrow's episode of Under The Radar Michigan at The Mitt Restaurant, in Mount Clemens. This particular show includes some interesting places in Traverse City, but (more importantly to me... and maybe to you, too) also some very cool local spots right here in Downtown Mount Clemens... including Weirdsville Records, among others! The show itself is screening at 6:00pm, so I should have plenty of time to get down to the theater.
   So, I get to finally set foot in this local eatery that I have been wanting to try out for some time, whilst getting a chance to see some television time devoted to this downtown area that I find so likable, and I get to top it all off by enjoying some pricelessly charming small theater.
   I just found out, mere minutes ago, that if I get down to Champagne Chocolates before they close at 5:00pm, I can grab a few of their new "Nutty Butter Bites - Peanut Butter with an extra crunch".
   See? That's how it seems to happen. Dinner planned itself, and now dessert has done so, as well!
   Have I mentioned that I love this town?

I on Downtown Mt Clemens - Late March 2013

   It has been a very busy week for me, and I plan to have a bit of fun to unwind.
   I begin tomorrow evening. Every Thursday night is Weirdsville Movie Night at Weirdsville Records on New Street. The feature for March 28th is Plan 9 from Outer Space, which should be loads of fun because of its cult-favorite, B-movie status. If you have never experienced Weirdsville Movie Night, you should really check it out. Do not expect to see super-serious, trendy, avant-garde film fanatics soberly analyzing little-known flicks, here... it is more like being in the silhouette audience of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Don't take my word for it, just head on down there, tomorrow night... I'll keep an eye out for ya!
   While I'm on the subject of Weirdsville Records, I ought to mention that they have won the award for Best Indie Record Store in Macomb County according to the MetroTimes Best of Detroit 2013! They are celebrating this on Friday, March 29th. The store is open from 11:00am - 8:00pm, that day.
   Coincidentally, March 29th is Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. How about that?

   Friday night, I will be taking in the second-to-last performance of The Fantasticks at the Box Theater, which is at the corner of Macomb Place and Pine Street (formerly the site of the Ché Cosa coffee shop). I saw this, last Friday night and I feel compelled to see it again... and I'm bringing friends.
   Rarely have I ever had such a great time watching local theater. The cast acts like they were born performing this play together. It is an engaging story, at once charming, delightful, and funny.

   A couple of other tidbits:

   I stopped by Champagne Chocolates on Cherry Street to gather some Easter candy. If you have never partaken of their fresh and wonderful wares, you should really treat yourself and your loved ones. Just the ears off of one of their chocolate bunnies is far more satisfying than whole rabbits that have been sitting in warehouses for who-knows-how-long waiting for the drugstore Easter sale. Trust me on this... they are a worthy purchase!

   Last (but not the least bit least!), for another delightful experience, stop on by Max & Ollie's Vintage Boutique at 65 Macomb Place. Owner Diane Kubik is a most charming shopkeeper... and she is letting go a whole lot of Easter treasures at a discount. Tell her that Lee sentcha!