Young Audiences/Arts for Learning is proud to announce our current Chocolate Fest vendors. Their outstanding support for arts education in Indiana deserves our business. Don't mind if we do!
Below are descriptions of our vendors and the products they will sell at the Harrison Center for the Arts on October 20.
Chocolate for the Spirit – Decadent chocolates made with exotic ingredients. Inspiring founder and artisan Julie Bolejack is committed to bringing some of the best chocolate ingredients from around the world to the Indianapolis City Market.
Selling: Toffee, truffles, BonBons, bark, bars, brownies, and cookies.
The Best Chocolate In Town – Hand-Made and Hand-Packed beautiful chocolates on Mass Ave. A perfect gift idea for any occasion! Find The Best Chocolate In Town’s chocolate at R Bistro downtown, Chatterbox Jazz Club, and 20 more locations!
Selling: Truffles, caramels, and peanut butter crunch.
Oakley’s Bistro – Oakley’s team is dedicated to creating desserts that are pleasing to the palate as well as the eye. This near north side restaurant has a slew of delicious dessert plates including a Chocolate “Opera” Cake (our personal favorite), Cheesecake in a Jar, and Crème Brûlée.
Selling: Spices, t-shirts, salad dressing and more.
Sun King Brewery – An independent craft brewery located in our own downtown Indianapolis! Some of the most popular beers include the light and crisp Sun King Cream Ale, the gold-medal winning brown hazelnut Scottish Wee Mac, and the west coast style Osiris Pale Ale.
Selling: 3 – 4 different craft beers.
Hoaglin Catering – The best dessert catering on Mass Ave! Hoaglin locations across Indianapolis are known for their approachable signature desserts, such as the Turtle Dessert Bars, Hoaglin Brownies, and Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Dessert Bars.
Selling: Gift boxes of dessert bar bites and gift cards to Hoaglin To Go & Marketplace and Stardust Terrace Café on the canal.
Just Pop In! – A popcorn confection masterpiece in Broad Ripple and the Indianapolis Airport! Our first Chocolate Fest collaborators are Just Pop In! and Sun King Brewery, who have created the Dark Chocolate Sun King Osiris Pale Ale Popcorn, available for tasting on October 20. What a creative partnership!
Selling: Mini bag sizes of many different flavored popcorn.
Thanks to all who have committed to Chocolate Fest; we hope to see more vendors in the upcoming weeks!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
America's 10 Favorite Chocolate Candies
Chocolate Fest 2012 may be five months away, but one of the biggest "chocolate" holidays just passed. In honor of all the chocolate bunnies and candy bars you may or may not have still lying around the house, here is a list of America's 10 Favorite Chocolate Candies (from an article published by CNBC in June 2011).
Did you know America spends more than $7 Billion dollars on individual-sized chocolate candy bars, bags, and boxes in one year? Here is where most of that money goes!
10. Almond Jo
y - Revenue Generated: $60.8 million
The Almond Joy bar was created in 1946 by Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing. It’s made of sweetened coconut, topped with two almonds and covered in dark chocolate.
9. Milky W
ay - Revenue Generated: $70.2 million
Created in 1923, the Milky Way was named after the popular malted milk shake, not the Milky Way galaxy. It is made of chocolate malt-flavored nougat and caramel-covered milk chocolate. At the time the time of its creation, it sold for just a nickel.
8. Hershey's
Cookies N Cream - Revenue Generated: $80.4 million
This is the newest candy on the countdown. Hershey’s Cookies 'N' Cream first hit the candy stands in 1994. It’s made of white chocolate and promises cookies in every bite.
7. 3 Musketeers - Revenue
Generated: $100.7 million
When it was first introduced in 1932, 3 Musketeers was three pieces and three flavors: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. The candy bar is now a single piece made of fluffy chocolate-flavored nougat covered with milk chocolate.
6. Twix - R
evenue Generated: $169.9 million
This crunchy cookie, caramel and chocolate bar is a relatively new to the American marketplace. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1979.
5. Kit Kat - R
evenue Generated: $201.8 million
This chocolate bar was originally a British creation and called the Chocolate Crisp. It was later renamed Kit Kat, allegedly after the Kit Kat club, an 18th century Whig literacy club in England. The Kit Kat is now owned by Nestle, but has been manufactured in the U.S. by Hershey since 1969.
4. Hershey's - R
evenue Generated: $249 million
This is the oldest chocolate bar in the countdown. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar was developed in 1900 by Milton S. Hershey and he charged just a nickel for his candy bar. These days, Hershey makes more than 373 million of its signature candy bar every year.
3. Snickers - Revenue Generated: $386.2 million
Introduced in 1930, the bar was named after one of the Mars family’s favorite horses. More than 99 tons of peanuts go into making over 15 million Snickers bars each day, and each bar contains around 16 peanuts.
2. Reese's
Peanut Butter Cups - Revenue Generated: $398.9 million
The inventor of these tasty treats, Harry Burnett Reese, was a former dairy employee of Milton S. Hershey who decided to strike out on his own and make a living in the candy business. Reese began selling his peanut butter cups in five-pound boxes for candy assortments in the 1920s, and the candy soon surged in popularity. In 1963, things came full circle when Hershey bought the company for $23.5 million. Several decades later, the candy is still a hit. The company claims if you were to line up the Reese’s sold annually, it would wrap around the earth several times.
1. M&Ms - Rev
enue Generated: $406.7 million
The best-selling chocolate treat on the countdown has been around since 1941. It was designed by Forrest Mars Sr. so consumers could enjoy their chocolate without having it melt in their hands. M&Ms, which was named after its inventors Forrest Mars and R. Bruce Murrie. M&Ms are red, yellow, blue, orange and green, but it's red that gets top billing — it has been the official "spokescandy" since 1952. There are now eight permanent varieties of M&Ms candies, as well as seasonal offerings.
There you have it - the countdown to America's favorite chocolate candy. The countdown to Chocolate Fest 2012 still rages on! Don't forget to come to the Harrison Center for the Arts on Saturday October 20th from Noon-4pm!
Intern Angelina
Did you know America spends more than $7 Billion dollars on individual-sized chocolate candy bars, bags, and boxes in one year? Here is where most of that money goes!
10. Almond Jo

The Almond Joy bar was created in 1946 by Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing. It’s made of sweetened coconut, topped with two almonds and covered in dark chocolate.
9. Milky W

Created in 1923, the Milky Way was named after the popular malted milk shake, not the Milky Way galaxy. It is made of chocolate malt-flavored nougat and caramel-covered milk chocolate. At the time the time of its creation, it sold for just a nickel.
8. Hershey's

This is the newest candy on the countdown. Hershey’s Cookies 'N' Cream first hit the candy stands in 1994. It’s made of white chocolate and promises cookies in every bite.
7. 3 Musketeers - Revenue

When it was first introduced in 1932, 3 Musketeers was three pieces and three flavors: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. The candy bar is now a single piece made of fluffy chocolate-flavored nougat covered with milk chocolate.
6. Twix - R

This crunchy cookie, caramel and chocolate bar is a relatively new to the American marketplace. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1979.
5. Kit Kat - R

This chocolate bar was originally a British creation and called the Chocolate Crisp. It was later renamed Kit Kat, allegedly after the Kit Kat club, an 18th century Whig literacy club in England. The Kit Kat is now owned by Nestle, but has been manufactured in the U.S. by Hershey since 1969.
4. Hershey's - R

This is the oldest chocolate bar in the countdown. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar was developed in 1900 by Milton S. Hershey and he charged just a nickel for his candy bar. These days, Hershey makes more than 373 million of its signature candy bar every year.

Introduced in 1930, the bar was named after one of the Mars family’s favorite horses. More than 99 tons of peanuts go into making over 15 million Snickers bars each day, and each bar contains around 16 peanuts.
2. Reese's

The inventor of these tasty treats, Harry Burnett Reese, was a former dairy employee of Milton S. Hershey who decided to strike out on his own and make a living in the candy business. Reese began selling his peanut butter cups in five-pound boxes for candy assortments in the 1920s, and the candy soon surged in popularity. In 1963, things came full circle when Hershey bought the company for $23.5 million. Several decades later, the candy is still a hit. The company claims if you were to line up the Reese’s sold annually, it would wrap around the earth several times.
1. M&Ms - Rev

The best-selling chocolate treat on the countdown has been around since 1941. It was designed by Forrest Mars Sr. so consumers could enjoy their chocolate without having it melt in their hands. M&Ms, which was named after its inventors Forrest Mars and R. Bruce Murrie. M&Ms are red, yellow, blue, orange and green, but it's red that gets top billing — it has been the official "spokescandy" since 1952. There are now eight permanent varieties of M&Ms candies, as well as seasonal offerings.
There you have it - the countdown to America's favorite chocolate candy. The countdown to Chocolate Fest 2012 still rages on! Don't forget to come to the Harrison Center for the Arts on Saturday October 20th from Noon-4pm!
Intern Angelina
Five Amazing Things Made of Chocolate
What if the world were made of Chocolate? In honor of Chocolate Fest 2012, here are some amazing things that have been made out of chocolate!
1. Chocolate Dress - Lady Gaga may prefer to wear a meat dress, but personally I would rather add this chocolate dress to my wardrobe! This tasty creation was made by the German bakery group Lambertz in 2010 for its Annual Monday Night Party in Cologne. The dress was one of more than a hundred fashion pieces celebrating chocolate.

2. The Chocolate Room - If this were my room I would certainly eat myself out of house and home! From floor to ceiling, this entire 183-square-foot room was made out of chocolate. Seven artists used 611 pounds of chocolate to create the walls and decor, which was on display for Valentine's Day at a shopping center in Lithuania.

3. The Chocolate Car - This delicious-looking BMW was just one of many hunger-inducing attractions at the 2010 World Chocolate Wonderland in Beijing, China. Don't eat and drive!

4. The Chocolate Mailbox - What better way is there to send a Valentine to your sweetie than in a chocolate mailbox?! This over-sized mailbox is made entirely of Godiva chocolate and is adorned with hearts made of white chocolate truffles. It was created for Godiva’s Valentine’s Day celebration in 2011 at its Fifth Avenue flagship boutique in New York City.

5. Chocolate Shoes - What is a chocolate dress without some chocolate shoes to go with it? These delicious fashion statements are the creation of chocolatier Phil Neal of the luxury West London chocolate shop, Theobroma Cacao, who wanted to combine two of women’s favorite things — chocolate and shoes. The edible shoes are part of Theobroma Cacao’s Erotique collection and are hand-crafted from Venezuelan chocolate.

Don't forget to attend Chocolate Fest 2012 on Saturday October 20th from Noon to 4pm at the Harrison Center for the Arts!
Intern Angelina
(All photographs and factual information taken from the following article on cnbc.com)
1. Chocolate Dress - Lady Gaga may prefer to wear a meat dress, but personally I would rather add this chocolate dress to my wardrobe! This tasty creation was made by the German bakery group Lambertz in 2010 for its Annual Monday Night Party in Cologne. The dress was one of more than a hundred fashion pieces celebrating chocolate.

2. The Chocolate Room - If this were my room I would certainly eat myself out of house and home! From floor to ceiling, this entire 183-square-foot room was made out of chocolate. Seven artists used 611 pounds of chocolate to create the walls and decor, which was on display for Valentine's Day at a shopping center in Lithuania.

3. The Chocolate Car - This delicious-looking BMW was just one of many hunger-inducing attractions at the 2010 World Chocolate Wonderland in Beijing, China. Don't eat and drive!

4. The Chocolate Mailbox - What better way is there to send a Valentine to your sweetie than in a chocolate mailbox?! This over-sized mailbox is made entirely of Godiva chocolate and is adorned with hearts made of white chocolate truffles. It was created for Godiva’s Valentine’s Day celebration in 2011 at its Fifth Avenue flagship boutique in New York City.

5. Chocolate Shoes - What is a chocolate dress without some chocolate shoes to go with it? These delicious fashion statements are the creation of chocolatier Phil Neal of the luxury West London chocolate shop, Theobroma Cacao, who wanted to combine two of women’s favorite things — chocolate and shoes. The edible shoes are part of Theobroma Cacao’s Erotique collection and are hand-crafted from Venezuelan chocolate.

Don't forget to attend Chocolate Fest 2012 on Saturday October 20th from Noon to 4pm at the Harrison Center for the Arts!
Intern Angelina
(All photographs and factual information taken from the following article on cnbc.com)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Chocolate Fest 2012
Chocolate Fest is back! If you made it out last year, we hope to see all of you CHOCO-holics again. If you're new to Chocolate Fest, then welcome to what is sure to be a tasty
event! We are adding several new and exciting changes to the event this year, so please check out the information below and contact us if you have any questions.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/youngaudiencesIN
Email: office@yaindy.org.
Phone: (317) 925-4043
WHAT is Chocolate Fest 2012?
As YA Arts for Learning's biggest yearly fundraiser, Chocolate Fest is an opportunity to sample the largest variety of chocolate goodies from several of Indiana's best bakers, chefs, and chocolatiers. Mingle with other chocolate lovers, sample the decadent treats, and this year, you will be able to take home some of your favorites!
WHEN can I taste the chocolate?
Saturday, October 20th from Noon to 4pm.
WHERE will all this delicious chocolate be?
We have a new venue this year! Chocolate Fest 2012 will be held at the Harrison Center for the Arts located in Downtown Indianapolis on the corner of East 16th St. and North Delaware St. (1505 North Delaware, Indianapolis, IN 46202)
WHO will be at Chocolate Fest 2012?
Chocolate Fest is hosted by Arts for Learning, the Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences. Arts for Learning is Indiana's largest and oldest provider of professional arts education programs for children. Arts for Learning reaches 150,000 children each year with in-school performances, workshops, and residency-type programs, and it augments this activity with an array of professional deve
lopment opportunities designed to help teachers and artists bring the arts into the school environment more effectively.
We will have several vendors at this year's Chocolate Fest and we will be featuring them in some of our upcoming blog posts. Our first two official vendors this year are Chocolate for the Spirit and Sun King Brewing Company!
If you have a sweet tooth, are a registered member of chocoholics anonymous, or you're just looking for a fun afternoon with some tasty samplings, we want to see YOU at Chocolate Fest 2012!
WHY should I go to Chocolate Fest 2012?
By purchasing a ticket to Chocolate Fest 2012 you are helping continue Arts for Learning's mission of arts in education! Arts for Learning provides arts programming to children all across the state of Indiana. You are helping a really great cause!

This is a family friendly event. There will even be a special kids activity section!
What other motivation do you need to come to Chocolate Fest 2012 than CHOCOLATE?! There will be enough chocolate there to feed your craving for weeks...well, at least a of couple hours.
How do I PURCHASE TICKETS for Chocolate Fest 2012?
Tickets are not available to purchase just yet, but we will keep you posted on our website, Facebook page and this blog. You can always call our office for further information (317) 925-4043.
In the past, 1 Chocolate Fest ticket was $5 and it gave you one whole desert.
This year we will be charging entrance fees that include samplings.
Adults (16 years of age and older) - $15 (includes entry into Chocolate Fest 2012 and 10 sample size tastings)
Kids (5-15 years of age) - $5 (includes entry into Chocolate Fest 2012 and 3 sample size tastings)
Kids (4 and under) - Get into Chocolate Fest for free!
We are also offering a Family Pack this year: Family of 4 (2 adults/2 kids) for $35. Additional kids are $5 and the same number of tastings listed above apply to the family pack.
Once at Chocolate Fest, you can purchase extra sampling tickets for $1.
This year vendors are allowed to sell their products in addition to handing out samples. So, pick your favorites and take them home with you!
How do I BECOME A VENDOR at Chocolate Fest 2012?
All Vendors (chefs, chocolatiers, bakers, restaurateurs): If you are interested in participating in Chocolate Fest 2012, please contact Mallory Doyel, mdoyel@yaindy.org, 317-925-4043 ext. 120
Doesn't chocolate just melt your heart?
Intern Angelina

Facebook: www.facebook.com/youngaudiencesIN
Email: office@yaindy.org.
Phone: (317) 925-4043
WHAT is Chocolate Fest 2012?
As YA Arts for Learning's biggest yearly fundraiser, Chocolate Fest is an opportunity to sample the largest variety of chocolate goodies from several of Indiana's best bakers, chefs, and chocolatiers. Mingle with other chocolate lovers, sample the decadent treats, and this year, you will be able to take home some of your favorites!
WHEN can I taste the chocolate?
Saturday, October 20th from Noon to 4pm.
WHERE will all this delicious chocolate be?
We have a new venue this year! Chocolate Fest 2012 will be held at the Harrison Center for the Arts located in Downtown Indianapolis on the corner of East 16th St. and North Delaware St. (1505 North Delaware, Indianapolis, IN 46202)
WHO will be at Chocolate Fest 2012?
Chocolate Fest is hosted by Arts for Learning, the Indiana Affiliate of Young Audiences. Arts for Learning is Indiana's largest and oldest provider of professional arts education programs for children. Arts for Learning reaches 150,000 children each year with in-school performances, workshops, and residency-type programs, and it augments this activity with an array of professional deve

We will have several vendors at this year's Chocolate Fest and we will be featuring them in some of our upcoming blog posts. Our first two official vendors this year are Chocolate for the Spirit and Sun King Brewing Company!
If you have a sweet tooth, are a registered member of chocoholics anonymous, or you're just looking for a fun afternoon with some tasty samplings, we want to see YOU at Chocolate Fest 2012!
WHY should I go to Chocolate Fest 2012?
By purchasing a ticket to Chocolate Fest 2012 you are helping continue Arts for Learning's mission of arts in education! Arts for Learning provides arts programming to children all across the state of Indiana. You are helping a really great cause!

This is a family friendly event. There will even be a special kids activity section!
What other motivation do you need to come to Chocolate Fest 2012 than CHOCOLATE?! There will be enough chocolate there to feed your craving for weeks...well, at least a of couple hours.
How do I PURCHASE TICKETS for Chocolate Fest 2012?
Tickets are not available to purchase just yet, but we will keep you posted on our website, Facebook page and this blog. You can always call our office for further information (317) 925-4043.
In the past, 1 Chocolate Fest ticket was $5 and it gave you one whole desert.
This year we will be charging entrance fees that include samplings.
Adults (16 years of age and older) - $15 (includes entry into Chocolate Fest 2012 and 10 sample size tastings)
Kids (5-15 years of age) - $5 (includes entry into Chocolate Fest 2012 and 3 sample size tastings)
Kids (4 and under) - Get into Chocolate Fest for free!
We are also offering a Family Pack this year: Family of 4 (2 adults/2 kids) for $35. Additional kids are $5 and the same number of tastings listed above apply to the family pack.
Once at Chocolate Fest, you can purchase extra sampling tickets for $1.
This year vendors are allowed to sell their products in addition to handing out samples. So, pick your favorites and take them home with you!
How do I BECOME A VENDOR at Chocolate Fest 2012?
All Vendors (chefs, chocolatiers, bakers, restaurateurs): If you are interested in participating in Chocolate Fest 2012, please contact Mallory Doyel, mdoyel@yaindy.org, 317-925-4043 ext. 120

Intern Angelina
Friday, September 16, 2011
And that's all she wrote...
It is now September 16th, 1:27 p.m., almost 24 hours since this year's Chocolate Fest event concluded. I'm going to be honest: I am slightly in shock! It seems like just yesterday we were getting started with everything. The first phone calls to vendors were going out (the first of probably 1.8 billion), the first designs for the fliers were being designed, and I was figuring out how the heck one writes one of these new fancy blogmajigers! I feel like I've learned more about chocolate than anyone could possibly want to know this summer, but I've also about the sweet chocolately center that people have inside of them! That's right...this is going to be one of those sugary sweet sappy blogs. So get ready.
Over the past several months I've seen all of the hard work, determination, and passion that the people here at Young Audiences* have put into Chocolate Fest! The staff here is made up of wonderful folks who are trying to make a difference in the world and you should probably give them a huge donation. Haha, I'm just joking! Unless you really want to give them a huge donation, because that would be wonderful. I want to sincerely thank them for letting me be a part of this! Through all of the meetings, emails, research, more meetings, more emails, phone calls, and Post-its, I've learned a lot and had a great experience! And I hope of all of you, dear blog readers, have gained something as well! Whether it be discovering a great new recipe...bourbon brownies were a favorite here in the office....or realizing that it's okay to eat chocolate every single day, or hopefully learning something about Young Audiences, I hope that we've been able to share something special with all of you!
So, thank you everyone for tagging along on this blogging journey!
And sincere thank yous to everyone who attended yesterday's Chocolate fest! It was a blast! I personally walked away with four cupcakes, plus some mousse!
We will hopefully see all of you at Chocolate Fest 2012!
See, that wasn't too overly sappy! Although, I think I need a cupcake now...
-Intern Hanna
Over the past several months I've seen all of the hard work, determination, and passion that the people here at Young Audiences* have put into Chocolate Fest! The staff here is made up of wonderful folks who are trying to make a difference in the world and you should probably give them a huge donation. Haha, I'm just joking! Unless you really want to give them a huge donation, because that would be wonderful. I want to sincerely thank them for letting me be a part of this! Through all of the meetings, emails, research, more meetings, more emails, phone calls, and Post-its, I've learned a lot and had a great experience! And I hope of all of you, dear blog readers, have gained something as well! Whether it be discovering a great new recipe...bourbon brownies were a favorite here in the office....or realizing that it's okay to eat chocolate every single day, or hopefully learning something about Young Audiences, I hope that we've been able to share something special with all of you!
So, thank you everyone for tagging along on this blogging journey!
And sincere thank yous to everyone who attended yesterday's Chocolate fest! It was a blast! I personally walked away with four cupcakes, plus some mousse!
We will hopefully see all of you at Chocolate Fest 2012!
See, that wasn't too overly sappy! Although, I think I need a cupcake now...
-Intern Hanna
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Interview with Confectioneiress!
On the eve of Chocolate Fest, we would like to bring you one more quick interview with one the vendors you will see tomorrow at the Arts Garden! Confectioneiress Cupcakes and Sweets recently opened its doors in Zionsville. It's a fun little shop with a fun and funky atmosphere and even more fun and funky cupcakes!
Confectioneiress owner Mica says that she loves creating unique flavors (over 200 flavors in the shop!) and that's what she's bringing to Chocolate Fest. Intrepid Intern Hanna braved the trek to Zionsville for a taste of these highly sought after delicacies. There, Mica led her through a taste test of the two of the three (the third wasn't done baking yet) cupcakes she will be offering at chocolate fest. Here's what she has to say:
"The first cupcake was a Mexican Hot Chocolate cupcake. At first, it looks just like a tasty, normal chocolate cupcake. But on closer inspection it's certainly anything but normal! Made with rich chocolate, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and other spices, this little cupcake has a warm, spicy flavor that would be perfect on a fall day or on a cold snowy evening.
I was really excited about the second cupcake Mica gave me: chocolate with candied bacon! Mica told me that bacon cupcakes are very trendy right now and I couldn't wait to try it out and see what all the fuss was about. It's defiantly a treat for the more adventurous cupcake lover or a g bacon lover. Candied bacon sits atop a mound of rich chocolate frosting. At first I wasn't sure what to make of it. I'm not used to my cupcakes being crunchy, but after a few bites, it grew on me. The sweetness and the saltiness are a very pleasing combination. Visitors at chocolate fest will just have to make their own opinions!
The last cupcake at Chocolate Fest, which I sadly did not get to try, will be a salted chocolate caramel with pink peppercorn. I am a great cupcake lover and I can't wait to add this one to my list of cupcake conquests! I would also like to add that I couldn't leave the shop without buying anything, so I purchased a chocolate chip cookie dough cupcake. They won't be at Chocolate Fest, but I strongly recommend you go get some at the shop! It was a little bit of cupcake heaven!
Fun Fact: Mica's favorite cupcake flavor is coffee and cream. She's a big coffee lover."
So there you have it! Cupcakes galore! Come check Confectioneiress, Mica, and all our other wonderful chocolate vendors tomorrow at Chocolate Fest at the Arts Garden from 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. Remember each dessert is 5 dollars and proceeds go towards supporting Young Audiences' mission of providing arts education! Can't wait to see you all there!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Interview with Just Pop In!
Check out the video on youtube by clicking this lovely button right here!
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