LYRA MAG.

Valentine's Day is a chocolate occasion...but so is every other day too when it comes to the good stuff . Women owned and handmade...these chocolates are to be shared with anyone on your sweetheart list... MarieBelle Izak Zanou ganache 16 piece assortment - so chic-so yummy. Rich gourmet treats made from single origin,  artisanal beans-featuring the whimsical (and collectible) artwork of fashion illustrator Izak Zenou Maggie Louise Confections -fab chocolate and  even fab-ber packaging (if that's even a word...) SOLID LIPSTICK=SOLID CHOCOLATE Maggie Louise Confections' display at recent NY NOW tradeshow-fun shapes of 'real' objects in bite sized, solid chocolate via GIPHY Easter Time-Maggie Louise Confections has an admirable  plethora of  special occasion options ...

With all the festive foods available seasonal celebrations can be sweet indeed! a challenging winter hike earns rewards BUT after an allergic response to something eaten on a far flung Southeast Asia jaunt-a few years back, we gained respectful first-hand knowledge of food allergies that can triggered by daily encountered substances.

Love Potion by BOKU-for sweeties who are healthy types-gran a 12 portion perfect  bag- USDA ORGANIC chocolate BLISSBLEND =apple juice infused plump cranberries bursting with anti-oxidants-Vitamin C, vegan chocolate chips, energizing matcha-green tea and sweet maple, and healthy heart coconut chips...$14.99

a bountiful display of gourmet chocolate bars...from around the world... AN invite for a gourmet chocolate-wine pairing tasting-count us in! via GIPHY yes-chocolate is that good... A worthy reminder that single source and refined blends of planet earth's most fav 'food' -has caused worthy destinations-like the chic sleek Italian style coffee (ILLY) café 2Beans (Manhattan based-including convenient right near Grand Central station)...to offer discerning and curious customers-an outstanding assortment of chocolates from around the world-in custom confections -by the piece-or in beautiful packaged bars-to go..

Remember the 80s? Okay maybe not-but back then-chocolate Kisses and Tootsie Rolls, candy corns (Halloween), Bartons almond chocolates (Passover),Peeps (Easter) and candy canes (Christmas only) were the highlights  of household chewy candies-with occasional eats from travel locales ( think salt water taffy, chocolate coconut patties). source retro80sgifs.tumblr.com Now- forgettabout it ...even  teeny tiny off the beaten roadside convenience shops sells exotic Organic Fair Trade single origin chocolates year round ...no artificial flavors-or colors-less the GMO corn syrup stuff too... sea salt-ed or exotically spiced up sweets, year round. Some HIGHLIGHTS we are major fans of DAGOBA chocolates-USDA Organic+Rain Forest Alliance Certified (now owned by Hershey) new from Droga - caramels . ADDICTIVE Money on Honey Wildflower Honey Caramels are 3 bite a square sized-(4 , 9 pieces,  a 16 oz bag at Costco- or  splurge worthy 60 piece size options ava...

The best visual display of hometown love belongs to the Fannie May Chicago Collection launched this past Spring-but we didn't eyeball the winning bunch of delectable sweets till the Fancy Food Show. P Chicago Assorted Chocolates Mug $14.95-in the back-new addition Chicago Skyline Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Almond Bar $2.95  This magnificent collection of chocolates-that appropriately enough depicts the Magnificent Mile and other Chicago highlights-is some of the best packaging styled to honor any town, anywhere. Chicago Caramels Gift Tin $5.95 We hope those who conjured up this vintage inspired travel portraits of  the Windy City sites-got salary pops---for these one of a kind designs rendering iconic landmarks- beautifully- truly celebrates Fannie May's 95 year relationship with their hometown! Mint Meltaway Chicago Skyline Box $1.95, Mini Pixies-Chicago Skyline Box $1.95 Whether rich dark chocolates in a beautiful skyline tin, the best selling creamy mint...

Fancy Food Show/NYC Certain foods, beverages and packaging-captured a sense of place-and made for some unique offerings-tasty treats or just catchy products ... U S A These probably foresaw a disaster in the making??? A positive spin on the nominees for sure...Trumppuccino "The Right Combination of Bold, Common Sense, and Smart Ingredients...HILLARY HOT CHOCOLATE "An inclusive Recipe For A Better More Fulfilling Drink" ...forgot to add barrier breaking to that. Sweet Shoppe USA ...chocolate covered OREOS!

Part 4 Enhancing life's adventures...some stuff -like small gadgets, socks ( never have enough ) and devour-able (inhale-able) eats...are perfect gifts-both clever, portable and/or tasty! about palm sized Press for multiple light modes-flash, red, edge-lit  &1350 mAh battery power Brooklyn (!!!) based BioLite makes the cleverest portable stove aka energy source we've written up plenty of times for its twig eating' usb charging' ways...what's new is this small lightweight BioLite/charger-"BE Seen" with a USB charge in/out=never miss sharing it on social media. Comes with integrated collapsible clipstand. USB charge in/out-clipstand pops out-hang in a shirt pocket tent etc love this-comes with attachment-bike bracket for cyclists! Tiny LED lights on side-battery charge indicator. Never miss a moment from the cheap seats (aka the only spots left for non-bot buying general public grrrr)  with   MAVEN Outdoor Equipme...

Scharffen Berger Tasting Squares=gourmet packaged goodness with wine pairing guide EASY IDEAS... GUMI-AID FUN-from With Love Chocolates Anastasia Confections chewy sweet taffy-conjure up old family road trips...with old fashion taffy-retro packing Pelican Bay- Snowman Poop-hhaaaa

True Luxury-A Glamorous Fashion Show by Coco Chanel Muse-Jackie Rogers  and La Nuit Du Chocolat  by French Premium Chocolatier Maison Du Chocolat  10 West 56th Street & 1018 Madison Ave. NYC True artistry and in turn, imo- the present day world of sophisticated luxury goods- is referential to the past-but not 'stuck' in idolatry- reveries for the old days...instead... acknowledging the 'present' -via embracing the finer details of craft traditions---and then fused with the what's innovative and what 'works'- with the realities of how 21st century inhabitants live and buy goods.  And  successes doesn't necessarily depend on conjuring up the most 'likes' from the latest social media platforms...but more so-fulfilling the high expectations and need of its discerning clientele...accessibly so. On the same glorious crisp autumnal evening in NYC (October 20th)...two 'brands' of luxury embraced the aforementioned MO- in their own w...