123 East 7th Street

New York, NY 10009

Go get those cupcakes everyone!

Previously, I would say I wanted to bring together the people that now claim themselves to be spiritual and not religious but I think my quest has expanded.  In addition to getting people together I need them to acknowledge the core principals we all share one example being the priority of the earth because no earth = no people, people !

Furthermore, I feel it necessary to inform those “spiritual but not religious people” that people who are religious are not an enemy and just because religion shapes their lives, this is not a bad thing.  This has become a new unaddressed prejudice all in itself, especially within my generation.

So my intent 3 fold

1. Getting people to acknowledge the core principals we all share despite religious and non religious differences

2. Getting the “spiritual but not religious” group to understand those who choose to live a religious life

3. Harness the power of technology and the internet to organize the unorganized in the interfaith community and show those who are not aware the strength that comes with it.

http://www.pinkgaloshes.com/

A Bioluminescent Bay is a body of water that has all the proper combination of conditions for micro-organisms known as dinoflagellates to exist.  Because of these mico-organisms, when the water is disturbed it glows a brilliant neon blue.  The environment that must be present is such a chain of events it is amazing these areas exist at all. 

I recently had the experience of seeing this phenomenon when I was in Puerto Rico.  I took the adventure to Laguna Grande near the El Yunque rainforest, where I took the two hour bio bay kayaking tour.  For a first time kayaker it was a long strenuous trip.  Most areas were very narrow and hard to navigate, but looking back on the experience and realizing the greatness of being able to see this amazing phenomenon was all worth it.

I was not able to take any pictures, because the light may disturb and kill the organisms in the environment, but see the video below for a view of the kayaking area.

To learn more about the Parliament of the World’s Religions please watch the video below or visit their website.  You may also contact me for information about attending.

Visit Parliament on

Ok I had been nervous, the fear of rain and a possible onset of diabetes for everyone on the crawl, but we did it. The route was the chosen ones, some of the most famous cupcake spots in New York City and others I had found doing research on the interwebs, taking into account vast pages, comments, and polls from all over creation. Our task was to push aside the fear of cupcake coma, our prior cupcake conditioning, and set out to judge the cupcakes of New York City for what they really are.

To rate our cupcakes and their makers, we all had scorecards of many a color (To View The Scorecard we used click here). Our rating system was as follows, 1-5 tiny cupcakes to color in (cause coloring makes everything rad)—their meanings ranging from “Not So Good!” to “Cupcake-Gasm!”for extra attributes of each cupcake: Cake, Frosting, Overall, and Balance. Additional criteria consisted of: cake to frosting ratio, size, color, type, and of course comments.

Initially we also set out for 16 locations, but were only able to complete 10 in 7 hours.  So we will eventually continue upper Manhattan in a part 2, completing the last 6, date TBA.  The journey was a long one with some good, some bad, some being voted for “disqualification as a cupcake place, and some amazing finds no one knew existed.  Butterlane, was clearly the winner, with it’s great staff, unique frosting to cupcake pairings, and quality ingredients, not to mention, it was the only place almost everyone took extra home.   Burgers & Cupcakes, comes in second place with it’s simplicity and overall good flavor and freshness, and in third place is Billy’s Bakery, where the cakes was so light and the decorating display was amazing, complete with the icing show in the front window.  But, I also must mention Sweet Revenge with their posh wine/ beer to cupcake pairings.  Big Booty, though not best overall came in second for best frosting, the cream cheese icing on the red velvet cupcake is to die for and they had alot of options for gluten free items, as did Babycakes.

The worst of the day by far were the Cake Shop, although it had an interesting atmosphere, the cupcakes were stale and hurt my soul.  Same goes for Snice, with their peeling logo on the front window,  the cupcakes tasted like cardboard, and even though the place seemed to be promoting “greeness” each cupcake was in a seperate plastic container and stale as stones.

(please read on for detailed extras and comments)

Babycakes Nyc, 248 Broome St, New York, NY 10002
cupcake cost $3.50
Flavors Sampled: All Vegan -Vanilla, Red Velvet, Gluten Free Carrot Cake
Cake Okay- average 3.1/ 5
Frosting- split between okay and cupcake-gasm -3.5/5
Balance- okay
Cake To Frosting Ratio 1:4
Size small
Color dull
Type healthy with a unique flavor
Overall -okay 3.3/5
Comments:SALTY,FOR VEGAN ITS AMZING , MUFFI LIKE,STAFF UNFRIENDLY,RED VELVET NOT OIST ENOUGH,TASTED TOO MUCH BAKING SODA,CAKE DRY,BLAND LIKE HEALTH FOOD,ICING WAS VERY LIGHT AND AIRY,GREAT FOR BREAKFAST! CARROT CUPCAKE W/AWESOME ICING W/ CINNAMON. AGAVE MADE IT NOT TOO SWEET- PERFECT FOR BREAKFAST! CARROT CAKE A LITTLE SALTY ALMOST A MUFFIN

Sugar Sweet Sunshine, 126 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
cupcake cost $1.50
Flavors Sampled:LEMON, VANILLA, DARK CHOCOLATE, RED VLVET, PISTACHIO, DARK CHOCOLATE W/ CHO ALMOND BUTTERCREAM
Cake-Good 3.6/ 5
Frosting-I am unfulfilled 2.7/5
Balance- cupcake-gasm- 4/5
Cake To Frosting Ratio 1:3 great
Size- medium
Color vibrant
Type- betty crocker look alike with a sassy classic
Overall-okay 2.9/5
Comments: BITTER,TOO MUCH DYE IN FROSTING,HEAVY,UNIQUE FLAVOR,GOD PRICE FRUITY FROSTING ALMOND FLAVORED FROSTING YUMMY,VANILLA TOO MUCH DYE IN FROSTING ,MOUSSE VERSION OF BUTTERCREAM WAS OK ,FROSTING TOO SWEET,SERVER VERY FRIENDLY,NOTHING SPECIAL BUT CUPCAKES DONE RIGHT IVE SEEN REDDER,NOT CREAM CHEESE ICING ON RED VELVET !!! WEIRD,ICING TOO SWEET FROSTING HAD A GRAINY TEXTURE CAKE WAS DRY, PRICE IS NICE

Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
cupcake cost $2.75
Flavors Sampled VEGAN CHOCOLATE, VANILLA
Cake- Tie between not so good and unfulfilled…2.1/5
Frosting- i am unfulfilled 2.3/5
Balance- okay 2.4/5
Cake To Frosting Ratio 1:3 perfect
Size small
Color inconclusive
Type-BETTY CROCKER LOOK ALIKE, PRESERVATIVE CITY
Overall- okay--1.8/5
Comments: VERY DRY NARROW PLACE NOT TOO SWEET FUN VIBE CONNECTED TO VENUE AND BAR ,NOT FRESH ITS LIKE YOUR WHITE TRASH AUNT MADE A BOX MIX AND LEFT IT OUT FOR A WEEK TOO DENSE!!! VANILLA MILK IS GOOD HIPSTER NOSTALGIA CHOCOLATE AWEFUL!!!! STALE AND GROSS, HEAVY DENSE CAKE A LITTLE DRY, ALMOST LIKE CANNED FROSTING A LIL GRAINY TEXTURE, COOL ATMOSPHERE LAYED BACK, NOT CHEESY

Butter Lane, 123 East 7th Street
cupcake cost $2.75
Flavors Samped GRAPEFRUIT GINGER, BANANA CAKE W/ GRAPEFRUIT ICING BEST! VNILLA W/PINEAPPLE APRICOT, APRICOT PINEAPPLE, CHO ESPRESSO, VANILLA PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING
Cake-Cupcake Gasm -4.3/5
Frosting Cupcake-gasm -5/5
Balance Cupcake-gasm- 4.75/5
Cake To Frosting Ratio
Size medium
Color vibrant
Type its own
Overall Cupcake-gasm -4.9/5
Comments:NOT TOO SWEET,UNIQUE ICING CONCEPT,ORGANIC DAIRY,STAFF KIND OWNERS,MUFFIN TOP,,LIKE GMOM MAKES, SMELL OF STORE AMAZING,STAFF GREAT,VERY FRESH,SO GOOD!!!,SMELL SO GREAT,FRESH LEMONADE,PROFESSIONALS, SPECTACULAR MOIST,FINGER LICKING GOOD ,ONLY PLACE WHERE PEOPLE BOUGHT EXTRA TO TAKE HOME,AWESOME FROSTING FLAVORS BLOW MY MIND! MOIST LIGHT CAKE. ,SOME FROSTING VERY SWEET NEEDED COFFEE.

Sweet Revenge, 62 Carmine Street, NYC, NY 10014
cupcake cost $3.50
flavors sampled-STRAWBERRY, VERY STRAWBERRY, RED VELVET
Cake-good-3.75/5
Frosting-tie between good and cupcake-gasm-4.5/5
Balance- cupcake-gasm-4.25/5
Cake To Frosting Ratio
Size medium
Color vibrant
Type UNIQUE FLAVOR, LIKE GMOM MAKES, HAUTE CUPCAKE
Overall Good 4.25/5
Comments:CAKE DRY UNTIL PAIRING,FANCY,GREAT SIT DOWN PLACE A LITTLE PRETENTIOUS,cream cheese like frosting,GREAT PAIRINGS FROSTING AMAZING CAKE A BIT DRY- PAIRING AMAZING,PRESENTATION WAS GREAT ,UH SORRY WE DON’T HAVE THAT,AMAZING FROSTING!,HIGH FALOOTIN FANCY SCHMANCY PANTS AWARD!,BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION,LIMITED SELECTION, OUT OF MANY THINGS, WINE/ BEER PAIRINGS AWESOME IDEA,RED VELVET TASTED JUST LIKE CINNAMON W/ STRAWBERRY ICING FLAVOR WAS FRESH EXCELLENT WENT WELL WITH CHAMPAGNE POURING

Magnolia Bakery, 401 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014
cupcake cost $2.50-3.00
flavors sampled- lemon, chocolate
Cake okay 3/5
Frosting good 4/5
Balance okay 4-5
Cake To Frosting Ratio 1:3
Size medium
Color vibrant
Type hype
Overall- okay 3.4/5
Comments: NOT WORTH THE LINE, FROSTING WAS REALLY LIGHT. RICH CHOCOLATE FLAVOR. LEMON CUPCAKE HAD SECRET LAYERED GEL, LIKE LEMON BARS. CHOCOLATE INFERIOR TO VANILLA, OVERRATED

Snice, 45 8th ave, New York, NY 10014
cupcake cost $2.25,-$2.75
flavors sampled- vegan chocolate, vanilla
Cake tie not so good and ok 2/5
Frosting okay 2.75/5
Balance tie not so good and unfulfilled 1.5/5
Cake To Frosting Ratio 1:4
Size medium
Color dull
Type vegan
Overall - i am unfulfilled 2.4/5
Comments:CHEMICAL TASTE DESPITE BEING VEGANDO NOT KNOW IF THEY MAKE ,COOL COFFEE SHOP
NEED TO REDO RECIPE, PETITION TO DISQUALIFY AS A CUPCAKE PLACE I WOULD NOT EAT IT.THEIR OWN

Billy’s Bakery, 184 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

cupcake cost $2.25,-$2.75
flavors sampled
Cake good 4.25/5
Frosting good and cupcake-gasm 4.5/5
Balance cupcake-gasm 4.25/5
Cake To Frosting Ratio 1:3
Size medium
Color vibrant-pastel
Type like grandmom makes
Overall good and cupcake-gasm 4.5/5
Comments: MOST DARLING CUPCAKE,TOP HARD, EDIBLE BALLS BEAUTIFUL,SOFT CAKE,ARE THESE BALLS EDIBLE? BUT NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT, PRETTY PEARLS AND FLOWERS ON MOTHERS DAY CAKE, GOOD FLAVOR MOCHA FROSTING WAS DELICIOUS RICH, NOT TOO SWEET.GREAT PRESENTATION, I like WATCHing THEM FROST IN WINDOW, LITE FLUFFY, PASTEL

Big Booty Bread Co, 261 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011
cupcake cost: $2.50
flavors sampled red velvet
Cake Good 4/5
Frosting Cupcake-gasm 4.8/5
Balance Good 4/5
Cake To Frosting Ratio 1:3
Size medium
Color vibrant
Type healthier all its own
Overall Good 4.25/5
Comments:NO VARIETY , VERY GOOD CREAM CHEESE ICING SOFT LIGHT CAKE W/ VERY MILD FLAVOR. VERY PLEASANT, EVEN ON A FULL TUMMY THESE MADE ME SMILE, THERE IS A REASON THEY ARE “FAMOUS” RED VELVET CUPCAKES, I WAITED FOR THIS ICING ALL DAY, CREAM CHEESE, NOT BIG SELECTION, CREAMY NOT SWEET, GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS

Burgers & Cupcakes, 458 9th Ave, New York, NY 10018

cupcake cost $2.50-3.00
flavors sampled vanilla, mint, red velvet
Cake good 3.8/5
Frosting good 4/5
Balance good 4.25/5
Cake To Frosting Ratio 3:1
Size medium
Color vibrant
Type unique flavor
Overall good 4.75/5
Comments:HAVE GIANT BDAY CUPCAKES, REAL RED VELVET FLAVOR DENSE MOIST CAKE. VERY CREAMY CREAM CHEESE ICING . MINT ICING HAD GREAT BASKIN ROBBINS FLAVOR BUT GRAINY ICING, WEIRD SPREAD ON THE FROSTING REAL NON CARBY FOOD, YUMMY FROSTING

You can find photos below to document the day and at the NYC Cupcake Crawl Flickr group

Thanks again to everyone for your participation!

 Adam Meisel, Marissa Gonzalez, Kristy Skowronski, Renee Bonneau,

Jason Santa Maria, Amy Sly, Kristen Errico, Matt Yeackel , John Reznick, Alyssa & more

I look forward to seeing you for part 2!!!!

If you are not aware of what Fibromyalgia is please read below.

About Fibromyalagia
Fibromyalgia (pronounced fy-bro-my-AL-ja) is a common and complex chronic pain disorder that affects people physically, mentally and socially. Fibromyalgia, which has also been referred to as fibromyalgia syndrome, fibromyositis and fibrositis, is characterized by chronic widespread pain, multiple tender points, abnormal pain processing, sleep disturbances, fatigue and opressed immune system. For those with severe symptoms, fibromyalgia can be extremely debilitating and interfere with basic daily activities.
Fibromyalgia affects 3.7 million americans + Whether you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or suffer from its symptoms, or have a family member or friend with the disorder to find out more vistit http://www.fmaware.org/

I was recently reading The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, one of my favorite books at the moment, and he commented on the drive for people to identify with objects. This is so noticeable with mass consumerism and marketing in the west. Sorry for stating the obvious. Our society makes people think they need that shiny thing to be better. But my thought is, we are becoming more aware that we identify with objects, but not as conscious that we identify with our occupations, and are looking for ourselves from them. The movement of the identification with things is evolving to the identification with occupation.

When we meet someone new one of the first questions we ask is what do you do? I am guilty of this and I believe most adults are. It is really just that old song and dance of sizing people up. The bureau of labor and statistics shows that people between the age of 25 -34 stay at their jobs less than an average of 2 years but most within this age range most really stay less that 12 months. We all know statistics can be bent to our needs so I looked at several different reports and came to the same conclusion.

I do not agree with most on the subject of why this is happening. Most of the resources I have come across on the matter claim out generation are such techies and feel we are so arrogant and feel such entitlement that we can never be happy with where we are. I agree to some extent but I believe it goes beyond this. I belive it is more personal and on some level spiritual. I think we go to job after job looking for ourselves, thinking the next job will finally define us, and give us our identity. This explains our diminished sense of self when we are laid off or fired, even though statistically we would have quit in a few months anyway. There are some that are exceptions to this. They know their jobs do not define them, when someone asks them who they are they do not answer with a job title. This serial job jumping is in direct alignment with a shift in conciousness, which may be happening. Sorry to go all New Age on you, but until we come to the realization we are not our jobs and can not be defined by anything outside of ourselves some of us will be playing job hopscotch for a long time.