Buffalo Rising Online

"Caught in the boredom trap? 'Z-Man' to the rescue! Blast off with the 'Z-Man' to Zonkville- it's snacker heaven. Screaming Yellow Zonkers: the crunchy popcorn you crave, brilliantly lit by a sunny sweet glaze. An outrageously awesome taste!"

Caramel corn can be prepared many ways, and everyone has their own favorite variation. Of course Cracker Jack and Fiddle Faddle have been around forever, but Screaming Yellow Zonkers are just as historically significant. Introduced in 1969, they quickly became popular among caramel corn fans that prefer their snacks sans nuts. The funky packaging is considered a strong representation of the period’s art, and, at one time, was even displayed at the Louvre in Paris. This, along with revolutionary advertising campaigns, gained SYZ's a cult following that has lasted through the generations.

Parkside Candy located on Main near UB's south campus, is a charming candy shop and ice cream parlor. They moved from their first location on Main Street to this one in 1927. That's right, 1927- and hardly anything has changed since.

Stepping into this fantastically preserved shop is like stepping back in time. The interior is extraordinary, boasting antique tables, chairs, and decor. The old fashioned ice cream fountain is an attraction in and of itself, the vintage wooden cabinet and the display of various sundae dishes hearkens back to the pre-World War II era. The round, inset ceiling is lined with ornate scroll work and highlighted by indirect lighting. Housemade confections are presented in the store's original wooden display cases, and two lifesize "street lamps" stand in the middle of the floor. If passers-by make judgments based on the building's less than well-pres…

It's the last few hours of the last day of the Choco Logo sale.

Find out why Barry Manilow orders confections for himself and all of his friends from Choco-Logo, as well as why one of the words (a verb before an adjective) in his complementary letter to the company needed to be bleeped. We like the idea of Barry liking something so much it moves him to use expletives.

I went there yesterday and got a pound of salty turtles. The creamy chocolate, the gooey caramel, the nuts and a topping of chunky salt. You haven't lived until...

Owner, Dan Johnson, and his staff, including a very happy Cherie Messore, are taking a small vacation and divesting the shop of goodies at a half-off of everything sale. They close at 5, so you'd better go. Now. Find out what makes Manilow use the *&%$ word.

Choco-Logo 141 Broadway between Elm and Michigan 855.3500

What do you suppose a Buffalo chocolatier and Bon Jovi have in common? Believe it or not, it's a dedicated commitment to helping the homeless. When he was learning how to become a chocolatier, Dan Johnson never expected his chosen occupation would lead to partnerships with the rich and famous. But that's exactly what happened.

Choco-Logo's owner and president, Dan Johnson, believes in giving and helping others by fundraising with chocolate. Some of the not-for-profit organizations he's currently working with include the Hospice Foundation; Roswell's Paint Box Project; Hawk Creek Wildlife Center; and Help USA.

It was his work on behalf of Help USA (www.helpusa.org) that ultimately connected Dan with Jon Bon Jovi. Jon first found out about Choco-Logo products at a Help USA fundraiser that he attended. The event attracted many famous ente…

Flower flavored concoctions are very old world. Our ancestors did not turn their noses up at such ideas. In fact, in the days of Mozart, it is my understanding that since the actual care of one’s teeth was somewhat foreign and misunderstood the well-moneyed gargled perfume to cover the odor of their bad oral hygiene.

I personally really enjoy sweets flavored with the essence of flowers. My baking repertoire includes a number of recipes that call for violet essence, dried lavender, orange blossom water and rosewater. I completely understand those that are turned off by the idea, but I can also be sure that they’ve never had a piece of rich dark chocolate cake with violet buttercream.

I love these little violet flavored “mints” made by C Howard, Co. I find it funny that my extension of an offer of one of these little bad boys often results in a sneer. It seems that …

Canadian chocolate bars, penny candy jars and sweets that trigger waves of nostalgia line the shelves of Bella Mia Chocolate Shop. They also offer ice cream, sundaes, floats and milkshakes. There are very few corner candy shops like this left. Those that still stand generally cater to those looking for a gourmet, adult selection, or they sell cigarettes and beer right next to the Nerds and Hershey bars.

"The Chocolate Shop" (as its commonly known) is a throwback to the good old-fashioned candy store, but it has a few twists.

Choco Logo celebrated their one-year anniversary in their Broadway retail location earlier this evening. Not only did the business draw a great crowd of devoted chocolate lovers, it also disclosed some recent triumphs that our city should be proud of. Any retailer will tell you that the one-year anniversary is a milestone. It doesn't mean that everything from that point on is smooth sailing... but it does bring a sense of accomplishment to the table that many business owners use as fuel for the following year. I spoke with Choco Logo owner, Dan Johnson (right), about the overall success of his downtown enterprise and he told me this - "The past few weeks have been very exciting for us. We shipped off 750 tins of our chocolates to former President Cli…

Today I bought my first pack of cigarettes in over twenty-five years. I carefully removed one from the pack, put it to my lips and puff-puffed the sweet smoke. The white wrapper was unrolled, and I chomped on the thin tube of pink gum for about two minutes before it completely lost its flavor. Ahh, some things never change.

I found this nostalgic candy along with hundreds of other goodies at Bella Mia Chocolate Shop on Hertel Avenue. Maybe you've seen this place between Delaware and Tennyson, and thought it was just another chocolate store. Take a moment to step inside this tasty treasure trove and you'll be transformed back to your youth - no matter where you grew up.