Girl Scout Cookies – Salem Happenings

COOOOKIES! The 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Sale Has Begun!

If you’re on the hunt for a great gift for the cookie aficionado in your life and you’re trying to find a way to give back to the community at the same time, the Girl Scouts of America may have exactly what you’re looking for. This is because the Girl Scout Cookie Sale actually begins today, which means that if you have a friend or family member who just can’t resist Caramel Delights®, Lemonades™, Peanut Butter Patties®, Thin Mints ®, Smores™ (the new cookies out this year), and/or all of the other Girl Scout cookies out there, all you need to do is find some local Girl Scouts.

Now, it’s not always easy to find a local troop, but there is, of course, an app (or website) for that. In fact, if you don’t know where to even start looking for some cookies, you can always use the Girl Scout Cookie Finder. This handy little website (which also comes in the form of an app) will allow you to get a list of all of the cookie booths that are scheduled in your area simply by entering your zip code. Best of all, if you decide to buy cookies from a local troop, you will actually be giving money to that troop because each troop will receive a portion of the proceeds from each box of cookies that they sell.

And, if you really don’t want the cookies and you can’t think of anyone to give them to, you can always buy a box or two (or ten) and have them donated to a local charity through the Girl Scouts’ Cookies for a Cause program. This way, you’re not only helping the Girl Scouts but also helping another charity as well. For more information on the Girl Scout Cookie sale, including all of the cookies that are currently available, please visit the Girl Scouts of America website.

Photo credit: Jim, the Photographer via Visual hunt / CC BY

‘Tis the Season for Cookies and Crafts

Christmas Eve is only two weeks away, which means no matter which holiday you celebrate, time is running out fast. In fact, if you or your friends celebrate Chanukah, time has pretty much run out already as the celebration begins at sundown on Tuesday. This means that if you haven’t found gifts for everybody on your list yet, you may be looking for some not quite last minute, but pretty close to the end ideas. Fortunately, if this is indeed the case and you’re trying to cross a few more names off your holiday list, there are a couple of awesome events this weekend that are sure to help you find presents for all of the people and/or pets in your life.

First, if you’re searching for the perfect gift for the cookie-lover in your life, the Girl Scouts of America have you covered. This is because the Girl Scout Cookie Sale actually begins today, which means that if you know someone who just can’t live without their Thin Mints ®, Caramel Delights®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Lemonades™, Cranberry Citrus Crisps, or any of the multitude of other Girl Scout cookies out there, all you need to do is find a local Girl Scout troop. Now, finding a local troop can be easier said than done in some cases, but the Girl Scouts have actually already thought of that. In fact, if you’re having trouble finding a local troop, you may want to try out the Girl Scout Cookie Finder because this handy little website (or app) will allow you to put in your information and a local troop will find you. For more information on the Girl Scout Cookie sale, including all of the cookies that are available, please visit the Girl Scouts of America website.

Secondly, if your loved one is a fan of handcrafted gifts and you can’t make it to any of the craft fairs that I mentioned last week (which with the exception of CraftBoston are still running), there is another local fair that you may want to check out. The 11th Annual SoWa Holiday Market is scheduled to take place from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Saturday (December 13, 2014) and 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday (December 14, 2014) at the Benjamin Franklin Institute on Berkeley Street in Boston. This holiday fair will feature candy, cards, candles, ceramics, clothing, coffee, glassware, jewelry, and more. For more information on the SoWa Holiday Market, please visit the SoWa Holiday Market website.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / CC BY

Girl Scouts ®, Thin Mints ®, Caramel Delights®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Lemonades™, and all associated names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Death by Chocolate? Hardly.

I've heard of death by chocolate, but I don't think this is what people usually mean. — I’ve heard of death by chocolate, but somehow I don’t think this is what people usually mean.

It doesn’t matter whether it is hot, cold, or somewhere in between, chocolate is one of the most popular foods available. However, did you know that chocolate doesn’t only taste good, but is also good for you? In fact, studies have shown that chocolate can help alleviate depression and stress, improve brain function, lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of developing diabetes, reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, and improve the overall functioning of your body in a number of other ways. As a result, it’s really no surprise that chocolate is so hard to pass up, and if you’re looking for a way to get your chocolate fix, there’s no better time to find some than now.

The first place that you should look if you’re in need of a chocolate fix is Old Town Trolley Tours. This is because Old Town Trolley Tours offers a tour of the top chocolate shops in the Boston area every Saturday from now until April 12th. This tour, which is known as the Boston Chocolate Tour, will allow you to learn all about chocolate from an actual chef while you travel to the Top of the Hub, the Omni Parker House Hotel, and the Langham Hotel’s Café Fleur to sample the best chocolate desserts they have to offer. Now, with a price tag of $75 a person, the Boston Chocolate Tour may seem a little on the pricey side. However, it is important to remember that the tour includes an all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet at the Langham Hotel’s Café Fleur, which may account for a large portion of the $75 fee. The tour also includes samples from each of the places you stop and samples while you travel courtesy of Beacon Hill Chocolates. For more information on the Boston Chocolate Tour, please visit the Old Town Trolley Tours website.

The second place that you should look if you’re desperately seeking chocolate this weekend is Harvard Square. This is because the annual Harvard Square Chocolate Festival, which is also known as the Taste of Chocolate Festival, runs from today at 11:30 A.M. to Sunday at 12:30 P.M. This festival will give you the opportunity to sample and/or purchase a variety of heavily discounted chocolates and chocolate-themed items while you listen to music, learn more about chocolate at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and enjoy everything else that Harvard Square has to offer. For more information on the Harvard Square Chocolate Festival, please visit the Official Harvard Square website.

Finally, if you prefer your chocolate in cookie form, you may want to find a local Girl Scout. Girl Scout cookies are on sale from now until the end of February in most places, so it is the perfect time to stock up on those Thin Mints.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter.com / CC BY