Non-New Yorkers might be familiar with Magnolia Bakery because of a certain SNL Digital Short, where Andy Samberg claimed to love their cupcakes "like McAdams loves Gosling," not to mention that some scenes in Sex and The City took place just outside. Their baked goods are famous local lore, with lines of buttercream enthusiasts consistently snaking out the front door, even in the blistering cold of winter, even if personally we think they are a little dry to be so famous.

Los Angeles is no stranger to the maniacal cupcake trend; bakeries like Crumbs Bake Shop and Sprinkles (and now, the distinct, chocolate-hued Sprinkles truck) have been feeding the city's sugar-starved masses for years now, and while they've earned solid reps of their own, Magnolia has a certain unshakeable appeal. Well, sweets fiends rejoice, because on a recent stroll down West Third Street, we came across a sign announcing that the New York institution is fast on its way to the Left Coast. ]]> Heidi Atwal 2009-10-07T15:28:55-05:00 34.0689492 -118.31720 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/21/171414/743

In the not-so-distant future, storefront restaurants in Manhattan will be a thing of the past, and New Yorkers will buy meals exclusively from food trucks. At least that's what it feels like. From crème brulee to waffles, the tastiest restaurants opening up over the last few years haven't really been restaurants at all, but rent-free eateries-on-wheels.

If you're behind on the New York food truck scene, catch up in one afternoon this Saturday, when hip drinking spot BKLYN Yard hosts Parked!, an eating event that brings all the city's best food trucks together in one spot. From pizza to tacos to ice cream, all the foodie faves will be here for one day only.

Coincidentally, this weekend also welcomes the debut of New York's newest food truck. Cupcake Stop will be serving freshly baked frosted treats starting tonight, when it will be parked on 23rd street between 7th and 8th.

So much mobile food, so little time.

Related Stories:
· Parked! [Brooklyn Yard]
· Cupcake Stop [Official Site]
· Food travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: cchen] ]]> BS 2009-05-22T08:46:58-05:00 40.6782788 -73.989431 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/14/93437/4541

Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and their two kids, Violet and Serafina, have been spotted around Ben's hometown of Boston recently. But Ben isn't in town visiting his old neighborhood, he's actually working on a new movie, "The Company Men", also starring Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner, as workers trying to survive a workforce reduction at a large corporation.

Today, they are filming at 5 Union Park on Boston's South End. We watched Tommy Lee Jones film a scene at this location a few weeks ago. The PAs wouldn't let us get too close but it looked like his character was having his car repossessed. ]]> cmb 2009-05-14T09:56:54-05:00 42.3424500 -71.070572 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/4/7/172354/8640

In our continuing quest to find things to do in DC if the Obamas won't take your meeting, this week we're looking at the District's best desserts. ]]> BS 2009-04-08T16:26:34-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/16/164323/541 Commenters were aghast a few days ago when we suggested that the cupcake craze might be over. Now, as if on cue, Nestle is parachuting into Los Angeles to host an extravagant "Cupcake Challenge" at the Hollywood Renaissance.

The awesome: 18 of the area's best bakeries are competing on Sunday, March 29 from 1 to 4pm. You the customer will get the chance to go from vendor to vendor voting on who has the best mini-cupcakes. At the end the votes will be tallied and a Southern California cupcake champion will be declared.

The suck: tickets are $40 per person, an awful steep price to pay for indulging your sweet tooth. On the other hand, did we mention that 18 different vendors would be offering mini-cupcakes for people to sample?

If the ticket prices are a deal breaker, you can of course visit any of the competitors on your own time. The full list is on the Challenge site and includes perennial LA favorites like The Buttercake Bakery and Oinkster.

We also recommend checking out Sprinkles in Beverly Hills and Leda's in the Valley, neither of which are competing.

Related Stories:
· Are Donuts the New Cupcakes? [Jaunted]
· Cupcakes coverage [Jaunted] ]]> Omri 2009-03-18T09:25:21-05:00 34.1030434 -118.33878 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/3/4/125217/7057

We think so! Judging by the fervor we've seen around the virtual food world lately, we're ready to say the cupcake craze is over and donut madness has begun. It makes sense really, given the economy, that foodies would abandon the trendy, overpriced, over-fancified cupcake for the original fried dough comfort food.

So over the next few weeks we'll be taking a look at our favorite Dunkin' Donuts Alternatives—from beloved old school pastry shops to designer donut newcomers. ]]> BS 2009-03-05T13:31:59-05:00 40.7260982 -73.952131 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/28/10476/6349

If you were in Seattle last week you may have been surprised by sweet treats hidden throughout the neighborhood of Queen Anne. The yellow cupcakes smothered in pink frosting weren’t actually decadent desserts but mini-sculptures made from plaster of paris. Each cupcake included a unique handwritten message on it, meant to uplift who ever found it.

The artist behind the installation, Jessie Oleson, wanted to bring some joy to her neighbors in this seemingly joyless time. “This particular installation was motivated by how bummed out everyone seems to be right now--losing jobs, facing the economic crisis, knowing that change will come, but not knowing when. I thought that putting sweet little messages--delivered on a sweet delivery mechanism--might make a small difference in many days--thus adding up to a big infusion of much needed sweetness and happiness.” ]]> cmb 2009-01-28T13:55:56-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/