FINAL NIGHT!

Yes, it's true, we are wrapping up the summer, and therefor (temporarily!) wrapping up the "Thursdays at B'sweet" series!

It's been a fun 8 weeks, but we're taking some time off to recuperate, relax and brainstorm the next wave of events.

As always, feel free to send ideas to us! Either leave a comment here, or email us at: THatBsweet@gmail.com
For our final week, join us this Thursday from 7 pm-9 pm for a rousing marathon of "Apples to Apples."

If you've never played this game- you are in for a treat!
In celebration, our featured item will be the Green Apple Pate De Fruit- a chewy Apple confection that's both gluten free and vegan!

Join us!

the manager SLAMS!

hey everyone! we *just* finished- what i think was- a very successful "poetry night". my friend trevor from diesel opened up, reading very vivid selections from his newly-published book! some were gothic inspired but the real joy was hearing his series "punch": poems from the point of view of punch (from medieval morality play and later slap-stick puppet box punch and judy fame).

i read a couple of pieces from back in my competitive slam-poet days. it was nice to sir them before a new audience and really made me realise how much i miss performing and competing.

after, the floor was opened up and quite a diverse range of people read. new faces, regular faces...it truly was a delight to hear so many people willing to share what normally is a very private part of them.

well...there are only 2 weeks of THIS series of thursdays at b'sweet left.

next week- a benefit event for the artist-in-residence program at Children's Hospital.
and the following week- apples to apples (the MENSA award-winning game)!!!

hope to see you there.

Children's Hospital Benefit!!!

NEXT THURSDAY!!!!

Mark your calendars! Tell your friends! Bring the whole family!

Thursdays at Bittersweet is taking a different turn: We will be showcasing the artwork from the Oakland Children's Hospital Artist-in-Residence Program.

Hayley Oggel, the artist in resident herself, will be displaying works produced through this wonderful program.

As someone who spent an entire summer in Children's Hospital (albeit, in a different state), I felt a real need to highlight the amazing creative - and therapeutic- work that happens.

10% of that evening's sales (August 21st) will go directly to benefit the program; there will also be several additional donations jars, the proceeds of which will ALL directly go to the CHO Artist-in-Residence program.

Again- AUGUST 21st- 7 PM to 9 PM!!! Come out and support this fantastic program!!!!

Poetry Night!!!

Come and join us tomorrow (Thursday) night from 7-9 pm. Local poets Trevor Calvert (who just happens to work next door at the *fabulous* Diesel Books ) and our very own Becky (a former competitive slam poet, going by the moniker of Stein!) will be reading some of their favorite poems. Then the floor will open up to anyone who is willing to share: Keep in mind, this is a family atmosphere.

In celebration of all things poetic- or maybe just because they are Becky's favorite- the Brownie Bites will be 10%! YUM!

Come experience an evening of exquisite words and tastes.

Intro to Chocolate Tasting!

Ever wanted to host a Chocolate Tasting party? Or impress visitors to your home with some well-pair chocolate/wine combos? Had no idea where to start??

Worry no longer!

Seneca Klassen (one of Bittersweet's founding members)- our resident Chocolate Guru and maker of our in-house Bittersweet Origins bars- will be leading an informal, drop-in style introduction. From 7-9 PM *tomorrow* come on over and get armed with the basics. Sample 3 amazing dark chocolates from Madagascar. Pick up our handy-dandy guide to pairing wines and liquor with chocolate. Try something new!

The 3 Madagascan chocolates in our "tasting" ( Amano 70%, Michel Cluizel Mangaro 65% and Valrhona Ampamakia 64%) will be the featured items of the evening!

and now, a message from the manager...

alrighty! week 3 is here and i'm so totally stoked to have krystal- our rockin' barista (who, fyi speaks korean!)- jam out on her guitar. the past 2 weeks have gone really smoothly and seem to have been recieved positively. i'm just glad we got the opportunity to do something a little bit different at our store.

tomorrow night (7-9 pm) is krystal's west coast debut and because she's totally awesome, her favorite beverage- the chocolate chai- will be on special. try it out at 10% off. can't beat that, and who knows...maybe it will become *your* favorite too!

Coming Events UPDATE

July 31st, 2008

Live Guitar with our very own, Krystal Wakem (She's 14th from the bottom of the list!)

In Krystal's own words:

Helloooo~! My name is Krystal Wakem. When I'm not being a Bittersweet
barista, I am a solo performer who plays left-handed guitar and sings
simultaneously.  Basically, I do acoustic adaptations of both popular
and underground songs. I mostly do contemporary pop and rock, but I
also do a lot of folk. I sing in different languages and enjoy playing
songs from all over the globe. However, if you give me a song of any
genre, I'll turn it upside down and make it work for me one way or
another! For my performance at Bittersweet, I'll be creating a
setlist. Meanwhile, I'll make up a list of songs I know so you can
feel free to request anything from there while I'm playing!

I have videos up just incase you'd like to get a feel for what I sound
like (please note: I sound much better live than on a webcam!) They
can be found here:
http://www.veoh.com/users/soojungbyul

If you have a particular song you'd like me to learn before then,
please send suggestions. I'm open to anything! My e-mail address is:
malicesoaker@gmail.com

Come on by from 7-9 and check her out! Enjoy 10% her favorite drink, the Chocolate Chai while you're here!

You'll be glad you did.

Boards Games, Bittersweets and Brouhaha had...

Last night, our Board Games and Bittersweets night went swimmingly. 4 games were available: Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary addition, Clue, Uno (yes, technically a card game) and Pictionary.

It was, by comparison, a much quieter evening, but many new people tried the richly dark Bittersweet hot chocolate and their was at least one table that played *multiple* games.

Tune in for next week's Live Guitar (with our very own Krystal) and 10% off her favorite drink--the Chocolate Chai!

First Success! (of hopefully many)!

Last night's Kick-off event was a smashing success. Candles were a-glow, samples were free-flowing and merriment was had by all. The raffle was a hit as well, and here's a list of the lucky winners and their winnings (don't worry! We'll also call you!)

Kate Q- A Bittersweet T-shirt
Michelle M- A Bittersweet Hat
Adam K- one tin of Bittersweet mix
Jay- and Amano Ocumare bar
Nancy W- a Bittersweet Origins bar
Jill & Simon- a Vosges Barcelona bar
Marlon M- an Askinosie San Jose del Tambo bar
Deborah S- the Republica de Cacao El Oro bar
Wallace B- the Michel Cluizel Noir 72 bar

JOIN US NEXT WEEK THURSDAY for Board Games and Bittersweets!!!

manager speaks (again!)

TOMORROW'S IT!

i am so nervous/ excited/ worried about the big event. due to techincal issues, the computer at work has been rendered useless for the past week. so here i sit at the rockridge library doing all the last minute preparations: signs, updating, emailing...

and yet, i don't even know if it will be a success. i don't even know if people will show up.

the signs are going to the printer *today* (yes, very last minute) so there hasn't been much buzz about it. i don't even know if people read this blog yet.

here's to hoping they do, because tomorrow is the big day! the test of whether or not this whole venture will be a success.

Wine Mine visit...

Another thing has been pulled together for our "customer appreciation night"/ Kick-Off event: delightfully paired selections to enjoy with our chocolate.

This Thursday (wow! I can't believe it's almost here!) come on by between 7-9 pm. Samples of 5th street Pastry- owned by the same couple who brought T-Rex and LaLimes into being- will be available.

We'll also be sampling 3 of our fabulous dark chocolates:
- Republica de Cacao El Oro- a 67% from Ecuador
- Askinosie San Jose del Tambo- 70%, also Ecuadorian
- Michel Cluizel 72 Noir- a drak rich blend at 72% cacao

The fabulous proprietor at the Wine Mine (at 53rd-ish and Telegraph) help pair these 3 each with a distinctively different wine.

Enjoy all of this AND 10% any merchandise purchase!

More about the "KICK OFF!"

Plans continue to brew about for our official kick off event!

Possibilities include (but are NOT limited to):

- Door prize/Raffle- but how to make it go smoothly for an open house style event?
- Casual chocolate tasting

- Pairing chocolate with wines/ liquors ( scouting out ideas at the Wine Mine later this week)
- Sampling our fabulous new pastries from 5th Street Bakery in Berkeley
- 10% off all general merchandise, including chocolate bars, gift boxes, Blue Bottle whole bean coffee, truffles, drink mixes, etc.

Anything you'd like to see? Send ideas our way!

the manager speaks out!

hey! For those of you who may not have met me yet, i'm becky. i've been managing the store at rockridge for just over a month now. but you prorablly have met me, or already know me, considering i started out here a year ago and have worked my way to top (so to speak).

i'm really excited about the possibilities that Thursdays @ B'sweet offer to the local community.

oakland is a happenin' place- especially in our neck-of-the woods. but i've noticed in my year here, that Bittersweet has a unique opportunity to bring people together. and that's what i'm hoping to accomplish!

i'll be keeping you posted about ideas, events, feedback...so come on in and introduce yourself. i'd love to chat!

becky

Board Games and Bittersweets

July 24th, 2008

Gather 'round the tables for an evening of good, old-fashioned fun. Featured games may include any (or all) of the following:

- Scrabble
- Pictionary
- Trivial Pursuit- Original Edition
- Clue
- Taboo

Featured special: our signature Bittersweet Chocolate Drink. Try one for 10% off--TONIGHT ONLY.

Official KICK-OFF Event!

Welcome! Bittersweet Cafe (Rockridge location) is debuting an ongoing series of events at our store. Thursday July 17th from 7 pm-9 pm join us for our official Kick-Off Event: Customer Appreciation Night!

There will be goodies to sample (of the pastry and chocolate variety), new friends (and old) to meet and of course, a knowledgeable, friendly staff to answer all your burning questions.

Come, taste and enjoy! And while you're here- for this event only- receive 10% all merchandise purchases.