February 9, 2015 at 1:46 p.m.
Sweet success: Event draws chocolate lovers to downtown Rhinelander
Sweet success: Event draws chocolate lovers to downtown Rhinelander
By Kayla Thomason-
The chance to taste chocolate, in all of its delicious forms, lured a large crowd to downtown Rhinelander for the eighth annual Taste of Chocolate. Ticketholders sampled a plethora of chocolates and chocolate-themed goods, while also taking advantage of special sales.
Business owners said the evening was a sweet success.
"(Taste of Chocolate) is going great, it's just been non-stop, everybody is having a good time and eating some chocolate," said Michele Baumgartner, owner/creator of Bath and Body - Inspired by Jan.
People enjoyed the chocolate candles and lotion she made special for the event.
"I think (Taste of Chocolate is) great, I think it's an awesome night that DRI helps put on and I really appreciate them for doing that and for helping out the downtown," she said.
Diane Dodge, owner of Diane's Frame Shoppe has participated in every Taste of Chocolate.
"(Taste of Chocolate has) been going good, it's been pretty steady," Dodge said. "I think (the event) gives people a chance to get out and see what kind of businesses are downtown because a lot of them say they didn't know all of these businesses are here."
Christiane Micheletti, owner of Shabby Cottage, was a first-time participant in Taste of Chocolate.
"It's a lot of fun," she said.
They had "a ton of people in" their store, she added.
Micheletti offered chocolate truffle cheesecake bites, chocolate-covered cherries and chocolate mints.
"(Taste of Chocolate is) great, it brings people down here, especially tonight who have never seen the shop or who come down here but never realized we're here," she said.
Shabby Cottage has been open for almost a year.
"It's nice to see the community come out to support us," Micheletti said.
Customers enjoyed the shopping and the chocolate.
"It's fun, we go every year," Diane Sowinski said."It's just a nice night to get out and see people. We've seen so many of our friends and everything, it's more about visiting everybody than anything else."
Sowinski said she loved Dubl Digit's chocolate-covered strawberries, and the tea and chocolate-covered coffee beans at Northern Coffee Haus.
Tammy Gobert has attended for several years. She found things she liked and plans to go back to buy them later.
"I think (Taste of Chocolate is) a wonderful thing for downtown Rhinelander," she said. "It's fun, it's something fun you get to do."
The event pulled people into shops they said they wouldn't normally visit.
"I actually did enjoy a couple places that we stopped because we stopped at the Shabby Cottage," Jamie Gray said. "I've never been in it before and I'm actually glad I went in there because there's some really cool antiques in there that I will definitely go back in there for."
She and Gobert also enjoyed the Hext Theatre.
"We're liking it a lot, this is my first year going so we're enjoying it," Nick Benzinger said.
They sampled all sorts of chocolates, including chocolate potato chips.
Businesses that took part in the night were Bath and Body - Inspired by Jan, the Rhinelander Brewing Company, Fraiser Kitchens, Kids In Need, Big Daddy's, 13 Gifts, Book World, Bucketheads, Calvary Baptist Church Headwaters Christian Youth, Diane's Frame Shoppe, Dubl Digits, Fun Factory Sweet Shoppe, Hext Theatre/Stage Left Cafe, House of Spirits, Imaginuity, Jamberry Nails at Northern Coffee Haus, Knight Gallery, Lund and Taylor Bridal Gallerie, Mel's Trading Post, Northern Coffee Haus, Northland Music, Northwoods River News, Rhinelander Cafe & Pub, Thirty One Gifts at Northern Coffee Haus, Trig's Floral and Home, and Tula's Cafe.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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