By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
Bon Bons and Boutiques, That Chocolate Event … Au Chocolat by any other name would taste as sweet.
Baldwinsville’s delicious buy local event returns under its iconic Au Chocolat name on Thursday, Nov. 14, with 16 businesses participating. Shoppers can taste sweet treats and get stamps on their “passports” at each location. There is no charge for the passport, but guests are encouraged to shop locally and purchase items from the participating boutiques.
Drop your completed passport at the last location you visit for a chance to win a raffle prize. Each business has contributed a prize, so there are plenty of chances to win. A trolley will shuttle attendees among the various locations.
“The concept is moving people through the village,” said Joanna Ferguson, who manages the Gift Shop at Village Hardware and helped coordinate Au Chocolat.
Au Chocolat organizers are hoping to inspire shoppers to stick to local businesses when making their lists this year. Ferguson said it is a “showcase” of Baldwinsville’s businesses.
“The restaurants are usually open that night anyway,” Ferguson added.
Holiday shoppers also have the chance to visit The Nantucket Cat, which has reopened in Baldwinsville between Nov. 1 and Dec. 28. The cat lovers’ shop closed its Baldwinsville store in 2017 and continued its sales at craft shows and The Shoppes at Johnny Appleseed in Erieville. The new holiday season iteration of The Nantucket Cat is located at 60 Oswego St.
While trolleys will run continuously throughout Au Chocolat, many of the participating businesses are within walking distance of each other. Inclement weather is not a concern; the trolleys are heated.
“Last year, we had snow, unfortunately,” Ferguson said, “but it didn’t stop people from coming and it made it more jolly.”
Over the years, Au Chocolat has turned from its original ladies-night atmosphere to a more family-oriented event.
“This has really become a tradition in the village, and it’s really nice to see merchants working together and supporting each other and helping each other thrive. That’s really impressive to me,” Ferguson said, adding, “It’s blossomed into a family event.”
Au Chocolat takes place from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14. To learn more, visit facebook.com/AuChocolatbville.
Au Chocolat shops and trolley stops
• Greene Ivy Florist: 7762 Maple Road, 315-635-5300; GreeneIvyFlorist.com — trolley stop
• Sissy’s at The Hamill House: 49 Oswego St., 315-303-0873
• JessiCakes: 3 Marble St., 315-484-8228
• Sweet Dream Candy Shoppe: 3 W. Genesee St., 315-303-0834
• The Purple Painted Lady: 1 W. Genesee St., 585-750-6056; ThePurplePaintedLady.com
• Bliss Bridal and Formal Wear: 4 W Genesee St., 315-638-5200; SyracuseBlissBridal.com
• La Tresse by Renee: 59 E. Genesee St., 315-638-2040; LaTresseSalon.com
• The Museum at Shacksboro Schoolhouse: 46 Canton St., 315-638-2452; ShacksboroMuseum.com — trolley stop
• The Nantucket Cat: 60 Oswego St.; TheNantucketCat.com
• Fashion Rescue 911 Boutique: 52 Oswego St., 315-857-6690; fashionrescue911.com
• Maureen’s Hope Foundation: 44 Oswego St., 315-243-6918; MaureensHope.org
• a la Maison (315-440-6637, alaMaisonAccents.com), Two Twisted Sisters/Olive’s Eatery (315-638-1955, OlivesEateryBville.com), Mally Mae Boutique (315-857-3793), Simply Chic (315-635-5188): 25 Syracuse St. — trolley stop
• The Gift Shop at Village Hardware: 43 E. Genesee St., 315-638-4026; AceVillageHardware.com/gift-shop — trolley stop
