Legalize Frostitution - The official blog of Cupcake Royale

Win tickets to Breaking Dawn Part 1

2011-11-11T07:21:00.000-08:00

actual picture of a line for folks trying to see the Breaking Dawn Part 1

Calling all Twihards! Breaking Dawn Part 1 opens nationwide on November 18 but you already know this since you've been counting down the minutes for the past several months. What if we said that we had a few tickets for a special premiere on Wednesday, November 16--a full 2 days ahead of when everyone will get their first chance to see it.

Well, it's true and your pals at Cupcake Royale want to hook you up with one of the 25 pairs of tickets we will be giving away. For the next five days leading up to the preview, everyone who purchases a cupcake at one of our five cafes will be eligible to enter to win a Twilight Prize Pack, which includes 2 hats, 2 t-shirts plus a pair of tickets for the Wednesday, November 16 screening at 6pm. We will randomly pick one name every day for each cafe (five daily winners)! And all you have to do is purchase a cupcake. If you're counting calories, surprise a friend with a cupcake--they don't need to know that you're tying to win a contest.

Also, we'll be selling special Twilight-themed cupcakes for the next five days! Oh snap, we caught Twilight Fever!

D.I.Y. (Decorate it Yourself) Frosting Parties!

2011-10-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Calling all party people, parental units, nannies, mannies, grannies, guncles and cool kids of all ages! We need you!

DIY (Decorate It Yourself) Cupcake Frosting Parties are coming to your local Cupcake Royale every Monday from 3-5pm. We provide the cupcakes and frosting, you provide the creativity. Together, we're making some afternoon delight!

Starting this Monday, October 17 (and running through the end of the year), swing by and flex your mad frosting skills.Impress your friends, meet your neighbors!

$3.50 gets you a fresh-baked cupcake, an assortment of our tasty frostings and sprinkles, plus expert tips from our Pro frosters along with a box to take home your creations to share with the ones you love! Keep it simple with our signature swirl or get intricate and try your hand at one of our seasonal designs like a spooky spider web.

See you tonight!

Hello September!

2011-09-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

September has arrived and that means that summer is winding down, just as school is just starting up. This month, Cupcake Royale is bringing back an old friend, Huckleberry Cupcake, and introducing you to the new kid in class, Peanut Butter and Jam Cupcake. We think it's a pretty sweet way to end summer.

Our Huckleberry Cupcake (The Huck)

Huckleberry Cupcake

Say goodbye to summer and hello to huckleberries. It's a fair trade-off in our book and we always celebrate September with our Huckleberry Cupcake (aka “the Huck”). We fold in fresh, local huckleberries (fresh, as in they were picked for us this past weekend) into our vanilla cupcake and top it with a huckleberry buttercream frosting. This cupcake brings all the bears to the yard. We have partnered with local farm Foraged & Found Edibles to provide us with our huckleberry crop this year. In case you don’t know what a huckleberry is, think of it as the little brother to a blueberry but with even more flavor.

Peanut Butter and Jam

Peanut Butter and Jam Cupcake

Peanut Butter and Jam, sitting in a tree. This classic combo has our vanilla cupcake, filled with fresh local strawberry jam (fresh, as in they made it last week) topped with a super fluffy, salty peanut butter buttercream. Sprinkled with chopped peanuts and a coarse sugar and sea salt.

Now through September 30th at all five of our cafes.

August flavors!

2011-07-31T17:09:00.000-07:00

August Berry Trio (l to r):

Double Chocolate Raspberry, Blackberry Buckle, Strawberry Shortcake

August ranks as one of the region's sweetest months so it only makes sense that our seasonal flavors would reflect that.

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake

There's no way around it, Strawberry Shortcake was this year's favorite Strawberry Festival flavor! We heard from you on Twitter (follow us!) and Facebook (like us!) and in the cafes. We totally get it especially since we've had more than our fair share of them ourselves. The light, strawberry-flavored whipped cream frosting ringed in graham cracker crumbs goes perfectly with the sweet strawberry-infused vanilla cake. Not carrying it over would have been cruel.

Blackberry Crumble

Blackberry Buckle

Rumor has it that upon tasting this new flavor, one of our employees actually teared up. A blackberry cake topped with a blackberry whipped cream frosting is finished with a cinnamon streusel crunch. We can't guarantee that it'll make you cry with delicious happiness, but let's just say that we wouldn't judge you if it did.

Double Chocolate Raspberry

Double Chocolate Raspberry

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. First, your tart raspberries and semi-sweet chocolate chips, gently folded into a tasty vanilla cake. Second, how you are topped with a fluffy, white chocolate buttercream frosting and garnished with a fresh raspberry and chocolate curls. It all adds up to a double dose of sweetness with just a hint of tart. Delicious with a latte!

But this is a love that can't last forever; these flavors are only around through August 31. Have a sweet summer from Cupcake Royale!

Guess our August flavors!

2011-07-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love a good mystery? Especially when the reward is a beverage and a delicious 2 pack of our cupcakes!

For the month of August, we decided to keep our exciting summer going by having 3 flavors of the month again.

Right now on Facebook, our fans our are using their sleuthing powers to figure out which 3 flavors we'll be featuring next month. Yesterday, they correctly guessed which strawberry cupcake we're holding over. And today, they just guessed the second flavor. Check out recent posts to get caught up. Tomorrow, we'll be giving the clue(s) for the final flavor. The first five people to correctly guess all three flavors exactly will each win a beverage of their choosing and a 2 pack of cupcakes. Head over to our Facebook page to play.

Previous clues:
Day 1 - "one of our Strawberry Festival flavors"; "we want 'berry nice weather'."
Day 2 - "Back in black."; "You'll find it on some shoes..."

Decisions!

2011-07-22T15:51:00.001-07:00

Strawberry 66 - now through the end of July!

Oh man! I hate decisions! For the birthday party tomorrow, do I bring a dozen Strawberry 66 cupcakes since they're only here through the end of the July? Or do I bring a dozen Whiskey Maple Bacon cupcakes since they're only here through Sunday for Capitol Hill Block Party (Cap Hill store only)? And what about our other Strawberry Festival flavors, also only here through the end of the month? The only thing to do is get an assortment!

Maple Whiskey Bacon - now through this Sunday!

It Gets Better donation

2011-07-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

video by Alex Berry / Psychonautic Studios

Last Thursday, Cupcake Royale founder Jody Hall presented a check in the amount of $10,000 to It Gets Better founders, Dan Savage and Terry Miller. Our Capitol Hill cafe was full of fans, friends and family--all gathered to hear Jody, Dan and Pride Foundation scholar, Andrew, discuss the personal importance of this project. Dan stressed the impact of this contribution and said that it was the largest, single donation yet in the history of the project.

We're already brainstorming our next fundraising project for later this year. So if you know of a great local organization that could use some help, we'd love to hear your suggestions!

Summer Fest and Seafoodfest!

2011-07-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

We're betting you might like a street fair as much as we do! If that's the case, you're in luck because 2 of Seattle's most fun street fairs are happening this weekend. And no matter what Seattle's weather decides to do, we'll have both hot and cold beverages to go along with our four featured strawberry cupcakes.

West Seattle Summer Fest 2011 is already in full swing. Today, tomorrow and Sunday you can cruise up parts of both California Ave SW and SW Alaska Street to enjoy shopping, artists, and food from over 160 vendors. There's also music all weekend long with concerts by Caspar Babypants and The Fastbacks this evening. Fun, fun, fun!

2011 marks the 37th year for Ballard's Annual Seafoodfest. Saturday (11-9) and Sunday (11-7), Ballard will be transformed into a street fair with performers, vendors, clowns, comedians and food. Music performances include a set by DJ Riz and a concert by The Moondoggies. Weekend highlights include a lutefisk eating contest, a 25 foot salmon, and a sidewalk sale. Don't miss it because how many times a year are you encouraged to "Eat Play and Plunder"?

Vote for us!

2011-07-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Seattle Weekly just opened up their 2011 Best of Seattle Poll. We'd love to win "Best Cupcakes" this year and we're not above a little shameless campaigning.

Back in 2003, when Jody Hall opened Cupcake Royale, she envisioned a neighborhood cafe where folks could gather for cupcakes, coffee and community. And that's exactly what has happened at all five of her neighborhood locations in Madrona, Ballard, West Seattle, Capitol Hill and most recently in Old Bellevue's Main Street neighborhood in the old IHOP.

Through the years, Cupcake Royale has hosted numerous concerts, art events, community discussions, dinners, sprinkle parties, celebrations, talks, forums and conversations. Jody has campaigned for important causes like reproductive rights, health care reform, and city legislation that takes care of small business. She has been recognized by the Nellie Cashman Society (2010 Woman of the Year finalist), The Mayor's Office, President Obama, and Patty Murray for her efforts.

Jody believes that the smartest investment she can make is an investment in her employees and community. Cupcake Royale donates over 40,000 cupcakes a year, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for various non-profits. They've given $500 art grants to produce original art for their cafes. Most recently, through your generous patronage, Cupcake Royale was able to make a $10,000 donation to the It Gets Better Project.

Over the past 7.5 years, it's been our pleasure as customers have turned into friends. We feel so lucky to be in so many great neighborhoods throughout the Seattle area.

The polls are open through Tuesday, July 19th.

Strawberry Cupcake Festival starts July 1st!

2011-06-30T12:15:00.000-07:00

Strawberry Festival 4 Pack

The 4^th of July is just around the corner which means that summer can officially begin in Seattle. To celebrate, we're having a Strawberry Festival during the month of July! Our neighbors to the north, Skagit Sun, have supplied us with locally-sourced, organic strawberries that we incorporated into each of this month's four cupcake flavors. Our bakers have been busily consulting with grandmothers and country fair winners alike to come up with the most delicious flavor combinations and we think you'll love them as much as we do!

Strawberry 66

Strawberry 66 is our classic vanilla buttercake topped with Strawberry buttercream. The ingredients for this delicious cupcake are over 66% local, which we think makes it the most local cupcake around. Frank Bruni would be proud.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry starts with our moist chocolate cake, then we add our strawberry buttercream and dip it into fine chocolate vermicelli.

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake has a sweet strawberry puree baked into a vanilla cake with a whipped cream strawberry frosting and topped with graham cracker crumbs.

Strawberry Velvet

Strawberry Velvet updates our classic red velvet cake with a whipped cream strawberry frosting.

Nothing says summer like strawberries so pick some up for your next picnic or party! We make it easy to try them all with our Strawberry Festival 4-pak! $3.50 each or the 4-pak for $13.50.

Call 206-883-7656 or visit www.cupcakeroyale.com to pre-order your Strawberry Festival four pack for pick-up tomorrow! Happy summer, y'all!

It Gets Better...

2011-06-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

The Gay cupcake

When selecting a charity to support with their The Gay cupcake, choosing the It Gets Better Project was a no-brainer for Cupcake Royale owner Jody Hall. Founded by Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller, the It Gets Better Project seeks to give hope to LGBT youth by letting them know that life gets better. Their video went viral and soon everyday folks (and celebrities and politicians, too) were making videos of support.

Cupcake Royale donated 50% of all proceeds from sales of The Gay (and Baby Gay). They set a lofty goal to raise $5,000 during June but after a week or so, it became clear that they were going to quickly reach that goal and they upped the ante to $10,000! Dan Savage said, “Cupcake Royale's support for the It Gets Better Project is personally gratifying—I'm a regular customer, an addict, and a fan—and it will make a huge difference to LGBT youth throughout the country. We can't thank Jody and her team enough for their generosity."

Sold only during the month of June, The Gay Cupcake featured Cupcake Royale’s classic vanilla buttercake and vanilla buttercream, along with a healthy infusion of rainbow confetti in the cake, rainbow sprinkles and a proud rainbow sugar topper.

Jody Hall adds, “It’s amazing that we were able to do this, and use our “super powers” for good! By selling this cupcake and asking the community to join us in our efforts, we are able to make a great impact to IGBP. I’m so proud to be able to galvanize our community and customers around making a difference, and send a huge “thanks” out to our customers for jumping in!”

A very sweet deal for our Bellevue friends!

2010-10-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

We're sure excited to add Bellevue to our family of neighborhood cafés. In addition to our delicious scratch-baked cupcakes made with local nad sustainable ingredients, we are the first in Bellevue to brew the legendary Stumptown Coffee.

As a token of our new friendship, we'd like to offer you a sweet deal! Be among the first to try the new Cupcake Royale in Bellevue! Bring this special coupon into our Bellevue café, and when you buy 3 cupcakes, we'll give you 3 cupcakes for free! But wait! There's more! For every three you purchase with this coupon, we'll donate three to the Bellevue High School PTSA...and they're planning a big bake sale any day now to raise money for the school.

It's what we like to call a RANDOM ACT OF CUPCAKES. And we encourage you to spread the love, too! Witness somebody doing some good? Hand them a surprise box of cupcakes and leave them smiling and dazed with pleasant curiosity about the goodness of life.

Go forth and be random, we say. Share your Random Acts of Cupcakes stories, and read others HERE.

We're Hiring!

2010-09-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

We have a really fun job that just opened up! It's an important role as the Cupcake Phone Ambassador (otherwise known as the Inside Sales Customer Service Rep). We're open to full or part time applicants. Please check out the job description and contact Krista@cupcakeroyale.com if you are interested.

Must be able to juggle lots of priorities, organize a complex workload, and most of all...provide top notch customer service.

Key areas of responsibility:
Customer Service Rep: Man the phones from 8am – 5pm (with an hour lunch and breaks as needed!) to create happy Cupcake Royale customers. Primary responsibilities are to take customer orders and answer questions. Act as key point person on processing orders, coordinating special requests internally, and communicating/following up with the team on all key activities.

Donations: Share the cupcake love! Manage donations following the current procedures. Ensure orders are placed, coordinate pickup or delivery, provide signage, brochures and collateral, and manage internal communication. Forward special requests and sponsorship opportunities to marketing and follow up to get back to each party.

Art: Create community. Mange the art calendar for all stores to ensure we have a pipeline of art that meets our company standards. Coordinate postings in local art walk guides. Coordinate hanging and removal of art with both the stores and the artists. Communicate the schedule with marketing to collaborate on promotion (i.e. Facebook, website, etc.).

Weddings: Go above and beyond to make Cupcake Royale the obvious choice for people planning weddings. Act as key point of contact for customers looking for information about booking a cupcake wedding. Provide order and logistics information, assist with customization options, coordinate orders.

Office manager: Bring harmony to the Capitol Hill office/backroom. Be in charge of office supplies and inventory. Be sure the back room is organized, everything has its place, and all inner office materials are distributed as needed.

Misc: Help out with special projects as needed!

Oh, hello, Bellevue.

2010-09-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Oh, hello, Bellevue. Nice to meet you! We've seen you sitting over there for awhile now, and we thought maybe it was about time we came over. We want in on all the Bellevue fun, and as a token of our friendship, we’re bringing cupcakes! Seattle’s Best Cupcakes, actually. See, we’ve been over here in Seattle for seven years now, baking our cupcakes fresh from scratch each and every day using mostly local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. We make ‘em with love, the way Grandma did, and we hand-frost each and every one with real American buttercream. It’s been a super sweet seven years, and we are proud to call Capitol Hill, Ballard, Madrona, and West Seattle home. And now, we’re just plain tickled pink to add Bellevue to our family of neighborhood cupcake goodness. And we think you might just get a little bit excited too…

Bygone days are here again...now with buttercream!

Our fifth cupcake café is gonna be an extravaganza of cupcake and coffee Americana goodness! The newest addition to the Cupcake Royale family will make its home in one of America's original IHOP buildings, complete with all the architectural charm and whimsy of those bygone days. Remember the A-frames and the wood paneling? As Jody likes to say, this is "what our café would have looked like had we opened in 1971." We're lucky enough to work once again with Roy McMakin on a quick and easy, guerilla-style makeover, to create a hip and homey neighborhood cupcake café that we think you’ll really love.

This café is going to be special for sure. A little bit different from our Seattle locations, this one will celebrate the history of the building and the quirkiness of the original design with a sweet and sassy combo of found decor, relics from the original IHOP, and custom pieces created especially for Cupcake Royale, like the 30-person, Doug Fir picnic table where you and all your friends can hang out on our patio. For those of you who frequented the original IHOPs of yore, you may remember those cool open kitchens. Well, we’re keeping that, too! The café will feature a wide-open kitchen where wide-eyed cupcakers of all ages can marvel at the magic of our behind-the-scenes operations.

The perfect partner for all this cupcake love? STUMPTOWN! We'll be the first café in Bellevue to be brewing those legendary Stumptown beans. That's right, people! We're bringing the very best, small-batch, freshly roasted beans in the whole wide world to Bellevue. And for those lazy days at home, we'll feature a fine little assortment of whole beans and home-brewing equipment.

Hold on! There’s more! The new café will open its doors at the end of this month, and we know it sure wouldn’t be very Royale of us to get our brand new friends-and-neighbors-to-be all excited about the impending cupcake funtimes…and then leave them waiting. So…the piece de résistance...THE MOBILE CUPCAKE PARTY-CART! Starting this very morning, we are debuting the first-ever mobile cupcake cart. It's like a hot dog cart, only way more awesome, and filled with cupcakes. We'll be parkin' our cart in the parking lot and serving up fresh-baked goodness to our new friends and neighbors until the doors to the café are officially open. We sure would love it if you stopped by and said hello. Anyone who gets a cupcake from the cart will also get a thank you card good for a free coffee when the doors to the café finally do open. Once the café is open for business, the Cupcake Party-Cart will head out into the world, available for birthdays, company parties, weddings, anniversaries, you name it!

Takin' sweet to the street.

So, to sum it all up, short and sweet:

WHAT: A new Cupcake Royale in Bellevue!

WHERE: 21 Bellevue Way NE, in that sweet old IHOP building!

WHEN: End of the month, but until then, get your cupcake on with us at our MOBILE CUPCAKE PARTY-CART in the parking lot!

WHY: Because we love you.

Cupcake Royale Is Expanding And We Need YOU!

2010-08-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

Big news! We’re excited to let our friends, here on our blog, be the first to know that we are opening a new store. Can you guess where? Here’s some clues…

The city has a total area of 33.9 square miles, of which, 30.8 square miles of it is land and 3.2 square miles of it (9.29%) is water
Founded in 1869, the name is French for "beautiful view"
Named number 1 in CNN Money's list of the best places to live and launch a business
Also named the 4th best place to live in America
This city is in the top 7% in the state for well-paid-single men and top 4% for well-paid-single women
It’s one of the 25 safest cities in America
Both Ann and Nancy Wilson, co-founders of the band Heart, are said to reside here

Write your answer down on a piece of paper (so you won’t cheat) and then scroll down to see if you are right…

The answer is BELLEVUE! If you are so super smart that you figured that out, you must be passionate about the Bellevue community – and that’s the type of folks we are looking to hire! So, if you also love the art of great coffee and delicious cupcakes, we’d like to hear from you for the positions of: Cupcake Bakers, Baristas, Frosters.

We are looking for baristas who have a passion for hand crafted artisan coffee. And bakers and frosters who enjoy baking cake from scratch with local ingredients in large batches with high quality and productivity standards. Our values center around having fun, working hard as a team, creating an engaging customer service experience, being kind to our environment, giving back to community efforts and a passion for your work and sharing your enthusiasm with customers.

Baristas should be experienced with 1+ years of artisan coffee crafting and engaging customer service and an appreciation for scratch-baked goods.

Bakers should be experienced with 1+ years in high-volume production baking with attention to detail and ability to work collaboratively in teams, attention to detail, pride in work, reliable.

Frosters should be able to learn and work quickly, be able to prioritize, have a high level of customer service and be flexible and prompt.

Qualified folks should apply by sending a resume and cover letter to cupcakes1111@gmail.com explaining why you’d be a good fit. Thanks for your interest!

By the way, not only do you get to surround yourself with coffee and cupcakes, but here’s a few additional tidbits to sweeten the deal:

We offer benefits to our super stellar crew: medical insurance for 30+ hours/week, 401K, all you can drink espresso, great deals on cupcakes and merchandise…plus cool co-workers!
We use all natural, wholesome ingredients in our tasty, fresh-baked cupcakes, and we get them from local farmers whenever we can. Even our flour is local – grown on a no-till co-op by our pal Farmer Fred in Eastern Washington, and specially milled just for us.
We only brew the best beans: Stumptown! They travel worldwide to source and roast the best coffees available anywhere. Developing partnerships with farms to share in a belief that working together year after year results in the highest level of quality.
We are a green, locally owned, indie business. We not only recycle, but we compost as well, and we use compostable packaging as much as possible, too, from paper cups to soy ink to corn-based plastic.
We give over 25,000 cupcakes a year to local non-profits to give back to our community.

Cupcake-Powered Radio

2010-08-12T16:24:00.000-07:00

You know we love the KEXP. What's not to love? Great bands. Great DJs. And it's all made possible by you, the oh-so-savvy listener. Well, you and all the sweet Seattle businesses that support KEXP by underwriting. If ever there was a win-win situation, underwriting for KEXP would have to be the win-winniest. We hear our favorite fellow local businesses mentioned on KEXP all the time, and it just makes us feel good. All of us community-minded music lovers pooling our resources to keep the tunes a comin'.

Recently, our buddy Rob over at KEXP asked Jody to record a testimonial about why she underwrites for KEXP...and has since day one! That's 7 years of cupcake-powered radio, people. Super. Sweet.

Rock on, KEXP. Here's to 7 more years of cupcake love headed your way.

WORLD CUPcakes!

2010-06-30T09:59:00.001-07:00

That's right people! Cupcaker extraordinaire, Kim, just got her vuvuzela on and has the sweet pics to show it. It would appear that cupcakes have some big time international appeal. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the cupcakes of South Africa!

First stop: Tasha's in Joburg. What better way to celebrate after the Ghana match than with a deeeelicious Red Velvet? Ahhh, like a little taste of home.

Speaking of home...

USA! USA! USA!

Back to the cupcakes.

You know our girl Kim gets the Royale treatment wherever she goes. This here is the head pastry chef at the Mount Nelson in Cape Town, personally serving up some scrumptious lemon cupcakes fresh from the oven for high tea. That's right. High tea. Not to be confused with Hi-C. Or 5 Alive.

So, how did these lemon lovelies match up in a head to head contest with our April Cupcake of the Month, Lemon Mascarpone? It was close, but you just can't beat that creamy mascarpone goodness. Royale wins!

USA! USA! USA!

Alright, alright. Back to the cupcakes.

Here's a sweet peek at the ooey-gooey-drippy-goodness of the cupcakes at a seaside bakery on the way to Cape of Good Hope. With their decadent icings and deliciously fudgy aromas, this batch was particularly difficult to keep from the hippos.

Who you callin' hippo? It's all fun and games until someone loses a cupcake.

Free + babycake = Freebiecake

2010-06-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

Another month, another ridiculously delicious cupcake. We are tickled pink (even pinker than usual) that it is finally June, and Seattle is about to get its summer on. We're all too aware of the fact that waiting for that summer sun to shine down on the Emerald City can be a looooooooong process, so we've got a tasty little tropical treat to keep you smilin' until it does: Toasted Coconut Lime cupcakes.

Yes, people. We did it. We so went there. We put the lime in the coconut and baked it all up. The result? An island escape for your taste buds. Boom. So good! Moist, summery coconut cake gets a tangy topping of real lime buttercream. We cover that with delicious, golden brown flakes of toasted coconut goodness for a cupcake that is almost too tasty for words. Uh, it's also apparently too tasty for pictures.

So...get on in here and try one! Better yet, try one on the house! Come on in to any Cupcake Royale on Saturday June 5th or Sunday June 6th and tell us your favorite tropical hot spot, and we'll treat you to a Toasted Coconut Lime babycake.

Free + babycake = Freebiecake
Get one.

Aaaaaand...Cupcakes + Muppets = AWESOME
Enjoy.

So Fresh.

2010-05-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

We know you're busy. We know life is hard. So we like to make it easy. We already have four convenient cupcake café locations, and we deliver all over Seattle and the Eastside. But, we like to think we can do more. Our newest cupcake perk for all you sweet-lovin' Seattlites: Cupcake Royale cupcakes are now available on AmazonFresh!

That's right, people! When you get your groceries online from Amazon's local grocery delivery service, AmazonFresh, you can now add a box (or two, or three...) of freshly baked cupcakes from Cupcake Royale to your order. And it all starts...today!

We've got three special 4-packs you can add to this week's grocery list: Favorites 4-Pack, Chocolate Lovers 4-Pack, and everyone's favorite new kid on the block, the Salted Caramel 4-Pack. PLUS, you can even get a 6-Pack of assorted babycakes.

So salty. So caramel-y. Cupcake magic.

And to sweeten the deal - literally - we're just plain old givin' it away to folks with orders of $150 or more. Yup indeedy. Get yourself $150 worth of groceries at AmazonFresh between now and Sunday, and you'll get the Favorites 4-Pack hook-up! That's one Classic, one Dance Party, one Lemon Drop, and one Royale with Cheese, on the house.

Because every mom deserves her very own Dance Party.

We are super psyched about this new funtime fresh-lovin' friendship with the folks over at AmazonFresh. You know we make sure our cupcakes are only the freshest and most delicious by baking them from scratch DAILY, using premium local ingredients like hormone-free dairy, certified-humane eggs, and specially milled, no-till flour from Farmer Fred and Farmer Karl at Shepherd's Grain.

Local. Fresh. Delicious! It's just the Royale way.

We got the pepper.

2010-05-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

That's right, people! The Chocolate Scorcher, everyone's favorite little fireball of a chocolate cupcake is back as our May Cupcake of the Month. Moist chocolate cake and rich, chocolaty cream cheese frosting, infused with the heat of guajillo chiles and warm hints of cinnamon and orange oil.

Once again, we've teamed up with our partners in goodness over at Theo Chocolate. This fiery beast is made with their tantalizingly tasty, organic Spicy Chile dark chocolate.

It's sweet meets heat, and it's just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Spice up your celebration by ordering up a batch of these hot tamales!

Click to order yours now. And don't forget - we deliver! To Seattle and the Eastside.

Famous foodies think our cupcakes are the best...EVER!

2010-03-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Jane & Michael Stern...foodies on the go.

And they should know. They travel the country seeking out the very best the US has to offer the palette. We could not be more excited about the sweet review we got from Jane and Michael Stern, a pair of road bound foodies dubbed "America’s leading authorities on the culinary delights to be found while driving" by Newsweek.

Well, they found themselves a clear favorite here in Seattle...our cupcakes! Mm hmm. Rated "Worth driving to from anywhere," Jane said our Salted Caramel "THE BEST cupcake I’ve ever eaten." Michael had equally glowing reviews for our goods on their site. And they both loved the Velvet Elvis, too. Well now, how could you not?

Their only complaint...our cupcakes are "way too fresh." We'll take it!

Listen to them tell all on NPR's Splendid Table.

Pastry Week Installation #3: Cinnamon Roll

2010-03-18T15:50:00.001-07:00

You're getting sleepy...your eyelids are getting heavy...uh, you're drooling.

We've all had cinnamon buns before. Some of us may have even dabbled in Cinnabons. However, you have had nothing, nothing, until you try this sweet masterpiece from Le Fournil. A tightly bound coil of light, flaky pastry is held together with sugary cinnamon goodness, and then drenched in a deliciously sticky glaze. And of course, the closer you get to the middle, that epicenter of deliciousness, the better it gets. Each bite setting the stage for the next, each more delectable than the last. If only it never had to end.

Well folks, sadly, everything must end. Including Pastry Week. Tomorrow is your last day to try our delicious new line of breakfast magic for half price. Come in by ten tomorrow morning, buy yourself a cup of coffee, and your pastry is half price.

And don't feel bad about the drooling. You're among friends.

Pastry Week Installation #2: Onion Bialy

2010-03-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

Along Came Bialy...

For most Americans, the word bialy conjures up images of good ol' Max Bialystock from Mel Brooks' Producers, and soon the tunes of Springtime for Hitler are running through your head. The name Bialystock is actually derivative of a Polish town, Białystok, the home of the bialy, a traditional baked good of Polish Ashkenazi Jews.

The bialy is a yeasty roll similar to a bagel, though it's not boiled, and thus maintains its dinner roll texture versus the dense, chewy insides of an outwardly crispy bagel. Our bialies (from Macrina Bakery) look like giant, fancy Goldfish crackers. The dough is twisted to create the perfect carriage for sweet pieces of onion, and the whole thing is sprinkled with poppy seeds and sea salt.

As soon as you sink your teeth into that savory ring of soft bread, you realize this is no child's cracker snack. The sweetness of the generous portion of sauteed onions combines with the nutty poppyseed goodness and is married together by the crunch of sea salt. It's a scrumptious taste of the Old World, right here in Seattle, and it is a welcome bite of savoury goodness in a pastrycase that's sugared to the max.

Wash it down with a hot cup of drip, and it's a hearty start to even the roughest of days. And, as with all of our delicious new pastries, it's half price when you come in this week and buy a coffee before 10.

Pastry Week Installation #1: Buttermilk Biscuit with Marionberry Jam

2010-03-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

Well, Seattle, you no longer need to go over the river and through the woods to get one of Grandma's old-fashioned buttermilk biscuits. And you don't need to wait til summer to snag one at the county fair. You can get one any day of the week here at Ye Old Cupcake Shoppe. And let us just say, Halleluejah.

Here it is. That flaky, buttery beauty. Tastefully (deliciously) accessorized with a deep purple gem of marionberry jam.

What is a marionberry, you say? Well, sporting a far more complex flavor profile than your typical blackberry, this little fruit is known as the “Cabernet of Blackberries.” It is tart and robust, yet sweeter, juicier, and often larger than your standard blackberry. Essentially, more berry for your buck. It packs a punch, and leaves a sweet purple ring around smiling lips. This, friends, is a marionberry.

Take that and plop a dollop of it in the middle of a delicious, old-fashioned, buttermilk biscuit, and it truly is like waking up on the farm. The buttery biscuit flakes will simply melt in your mouth as you savour the sweet glory of the marionberry jam, and you shall shout to the heavens... this is BREAKFAST! And you will be happy as you wash it down with a bold, creamy latte. This will be the best day ever.

And, it's half price. Whaaa?! Yes. This week is pastry week, your once-in-a-lifetime chance to get this buttery morsel of berry-topped goodness for half price. Head into any Cupcake Royale this week and buy a coffee before 10, and take your pick from our delicious new breakfast pastries from Le Fournil and Macrina, for half price.

Mornings are hard. Let us change that.

My safe word will be whisky.

2010-03-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

Or, in this case, "whiskey." Ever wonder why sometimes it's spelled with an e and sometimes not?

I'll fight any man who dares take the "e" out of my whiskey!

Well, back in the day, (late 1800s) it was all called whisky. However, it came to be known that the Scots were apparently cutting corners in ye olde business of malting. Their drink was going downhill fast, and the Irish were like, oh no no no. We won't be takin' the fall for this. We shan't get a bum rap for our blarney brew! (What? No one really said that.) Anyway, the Irish and the Americans got together and added an e to their labels, spelling the name of the drink they so carefully crafted "whiskey" to distinguish it from the alleged swill the Scots were putting out under the name "whisky."

Well, the Scotts have clearly cleaned up their act, BIG TIME, (Anybody try Theo's scotch chocolate 4 pack? Good LORD.) but the dual nomenclature stuck around. So, if you've got some of that Glenlivet headin' down the gullet, you've got yourself one super fine whisky. But, if you're partaking of the Jameson Irish goodness found in our delicious Irish Whiskey Maple cupcake, you, friend, are getting your whiskey on.

That covers the e, but what about the h? Well, speaking of going downhill:

And finally, seeing as we're all hot on the topic of linguistics, the answer to yesterday's trivia question! What are the origins of the word whiskey (or whisky)? It's an Anglicization of an old Gaelic term, uiscebeatha (Irish) or uisgebeatha (Scottish). It means "water of life."

Cheers!

Put some Irish on it!

2010-03-02T13:42:00.001-08:00

Done and done. Irish whiskey, that is. Jameson. All swirled up nice and sweet with some real maple syrup, and then piled real high on a moist vanilla buttercake. Yes folks, back by popular demand, the Irish Whiskey Maple cupcake is once again our super delicious Cupcake of the Month for March!

You already knew how delicious Jameson Irish Whiskey was (if you're over 21, 0f course.)

And you've always known that maple syrup is truly the nectar of the northern gods (i.e. Vermont).

And everyone knows that ours are Seattle's Best Cupcakes.

Put the three together, and you get one magically delicious morsel that'll have Irish eyes smiling all around the Emerald City. It's the luck o' the Irish, in scratch-baked cupcake form!

So don't miss out - order 'em up today! We'll even deliver! They're only here through the end of the month. Become a fan on Facebook, and stay tuned all month for delicious giveaways. You never know, you just might get lucky!

The 155 Cupcake-O-Gram: A sugar-coated message to Olympia

2010-02-18T14:59:00.000-08:00

Well, you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar, so those brainy ladies over at MomsRising figured they'd catch more support from their legislators with cupcakes...155 of them. And we know the way to really get your message out there is to make sure those cupcakes are Royale, so we hooked 'em up.

See? Early learning is fun! Don't kill our funding.

This morning at our Capitol Hill café, we hosted a horde of tots and their handlers at our Sprinkle Bar. The agenda of this meeting of the Moms: get the message out to our legislators that early learning must be a priority for Washington state, and that we can't balance the budget at the expense of our own children. The vehicle: CUPCAKES!

There's genius in them there cakes! Let us nurture it.

It takes a brilliant communications mind with a true insider's perspective of the Evergreen State's political underbelly to finesse a message this sweetly.

Turns out, there was a huge turn out, and the 155 Cupcake-O-Gram surpassed its mark. 181 cupcakes are on their way to Olympia tomorrow! The wee ones may not be able to vote, but it looks like these kiddos already have the political game down pat. Well played, kiddos. Well played indeed.

For more info on MomsRising and the immeasurable value of early learning for our state, head HERE. Get involved. Do it for the kids!

Oh yeah - this isn't the first time we've teamed up with Moms (aka Hot Mamas). Remember that massive march for health care last May? Yup, mothers were leading the way on that one, too. Moms rule.

THE KISS OF DEATHCAKE is back for one last lovingly lethal smooch...

2010-02-10T15:50:00.000-08:00

And this time, one lucky Tweeter will win big. BIG! Follow us on Twitter for your chance to collect. Send THE KISS OF DEATHCAKE to that special someone for Valentine's Day for a chance to win cupcakes for two...FOR A YEAR!

Aww. Don't you just love love?

That's right, people. We'll choose one pair of Tweeting sweeties to win a Sweetheart 2 pack each week for the rest of 2010. Because nothing says LOVE like a cupcake date night!

Every. Single Week.

Here's what you do:

1. Click HERE to follow us on Twitter.
2. Click the link we Tweet daily through Valentine's Day to send the KISS OF DEATHCAKE to your special Tweeting sweetie.
3. Fill in the blanks to tell us who you're kissing and why.

We'll pick our favorite, and it's cupcakes for two for a year! We may pick the sweetest. We may pick the funniest. We may pick the most sinister...MUWAHAHAHAAA! Go ahead. Wow us with your love.

And while you're at it, you better order up some Deathcake, before it's too late. It's only here through Valentine's Day, then you've gotta wait a whole year for your lovingly lethal fix.

Click to order online. Or call to order from a human 206.883.7656.

Happy Valentine's Day!

"'Tis better to have loved and lost"

2010-02-03T23:05:00.000-08:00

Than never to have loved at all.

"Nice hat, Al. Maybe you're not so bad after all."

At least that's what old Alfred Lord Tennyson said. Neat. Thanks, Al. That was helpful. No, really. It definitely put things in perspective so I could move on. Live again. Love again, even. I mean, who was I to think the he/she was just a cold-hearted, manipulative trashbag who could never care for anyone but him/herself? I mean, all he/she did was rip out my beating heart and shred it into lifeless bits, pausing only to check if his/her favorite show was a rerun this week. That's not so bad, eh? And now, all I have left to remember him/her by is this remote. What to do?

The nerve!

Give it to Dan Savage. Oh yes, THE Dan Savage. You may remember him from our earlier post Dan Savage is Just Plain Wonderfu l, or maybe from his nationally renowned lovefest/advice column Savage Love. Whichever. It's not like we're comparing who has more readers or anything. Anyhoo, Dan is back at it, wrecking havoc on Valentine traditions with the 13th Annual Valentine Bash at Neumos on Saturday, February 13th. VDay Eve, for anyone who's paying attention. Bring your memento of a love lost, and he will personally smash it, to smithereens, as they say, on stage. Wait a minute. Turning Valentine traditions on their heads? Where have we heard that...oh yeah! A wily little beast we call DEATHCAKE ROYALE...MUWAHAHAHAHAAA! This year, anyone who brings a token of their broken heart to get properly walloped on stage gets a little something extra to lick along with his/her love-inflicted wounds...a Deathcake Royale.

Bash it!

Seriously, at this point, if you don't know what Deathcake Royale is...well...click HERE.

Or, just look here. Mmmmmm...

Seeing as Dan Savage and Deathcake Royale are clearly a match made in bizarro world heaven, we're giving away two tickets to the bash. How do you get 'em? Well, we know how you kids love the Twitter these days. So tweet #2wordsforDEATHCAKE along with the two words you think best explain why Deathcake Royale is ALL the love you need this Valentine's Day. We'll pick our favorite, and send you and a pal to the bash. You MUST include the #2wordsforDEATHCAKE hashtag, and you MUST tweet it @CupcakeRoyale. And please, don't be gross. And don't be vulgar. You will not win. The winner will be announced next week.
Deathcake Royale. Shared by lovers. Loved by haters. This one's for you, haters.

Valentine Showdown - Cast your vote!

2010-02-02T15:05:00.000-08:00

Four stores. One mission: Boggle the minds of Seattleites with a Valentine display to end all Valentine displays.

THE RULES
Use found objects and recycled materials.
Use your brain.
Make us laugh.
Make us cry.
Make us jump for Valentine joy.
Infuse every fiber of our beings with the holy spirit of cupcake love.

THE RESULTS
MADRONA It seems only fitting that the original Cupcake Royale played up a Valentine classic with Cupid Redux. Will their rad new take on that winged baby in the buff be enough to take down what the other three stores have cooking? You decide...

Click the pic to see Cupid Redux in its full-sized glory. Better yet...come on into our Madrona café.

CAPITOL HILL Newcomer to the Cupcake Royale scene, Capitol Hill had a lot to prove. They pulled out all the stops with a pair of lovers, with only one thing that could come between them...a cupcake. But, is it enough to take their place at the head of the Royale pack? You decide...

Click the pic to see Only One Thing in its full-sized glory. Better yet...come on into our Capitol Hill café.

BALLARD If you've ever been to our Ballard café, you know three things about the staff. 1. They are quite the clever crew. 2. They take their coffee very seriously. 3. They freaking love bunnies. Ballard really showed their true colors with Cup of Love. Will their witty messages of Valentine love combined with their mad bunny drawing skillZ be enough to pull off the win? You decide...

Click the pic to see Cup of Love in its full-sized glory. Better yet...come on into our Ballard café.

WEST SEATTLE Cupcakes? Yeah, we got your cupcakes. Right here. All shapes. All sizes. In all your favorite flavors. Now come on in and have yourself a Valentine's Day Royale.
XOXO
West Seattle
P.S. Did we mention we're amazing artists? Oh, we didn't? Well, we are.

If West Seattle's display came with a note, we're pretty sure that's what it would say. Is their Valentine Royale enough? The Royale-iest, so to speak? You decide...

Click the pic to see Valentine Royale in its full-sized glory. Better yet...come on into our West Seattle café.

Ok people. You've seen 'em all, now pick ONE. Head on over to our Facebook page and cast your vote on our wall! There's a lot at stake here. Hearts will be broken. Do not take this task lightly. We REALLY recommend you visit each and every store in person. We can't stress this enough. And while you're there, you might as well have yourself a cupcake, eh? Maybe even a Deathcake...

Get your booty in these.

2010-02-01T15:33:00.000-08:00

It seems any time something becomes uncool, after a brief (zzzing!) hiatus, it comes back, and is the coolest of the cool. Here are some examples:

Bell bottoms
Nuclear power
AM Radio
The 80s
Velour
C+C Music Factory
Trail Mix
Reading
One-piece swimsuits
Breakfast
Tighty Whities

That's right, if there's anything cooler than breakfast, it's tighty whities. They're back, and they're tightier than ever, but they are not whitier. You can now get tighty whities in pretty much any color, thanks to the cotton connoisseurs over at American Apparel. Plus, they're not just for 10-year-old boys any more. Whether you're a full grown fella tearin' up the Hill on your fixie, or a sassy little lady dollin' it up for a night at the club, (It's pronounced "cloob." The U is long.) the tighty whitey is for you. But it's red. And it has a menacing cake 'n' crossbones on the front, and "Deathcake Royale" spread across the cheeks.

Come. And. Get. It. We got em in all four cafés for $12.50. Get a pair for you, and a pair for your Valentine. The possibilities are endless. Let the night take you where it will.

THE KISS OF DEATHCAKE

2010-01-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

Deathcake Royale is back! For those of you who have lived lives so pure as to be untouched by this sinister beast, it is time to come to the dark side. Dark chocolate, that is. The darkest. And the chocolaty-est. Muwahahahahaaaaaa!

It's Death-by-Chocolate meets Cupcake Royale, and it is Seattle's most lovingly lethal cupcake. Beneath its cloak of dark chocolate ganache lurk layers of unspeakable Deathcake goodness. We start it off right with a layer of the very best chocolate money can buy - Theo Chocolate. We use it in an intense layer of flourless decadence, sure to have you begging for mercy, or at least a glass of milk.

On top of that, sink your sweet tooth into a bold layer of Stumptown Espresso ganache. This little jolt of caffeinated goodness should provide you with the juice you need to make it through the remaining layers.

Up next: Chocolate cake Royale. Our new, "More Moisty-er!" recipe. Because it wouldn't be a cupcake without the Royale.

Then, because we are not done yet, (and neither are you) we drench the whole thing in a whisper thin layer of dark choclate ganache. Just enough to lock in the delicious mystery that is Deathcake.

So, pile on the protective gear and head on over to your neighborhood Cupcake Royale. Deathcake is here, but only through Valentine's Day. DO NOT MISS OUT. In fact, why don't you just click HERE to order one now.

THEN, click HERE to blow someone THE KISS OF DEATHCAKE on Twitter. Show your Deathcake Tweet, (and tell your Tweeting Sweetie to do the same) and we'll hook you up with a limited-edition Deathcake Royale sticker.

Local Arts Twofer!

2010-01-12T15:34:00.000-08:00

We heart art.

Oh geez. Art's in trouble...again. And this time, we are not talking about Art Bell.

You all heard of 4Culture? Of course you have. You're no fool. 4Culture is super rad, using the King County lodging tax to give much needed support to hundreds of artists, arts organizations, theaters, museums, local history projects and bands every year. That funding is set to expire in two years. Say it ain't so! Well, maybe you can. Tomorrow night, Advocate4Culture, (a citizen advocacy group) is rallying the troops with friend and neighbor Grey Gallery & Lounge. If you think art is important to the community you and yours call home, get your booty on over there, and figure out how you can make a difference in securing these necessary funds for the vibrant culture you love.

The deets:

Advocate4Culture
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
6-9pm
Grey Gallery & Lounge
1512 11th Avenue, Seattle, WA

Meet other lovers of the arts. Join the effort to preserve and improve the culture of this city. Shake a tail feather to the sweet sounds of DJ Vital. And, of course, get in on some free babycake action. What's a Seattle arts event without free babycakes?

Grey Gallery & Lounge - Friend. Neighbor. (Art) Lover.

Oh yeah - the twofer. Grey Gallery & Lounge + 4Culture - duh. Two great tastes that taste great together. Support 'em both in one shot. Tomorrow. Do it. Do. It.

Friday Flavor Face-off!

2010-01-07T17:12:00.000-08:00

It's a battle Royale...literally! We wanna know which cupcake yous guys like best. Which delicious flavor reigns supreme? Is it Barack Obama's favorite treat - chocolate salted caramel, or Elvis Presley's beloved peanut butter and banana?

Just two fine-lookin' gents who love some cupcakes.

On one side, you got a dark chocolate cake Royale topped with house made caramel buttercream, Fleur de Sel, and dark chocolate curls. We launched it last year on Inauguration Day, as Obama is a professed fan of Fran's Salted Caramels. A man of taste, for sure.

This January, we launched the Velvet Elvis. In honor of what would have been The King's 75th birthday, (TODAY!) we have a moist banana cake topped with a rich, chocolate peanut butter fudge frosting. Because everyone knows how Elvis loved his fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

So, what'll it be? The President, or The King? Salted Caramel, or Velvet Elvis? Which great flavor reigns supreme for Seattle's cupcake connoisseurs?

Ladies and Gentlemen...Elvis has entered the building.

2009-12-31T13:20:00.000-08:00

Tiny guitar not included.

The Velvet Elvis, that is! In honor of what would have been Elvis Presley's 75th birthday on January 8th, we've come up with our own version of his favorite peanut butter and banana sandwich. Our January Cupcake of the Month is a moist banana cake, topped with a rich peanut butter chocolate fudge frosting, and a sweet and crunchy little banana chip. So throw on your blue suede shoes and shake it on over to Cupcake Royale on January 1st to try our cupcake fit for The King.

In the meantime, here are some more photos.

And a banana was his crown.

Elvis impersonators. They're everywhere!

Elvis' babies!

The King lives! NOM!

All photos by Amanda Ringstad Photography.

Baby Crazy!

2009-12-30T11:33:00.000-08:00

Crazy for New Year's babies, that is. Well, we're all excited about New Year's babycakes, to be exact. To help you ring in 2010 the Royale way, we'll be serving up little baby versions of our delicious new Red Velvet cake AND our wildly popular Salted Caramel. That's right folks. Order up some of the these New Year's babies for your celebration, and get the year off on the right foot. We've got New Year's Baby 6 packs for $8.10 and New Year's Baby 12 packs for $14.50.

And for those of you who take your cupcakes in full-sized form, we have these precious little baby toppers in assorted plastic ethnicities.

And for those of you with a soft spot for Rankin & Bass specials, here's their version of Baby New Year...playing with a dragon. While floating down a stream.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CUPCAKE ROYALE!

Santa's coming!

2009-12-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

That's right people. Just 3 more days...

We know exactly how he feels.

Have your dessert, and drink it too.

2009-12-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

Mmm. Port. Image from the Quady Winery website.

Oh geez. Delicious, freshly baked cupcakes paired with Andrew Quady dessert wines! Sounds like one sweet shindig to us. We're super excited to be part of 12th and Olive Wine Shop's Sunday tasting this weekend! Come on by and sip on some fine dessert wines from Andrew Quady, then continue to fine tune that sweet tooth with a cupcake from Cupcake Royale. 12th and Olive is all about the tastings. Andrew Quady is all about the dessert wines. And you KNOW we're all about the cupcakes. This iron triad of goodness comes together to form one delicious dessert-themed event. Be there!

12th and Olive Wine Shop
Sunday, December 20th
3:00-7:00 pm

Seattle, the other port.

The only version better than Ella Fitzgerald's...

2009-12-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

Grande. Sassy. Steel-y. Dan?

2009-12-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

Still got some Christmas shopping to do? Duh. If you're like us, you probably haven't even started. It's cool. We got you covered. Come on in and pick up a few of these babies: The Grande Stainless Steel Coffee Tumbler. This stainless steel stallion of coffee carriage holds 15 oz of hot beverage goodness inside, and has a rad new design outside.

Sassy cupcake saying. Delicious Vérité coffee. And your first drink is FREE!

That's right. This sweet gift comes with a free coffee drink for maximum giving joy. Made with love, using Stumptoxn beans, and totally on the house. For just $16.95 (plus that free coffee everyone's talkin' about), you can go ahead and get a few, and get to checkin' folks off that Christmas list of yours.

While you're here, don't forget to treat yourself to a Figgy Pudding and/or Eggnog cupcake. You deserve it.

The Royale Tannenbaums

2009-12-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

Oh Christmas tree!
Oh Christmas treeeee!
How tasty are thy branches!

Well, this is, after all, a cupcake tree. A five-tier pedestal stocked with mouth-wateringly festive cupcakes from Cupcake Royale. The perfect touch for your holiday party, at home or the office. To order one of these arboreal confections, give a call to 206.883.7656.

That's not the only tree we're ooo-ing and aah-ing at this holiday season. Check out the sparkly new digs over at our Capitol Hill café.

She's a beaut! We can think of no better way to make merry than to head on over and sit next to this here Christmas tree, in all it's sparkling fifties-style holiday glory, while sippin' on a piping hot gingerbread latte and treating yourself to an eggnog cupcake. Very merry, indeed.

Cute couple

2009-12-08T11:24:00.000-08:00

We won't try to give it one of those inane couples' combo names like Bennifer or Brangelina, (mostly cuz we can't think of one that's funny) but it's kinda like that. Cappuccino + Cupcakes. A match made in caffeine + sugar heaven. However, this hot little item stands no chance of a tragically public break-up, and we know you won't be seeing these two on the cover of Us Weekly any time soon. Although, Cupcake could make the summer beach bodies page. She looks good.

So, what are we talking about? A Cupcake Royale gift pack, of course! It's the holiday season, the season of giving, the most wonderful time of the year! And we've got you covered. Give sweetly with our Cappuccino + Cupcakes Gift Pack. Sipping is oh-so-sweet when you give two vintage-inspired, pink European porcelain cup and saucer sets with two free cupcake cards. And at $20 each, (You save $9. $9!!! Que ganga!) you can afford to sweeten up a few of your friends this season.

It's only available in stores, but lucky for you, we've got four of those, so come on into the one in your neighborhood today, and get your holiday shop on! With a piping hot minty mocha and a Figgy Pudding cupcake, holiday shopping was never so enjoyable.

Fa-la-la-la-licious!

2009-11-30T17:02:00.001-08:00

Is really the only way to describe the ridiculously delicious cupcakes we have for you this holiday season. We'll introduce you here, but to really get to know these mouth-wateringly merry morsels, you've gotta come in and try 'em!

FIGGY PUDDING

Oh yes. That's right. We made a Figgy Pudding cupcake, and it's freaking phenomenal! Because we all like figgy pudding, so bring some right here! As the song goes. We took some figs and pureed them, then we stirred in some chunks of dark chocolate. Then we swirled that gooey goodness into a fudgy chocolate cake batter. Bake it up, and you get a rich chocolate cake with a hint of fig throughout, plus surprise pockets of ooey-gooey-fudgy-figgy goodness. But wait! Then we top the whole thing off with a light and fluffy brandy chocolate buttercream. We suggest you get in on this. Pronto.

EGGNOG

Have another cup...cake! Zing! We take or delicious vanilla buttercake and top it off with real eggnog buttercream, using local butter and eggnog from our dairy farmin' pals over at Medosweet. Then we top it with festive sprinkles and dust it with nutmeg. It' like that scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, only without the rad antler mugs. And no awesome dickie.

CANDY CANE

Because you can't beat a holiday classic. Wintry peppermint buttercream on vanilla or chocolate cake, all topped off with a festive starlight mint and a dash of holiday sparkle.

RED VELVET

What better time to debut a new red velvet recipe than the holidays? And this little number is truly a Christmas miracle! For those of you who are into that sorta thing. This classic southern buttermilk cake has a hint of cocoa and is topped off with a generous swirl of cream cheese frosting. And oh yeah, IT'S RED!

So get on in here and get some! OR, stay at home, order online, and have them delivered! Santa's not the only one making house calls. CLICK HERE to order some now. They're perfect for parties, hostess gifts, at home, the office, school, teachers, Secret Santa's...whatever!

Let the holiday funtimes begin! 'Tis the season, indeed.

All images by the talented cfisherphotography.

Fireworks! No fingers lost in the process.

2009-11-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Because these Fireworks are soccer players. Super, duper awesome soccer players, who happen to sport the sassiest little uniforms this side of the Mississippi. The story of the Fireworks will surely go down in sports saga history, alongside such great tales as Mighty Ducks and Mighty Ducks 2.

Legends in the making.

The Fireworks were a team of 7-year-old girls who had it all going for them - skills, camaraderie, sportsmanship and a dynamic duo of coaches. However, they lacked just one thing - sass. And if anyone knows how to sass it up, and sass it up GOOD, it's Cupcake Royale. To the rescue! We swooped in with our mad digital art skillZ and extensive sassy slogan catalogue to whip up one fine lookin' uniform. Offset hot pink cupcake on the front, "DOES A BOOTY GOOD" printed on the back. On the booty, to be precise.

The dawn of a new, sassier era in youth soccer.

Clearly, the Fireworks were sparked by this new found style and pizzazz. All decked out in their sweet new uniforms, the girls went on to thoroughly rock the 8 other teams in the Capitol Hill Youth Soccer League, earning an 8-0 record, with an average margin of victory of 7 goals. Yes. 7 goals.

Simply unstoppable.

The undefeated, pint-sized footballers finished their season in first place, and celebrated in style with a Sprinkle-Your-Own-Cupcake party at our Capitol Hill café.

Time to get your sprinkle on.

Well done, Fireworks. You are indeed an inspiration to us all.

Wanna throw a Sprinkle-Your-Own-Cupcake (SYOC) party at our Capitol Hill party table? Yeah. You do. Click HERE for details and booking.

Art for November

2009-11-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

It's November and we have a fresh crop of new art in our cafes to go with our new Cupcake of the Month, Cranberry Orange!

Entryway Proposal for University Art Museum by Leo Saul Berk

Our Capitol Hill store is pleased to present a new group show called I do which explores the relationships between artist couples.

Dawn Cerny & Davidson Warren Burnam collaborated on a set of photographs that re-enact war scenes from a battlefield in Delaware. These photographs eventually became the source material for Dawn's show last year at Henry Art Gallery called "We're all going to die (except for you).". In conjunction with Blitz, Davidson's band Katherine Hepburn's Voice will perform live at 7pm on Thursday, November 12.

Claire Cowie & Leo Saul Berk are each exhibiting two prints. Leo's are architectural renderings for a museum. Claire is showing two prints from an architectural sculpture. Between the two of them, they've created very different takes on imaginary spaces.

Erin Shafkind

Artist Erin Shafkind is exhibiting new work in West Seattle in a show called, The Flats of Life.

"Growing up in Los Angeles, with a single mom, McDonald’s every Tuesday, and lots of television I have been greatly influenced by popular culture and modern mythology. I always felt that there was something else, something intangible that I needed, but more and more I wonder if this is a product of growing up in American Corporate culture that strived to create illusion so we would consume. Do I know what I want? What makes me happy?

In this show I am sharing a few photographs and several objects made from 1/4” birch plywood. Spinning off the idea of the flat image I am trying to create something fun yet iconic, therefore potentially mythic and even sacred. Each wood piece is editioned to 11, the idea of repetition hopefully pushing the boundaries of the machine. Yet all are hand cut and drawn and are objects that I find to be truly beautiful."

One of Cupcake Royale's dear friends, curator Daniel R. Smith, returns with his annual poster show in Madrona. This year it's the Seattle-Moscow Poster Show, highlighting some of the best poster designs from Russia and Seattle. This show had its debut at Bumbershoot, where it's become a yearly highlight for the festival.

"In this third and final poster show linking Seattle to cities around the world (following Havana and Tehran), I chose to visit Moscow. My decision was based on the strong tradition of Russian graphic design, current and historical political differences between our countries, and the idea of exploring design in a post-revolutionary culture—a thematic bond that unites Havana, Tehran and Moscow from the perspective of the United States."

Dan is currently traveling so this show will be installed Saturday, November 7.

In Ballard this month, we're pleased to present returning artist Brandon Ilenstine.

"I find great pleasure in studying modern minimalism, high fashion, and urban decay. The unique contrast of traditional beauty against the deterioration of modern destruction is awe-inspiring and serves as the basis of my work.

My images investigate the nuances of human hope and evolution through self exploration. I love iconic imagery, anatomical illustration, and chaotic backgrounds. I explore abstract dream-like scenery and meditative environments which suggest the expansion of one’s self without the interruptions of the world."

Spooky-Scary

2009-10-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

Spooooooky ghosts. Scaaaaary monsters. Fraaaady cats. Haaaaaairy spiders. All on top of delicious little scratch-baked cupcakes! Ok, maybe not hairy spiders. That's gross. But we do have the non-hairy kind, for your eating pleasure. Muwahahahahaaaaa!

Scare someone sweet this Saturday with some spooky treats from Cupcake Royale.

BOO!

Hisss!

Muwahahahahaaaaaa!

CLICK to order online, or CALL one of our four cafés for added spookiness...if you dare.

And here's a spooky-scary bonus to enjoy while you eat your delicious Halloween cupcakes. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Film + Cupcakes = Goodness

2009-10-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

And this weekend, Capitol Hill is filled with the goodness! The 14th Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival kicks off with a bash tonight and runs through next Sunday. We're long time sponsors of the festival, and look forward to it every year, but this year...there's MORE!

Our Capitol Hill café is the official lounge of this year's festival. What does that mean? Well, two things. And they're both super terrific.

1. As our way of saying thank you to festival filmgoers, and to support the arts and the discussion thereof, we are offering a free babycake with a coffee or tea purchase to anyone with a ticket stub or festival pass. Films are screening all week at the Egyptian and over at our superfriends the Northwest Film Forum, so we really could not be better positioned as your official festival hang out. See a film. Bring your friends. Discuss over coffee and cupcakes. Perfect.

2. We are actually showing a film in our café! Yes, you read that correctly. Starting Saturday and running through the end of the festival, 13 Love Stories will be projected on the wall of our Capitol Hill café at 3 pm and 8 pm each day. This film "profiles the moving stories of thirteen couples whose lives were profoundly affected by Proposition 8 - the recent California ballot initiative that eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry." We are psyched to have this important piece showing in our café, and it couldn't be more timely for our own state. Your chance to help us APPROVE REF 71 is just around the corner. Get those voting pens ready!

Speaking of marriage equality, remember when we had a little fundraiser called Legalize Gay Cupcakes? We kicked it off for Pride back in June, and sold tees, buttons, and stickers to raise money for Lambda Legal, those good folks who fight hard every day for marriage equality and equal rights across this great nation. Well, the gear has been sold and the tally is in. Thank you to everyone who helped us raise $1762 by buying a Legalize Gay Cupcakes tee, button, or sticker, and rockin' the message hard! Keep up the good work as we fight to get Ref 71 approved, so that ALL Washington families have rights they deserve.

HCAN National Call-in Day!

2009-10-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today and tomorrow are big days for health care reform! HCAN (Health Care for America Now) has marked Oct 5th and 6th as national call-in days to coincide with the beginning of the Senate merging the Kennedy HELP committee bill, a bill that includes a public option, with the Finance Committee bill, which does not include a public option.

What's all that mean? Well, recently, the big hold up in health care reform, (other than all the false information that people who prefer saving their huge bank accounts to saving human lives have been spreading,) has been the Senate Finance Committee. Those folks just could not agree on a bill. The main object of contention was, of course, the public option. They released their bill a couple weeks ago, and voila, no public option.

Not good, America. Just not good at all.

So, the bill they put forth now needs to merge with the bill put forth by the Kennedy HELP committee. Their bill does include a public option. And there is clearly only one way for this to go for the good of ALL Americans: we need the public option.

So pick up your phones, call your lawmakers, and say it like it is. America NEEDS a strong public option. We NEED to keep the private insurance giants in check. We cannot let them continue to turn astronomical profits by keeping people sick, or just letting them die. That is not the kind of people Americans are. That is not the country we want to live in. We need real reform. Real bad. Right NOW.

Now call this number and say just that: 1-877-264-4226

Thank our Washington Senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, for fighting hard on behalf of all Washingtonians, and for sticking behind the public option, and encourage them to keep up the good fight on behalf of all Americans.

Senator Cantwell has drafted a petition on behalf of the public option. After fighting hard for it, and watching her committee exclude it from their bill, she is rallying the people to push it through. That is just what we love to see. Click HERE to sign the petition, and help Senator Cantwell in her fight for real health care reform.

We can do this. Now let's get it done!

BirthDAY WEEK. All the kids are doin' it.

2009-10-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

Well, Morgan Clark is. Well, her mom is. She's been sending things to her daughter all week leading up to her 18th birthday this Sunday. Birthday Week Day #5's surprise...babycakes! She ordered some sweet little babycakes using our handy-dandy online order form, and had them delivered to her daughter at SPU. This is what they looked like when they arrived.

As you can imagine, the birthday girl loved them. And her mother, Kimberly, was pretty psyched about how EASY it is to get cupcakes delivered. She wrote us the sweetest little thank you note, and included the above photo.

So, get on board! Send someone special a sweet little treat right now by clicking HERE!

And hey Morgan Clark - Happy 18th birthday!

Rock Out With Your FREE BABYCAKE Out...tomorrow in Ballard.

2009-10-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

That's right party people! ReverbFest, Seattle Weekly's local music extravaganza is taking over Ye Olde Ballard as it does every October, and we can't wait! This year's line-up includes Erik Blood, Final Spins, KHV, The Maldives, Fatal Lucciauno, Visqueen, and many more. These local rockers will be taking the stage at all the Ballard hot spots, like the Sunset, the Tractor, and Conor Byrne, for a neighborhood-wide day of musical awesomeness.

Click HERE for all the details, including show times and locations. Click HERE to download a song from all 64 performers.

KILL-ER.

But wait! The neighborly funtimes do not stop at the venue doors! Ballard is spreading the love all OVER this weekend. How does a free babycake to wash down your coffee sound? Or how about $2 of a new album at our superfriends' Sonic Boom? Well it can all be yours. A bunch of Ballard businesses are offering free stuff and sweet deals this weekend if you show up wearing your Reverb wristband. Walk in rockin' that wristband at Cupcake Royale, and we'll hook you up with a free babycake with any coffee. Stroll on next door to Asher Anson, and get yourself lookin' good, for %10 off. And then mozy on across the street for $2 of a new album at Sonic Boom.

And the timing could not be more perfect. For you, that is. Why, you ask? Because as of yesterday, WE HAVE HARVEST FEST BABYCAKES! That means you can use your fancy wristband magic to get yourself a tiny taste of Caramel Apple or Pumpkin Maple... on the house.

Contain yourselves.

See you tomorrow.

The 5th Annual Cupcake Harvest Festival is here!

2009-10-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

Brought to you by the illustrious Mr. Squirrel...along with Shepherd's Grain, Tiny's Organic Farm, Woodring Farms, and Ralph's Organics. We're servin' up a fresh fall crop of Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Maple, and Carrot Cake cupcakes. Here are the complete stats on our official fall roster.

CARAMEL APPLE
Hometown: Wenatchee, WA and Monroe, WA
Position: Next to a piping hot cup of caramel apple cider

Everybody's favorite old-timey treat on a stick...in cupcake form! A delicious golden cake made with tart chunks of local Honey Crisp apples from Tiny's Organic Farm and sweet apple butter from Woodring Farms. Topped with our house made caramel buttercream, this apple-packed little slugger puts a pie to shame.

PUMPKIN MAPLE
Hometown: Corvalis, OR
Position: Next to a pumpkin latte

Two fall flavor all stars paired together in one ridiculously delicious cupcake. A lightly spiced pumpkin cake made with organic pumpkin from Stahlbush Island Farms is topped with an out-of-the-park maple cream cheese frosting. That's right: MAPLE. CREAM. CHEESE. It's new to the game, but this cake is already batting a thousand.

CARROT CAKE
Hometown: Mount Vernon, WA (Please note that Carrot Cake is still a little sad about this whole "key to the city" situation. Glenn Beck makes cupcakes cry.)
Position: In your mouth

Our classic carrot walnut cake is new and improved now that it's made with fresh, local, organic carrots from Ralph's Organics! Topped with a rich cream cheese swirl, this veteran treat still has a lot of real good innings in it.

There you have it, the key players on the 5th Annual Cupcake Harvest Festival team. And, of course, leading the team to sweet success...Mr. Squirrel! It wouldn't be the Harvest Fest without Mr. Squirrel tees. We got 'em screened on organic cotton in men's, women's, and kid's sizes, plus onesies for all the little babycakes in your life.

So hurry on in and grab a bushel of tasty harvest cupcakes and a sweet new Mr. Squirrel tee.

OR click HERE to order 'em online...and you can even get 'em delivered! To your office, your best friend's office, your house, your apartment, your kids' school, wherever. (sorta)

And stay tuned for the November line-up, when Caramel Apple gets a pinch hitter...Cranberry Orange!

Art for October

2009-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Get Excited by Chona Kasinger

West Seattle is celebrating rock-n-roll this month with new art by Chona Kasinger. Titled Almost Famous, this series offers us "A glimpse into the incendiary world of rock and roll as seen by an underage live music photographer/writer." See more of her work here.

Learning from the loudest voice by Chris P.

One of our favorite artists will be showing in Madrona. Chris P. opens up The Cud That Chews Itself. To see more of his work, swing by our Madrona store or check out his website.

Untitled by Weston Jandacka

A beautiful and moody show by Weston Jandacka is now hanging in Ballard. "In this series of illustrated photographs, he offers up an ambiguous story to the viewer. Each image being individually it's own story while also playing a role in the overall continuity to the series. One can conjure up personal conclusions through these stage sets." See more of his work here.

And the award goes to...Jody Hall!

2009-09-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with my iPhone.

This morning at the Swedish Cultural Center on Dexter, some of the city's best gathered to acknowledge the progress our community has made over the past year to make this state, and this country, a better place for everyone. Washington CAN! hosted its Annual Social Justice Breakfast bright and early for those who could crawl outta bed on this all too autumnal morning, and boy are we glad we did. Our very own Jody Hall was honored with the Deana Knutsen Grassroots Leadership Award! Along with three other amazing, community-minded individuals who've been doin' it up big for the people over the past year, Jody was recognized for her hard work on health care reform. We could not be more proud, nor more honored to share the room with such an incredible group of folks.

Big thanks to Washington CAN's Joshua Welter, for all of his hard work and coaching over the last year and a half. Jody couldn't have done it without him!

And a huge shout out to superfriend Molly Moon! Thanks to her for all of her work for health care reform for small businesses, and for sponsoring this wonderful event.

Sure does our little cupcake hearts a WHOLE lotta good to start the day out in company like that.

Go Jody go!

Don't stop now, people. This is a fight we can win, as long as we keep fighting. Health care for ALL!

Amber waves of LOCAL grain

2009-09-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

You know we love to keep it local here at Cupcake Royale, and we're always tryin' to find ways to make our business even more local-er. We're members of our neighborhood chambers and local business owners groups, we donate to all sorts of local organizations and schools, and we always support our fellow neighborhood business owners whenever they are in need of a little sugar and caffeine. We've been baking our cupcakes with local dairy and eggs for some time now, and we feature seasonal, local produce in our delicious Cupcake of the Month. Sugar, cocoa, and vanilla are a wee bit tough to come by north of the equator, but we knew we could still do better.

So, we got in touch with the good folks of Shepherd's Grain.

There's grain in them there silos.

We've known about Shepherd's Grain forever, but they just didn't have the right type of flour to make our cupcakes truly Royale. Turns out, when you bake as many cupcakes as we do each morning, the kind of flour you use is a pretty, pretty big deal. Fred & Co over at Shepherd's Grain were excited to work with us, and totally up for the challenge of milling a cake flour that was truly Royale. We handed them our flour spec sheet, and voila! The perfect cake flour, milled just for us, from the grains they grow on their no-till farm in Eastern Washington. That's right. They are milling a local flour made specifically for us.

Jody learns a thing or two from our man Fred.

What's so great about that? A LOT.

First of all, we are just wholeheartedly thrilled to be working with such a fine bunch of people. They care about their community, their product, and the earth. A no-till farm is just what it sounds like - they do not till the earth after a crop has been harvested. The field is left as-is, and the remaining plant matter is left to decompose, resulting in a type of soil called humus. This nutrient rich, highly absorbent soil holds water even in the desert climate of Eastern Washington. Plus the non-invasive processing of the fields results in less erosion and overall topsoil loss. It's a sustainable farming practice that preserves the field for future generations, and makes us feel REAL good about using their flour.

The Royale inspection.

Second, we all pretty much know by now the benefits of participating in the locavore movement. Support local agriculture, an integral part of the local economy. Cut down on fuel usage and transportation needs. Encourage sustainable farming practices. And of course, you get the absolute freshest, premium ingredients.

100 years of local, sustainable farming! We HEART Shepherd's Grain.

So now that we have an amazing local grain producer making flour just for us, our cupcakes are all at least 66% local. For a sweet little product that relies so heavily on so many equatorial crops (vanilla, cocoa, sugar,) we think we're doing pretty darn good!

And now, more fun photos from Melanie & Jody's trip to the farm! Melanie is behind the camera, so you will see her only in spirit. The two ended their trip with a harvest meal at an outdoor table with the whole farming family. Seriously. These people are just that good. For more info on Shepherd's Grain, click HERE. To read the recent Seattle Times article about all this goodness, click HERE.

Bosslady loves to take the wheel.

The deed to the farm. Yup. That says Grover Cleveland, President of the United States of America.

That Fred is just a wealth of wheaty knowledge!

Machines of the trade.

Bosslady loves a goody bag!

Bridge Talks Back. Join the Convo.

2009-09-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hold onto one of these, and it can be yours forever. (Image lifted from the Bridge Report.)

Yeah. We said convo. Because sometimes there just isn't time to write out an entire word. And then sometimes, there's time to write out all kinds of words. On signs. And then parade them around the Fremont Bridge. Who wants in?!

In case you haven't heard, Bridge Talks Back is the result of artist Kristen Ramirez's summer long residency at the Fremont Bridge. Thanks to the City of Seattle's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, along with SDOT's 1% for the Arts Fund, Ramirez has spent the summer in the Northeast Tower collecting sounds, ideas, memories, thoughts, and associations that will all come together as a 6 month sound installation piece, and will launch with a public art happening on Saturday, September 26th.

That's where you come in.

Ramirez is looking for volunteers to hold hand-painted signs, colored with the collected phrases and ideas that define the bridge, as part of the celebration from 1-4 on September 26th. Show up at noon to check in, and then spend the next few hours of your life as part of a super awesome piece of public art. You. A piece of art. And if that weren't enough, (Seriously? How could that not be enough?) you get to keep your one-of-a-kind, hand-painted, Fremont Bridge-inspired sign, PLUS you get a really rad tee shirt that will probably make people insanely jealous of you and your accomplishments for years to come.

So, here's what you do: Email Kristen Ramirez (ktramirez@hotmail.com) with your name and contact info, and let her know you wanna be a part of something big, namely, Bridge Talks Back on September 26th. Then show up for the orientation tomorrow at 6 pm in the meeting room at the Fremont branch of the Seattle Public Library. If you can't make the orientation but still want to be a part of the arty funtimes, email her anyway.

For more info on the project, click HERE.

And stay tuned for Ramirez's October show at superfriend & neighbor Grey Gallery and Loung e over on Ye Olde Capitol Hill.

Back to work!

2009-09-09T16:21:00.001-07:00

Back in session.

You're not the only one who's back on the job after a long Labor Day weekend. Congress is back in session after their August recess, and that means it's time to kick it into gear and get this whole health care reform thing done and DONE!

There has been a lot of weirdness on the airwaves over the past few weeks. The media has jumped up and down and all over the place to give you images again and again of town hall meetings gone bonkers. We are not about to let a few silly sound bites ruin the fun for everyone...anyone else having a Howard Dean flashback here? Sound bites? Ruins? No? Ech. Sad memories of Iowa '03.

Anyhoo, we know the American people want reform. We put Obama in office to bring us the change we desperately need and truly want. It's crunch time, and we need to keep working together to bring quality, affordable health care to EVERYONE in this country, not just to the privileged few. So, give your lawmakers a call to make sure they're representing your best interests and working hard for the real reform you deserve.

Here's how you can do your part today and tomorrow:

Message for Senator Murray: Support the Kennedy HELP Bill, and tell your colleagues like Senators Reid and Durbin to do the same
Message for Senator Cantwell: Move a Health care bill forward in the Finance Committee by Sept 15, and tell your colleagues like Senators Reid and Durbin to get health care done

Numbers:
1-877-264-HCAN (4226) -- options for connecting to Senator, Representative, or signing up for text message updates
1-888-436-8427 -- direct to the Congressional switchboard

This is why we vote, people! We get to send the people into office that we think will represent our best interests in Washington. So, give em a call, and make sure they do!

Huckleberry 101

2009-09-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

So you all know by now that our September Cupcake of the Month is the Blue Mountain Huckleberry. You should also know by now that it is ridiculously delicious. If you cannot speak firsthand on that second point, it's time to get serious, and click HERE.

Here is a photo of our Blue Mountain Huckleberry cupcake.

Here is a photo of it in babycake form.

Here is a photo of it with a tiny deer to emphasize the woodsiness of these wild berries.

Here is an image of Huckleberry Pie, Strawberry Shortcake's assumed boyfriend, with his dog, Pupcake, possible inter-breed love interest of her cat, Custard. Very progressive.

Here is a drawing of Huckleberry Hound, looking relaxed and happy, like maybe he just ate a delicious Blue Mountain Huckleberry Cupcake. (Note, Huckleberry Hound is just a cartoon. Please do not feed your real dog a cupcake. It may seem like a good idea, but it is not.)

Here is one artist's rendition of Huckleberry Finn, timeless boy-icon of American literature. You've probably read this book. If not, you're in luck, because the libraries open back up tomorrow, and you can go borrow a copy for free. We suggest you read it with a hot cup of Vérité Coffee...and of course, a Blue Mountain Huckleberry Cupcake.

Here is a photo of that cupcake again.

Dan Savage is Just Plain Wonderful

2009-09-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week around here, and we've been neglecting the blog. Unfortunately, that's not gonna change today. Luckily, we've got 10+ minutes of Dan Savage being awesome on Countdown With Keith Olberman for you to watch while we do other things. It's amazing, (and in some ways very, very sad,) how refreshing it is to hear someone speak intelligently and truthfully about health care reform.

Art for September

2009-09-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

It's September and that means new art in the cafes. Check out your neighborhood store and see great art by these folks.

Indian Creek by Eddy Radar

In Ballard, Eddy Radar is showing six stunning Manmade Landscapes. Eddy says,

"What I see in these landscapes is the hidden beauty of industry and formatted space. The minimalist essence, the geometric order, and the quiet presence of these huge structures all reflect the same timeless grandeur, whether the expanse is of concrete or of grass."

In the Clouds by Javier S. Ortega

In Madrona, the talented Javier S. Ortega presents Blue Dreams. Javier hails from Seville, Spain where he studied art before completing his education in Florence. He's showing a new series of portraits.

When I grow up by Lina Raymond is now hanging in West Seattle. In this whimsical series, Lina looks back on childhood and ruminates on how she thought things would be when she grew up.

Cartoon Friday!

2009-08-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe Cartoon Friday will become a thing, and maybe it won't. But, today, it is totally a thing. Jody found this super sweet cartoon on YouTube, and you all need to see it, too. (Turns out, between her super big time national media interviews and live spots frosting up huckleberry cupcakes on KOMO, Bosslady likes to kick back and unwind with a little of the YouTube.) It's a super simple, easily digestible, there's-no-way-you-can't-understand-this summation of the public health care option. Plus, it's animated, lime green, and one of the stick figures has two heads, or as some like to say DOUBLE HEADS!

It's poster show time again!

2009-08-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

You may remember waaay back in 2007, we sponsored a little thing called the Seattle-Havana Poster Show. Curated by Daniel R .Smith, the show featured a collection of silk-screened posters from artists in Seattle, WA and Havana, Cuba. Using the similarities in aesthetic and thematic content as a launching pad, the project commented on larger cultural issues that spoke to the medium and subject matter of the pieces. It was pretty bad A.

We were so stoked on Seattle-Havana, that last year we sponsored the Seattle-Tehran Poster Show. Dan was back at it, curating a collection of posters from a culture in which any form of expression can be considered a politically charged activity and juxtaposing it with the current body of poster art in Seattle, a culture in which people say whatever they please. In a city where poster art is as ubiquitous traffic signs, the idea of a poster as a self-contained statement from within a much larger cultural conversation was pretty profound. We were like, totally diggin' what Dan was doin'.

Luckily, he's still doing it! He's back this year with the Seattle-Moscow Poster Show. As the others did before it, Seattle-Moscow will premiere at Bumbershoot and then move its way through our cafés. We can't wait to see this new work on our walls, and are so glad to be a part of this series again. This year, you can help out, too. Dan is currently in the running for a $10,000 grant to help fund the exhibit. Turns out, going to Moscow is not free. Neither is getting a body of artwork from Moscow to Seattle. Neither is hanging an art show. The grant is from Portland-based do-gooder clothing company Nau. Follow THIS LINK to their site. Log in. Vote for Dan. And then revel in your own do-goodery. Brag about it a little. Especially if it gets your friends to go to the site and do the same.

For more info on the Seattle-Moscow Poster show, and to buy the super sweet show catalogue, CLICK HERE.

Gettin' our Stamp on...on CNN

2009-08-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hey you know those "Health Care Now" stamps we've been putting on all of our coffee cups? Well, CNN caught wind of it and sent Patrick Oppman to our Capitol Hill café to interview Jody about it. It aired today on the TV, but for those of you missed it or don't have one of those, here it is:

Dolly Parton. Lily Tomlin. Jane Fonda. The moustache guy. You. Me. Tomorrow.

2009-08-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

Oh geez.

Yup, that's a party. Nope, its a movie! And it's playing tomorrow night under the stars in Cal Anderson Park. Thanks to the folks at Three Dollar Bill Cinema, you can enjoy one last cinematic spectacular from the year 1980 al fresco, as they wrap up their Outdoor Cinema series with Nine to Five. If you have never seen this movie, holy boy. You are in for it. And if you have seen this movie, you already know what you're in for. And you can't wait.

We're big fans of Three Dollar Bill Cinema, producers of Seattle's Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. We sponsor the film fest every year, so we decided to sponsor Outdoor Cinema, too. If you do come out for the retro film funtimes tomorrow night (and you know you should,) make sure you stop by the concession stand. We've donated babycakes for them to sell to all you sugar-starved filmgoers, and all the money they make, they keep. That way they can keep on doing super awesome stuff like this, the film fest, and Cineoke.

It all goes down at dusk. Zing. Bring your blanket, your pillow, your friend, your lover, your dog, whatever. Just be there.

We loved this comment so much, we turned it into a post.

2009-08-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

Blog reader "kmt" had the following things to say in response to some of the comments we got on our post "Liar, liar, pants on fire. (P.S. Your flammable skin is a pre-existing condition, and your treatment will not be covered.) We love this comment...even though it uses a swear word. There is a considerable dearth of overtly persuasive messaging coming from the pro-reform side of the health care conversation. While everyone who is afraid of reform comes to the table armed with falsified images of "socialist death panels," "Soviet-style rationing," and other chimera from the deep PR pockets of private insurance propaganda, the stories of people who are left either dead or bankrupt on a daily basis by our current system are being drowned out. So, here's one. Thanks kmt.

On Friday Aug 14th, kmt wrote:

as for healthcare, for all you folks saying that all government cares about is the bottom line, what exactly do you think private insurers care about? the people? trust me, your private insurers don't give a shit about you. they don't care who dies--as long as they get their profits. i say this from first hand experience.

my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer at 48 and given 9 months to live. her private insurance refused to cover her chemo. i considered selling everything i had and taking out a loan to get her chemo, but it would only cover 1 and a half rounds (chemo was $20,000 per treatment there are 3 treatments in a round). so to say that existing private healthcare insurers are somehow benevolent people acting in your best interest, has been proven to be ridiculous (we aren't just hypothesizing here, go see Erin Brokovich or sick or any other movie/documentary about healthcare in the US). if you're poor, trust me they are already euthanizing "your grandmother" and your mother.

they just don't aren't euthanizing the grandmothers of of rich, predominantly white folks YET. it's completely a class issue (you'll notice almost everyone arguing against some form of universal coverage has the money to afford good healthcare--or at least healthcare they 'think' is good until something goes wrong). you can try to scare folks with this rhetoric, but the truth is that we know the "scary things" that you're saying (government only cares about the bottom line) are already happening in our health care system. it's all just a lot of propaganda put out by private insurance companies and people who have a lot to lose if there is a public option. it's all just to scare people into having a knee-jerk reaction. it's all just people trying to hold onto their money and trying to scare us into making a choice that is actually against our best interests as a nation because "we're scared."

Did you see it?! Did you see it?!

2009-08-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

We were featured on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams last night! Chief Science & Health correspondent, Robert Bazell, came to our Ballard cafe back in May to chat with Jody about health care reform and small businesses. He also had a real nice interview with froster extraordinaire Ali Masterson (nevernudes, hot pink helmets, any of this ring a bell?) about how super awesome it is to have health insurance when you get hit by a car on your bike. It aired last night, and you can watch it right now by CLICKING HERE.

PLUS there's some super sweet footage of our Ballard friends 'n' neighbors over at Velouria and Sonic Boom.

Yay Ballard!
Yay small business!
Boo private insurance and their absurdly high costs and deplorable practices.

Now let's get on out there and get us some health care reform.

Liar, liar, pants on fire. (P.S. Your flammable skin is a pre-existing condition, and your treatment will not be covered.)

2009-08-11T12:16:00.001-07:00

Oh you know we love talkin' about that health care reform. MoveOn.org is circulating a little thing called the Top Five Health Care Reform Lies—and How to Fight Back. Here they are, and here are our responses.

Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma.
Get serious. Barack Obama doesn't even know your grandma. And if he did, we bet he'd love her. He'd probably give her a cupcake. What's the truth behind this little bit of verbal ridiculosity? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will, as well as aid them in tackling other tough issues facing older Americans. If you paid more attention to the older Americans in your life, you would realize they are facing many. Some people, (who smells Palin?) have referred to this service as a "death panel." Nope. That's not a thing.

To be fair, she's not much of a "reader."

Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan.
One more time, the goal behind health care reform is to give the people of these United States MORE choices. You currently have very few, because the market is cornered by private insurance. A government plan will be the competition these big companies need to get in check. Competition drives down costs and empowers the consumer. It's called capitalism. The consumer? You. We've said it once, and we'll say it again - you betta shop around. And with a public plan, now you can. You like your current insurance? La ti da - keep it! Don't like it? Or, don't have any? Boom - now you do. A government funded public option: that is a CHOICE. "Option" and "choice" are, in fact, synonyms.

Like Smokey's mama said, you betta shop around.

Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing.
Did you just say Soviet-style? Come ON. Ever heard of a pre-existing condition? What about an astronomically high deductible? What about just straight up being denied coverage for care you received (see "flammable skin")? Chances are, you have, because big insurance loves to throw those things in your face. All the time. The choke hold that private insurance has on health care, THAT is rationing. And it's super gross. That's why we need to curb vile practices like that with a universal plan. U⋅ni⋅ver⋅sal coverage. Well now, that's pretty much the opposite of rationing.

We tire of your silly, outdated references to the Soviet bloc.

Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens' Medicare benefits.
This obsession you have with painting Obama as some soulless young whippersnapper hell-bent on ridding the world of our beloved and respected septuagenarian population is very unbecoming. Let it go. Obama's plan includes measures to free up billions in Medicare dollars that are currently being doled out in overpayments to...any guesses?...private insurance companies.

Old is awesome.

Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America.
First, you picked a really cute time to get all up in arms about practices you feel might threaten the financial stability of these United States. Is that a joke? Well, a little more research will show you that this country is sinking absurd amounts of dollars into this decrepit health care system you insist on preserving. It is unsustainable. We spend more money on health care in a day than AIG spends on private jets for a year (That statistic was entirely fabricated for effect.) Health care reform is an investment in this country's future, and while we're all a little wary of the "i-word" these days, this, folks, is a good one. Put the money down now to save tons of monies - and lives - later. It's called "planning ahead," and it's a pretty good idea.

Our current system, only without that cutie young Tom Hanks.

Go to MoveOn.org to check out the super fancy facts and statistics behind all of this. And then forward this along to all your friends. We need real reform. Real bad. Right now. Let's get it done.

RE-BLOG!

2009-08-06T11:34:00.001-07:00

We're SO excited about being on THEIR blog, that we're writing about it on OUR blog!

The New York Times, that is.

They came by our new café on Capitol Hill last week to take some photos and feature it as the work of art it truly is. Brooke Hodge, L.A. based design writer and curator, wrote THIS POST about our new digs in her bi-weekly column "Seeing Things."

Love Thy Neighbor

2009-08-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

And boy do we ever. That's why it breaks our cupcake hearts to think that our neighbors and superfriends over at the Northwest Film Forum are in some dire straights right now. They need to raise $70,000 by August 15th to offset their budget deficit and avoid cutting staff and programming for the coming year.

In order to do this, they're asking for $10 from 10,000 people. Seems easy enough to us. By donating the price of a movie ticket, we can all feel good about the fact that we can keep on seeing the amazing films they play at the Film Forum. Seattle is immeasurably lucky to have an arts organization like them in our city. From the programming we see on their screens, to the classes they teach, to the local filmmakers they fund and support, to full on film festivals like Local Sightings, to the killer parties they throw, this city is by far better off because of all that they do.

So walk it in, mail it in, or click here to make your donation of just $10 to keep the Northwest Film Forum running at full force. Your money will help truly great films be seen, local and innovative films be made, and countless filmgoers and filmmakers be inspired.

And just in case this little plea wasn't quite sappy enough, can we please just take a moment to acknowledge how hard SubPop rocks?! Not in the way you already knew they did, but in the way that they support their fellow lovers of the arts. Sub Pop has pledged to match all donations up to $10,000. That's right people. So cool. We didn't think we could love Sub Pop anymore than we already did, but, turns out, we could. And now we do.

Art for August!

2009-08-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

Hi folks! Allow me to interrupt your regularly scheduled blog for a quick introduction. I'm Joey Veltkamp and I'm Cupcake Royale's newest curator. Bosslady Jody has really been stepping up her game lately. If you've been to the new location on Capitol Hill, you've probably noticed the store itself is a piece of art. But don't worry, she hasn't gotten all highfalutin' -- the art will still be locally sourced (just like her ingredients) and focused on community (just like her cafes).

Dylan (detail) / Dolly (detail) by Gretchen McAllister

Gretchen McAllister returns to Ballard to share her flashy portraits of people we love. Her paintings are acrylic on birch board and always brighten up the space. The show in untitled but with a painting of Dolly, does it really need a title? Speaking of Dolly, don't forget we're sponsoring Three Dollar Bill Cinema's presentation of 9 to 5 in Cal Anderson Park on Aug 21.

Heading Home by Grego Rachko

Painter Grego Rachko just installed a great show in Madrona. It's chock full of his still lifes and crowds. In fact, it's even called Still Life and Crowds. Grego also shows at La Familia Gallery, The Hideout and other great art-viewing places. The show just opened and he's already sold a piece or two. Swing by and check it out before they're all gone.

Slugbug of '77 by Alisha Baker

Soon to be showing in West Seattle is artist Alisha Baker. Her new show is titled Along the Way and consists of oil and acrylic paintings on found objects. Alisha just received her BFA from UW and is heavily influenced by the outdoors, especially the oceans.

Flat Screen Figurine by Claudia Fitch

And lastly, Roy McMakin has curated a real nice show for the debut of the new Capitol Hill location. It's got new pieces by Claudia Fitch, Ken Kelly, Jeffry Mitchell and yours truly. Ken Kelly's pinkish-red painting in the front has been blowing everyone away.

If you're interested in showing your great art in our great cupcake & coffee houses, please shoot me an email at veritecoffeeart@gmail.com. Look forward to hearing from you.

In case you missed it...

2009-07-31T11:48:00.001-07:00

Click HERE to listen now to the NPR piece from today's Morning Edition...with a photo of bosslady that looks all too familiar. This one, we promise, was not PhotoShopped. Which is more than we can say for this one.

Holy Moly! We're gonna be on NPR's Morning Edition Tomorrow!

2009-07-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

(Not NPR, but another great radio station, for sure.)

Yeah, that's right. Tune in to Morning Edition tomorrow at 6:10 am and/or 8:10am to hear their feature on Cupcake Royale and the good work our favorite bosslady, Jody Hall, has been doing for health care reform. This issue is HOT HOT HOT right now, and we can't let this golden opportunity for real reform pass us by. Here's what you can do:

1. Get informed! If you don't already know what's the what with the health care reform debate in this country, you had better find out. HERE and HERE are good places to start.

2. Tune in to NPR's Morning Edition tomorrow morning at 6:10 am and/or 8:10 am to hear the feature on Cupcake Royale and learn how this reform can provide much-needed relief to small businesses and their MILLIONS of employees nationwide. In the Seattle area, you'll hear it on 94.9 KUOW.

3. Call the number below and tell our policymakers why we need real reform, real bad, right now. We've been stamping it on all of our coffee cups, so it shouldn't be toooooo hard to find, but here it is again: 1-877-264-4226

The time is now. Let's get this done.

Get your stamp on for health care!

2009-07-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

Oh you KNOW we gettin' ours on. So are Stumptown, Vivace, Fuel, and Molly Moon's. It's a small business stamping revolution.

By the people.
For the people.
Filled with caffeine.

What is this all about, you ask? Well, people, it's about affordable, quality health care for all. We want you to have it, and we want to give YOU the tools to get it. In this case, it's as simple as a phone number. Just call the number on the cup (or pint, if you happen to be at Molly Moon's,) and tell our policymakers why we need real reform for our mismanaged, misguided, and utterly unsustainable health care system. We need it BAD. And we need it NOW. Perhaps go into a little more detail than that when you actually make the call. Just a thought.

Thanks to Washington CAN! for making this happen. Those guys rule it. So hard.

Check. It. Out.

2009-07-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

Today's the day we have all been waiting for! We are OPEN! Up and running! Baking and frosting! And so on and so forth...ON CAPITOL HILL! That's right. We swung open the doors to our beautiful new café at 1111 E Pike St this morning. If for some odd reason you haven't come by yet, here is what you're missing.

It's a thing of beauty.

That's right. Cupcake flair.

Sprinkle me bad.

Cupcake Royale + Stumptown Coffee. It doesn't get better.

You so want to sit at the head of THIS table.

Come on baby. Light my cupcake.

Sweet tees.

Fresh from the oven. Hand-frosted with love. And buttercream. REAL buttercream.

It's true. They are. Try 'em. SO good.

All of these beautiful shots are by the oh-so-talented Chelsea Fisher. She is awesome.

Final Countdown: 5 Days To Go!

2009-07-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, we are putting on the finishing touches and dusting off our table tops for the big day next Wednesday! The new crew is AWESOME, and you all just can't wait to meet them, and vice versa, of course. Pictured here, their fearless leaders:

Holding the camera and rather artlessly cutting off half of her face: Director of Operations for all four of our sweet cupcake cafés...Melanie Bonadore!

Smiling oh-so-sweetly in the middle: Assistant Manager...Leesa Kunke!

And with that come hither stare, and dare we say coy little grin: Capitol Hill Café Manager...Angie Bengtson!

Jody was busy playing with our SWEET neon sign when that lovely lady shot above was taken. Boss Lady like a new toy. Especially when it's a giant glowing cupcake logo.

They are some lovely ladies indeed. Find out for yourself, next Wednesday, when we throw open the doors to 1111 E Pike at 6 am sharp! They'll be there along with the rest of the new 1111 crew, waiting for you, smiling, serving up the goodness: our new MORE MOISTY-ER! cupcakes alongside the very best STUMPTOWN COFFEE. Yes Yes Yes!

Candidate Survivor: Voting with your thumbs!

2009-07-17T10:51:00.001-07:00

You may have noticed that we at Cupcake Royale are superfans of the awesome squad known as Washington Bus. What's not to love? Politics, youth, jokes, rap songs, a killer blog, and cool events. The cool event du jour...Candidate Survivor.

What is Candidate Survivor, you ask? Well, it is only "the biggest, best, and possibly sexiest candidate forum of the year." Ooo, that sounds hot. You do not wanna miss that. You, yes YOU, get to vote (via mobile phone) your least favorite city council and city attorney candidates off stage, and you get to support the ones you like. Win win!

It's FREE.
It's all ages.
And there's a bar (w/ID)

TUESDAY JULY 28th | 7-9PM | SHOWBOX AT THE MARKET | 1426 1st AVE

Go. Practice flexing those super sexy voting muscles (in this case, apparently, your thumbs) as primary time approaches.

For more info, check out Hella Bus, one of our most favorite things to read when we're supposed to be designing sassy new cupcake paraphernalia. Kidding! Sorta...

2009-07-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

What You're Doing Tomorrow Night

2009-07-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

If you think you have a better idea than sitting out on the lawn at Cal Anderson eating strawberry cupcakes and watching Little Darlings as dusk settles in on Capitol Hill tomorrow evening, we'd beg to differ. Our superfriends and Capitol hill neighbors-to-be over at 3 Dollar Bill Cinema have one sweet evening lined up for you via Outdoor Cinema.

Tomorrow night's film is Little Darlings, starring none other than the adorably 80s Tatum O'Neal, Kristy McNichol, Matt Dillon, and Cynthia Nixon.

Sweet AND sassy. Now you KNOW we like it like that.

What, you don't know who Three Dollar Bill Cinema is? Crikey! They're only the queer film cool kids behind the annual Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Cineoke, Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival, and now...Outdoor Cinema at Cal Anderson Park.

We love everything they do, but we are psyched as all get out about Outdoor Cinema: I Want My 1980. Yeah. That's right. In their words:

"This year’s slate of fun and campy films all come from 1980, the premiere year of the decade that made sexual power plays, alien encounters, and shameless success all the rage."

Sounds good to us! The only thing that could make it better...hmm...CUPCAKES! So, we're donating a bunch of cupcakes to each screening. Buy them, eat them, love them, and all the monies go to support the yearlong programming over at Three Dollar Bill Cinema! Win win!

FRIDAY | JULY 17 | Cal Anderson Park | Dusk

The Final Countdown! 6 Days To Go

2009-07-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Just so we're sure that everyone knows we're they're going next Wednesday when we open our new cupcake café on Capitol Hill, here are the geographical deets. The address is 1111 EAST PIKE STREET between 11th and 12th. Next to Boom Noodle. Here's a map. Study it. Memorize it. Maybe ride your bike back and forth between your home and 1111 a couple times before we open next week (7/22), just so you have your route down.

And if you STILL can't find us, just look for this. They' hoisting it up on the outside of the building as we speak!

Final Countdown. 6 days and counting.

The Final Countdown!

2009-07-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

That's right people! Just one more week until we throw open the doors to our sweeeeeeeeeeet new bakery and café at 1111 E PIKE on Capitol Hill! Yes. Yes. YES! Join us next Wednesday, July 22nd for DAY ONE of Capitol Hill cupcake goodness. We open at 6, and stay open 'til 11, so you can get your cupcake on all day long. Here's what you can expect:

1. CUPCAKES! Featuring our new "More Moisty-er!" recipes. PLUS, we'll have the delicious Strawberry 66 through the end of this month.

2. COFFEE! Truly fine baristas serving up the best from Stumptown Coffee Roasters.

3. ART! Our opening show is a doozy, with work from the likes of Claudia Fitch, Ken Kelly , Jeffry Mitchell, and Joey Veltkamp.

To be fair, this cupcake café is a work of art in and of itself. Designed by Roy McMakin & Ian Butcher over at DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE, and all put together by the good guys over at Dovetail, we kind of can't believe how gorgeous it is. With glasswork by Greg Lundgren, woodwork by Sterling Voss, countertops and furniture by Big Leaf Mfg, and a custom stained glass Cupcake Royale by Seattle Stained Glass, it's all pretty magical.

Which brings us to...

4. MAGIC! That's right. We told you it was the Final Countdown. 7 days and counting.

Summer Fest Takes Over the Junction!

2009-07-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

Oh you SO wish you were in West Seattle right now. If you were, you could be hanging out with the oh-so-lovely Sandra Bermeo and her dashing sidekick Jordan Wilkins. These two hold it down in West Seattle like nobody's business. So, stop wishin' and get on over there! It's Summer Fest in the Junction and we are livin' it up cupcake style. Come by and get a Strawberry 66 cupcake for the low-low Summer Fest price of $2. QUE GANGA! And then wash it all down with a refreshing iced coffee beverage made from freshly brewed Stumptown Coffee. Truly fine, indeed.

After you get your sweet, sweet cupcake on, support all the great businesses of the Junction as they host a killer sidewalk sale with everything from CDs to paintings to one-of-a-kind jewelry. Then, don't miss the show at 4:45, when the Magic Mirrors (remember Jordan from the photo? That's his band!) take the same stage as the one and only Mudhoney. Yes, THE Mudhoney. OK, so maybe they are not going to be on the stage at the same time, but the Magic Mirrors will play the Alaska Stage at 4:45, and then Mudhoney ends the night with their set at 8:10. Yeah Jordan!

Summer Fest fun is all weekend long. Food, fun, friends, plus live music, a sidewalk sale and more! For more info check out the official Summer Fest website. And we'll see YOU on the West Side!

Simply Stunning

2009-06-29T14:32:00.001-07:00

Photo courtesy of Jordan Stead.

PRIDE!

2009-06-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Pride weekend meant big fun for Seattle, and cupcakers especially. We started it all off bright and early Saturday morning with Equalityoga at Cal Anderson Park. Part of the Stonewall 4o festivities, (commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots,) Equalityoga brought together some of the city's best yogis to lead hundred of Seattleites in an outdoor, public yoga session. From Downward Dog to Lotus, hundreds of humans were bending and posing for equal rights, peace, and love. It was a beautiful thing, people. PLUS, mad yogis were rockin' the Legalize Gay Cupcakes tee!

Sunday was THE day for Pride fun, as the annual Pride parade took over 4th Avenue in beautiful downtown Seattle. Miss Cupcake Royale lead our pack through the thick of it, while Mini (The Mini Cooper Clubman) hauled our big, gay, sparkly cupcake through throngs of screaming supporters. It. Was. Fabulous.

Thanks to all who cheered us on and helped us out. Big thanks to the Wilmots for the super sweet cupcake chariot, and HUUUGE thanks to Miss Cupcake Royale for leading the way with grace, class, and SASS.

You can still buy your very own Legalize Gay Cupcakes tee shirt by visiting one of our cafés, or by clicking HERE. Remember $5 goes to Lambda Legal!

Aww. Feel the love, people. Feel. The. LOVE.

Thanks to Joey Veltkamp for the sweet parade pics. Check out more on his blog!

Sweet Sassy Molassey!

2009-06-26T12:14:00.001-07:00

Chicken wire?
Check.

Tinsel?
Check.

Fuschia lamé?
Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-eeeck.

Yeah. That's right. It's the big sparkly cupcake. You may have seen it hoisted over the doorway here in our Ballard café and thought, "Woah. That's a big sparkly cupcake." And if you're downtown for the Pride parade this weekend, (alllll the cool kids are goin') you'll see it again...roped on top of a Mini Cooper Clubman.

Leading the way for our big-gay-sparkly-cupcake troupe will be THE Miss Cupcake Royale. Her 5 inch hot pink heels arrived in the mail today, and she's already working on her strut. Check this vintage shot of the famed CC Royale:

Oh SNAP! Grab your LEGALIZE GAY CUPCAKES tee shirt. Put on your own 5 inch hot pink heels. And we will see you there. And it will be FABULOUS.

Just say NO to the co-op proposal

2009-06-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

We've said it before, and we will say it again. The Co-op plan that everyone is all abuzz about these days is NOT a strong public health option. It's a watered-down deal that will have neither the financial stability nor bargaining power to lower health care costs and provide coverage for all Americans. And, unfortunately, some senators are willing to blow our best chance at health care reform in a decade on this weak proposal.

If you're not sure what a co-op is, you're not alone. The whole conversation on health care reform becomes more confusing every day. The idea behind a real public plan is that a national, non-profit health care provider will have the federal clout and government backing to compete with the massive private insurance companies that currently have a choke hold on our health care system. The national public insurance plan would be affordable for all Americans, and that would force private insurance companies to lower their rates if they want to compete in a health care market they no longer have cornered. Now THAT, is a good deal. No more leaving life and death matters up to big business. That's gross.

Regional co-ops and state-managed public plans will never have the financial stability or national muscle to compete with private insurance. They'll still be funded by your tax dollars, but they will not lower health care costs on any significant scale. Nothing sounds good about that.

We can't let the co-op proposal keep us from fixing health care in this country. Our best chance at real reform is in danger, and our very own Senator Cantwell has voiced her support of that threat. OUCH! Call Senator Maria Cantwell today, and urge her to listen to the good people of Washington, and give us the health care reform we need. Tell her that anything other than a strong public health insurance option is unacceptable, and that means co-ops are out.

Senator Maria Cantwell
Phone: 202-224-3441
District Offices:
Everett: 425-303-0114
Richland: 509-946-8106
Seattle: 206-220-6400
Spokane: 509-353-2507
Tacoma: 253-572-2281
Vancouver: 360-696-7838

And while you're on the phone, you may as well give Senator Patty Murray a call, too.

Senator Patty Murray
Phone: 202-224-2621
District Offices:
Bellevue: 425-462-4460
Everett: 425-259-6515
Seattle: 206-553-5545
Spokane: 509-624-9515
Vancouver: 360-696-7797
Yakima: 509-453-7462

A Public Health Plan is Your Friend

2009-06-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Great for groceries. Not for health care.

And a bunch of private co-ops do not a public health plan make. Jody was on Weekday with Steve Scher today, along with pro-public-plan-all-stars Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Jim McDermott, explaining why this country needs a public option for health care. Senator Maria Cantwell was there too, voicing her support for the co-op plan, seen by some as a last ditch attempt by Democrats to gain Republican support for a national health care reform bill. Click HERE to listen to the podcast and hear what Jody had to say.

Then take her advice, and call Senator Cantwell's office (206.224.3441,) and explain why the only hope for quality, affordable health care coverage for all Americans is a public plan. Washington CAN! has already issued a response to Cantwell's assertion that co-ops are a viable substitute for a true public health option in the U.S.:

“Private co-ops are not a public option and therefore cannot succeed at President Obama’s goals of lowering costs and keeping the insurance industry honest,” said Deana Knutsen, chair of Washington CAN!, the state’s largest grassroots community organization. “Any proposals that dilute and delay that option are no substitute. If it’s not national, not publicly accountable, doesn’t have bargaining clout, and isn’t ready on day one, then it’s not a strong public health insurance option, and it won’t fix our health care system.”

To get fully informed on this oh-so-important issue of co-ops masquerading as a public health option, click HERE to read the entire release. It's really, REALLY good. Washington CAN! rules it. Big time.

Turns out, the overwhelming majority of Americans are on board for the public option. According to a recent New York Times / CBS poll, 72 percent of people in these United States support a public health care plan. Even more interestingly, half of all Republicans surveyed support it. It seems pretty clear what we as Americans need, and what we want. Click HERE to read the Sunday Times article about the poll.

For even more health care info, click HERE to read this Sunday Times opinion piece on a public plan.

Senator Cantwell's office number again - 206.224.3441

Anything we can do, she can do better.

2009-06-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

Because Michelle Obama is superhuman. Nay, suprahuman. Check out these berry-topped cupcake beauties she made with the kiddos of Bancroft Elementary when they stopped by the White House yesterday for a little garden education and vegetable planting sesh with the First Lady.

Everything about that last sentence is what's right with the world.

And to top it off, these cupcakes were made with honey, not sugar, because, as we mentioned, Michelle Obama is mind-bogglingly awesome. Holy cupcakes do we love, love, LOVE that lady.

Thanks to gals at Cupcakes Take the Cake for this super sweet scoop.

Straaaaaaaaaaaaaawberry!

2009-06-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

cfisherphotography

Go on, now. Stick a couple straws in your nose and say it like Will and Dee Dee did on that episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air where Queen Latifah guest-starred as Will's full-figured lady friend that he was too embarrassed to take to the dance (She Ain't Heavy, Season 2.)

Our July Cupcake of the Month is worthy of just that kind of enthusiasm, because it is almost too delicious. Almost.

We take the freshest, ripest, juiciest strawberries from our pals over at Skagit Sun Farms, and we whip them up into a sweet and summery strawberry buttercream. Then we swirl it on top of our delicious, new, More Moisty-er! vanilla buttercake, and sprinkle it with a little bit of red sparkle. This is cupcake magic, people. It's like an old-fashioned strawberry shortcake, in cupcake form.

Skagit Valley Strawberry cupcakes will be in pastry cases starting July 1st, but you can call to order ahead today! They're the perfect summer treat for 4th of July BBQs, Sunday picnics, a day at the park, or just because it's summer, and you deserve it.

Also available in adorably delicious babycakes. Little green berry box not included.

cfisherphotography

Legalize Gay Cupcakes!

2009-06-16T13:50:00.001-07:00

It makes sense. Really, it does. You know what totally does NOT make sense? Making gay cupcakes illegal. That's just absurd. But, as it turns out, that's just what some people want to do. So, so sad. We think it's time those people learned...

THE TRUTH ABOUT GAY CUPCAKES

1. They are fresh and delicious.
2. They are all-natural.
3. They feel the same cupcake LOVE other cupcakes do.
4. They look AMAZING in pink.
5. They know how to rock the sparkle. Err, sprinkles.
6. They live in your neighborhood.
7. They work in your community.
8. They pay the same taxes you do. Well, more if you're lucky enough be legally married to the person you love.
9. They are asking for equal rights. No more. No less.
10. They are your friends, neighbors, family members, co-workers, teachers, doctors, business owners, politicians, religious leaders, artists, baristas, your community.

Our community.

And we believe that every member of our cupcake community, regardless of flavor, swirl size, or sprinkle type, deserves the same rights and opportunities. It's just the Royale way.

If you agree (and we sure hope you do) you should buy our sweet "Legalize Gay Cupcakes" tee shirt, buttons, and stickers. Proceeds go to Lambda Legal, to help them keep fighting the good fight for equality on a national level. Starting tomorrow, you can get 'em at any of our three cafés, or you can click HERE right now to buy one online.

Mr. Squirrel dropped by the West Side a little early this year...

2009-06-11T15:06:00.001-07:00

See, Mr. Squirrel is like Santa Claus. Just because it isn't Harvest Fest yet, that doesn't mean he's not out there, watching. Making sure all you little girls and boys are being extra good, so when it comes time to hand out those delicious Harvest Festival cupcakes, he knows who's been naughty or nice.

Seems he felt the need to check in on the good folks of the West Seattle Junction recently. It was a sunny day in the Junction when Mr. Squirrel poked his little nose into our West Seattle café. Our doors were wide open, welcoming West Seattleites young and old into our sweet world of cupcake goodness, and Mr. Squirrel took us up on the offer. He boldly scampered in (turns out, you CAN scamper boldly) and set his eyes on a customer's Dance Party with Holly Hobbie. Understandably, she was not super excited to share it with him. As we upped our efforts to shoo him back on out into the fields, where he ought to be a sowin' and a weedin' his cupcake crop, he whipped out some mad acrobatic skillZ.

Who knew a bucktoothed rodent could move so gracefully over the end of a broom, behind a garbage can, or up a woman's leg? Oh, he did all of that and more. It was a sight to behold. Those who were with us in the café that day can count themselves lucky for sharing a peep at this spectacle of wilderness gone wild.

Rest assured, Mr. Squirrel is back out in the fields tending to the forthcoming cupcake bounty, and Harvest Festival flavors will be in pastry cases on time.

And for those of you who for some reason have NO idea what all this farming talk is about, here's a reminder:

See you in October Mr. Squirrel!

Sometimes you just gotta tell it like it is.

2009-06-09T15:39:00.001-07:00

Ok, we're WAY too busy to write a real post today, so enjoy this while we continue to bake test batches of our July cupcake of the month...STRAWBERRY!