Valentine's day is just around the corner and what comes to mind is strawberries, champagne, and ...CHOCOLATE!!! Check out the links to our listing below to discover some of the best candy stores and chocolate boutiques and emporiums  in New England. Don't see yours here? Let us know.

What does the kind of chocolate you like say about you. Find out The Hidden Meaning of Chocolates.

New England's Top Ten

Athan's Bakery:  Brookline, MA

Handmade confectionery containing natural ingredients, liqueurs, preserved fruits, nuts, and couverture. YUM...from molded chocolates filled with velvety ganache, dark Amarena cherries, dulce de leche caramel, almond nougat, candied oranges or figs, peanut butter, date and homemade marzipan to hand rolled truffles, chocolate dipped strawberries.

Beacon Hill Chocolates:  Boston, MA

Imported artisan chocolates from chocolate producers all around the world. Online purchasing available.

Chocolee Chocolates:  Boston, MA

Homemade artisian chocolate, truffles, and bark. Favorites include dark chocolate with salted caramel, dark chocolate with sesame caramel, dark chocolate with bourbon cherry and honey filling, and the dark chocolate with chocolate ganache and candied ginger. Chocolee will also custom design chocolates to order. 

Right now, our neighboring community is mourning the loss of 15 year old Phoebe Prince, a South Hadley High School freshman who took her own life on January 14th, 2010. Phoebe had recently moved to Massachusetts from Ireland. On the surface, it seemed she had everything going for her...she was pretty, smart, making friends, and finding her way in a new town. However, beneath the cheerful exterior and gentle demeanor, were serious issues in need of and demanding attention. Anyone with half a brain, who's been through puberty, knows that growing up isn't easy. Our awaking into adulthood consist of a slow progression of physical and intellectual changes that can often be painful and confusing. Growing up is difficult, even in the best of circumstances... never mind being the new kid... or being different... being too pretty or not pretty enough... being too fat... too thin... the list is endless. For some, the pressure to fit into this invisible, predefined, social realm of popularity is overbearing and overwhelming. For Phoebe Prince, and many others, these same pressures can contribute to a mental breakdown of self confidence and self worth leading them to believe that the only way out is death. 

Red Cross Continuing to Push Aid to Haiti

Amid Difficult Conditions

Friday, January 15, 2010 

The aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake has posed logistical challenges for all humanitarian organizations, including Red Cross responders, who are working around the clock to meet the challenges and ensure aid reaches the survivors. The difficulties include damaged transportation and power systems; an unreliable airport tower, which had led to many flights being diverted; and damaged cranes at the capital city’s port, which is not expected to reopen until January 18. Some roads are also covered with debris, making travel within the capital city difficult. Despite these challenges, the American Red Cross has dozens of disaster specialists in Haiti, assessing the damage, addressing urgent needs and establishing the foundation for a long-term recovery operation. These individuals joined the 15-person staff who were already in country, and 12 Red Cross teams from other countries who arrived on Thursday. Among these teams are engineers, surgeons and family linking specialists. These teams will establish field hospitals, restore water and sanitation systems, distribute supplies and restore family links facilities. Two planes carrying Red Cross humanitarian assistance are due to land Friday afternoon in Port-au-Prince. The first carries a field hospital, and the second carries tarps, blankets, hygiene items, buckets, shelter supplies and kitchen sets. The American Red Cross is also working today with airport authorities to transport additional items from its warehouse in Panama into Port-au-Prince.