
Ohioans love their ice cream so much that the state has spawned its own Ice Cream Trail. Can't get enough of this tasty treat? Check out these favorite ice cream shops in Cleveland, Akron, and North Canton.
Find out firsthand why Apple Cart has been cited as one of the best soft-serve ice cream spots in America. The shop is housed in a modest storefront that belies its status as a local icon.
Go beyond the basics with one of these specialty treats on the menu:
Hours are noon - 7 p.m. daily except Tuesday, when closing time is 5:30 p.m.
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Sweeties Soda Shoppe brings the classic ice cream parlor into the 21st century. Take a seat at a table or pull up a chair at the counter to enjoy your choice of 36 flavors of homemade ice cream or 300+ soda varieties.
Distinctive features include:
Hours are noon -11 p.m. daily except Sunday, when doors close at 9 p.m.
Hip Hop Smoothie Bar invites you to create your own "mixtape" of ice cream, milkshakes, and smoothies with your choice of add-ins and toppings. If you're really hungry, start out with one of their wraps or thin-crust pizzas.
Many items have a whimsical music-themed name, such as:
Hip Hop Smoothie Bar is open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, and noon - 8 p.m. Sunday.
Appropriately located in Akron's Historic Arts District, Chill Artisan Ice Cream brings a true artisan approach to gourmet ice cream. Inspired by childhood experimentation with their home ice cream maker, the Jaworski brothers apply a "food sensibility" to flavors such as French Toast & Bacon, Bourbon Granola, and Whiskey Pistachio Brittle.
Vegetarians and vegans can also indulge in creative flavors:
Hours are noon - 7 p.m. every day but Monday.
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Opened in 1969, Pav's Creamery still uses the old-school Soeder Sons Batch machines from iconic Euclid Beach Park. When the Micochero family purchased the shop from founder Robert "Pav" Pavlik, they upped the game with custard, ice cream, yogurt, and sorbet made fresh daily.
Here are a few of the Flavors of the Week scheduled for this summer:
Pav's Creamery is open seven days a week from noon - 9 p.m.
Waylon's Handcrafted proudly proclaims to be "mom-owned and family-inspired." Jenn Myers was inspired to open the shop after travel adventures with her husband and named it for their son, Waylon.
Live dangerously with dessert-for-lunch with one of their gourmet ice cream sandwiches on freshly-baked cookies:
Waylon's Handcrafted is open noon - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon - 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Take a trip back in time with a visit to Swensons Drive-In. Wesley T. "Pop" Swenson went from selling burgers out of his station wagon in front of Buchtel High School to a classic drive-in format with carside service.
While Swensons is well-known for their ice cream, the restaurant also features some legendary savory and beverage items on their menu:
Hours are 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
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Founded in 1945, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream still employs many of the methods and recipes of their namesake. Alice Handel famously used fresh ingredients from her backyard garden to make each batch of ice cream by hand.
Throughout the years, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream has been recognized by nationally respected publications such as:
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
No need for GPS when you're heading to Ro's Custard Creations. Just look for the giant candy-colored rooftop sign that's a local landmark.
The pet-friendly shop leaves ice cream to others, offering custard and frozen yogurt for cones, cups, and specialty treats such as:
Ro's Custard Creations is open 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 - 9 p.m. Sunday.
If you could have only one ice cream flavor for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Even if you're a competent baker, cupcakes are usually better to buy than make yourself. Great cupcakes aren't just about flavor but presentation: a decadent cake with a beautiful swirl of icing on top and a few little flairs to make it stand out. It's not an easy skill to master, and if you want a great cupcake, sometimes you need to look for the right spot—especially if you've just moved to a new area. So where do you go in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas to find gourmet cupcakes? Here's a roundup of our favorite places.
1006 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH 45206
The only drawback to Jazzy Sweeties is that it doesn't do walk-ins. This locally owned, independent bakery does custom orders, which must be placed in advance. They're well worth the extra wait, though. Jazzy Sweets has a variety of treats that taste as good as they look—especially their cupcakes. The bakery's website includes a gallery of some of the cupcakes they can make, from simple birthday cupcakes to elegant strawberry cupcakes (with a decadent strawberry glaze) to cupcakes shaped like Cookie Monster and more. They also have a variety of other treats available, from cookies to wedding cakes—all beautifully decorated and absolutely delicious. Whatever the occasion and whatever kind of cupcakes you're looking for, Jazzy Sweeties can make you something that will satisfy.
4773 Glendale Milford Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242
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Abby's has three locations: Blue Ash, Eastgate, and Downtown Cincinnati. Each location has a variety of cupcakes available, but the specialty is cheesecake cupcakes: Decadent, gourmet cheesecake with a vanilla wafer crust, baked into cupcake form and topped with cherry, cookies and cream, key lime, and other toppings. Or, if you'd rather have a traditional cupcake, try their coconut, red velvet, and strawberry blast flavors. And ask about their flavor of the week! They also provide cupcakes by special order for weddings and other events.
7458 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
Whether you want cupcakes for delivery, pickup, or just walking in and browsing, 3 Sweet Girls Cakery has what you need. They have over a hundred different cupcake flavors available throughout the year, from standard flavors like chocolate, Oreo, and birthday cake to more specialized varieties like strawberry lemonade, peanut butter mudslide, red velvet cheesecake, and white chocolate raspberry. Many of their flavors are intricately decorated and beautifully colored and can also be made vegan and/or gluten-free upon request.
8470 US-42 Suite G, Florence, KY 41042
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All Memorie Makers desserts are made fresh daily, with locally sourced ingredients. They make custom cakes and other special order treats for weddings and other events, but if you want a cupcake, all you have to do is come into the store. Try their red velvet, pink champagne, and Death by Chocolate cupcakes, plus a variety of other rotating flavors. They also offer regular cake and cookie decorating classes, plus "Cupcake and Canvas," where participants can learn to paint and eat a cupcake in the process!
4035 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45223
This independent, woman-owned bakery serves all vegan treats, in sustainable packaging, with gluten-free options available as well. They also take pride in offering a variety of new and creative flavors you can't find anywhere else. Try their coconut yellow curry cupcakes with almond icing, called the Yellow Dragon. They also offer orange lemon, ginger chai, and various seasonal flavors. The bakery includes a cafe, where many offerings are readily available, along with sandwiches, salads, chicken nuggets, and more. However, for most of their bakery offerings, they recommend ordering at least a week in advance to ensure you get what you need.
2030 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45208
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The goal of BonBonerie is to make everything beautiful and delicious. As such, they use only the best ingredients—some fresh and locally grown; others imported from Belgium, Madagascar, and other places around the world. Their cupcakes are made with a variety of fun designs, many of them shaped like animal faces, such as tigers, owls, and monkeys. They also make cupcakes for all occasions, from birthdays to weddings, or a bouquet of flower-shaped cupcakes to give to that special someone. Their flavors are amazing, too, such as opera cream and carrot cake, along with an ever-rotating roster that changes from month to month. Stop by their cafe and tearoom to see what they're offering right now.
3674 Muddy Creek Road, Cincinnati, OH 45238
This small bakery offers a variety of sweet treats, but the cupcakes are what everyone raves about. They offer a variety of gourmet flavors you can't get other places, such as English Toffee and Boston Cream. They also do macarons, wedding cakes, and more. Everything is lovingly made, beautifully decorated, and absolutely delicious.
6820 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45227
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Located at The Strand mall in Mariemount, Sweeterie prides itself on using high-quality ingredients to make beautiful and delicious cupcakes. Try the double fudge, white chocolate, cookie dough, and brown sugar Irish coffee cupcakes, along with various decadent flavors. Everything is available in regular, mini, or jumbo sizes—and during the holidays, each cupcake gets decorated with a little something extra. Open Wednesday through Saturday, Sweeterie's cupcakes are an experience not to be missed.
Where will you go for gourmet cupcakes in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area?

Summer means warmer temperatures, which are mostly a good thing. But when it gets too hot and you want to cool off, ordering a milkshake or iced coffee can help you chill out. Fortunately, Northern Kentucky has several great locations serving up these cold drinks near Boone County homes for sale. Many also serve food items, so you can enjoy a burger with your milkshake or a pastry with your coffee, and you'll even be able to order a boozy milkshake if you'd like to, although it's also available without the alcohol.
When you're ready to cool off and treat yourself, head to one of the following seven places to order a milkshake or iced coffee in Northern Kentucky.
7500 Burlington Pike, Florence, KY 41042
A nostalgic staple of Florence for years, Fillmore's Dairy Hut is the type of place that adults fondly remember going to as kids with their parents or heading to after school or a sporting event, and now they're returning with their own kids. Order a burger, footlong cheese coney topped with homemade Cincinnati-style chili, or other traditional favorite with your milkshake, and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices. Milkshakes come in flavors, including strawberry, blueberry, chocolate chip, butterscotch, and peanut butter.
301 Buttermilk Pike, Fort Mitchell, KY 41017
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Graeter's Ice Cream traces its roots back to 1870 in Cincinnati when its founder began selling ice cream from two carts. At the time, it was hand-crafted in French pots. Ice cream is the all-important base of any great milkshake, and the fourth-generation family-owned company still makes it in a French pot freezer that leaves very little trapped air. The result is indulgent, delicious ice cream that translates into the same qualities in their milkshakes. Try a refreshing peach shake in the summer, or create your own from one of the shop's many flavors, including black raspberry chocolate chip and brown butter bourbon pecan. You'll have your choice of a 16-ounce small milkshake, a 20-ounce medium, or a 24-ounce large.
6420 Dixie Hwy., Florence, KY 41042
Mad Mike's Burgers & Fries serves up fresh, made-to-order burgers, and you can build your own or order a gourmet burger made with a half-pound of 100% black Angus beef. The Rockefeller burger—served with blue cheese crumbles, mango chutney, beer-battered onion strings, cilantro may, and lettuce—is a customer favorite. Have some hand-cut french fries along with your burger, and treat yourself to a milkshake with your meal. You can choose from flavors including cookies and cream, chocolate chip cookie, espresso vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate.
225 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, KY 41073
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A bar may not be the first destination you think of when you're craving a milkshake, but Nomad serves an impressive list of boozy concoctions made with three ounces of alcohol. If you'd rather not have the alcohol, all shakes are also available in non-boozy versions. Try versions like Dough You Want Me Baby, consisting of ice cream, Ghirardelli caramel sauce, edible cookie dough, and vanilla vodka. The decadent shake is topped with whipped cream, a house-made cookie, chocolate chips, and a cherry. Or order the Oops! I Split It Again, Nomad's take on a banana split. It has ice cream blended with vanilla vodka, Frangelico, Ghirardelli chocolate, and banana split-inspired ingredients like bananas, walnuts, and cherries.
8203 U.S. 42, Florence, KY 41042
With its double drive-thru lanes, Jet Coffee quickly lets you cool off and fuel up with an iced coffee before or after work, school, or running errands. Coffee drinks are available hot or iced, including the butterscotch and rum Highlander Grogg brewed coffee. Specialty lattes, which can even be ordered frozen with whipped cream, include interesting flavors such as Flower Power with lavender and honey and Raspberry Truffle with raspberry and dark chocolate. Frappes are also frozen with whipped cream and include caramel and spiced or vanilla chai.
11069 Clay Dr., Walton, KY 41094
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Enlightenment Cafe is a welcoming community gathering spot that's the perfect place to meet some friends and catch up over coffee. Its coffee beans are equitably sourced and locally roasted by Carabello Coffee for quality and freshness. Cool off with an iced coffee, including a latte, mocha, chocolate Americano with almond and oat milk, bourbon caramel frappe, or white chocolate raspberry frappe. And while you're sipping your coffee, enjoy a house-made baked good, breakfast burrito, or bagel along with it.
3020 Washington St., Burlington, KY 41005
At Dreamy Whip, you can have your choice of the best of both worlds: a milkshake or an iced coffee. If you're in the mood for a shake, try a chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, peanut butter, or banana variety. And if you'd rather cool off with an iced coffee, try an affogato, which combines ice cream and espresso, or order a frosted coffee. The shop also has food trucks that are dispatched across the area, so check their Facebook page linked above to see a schedule of their next locations.
Which is your favorite drink to cool off: a milkshake or an iced coffee?

Oh, cheesecake. It's hard to imagine any dessert more rich and delicious. Whether you prefer yours topped with strawberries, drizzled with chocolate, or layered with caramel sauce, you deserve to indulge every now and then. Here are some of the top places to enjoy cheesecake in Northeast Ohio.
4339 Dressler Rd. NW, Canton, OH 44718
Studio Bakery creates beautiful, artistic baked goods. Everything is made from scratch, using high-quality ingredients. Their cookies are meticulously decorated and creatively designed, and their cheesecake is some of the best around. Guests love their chocolate crinkle and bananas foster, made with fresh bananas and rum.
This artistic bakeshop is always adding new options to the menu, so you never know which decadent cheesecake they'll have when you stop by. They serve coffee and have a few tables in the shop, so you can easily enjoy your dessert on-site.
706 S. Main St., North Canton, OH 44720
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Sprinkle City is a cheerful little bakery on North Canton. They're widely known for their wedding cakes and special occasion cakes, but their cheesecake is incredible, too. There's an entire section of their menu dedicated to it, and they offer a variety of flavors, including classic, strawberry, chocolate, lemon, and pumpkin swirl.
Sprinkle City also sells miniature cheesecakes, which are the perfect weeknight treat. The shop is only open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, so be sure to plan your visit.
Sweet Sadie's Desserts was founded in 2015 and quickly became a favorite in Northeast Ohio. The owner, Sade, does all of the baking herself. The shop's motto is Real Flavors, Real Love, and the love comes through as you taste the cheesecake.
The best way to enjoy cheesecake from Sweet Sadie's is to order online via their website. Sade's menu changes regularly, with new items being added often. Past customers have loved the cherry cheesecake, which is smooth and creamy with a sweet cherry topping.
76 E. Mill St., Akron, OH 44308
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Sweet Mary's Bakery is a woman-owned business and an Akron staple. They recently expanded their kitchen and menu, making this the perfect time to stop by. Sweet Mary's does not have a dining room, so plan on taking your cheesecake to-go. Order a whole one and bring it home to share with your family for dessert, or just order a slice for yourself.
Raspberry cheesecake is a favorite here. It's topped with a house-made raspberry glaze and fresh berries. Other options include lemon meringue and turtle. Some of the cheesecakes are even gluten-free!
BB's Sweet Treats is an Akron-based online bakery that will deliver tasty cheesecake straight to your home. Browse their selection on their website, then contact them for a quote when you're ready to order.
While BB's does sell a lot of traditional cakes, their selection of cheesecakes is nothing short of incredible. The butter pecan is so buttery and creamy it melts in your mouth. They also have a tasty white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, along with a key lime cheesecake that will knock your socks off. Other flavors include blueberry, cherry, and strawberry. Add a few cheesecake-stuffed chocolate strawberries to your order for a special touch.
21 Furnace St., Akron, OH 44308
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Chef Gina's Bakeshop is the creation of Gina Giampietro, a professional pastry chef who studied at the Culinary Institute of America. She creates a variety of sweets, including eclairs, sugar cookies, and macarons. If you're looking for something unique to try, cheesecake macarons are a great choice.
Gina's menu also includes mini cheesecakes, which are lovely for serving at parties. Order them ahead on the bakery's website to ensure you have enough.
1455 W. 29th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113
Larder Delicatessen has quite the reputation in Cleveland. They were even nominated for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2019. With an emphasis on Eastern European baked goods and ingredients, they create all sorts of treats, ranging from babka to knish.
While you're at Larder, it only makes sense to enjoy a full meal. Complete that meal with an order of cheesecake, which is classic and creamy. They'll wrap it up for you to take home if you're too full to enjoy it on-site.
13204 Shaker Square, Cleveland, OH 44120
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Chanelle's Treatz is a popular, modern bakery in Cleveland. They make all sorts of creative cakes and cupcakes, and they have a whole menu of specialty cheesecakes. Chocolate peanut butter, cherry cobbler, strawberry crunch supreme, Oreo dream, and red velvet are all popular choices.
All of Chanelle's cheesecakes come in either regular size or "triple" size, which is great for a larger party. In addition to being delicious, these cheesecakes are beautifully decorated and look incredible on a table. Stop by their shop, or place an online order on their website.
12101 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106
Located in Cleveland's Little Italy, Presti's Bakery first opened in 1903. They still use traditional Italian recipes and ingredients to create their baked goods, including cheesecake. Should you want a meal before your cheesecake, their cafe serves pizza, stromboli, deli sandwiches, and other favorites.
As Presti's cheesecake is Italian cheesecake, it has a lighter texture and less-sweet flavor than you may be used to. It's a nice change of pace and well worth ordering. Presti's serves a turtle version of their cheesecake, too. Pair your slice with a cup of espresso or a delicious cappuccino for an indulgent experience.
What's your favorite style of cheesecake?

Chocolate and mint pair together so well! This must be a pretty popular opinion because there's actually a whole holiday dedicated to the flavor combination. February 19th is National Chocolate Mint Day. If you want to celebrate, all you have to do is enjoy your favorite chocolate mint treat. There are a few great places in Columbus serving chocolate-mint creations too.
1534 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43221
If you prefer your chocolate and mint fix in ice cream form, Graeter's is the place to go. This veteran-owned ice cream parlor has been a vibrant part of the community for decades. They make their ice cream by hand in small batches, and it is incredibly creamy and delicious.
The obvious choice at Graeter's is the Mint Chocolate Chip. It has Oreo cookie crunchies for a unique touch. Another option is the Peppermint Chip Wheelies. These are ice cream sandwiches made with chocolate chip cookies and pink peppermint ice cream.
968 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43201
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Simply Rolled Ice Cream is a modern ice cream shop that uses locally sourced ingredients and prepares each ice cream treat to order. You choose your ingredients, and they freeze your ice cream on a large, chilled flat-top surface, adding in toppings as desired.
Rolled ice cream is a whole other way to experience the chocolate and mint combination. Their Mint Chocolate Mania signature roll, made with mint ice cream, hot fudge sauce, peppermint patties, and chocolate chips, is incredibly delicious. Of course, you can also custom-create your own minty ice cream treat by selecting mint ice cream as the base and adding various chocolate toppings as desired.
1515 Gemini Pl., Columbus, OH 43240
Bruster's Real Ice Cream makes their ice cream fresh in-store. They've been around since 1989, and they take pride in their premium flavors, which have been carefully developed over the years.
The obvious choice for National Chocolate Mint Day is their Chocolate Peppermint. The red peppermint candies make it unique. Their Mint Chocolate Chip is also delicious and quite classic, and of course, you can't go wrong with the Mint Oreo. If you want something a bit different, you can ask them to make a milkshake out of any flavor.
5040 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43214
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Anthony-Thomas Candy Shoppe is a family-owned candy company with several locations in the Columbus area. They've won numerous awards over the years, including a CBUS Top Pick in 2020.
Anthony-Thomas is best known for their buckeyes, which are an Ohio staple. But they do also make some chocolate-mint creations. Their Peppermint Bark, made with dark and white chocolates, is a top choice and suitable for sharing. Customers also love the Milk Melt-A-Way Mints, which feature creamy, whipped chocolate centers with a hint of mint.
3620 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43214
Colonial Candy has been serving the Columbus area for more than 50 years, and it's a great place to get your chocolate and mint fix—candy style! Their Peppermint Cream candies are coated in smooth, milk, or dark chocolate. The interior is white, creamy, and oh so minty.
You can purchase the Peppermint Creams by the 1/8-pound, so you can order as few or as many as you like. While you're there, you may want to try some of the chocolate-covered pretzels. No, they're not minty, but they're so munchable and addictive.
1855 Northwest Blvd., Columbus, OH 43212
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Chocolate Café is a bright, welcoming cafe where you can enjoy anything from a freshly made sandwich to a hot cup of mocha. The obvious choice on National Chocolate Mint Day is the Thin Mint Martini. It's rich and creamy with just the right amount of mint.
If you're in the mood for dessert, then try one of the mint truffles. They're creamy and so satisfying. Or, if you want to bring a mint chocolate treat home to the whole family, you could order an 8" or 10" Thin Mint Cake. Add an espresso filling for something totally unique.
220 E. Kossuth St., Columbus, OH 43206
Schmidt's Fudge Haus, as the name suggests, is known for its handmade fudge. You have to try it, but you should also explore their selection of gourmet chocolates. The Mint Meltaways are creamy and delicious—the perfect choice for a National Chocolate and Mint celebration.
Schmidt's is also a great place to pick up some snacks. Their Bridge Mix, Animal Crackers, and Yogurt Pretzels are good to munch on if you need a break from chocolate and mint.
1334 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43201
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Stauf's Coffee is a pristine, modern coffee shop with a minimalist vibe. They offer a great selection of coffees, including a Chocolate Mint coffee that's well worth a try. They'll brew some for you in-house, and they also sell the beans, so you can take more home for later. In the mood for something lighter? Try a mug of peppermint tea. Pair it with a chocolate dessert, and you'll be fully celebrating National Chocolate Mint Day.
Stauf's also has delicious chocolate cookies, which are worth pairing with your Chocolate Mint coffee. If you're really craving chocolate, the Espresso Fudge Brownies are incredible. Guests also love the Chocolate Croissants and the Chocolate Chip Scones.
15 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, OH 43201
Sweetwaters is known for serving delicious coffee, tea, and pastries. Their cafe is airy and open, making it a great place to relax as you sip your minty beverage and maybe even read the newspaper.
A unique option would be to order the Greek Mint Tea, which comes straight from Greece, paired with a chocolate pastry. The Chocolate Croissants are perfectly flaky and delicious, and the OMG Chocolate Cake is truly indulgent. You really can't go wrong with a simple Chocolate Cookie, either. Sweetwaters puts pretzel pieces in them to add an incredible crunch.
Which one of these Columbus businesses will you visit on National Chocolate Mint Day?