Monday, August 25, 2008

It's Opening Day!


Well as everyone should know, Hello Cupcake officially opened the doors this morning to their adorable store in Dupont Circle! Around 11:30 I hopped on the Metro, getting there a few minutes before noon. As I stepped off the escalator onto the street, I was wondering if it would be hard to find, but no sooner did that thought cross my mind than I saw a line of girls, and a few guys, winding down the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street.
I walked over and jumped in at the end of the line. Everyone was all smiles and excited to try the cupcakes. I stood there eavesdropping on the multitude conversations...people were talking about how they like Georgetown Cupcake but can't wait to compare these to those, which flavors they thought they were going to order, how they had been checking out the pictures on the website for months. One girl came walking out of the front door biting into a Coconut Cupcake, exclaiming to everyone at the end of the line, "it's SO worth the wait!" She was followed by loads of people with boxes of cupcakes and iced coffees.
A Hello Cupcake employee was walking around handing out samples of a Root Beer Float flavored cupcake and little take-home menus with ordering information. He made it over to me with the last sample piece, and as I popped it in my mouth I was surprised at how similar the flavor was to an actual Root Beer Float. Turns out as I got to talking to him, I found out it was Penny's husband (Penny as you might remember from previous posts is the owner of Hello Cupcake). Her husband, Bill Bonstra of Bonstra Haresign Architects, is the one who designed the shop, bringing Penny's idea of a more modern-boutique-like cupcakery to life. And it looked great! Sparkling Pink Chandelier and all.
I was telling Bill how bummed I was that I forgot my camera, but he was kind enough to run behind the counter and grab his. I snapped a couple pictures with it so I could share them with you guys, and he should be emailing those to me in the next couple days.
Now onto the cupcakes...I only had to wait about 15 minutes to get through the line. Not bad at all. I wanted to try a couple different flavors this time, so I picked out the 24 Carrot, Velvet Elvis, and Peanut Butter Blossom (which Penny actually let me sample a couple months ago, so I already know this one is fantastic). Velvet Elvis is only available on Mondays and Thursdays, while 24 Carrot and Peanut Butter Blossom are daily flavors. Today is my fathers birthday, so I've got to save them to bring to him tonight when I get off work. Don't worry, I'll come back and repost how they taste when I try them! But from my previous experience, I already know they are going to be amazing!
If you haven't already, be sure to make your way out to Dupont Circle this week to try Hello Cupcake. It blows Georgetown Cupcake out of the water. And Cakelove? Ha. They aren't even in the same playing field.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was so excited for opening day. Only working a few blocks away in Farragut North, my co-workers and I ventured up there aroud 1:30. The line was much longer than you mentioned--half a block down the street, and when I asked the person just inside the door had been waiting a half hour. We had made the walk, so we decided to hop in line and await the magical cupcakes. Only a few minutes later a staff member informed us that they had run out, and wouldn't have any more until 3pm. I left frustrated that I had wasted a half hour of my day with no cupcakes to boot!

Bummer-- I don't want this to become an overhyped place like Georgetown Cupcake. I think I'll wait a few weeks for the line and hype to die. I promise to be back because unlike Georgetown Cupcake-- I know these are worth all the hype.

Danielle said...

Wow! I had no idea they actually ran out yesterday...I'm bummed you didn't get a chance to try them! I was actually shocked when I went and only had to wait 15 minutes, since it was during the start of the lunch hour. I guess as the day progressed word spread around and the line got longer.

That's good you only work a few blocks away, so it's not too much of a hassle for you to go back. It sounds like unless you go early in the day, waiting until it's been open for a couple days is probably a good idea. Nothing worse than waiting in line for, well, nothing!