Baby Cakes

It is a known fact that the best dessert places in New York will have lines. They are hot spots, everyone wants in on the action, so they are crowded. New Yorkers know this so we don't complain. I am bothered by the tourist standing in line at Serendipity that proclaim loudly, "The desserts can't be that good to wait four hours..lets just go to Ben and Jerry's."
I want to pull a Michael Spinks the moment the forsaken words are spoken, "First of all, don't talk about the Forbidden Broadway or Frozen Hot Chocolate like that! Secondly, if you knew the simple rules of the waiting game, you could appreciate the simple sweet pleasures NYC has to offer!"

Yes, Serendipity has a four hour line 7 nights a week. That's because it is worth it. The desserts are bigger than your head, and have so many layers of chocolate, caramel and whip cream you would think Willie Wonka himself got a hold of it. There is a reason Ben and Jerry's has a 10 minute line. (Don't get me wrong, the B&J Oatmeal cookie dough is out of this world, but a small cone cannot compare to the masterpieces at Serendipity).
My best advise for hitting this New York honey hole is skip dinner! If you go to Serendipity for the dessert, then only get dessert and skip out on dinner. Plan ahead! Start early and put your name on the waiting list. Then shop in Bloomingdale's, Urban Outfitters, H&M and Dylan's Candy Bar (all within a 4 block radius) then go somewhere else for food. Have all your eating and shopping done by the time your name is call. Perfect timing for dessert at Serendipity!

Speaking of sweet treats, few will find a better cupcake than at Magnolia Bakery (although my personal fav at Mag Bake is the whipped banana pudding). The line is up to an hour long with no seating inside the bakery. Because Mag Bakery does not have a hostess taking names and giving a ETD (estimated time till dessert), I have created a time line. If you are in a line that has wrapped around the corner and past the first apartment on the block, you are looking at a 45 minute wait. If you are standing in line at the MB side window (off 11th street), you will only be in line for 15 minutes. Once you have made it to the front door of the delicious bakery, you have one final obstacle. You must still make it past the Cupcake Bouncer at the door. (He resembles a bouncer that take IDs at bars or backstage to concerts however he is guarding the entrance to cupcake heaven). This man has the power to accept people into the bakery. You may have to wait in front of this man (who is usually wearing an apron) for up to 5 minutes. The line can be exhausting, but you will be rewarded with your sweetly frosted bite size cake. The park across Bleecker is the perfect spot to enjoy and savor every bite!

The city truly has sweet deals, and these little secrets are simply icing on the cake!