Librarians love chocolate, right?

Philadelphia is a mecca for chocolate lovers. You won’t have to venture far from the Marriott to fulfill your cravings, either. Just across the street at the Reading Terminal Market, you will find Chocolate by Mueller where the chocolates are made on site and where chocolate body parts, including an anatomically correct chocolate heart, are big sellers. Also at the Market is the Pennsylvania General Store – a great place to find both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia souvenirs. (Aren’t the best souvenirs the ones you can eat?) PA General specializes in candies such as Asher’s, Neuchatel, Wilbur’s and Zitner’s, that are made in Pennsylvania.
The Naked Chocolate Café, 1317 Walnut St., (www.nakedchocolate.com) merits a visit for many reasons (the name?) and offers yummy baked items as well as candies.
Several blocks further away, Lore’s Chocolates, 34 S. 7th St., (www.loreschocolates.com) has been making and selling fine chocolates for 35 years.
Stroll further down Market St. in the direction of the Delaware River and you will be rewarded by Shane Candies (shanecandies.com). Located at 110 Market St., Shane’s has been delighting customers since 1876. The store and the employees are just as wonderful as the candies! Plus, you can stop for an egg cream or a phosphate at The Franklin Fountain, 116 Market St. (http://www.franklinfountain.com/) to fortify you for the walk back to the hotel.

If you want to head off in the other direction, toward City Hall, for your chocolate excursion, you will not want to miss Maron Chocolates, 1734 Chestnut St.
(http://www.maronchocolates.com/). Maron’s has been in business at several different Center City locations since 1850! It is still a small, family-run operation and produces great chocolates. If you’ve brought along a non-chocoholic friend, no worries! Opt for ice cream instead at Maron’s ScoopDeVille (http://www.maronchocolates.com/cream.html).

[posted for Nancy Calabretta, chocolate lover and medical librarian extraordinaire]