Press

ALBANY – On Sunday, Dec. 2 holiday shoppers can make a day of it at the Empire State Plaza where they will find the Chocolate Expo & Holiday Gift Market, as well as the 2007 Holiday Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival.

The free Chocolate Expo will be held at the New York State Museum from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include a new attraction this year – a Cocoa Café, which will offer light lunch fare and warm beverages for sale. Several of the vendors also will offer free samples and there will be a We Do Fondue chocolate fountain, compliments of Best Cleaners.

The University Jazz Ensemble will present the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Chuck Mangione and others in the Carole F. Huxley Theater. “Old Songs” carolers will perform throughout the Museum, singing holiday tunes.

More than 50 vendors will sell a variety of chocolates, desserts, artisan cheeses, wines, vegan baked goods, organic products, Japanese sauces and dressings, and other specialty food items. Other products will include jewelry, children’s books, homegrown culinary herbs, homemade and organic pet products, natural handmade soaps and bath items, knitted goods, hand painted children’s clothing and ornaments, fair trade housewares and more.

Hudson artist and award-winning illustrator Joan Steiner will be present to sign her Look-Alikes books, which are for sale in the Museum Shop. The books formed the inspiration for the exhibition Look-Alikes: The Amazing World of Joan Steiner, open through March 2, 2008 in the Museum’s Crossroads Gallery.

Also, on Dec. 2, DJ Shawn Gillie will provide music at the Empire State Plaza’s outdoor ice skating rink as part of the 2007 Holiday Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival at the Plaza. Visitors can also shop at the event’s Holiday Market Place inside on the Plaza’s concourse, where there also will be children’s arts and crafts and storytelling. The Festival is from 2 to 6 p.m.

Further information on the Tree Lighting Festival, or other events sponsored by the state Office of General Services, is available at (518) 473-0559 or at www. empirestateplaza.org.

The sponsors for the Museum’s Chocolate Expo include Price Chopper, Fidelis Care, Verizon, Berkshire Bank, We Do Fondue, Best Cleaners, Fortitech, Hampton Inns & Suites Albany Downtown, TL Metzger & Associates and LogosPrint.

The New York State Museum is a cultural program of the State Education Department. Located on Madison Avenue, the Museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.

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