Press

ALBANY – Shoppers can sample chocolate treats, listen to holiday carolers and purchase hand-crafted gifts from more than 50 vendors at the New York State Museum’s third annual Chocolate Expo & Holiday Gift Market on Sunday, December 7.

The Expo, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will offer samples and sales of chocolates, desserts, wines and specialty foods. Vendors from New York State and New England will also sell a variety of jewelry, art work, handmade bath and skincare products, books, clothing and accessories.

There also will be a chocolate fountain, free to all visitors, compliments of Price Chopper and We Do Fondue. The Pick’n & Sing’n Gather’n Carolers will perform holiday songs throughout the Museum’s exhibition halls. The South Glens Falls High School Chamber Singers will perform in Adirondack Hall at 2:30 p.m.

Hudson artist and award-winning illustrator Joan Steiner will be available outside of the Museum Gift Shop to sign books from her Look-Alike series. The books formed the inspiration for the exhibition Look-Alikes: The Amazing World of Joan Steiner, which was open at the State Museum earlier this year.

As a special promotion, visitors who purchase a State Museum membership will be eligible to win a gift basket full of products from Expo vendors. Tickets will also be sold for a separate raffle of an additional Expo gift basket.

“Beauty with a Cause” will donate 10 percent of the sale of its non-toxic skin-care products to breast cancer, ovarian cancer and scleroderma research. The products are named for women who have battled these diseases. A portion of the proceeds sold by “Red Thread Confections” will be donated to orphanages in Guatemala and China.

Many products offered at the Chocolate Expo are made using fresh, locally produced ingredients whenever possible. Items will include artisan Fair Trade organic chocolates, chocolate fudge, truffles, cookies, cakes, pretzels, coffees, hot chocolate, chocolate fudge, wine and mole sauces. There also will be a variety of homemade confections, tarts, pies, ice cream and edible sugar/chocolate jewelry. Other food items will include crepes, jellies, gourmet tomato, garlic and barbecue sauces, a variety of peanut butters, pickles, pesto, granola, fruit wines and locally grown organic foods.

Other gift items will include chemical-free soap, custom-designed fabric handbags, decorative glass bowls and vases, children’s books, hand-spun yarns, cut-stone jewelry, hand-knit sweaters and accessories.

Support for the Chocolate Expo is provided by Price Chopper, presenting sponsor and Fidelis Care and LogosPrint.com, promotional sponsors. Additional support is provided by Fortitech and Hampton Inn & Suites.

The New York State Museum is a cultural program of the State Education Department. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, 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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