STEPH DEROSA: CHOCOLATE DISTRICT >>>

Not that there needs to be another reason for me to hang out in the Proctor District, with all it’s unique stores and locally owned restaurants, but there is a special weekend that draws me in like no other: the Proctor District’s Annual Chocolate Festival. You read it right; they’ve created a glutinous weekend to remind you of what candy-lined holidays are headed your way.

Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11 the neighborhood, which houses favorites such as Metropolitan Market, Babblin’ Babs Bistro, Envy, Europa Bistro, Blue Mouse Theater and others, will host a chocolate festival to rival all food-type festivals. More than 40 Proctor District businesses will play the wacky chocolate game this weekend, and the candy-themed event will hold no sweet-toothed boundaries. Clothing stores and gift shops will have chocolate-colored sale items, restaurants will have special menu items, and discounts from all over will be at your cocoa-loving fingertips.

Kelly Henzinger of Metropolitan Market came clean with the market’s participation. Sunday, Oct. 12, from 1-6 p.m., Met Market will offer Fat Cat Fudge, homemade metro market brownies as well as hosting a local chocolatier who will prepare organic truffles. Saturday holds daylong chocolate events as well.

Somewhere in the midst of your binge, I suggest you attend the free chocolate pancake breakfast held at Washington-Hoyt Elementary Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Be sure to kiss a PTA member for that pancake, they flipped those flapjacks just for you. Also take the time to pick up a Chocolate Express Passport at a designated location in order to collect a chocolate-y prize at the end

[Proctor District, North 26th and Proctor, Tacoma]