Special little cupcakes

I love Butter Lane's uber fresh, top-quality cupcakes. I love Kumquat's mini cupcakes and inventive flavors like chocolate pistachio and coffee caramel bourbon. And, I am just always a sucker for Pichet's cream-filled cupcakes from Batch.

But cupcakes from ChikaLicious Dessert Club are a special breed of their own. Much ado has been made of the s'mores flavor and, with its marshmallow frosting and cinnamon-y cake, it is a fun treat. But the caramel is the one you want to get after. The burnt caramel flavor is super intense and hits the spot.

Other winners are the banana cupcake, with its tender cake and sweet but tangy frosting and the triple chocolate. With a chocolate ganache center, you can never go wrong.

204 East 10th Street between 2nd and 1st Avenues
212.475.0929

5 best ways to pretend summer is going nowhere

You can eat ice cream until the cows come home. Or change it up with a few tastes of summer, from the nostalgic to the effervescent.

S'mores cupcake from Chikalicious Dessert Club:
Campfire memories, transferred to a beautiful, rich urban treat.

Marshmallows from Three Tarts:
Light, frothy and refreshing, perfect for the front stoop.

Strawberries & Cream cupcake from Kumquat:
A springy, fruity, two-bite treat.

Chocolate milk from Ronnybrook:
Chug it like a milkshake, without the brain freeze. Smooth and chocolaty satisfaction.

Mango ice shower from Beard Papa's:
Shaved ice, fruity sauce and chunks of sweet mango. Then again, a cream puff is awfully light, too.