8/2/2012 - West Side Leader
     

Cupcake Castle opening in Fairlawn

FAIRLAWN — Baker Jean Covel wants to bring smiles to the faces of children and their families with her new business.

Covel will open Cupcake Castle at 117 Merz Blvd., Suite 112, on Aug. 4. The cupcake business will feature more than 30 varieties of the sweet treats, with flavors such as Chocolate Kiss, Cookies and Cream and Peanut Butter and Jelly.

In addition, the bakery will include a party room with a Candyland design that can be used for children’s birthday events. Covel added that children are also welcome to come in and decorate cupcakes during store hours.

“It’s fun and you can involve everyone in it,” Covel said.

The Cuyahoga Falls resident, who currently operates a home bakery, said she was inspired to start the business because she felt other local cupcake businesses didn’t appeal to children and families.

The castle theme is carried throughout the business with décor that is reminiscent of a stone castle and princess-themed tables and chairs.

Covel said she plans to host a special event Aug. 18 from noon to 4 p.m. that will feature a fairytale prince and princess. There also will be giveaways.

Cupcake Castle will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 330-322-4558 or go to www.cupcakecastle.net.

Banyan Tree to hold grand opening

BATH — Akron artist Barbe Beaty will host an open house Aug. 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening of The Banyan Tree Creative Wellness Studio & Shop, located at 3850 Granger Road, housed in a historic renovated grist mill alongside Yellow Creek.

Hours for the business will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 to 3 p.m.

The Banyan Tree, named for a symbol of sanctuary under which one finds peace of mind and internal harmony, will offer creative solutions for navigating life, as well as eco-friendly handmade products, according to Beaty.

Beaty specializes in metal clay sculpting (fine silver), as well as traditional clay (stoneware), and has collaborated for several years with organizations such as Stewart’s Caring Place, The Battered Women’s Shelter, Peninsula Art Academy, Akron Public Schools, Girl Scouts, Our Lady of the Elms and various other groups. Her fine silver jewelry has been sold locally at Don Drumm Studios and worldwide, she said.

The Banyan Tree will offer individual and group expressive art sessions, according to Beaty. Also, the business plans to collaborate with local guest artists who share a holistic approach to their delivery of products and services, to offer healing art practices, she said.

The shop features all hand-created, organic, fair-trade and eco-friendly products, including fine silver pendants, clay pendants, clay tea bowls and cups, incense cones, clay burners, soy candles, Moroccan Rhassoul clay soaps, gift cards, jute totes and yoga mats and locally fresh-roasted, fair-trade, organic coffee beans.

For details email barbe beaty@gmail.com or call the business at 330-203-1778.

Kathleen Folkerth and Ariel Hakim contributed to these reports.

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