See S Candies

The candy making business isn't always a sweet one. Vigorous competition, high costs and fickle public preference have left the landscape littered with the melted remains of failed candy makers over the years. But See's Candies--they of the little-changing white-and-black stores and the cherubic smile of Mary See--is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the company's birth with special candy tins, free Victoria Toffee hammers and commemorative advertising.

Sweet. Los Angeles officials are taking steps to commemorate the city's confectionery culture, just in time for Valentine's Day. Members of the Cultural Heritage Commission agreed Thursday to consider designating the original home of See's Candies, near Western Avenue and Beverly Boulevard, as a historic landmark. Nomination papers calling for recognition of the first See's candy kitchen and retail shop were filed at City Hall in an empty 5-pound See's box by candy lover Charlene Nichols.

Sweet. Los Angeles officials are taking steps to commemorate the city's confectionery culture, just in time for Valentine's Day. Members of the Cultural Heritage Commission agreed Thursday to consider designating the original home of See's Candies, near Western Avenue and Beverly Boulevard, as a historic landmark. Nomination papers calling for recognition of the first See's candy kitchen and retail shop were filed at City Hall in an empty 5-pound See's box by candy lover Charlene Nichols.

Calling all chocoholics. Put down the truffles and power up the PC. It's time to weigh in on a fundamental question: What is chocolate? Two of California's oldest confectioners, See's Candies Inc. and Guittard Chocolate Co., are battling an attempt to loosen government rules that dictate what ingredients go into the sweet stuff. Legally, the candy that melts hearts and comforts the brokenhearted is made with cocoa butter and, in the case of milk chocolate, whole milk.

This is Mary See's town. We only live here. See's Candy has owned L.A., chocolate-wise, for more than 80 years. Charles See may have come here from Canada, but he understood this burg -- he opened his second store in Grauman's Chinese Theater and his third on the route of the Rose Parade. He made a point of putting his shops on the shady side of the street, knowing that in our climate more pedestrians would be walking there. He understood our eager susceptibility.

The Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation invites local connoisseurs of gourmet food, fine wines and premium beer to its 11th annual Lakeside Party fund-raiser Sunday at Lake Casitas. Directors of the foundation, which raises money to support programs at the Ventura County Medical Center and related facilities, said this year's event is more important than ever because the hospital recently incurred funding cuts totaling more than $1 million. The event, from noon to 5 p.m.

Burger King has big plans to wipe the smile off Ronald McDonald's face. Later this summer, Burger King will unleash a $200-million ad campaign--closely tied to a new marketing strategy--that insiders say will try to completely reposition the perennial fast-food also-ran as a feisty, friendly, family place that will go far out of its way to make customers happy. Much of the campaign is still in the works or under wraps. And until now, officials have refused to reveal any details of the upcoming ads. But in interviews, top executives from Burger King and its two recently named New York advertising agencies said Burger King is about to begin an ambitious drive to persuade consumers that the fast-food chain is going to change for the better.

Summer is not exactly peak season for the purveyors of fine chocolates. The months creep by, bereft of a single candy-centric holiday. The heat brings up issues of melting and stickiness and images of bathing suits, none of them chocolate friendly. At the See's Candies factory on La Cienega Boulevard, there is only one chocolate enrobing machine running, sluicing dark chocolate over hundreds of Scotchmallows.

Calling all chocoholics. Put down the truffles and power up the PC. It's time to weigh in on a fundamental question: What is chocolate? Two of California's oldest confectioners, See's Candies Inc. and Guittard Chocolate Co., are battling an attempt to loosen government rules that dictate what ingredients go into the sweet stuff. Legally, the candy that melts hearts and comforts the brokenhearted is made with cocoa butter and, in the case of milk chocolate, whole milk.

This is Mary See's town. We only live here. See's Candy has owned L.A., chocolate-wise, for more than 80 years. Charles See may have come here from Canada, but he understood this burg -- he opened his second store in Grauman's Chinese Theater and his third on the route of the Rose Parade. He made a point of putting his shops on the shady side of the street, knowing that in our climate more pedestrians would be walking there. He understood our eager susceptibility.

Summer is not exactly peak season for the purveyors of fine chocolates. The months creep by, bereft of a single candy-centric holiday. The heat brings up issues of melting and stickiness and images of bathing suits, none of them chocolate friendly. At the See's Candies factory on La Cienega Boulevard, there is only one chocolate enrobing machine running, sluicing dark chocolate over hundreds of Scotchmallows.

The Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation invites local connoisseurs of gourmet food, fine wines and premium beer to its 11th annual Lakeside Party fund-raiser Sunday at Lake Casitas. Directors of the foundation, which raises money to support programs at the Ventura County Medical Center and related facilities, said this year's event is more important than ever because the hospital recently incurred funding cuts totaling more than $1 million. The event, from noon to 5 p.m.

The candy making business isn't always a sweet one. Vigorous competition, high costs and fickle public preference have left the landscape littered with the melted remains of failed candy makers over the years. But See's Candies--they of the little-changing white-and-black stores and the cherubic smile of Mary See--is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the company's birth with special candy tins, free Victoria Toffee hammers and commemorative advertising.

Burger King has big plans to wipe the smile off Ronald McDonald's face. Later this summer, Burger King will unleash a $200-million ad campaign--closely tied to a new marketing strategy--that insiders say will try to completely reposition the perennial fast-food also-ran as a feisty, friendly, family place that will go far out of its way to make customers happy. Much of the campaign is still in the works or under wraps. And until now, officials have refused to reveal any details of the upcoming ads. But in interviews, top executives from Burger King and its two recently named New York advertising agencies said Burger King is about to begin an ambitious drive to persuade consumers that the fast-food chain is going to change for the better.