Like all of the holidays in the last year, Easter 2021 is set to be a different sort of event—you may be comfortable gathering in small groups or you may just want to stick around your 1213 Locust apartment this year. No matter how you’re marking the occasion, there’s one element any Easter celebration needs: chocolate! Those who celebrate likely remember the excitement of Easter mornings filled with tons of sugar—so even if your holiday looks a little different this year, you can always revisit the fun of your youth with some sweet treats.

There are plenty of options to do that right near your 1213 Locust apartment, including Marcie Blaine. Owned by the famed Gayborhood restauranteur, the shop sells a diverse collection of artisanal chocolates, all handmade right on site. Sustainability is part of the store’s recipe: It sources all of its organic cream and butter from Lancaster County and also relies on locally produced herbs, honey and produce. While that gives the store a distinctly Philadelphia feel, it also has international influences, with flavors modeled after Mexican, Spanish and Mediterranean chocolates.

The chocolates are made in a small boutique attached to Verde, two blocks from your 1213 Locust apartment, one of Blaine’s signature restaurants. That community vibe is illustrated in the shop’s many locally focused items, like chocolates emblazoned with the Love sign, the Philly skyline, the Liberty Bell and even a soft pretzel. There are sports collections that feature the Philly Phanatic, Gritty and the Eagles’ Philly Special. Flavors include everything from bourbon pecan caramel to maple pumpkin ganache to hazelnut truffle. The shop does ship chocolates but you can also pick them up curbside for free.

The pandemic has reshaped holidays lately but one constant remains: Chocolate makes every holiday, no matter how you spend it, a lot sweeter!

Marcie Blaine

108 S. 13th St.

Philadelphia, PA 19108

215-546-8700