Tribecan and food educator Cricket Azima, who in 2023 converted a mammoth space on Hudson into a candy wonderland called Cricket’s Candy Creations, has taken a more permanent space at 157 Chambers for her cooking-slash-playing activities.

The irony here is Cricket’s true expertise is in healthy food education for kids — in 1999 she founded The Creative Kitchen, which taught kids how to cook with whole foods in classes at Whole Foods and Manhattan Youth and at dozens of Kids Food Festivals that she founded and hosted around the country, sometimes partnering with the James Beard Foundation. But during the pandemic when things were so bleak and especially tough for kids, she starting teaching candy-making classes online and the idea took off.

The new studio includes lots of her former tricks — candy falls from the ceiling, a projector lights up the walls with colorful creations, kids can spread out for all her usual recipes: edible slime, candy sushi, lickable finger paint — even the lamps look like they are made from gumdrops. The difference now is she is offering a Candy Cafe, where kids can drop in on Thursdays and Fridays, from 3 to 5p, for a la carte candy crafts (starting at a $10 workshop that takes 20 minutes to make).

The candy crafting offerings will change seasonally, so folks can be repeat customers. “We are trying to make it more affordable so you can come in more frequently,” Cricket said.

Of course, the space can also be bought out entirely for parties — expect glitter tattoos, hair stylists and even more candy.

Cricket’s Candy Creations
157 Chambers | Greenwich & West Broadway
New York, NY 10007
info@cricketscandy.com
Closed Monday and Tuesday