[L.A. Burdick, Brattle St in Harvard Square; 12/30/07]
Since taking a job as a full-time medical writer 18 months ago, I've worked on several projects involving psychoactive drugs for various mental illnesses and for pain. I've written about the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, about antidepressants, antipsychotics and narcotics. Coincidentally, I discovered that my colleagues at work make periodic forays into Harvard Square (about 5 minutes away by car) to go to Burdick's, a local purveyor of "gourmet, artisan chocolates." I didn't put two-and-two together until I found out that chocolate is a psychoactive food. Burdick's is, therefore, the equivalent of a crack house -- elegant and legal, yes, but a veritable meth lab of the psychoactive cocktail that is chocolate. I visited Burdick's today -- in the interests of medical research, of course -- and it was shocking, the amount of money changing hands, parents with babies in tow, old people, young innocent couples -- addicts all. Once high on chocolate, you can feed your oniomania at all the surrounding stores. Be very afraid.
Chocolate has me in it's smooth, tight grip.
Posted by: zhoen | Sunday, December 30, 2007 at 10:12 PM
In the middle of that winter storm in early December, I have taken myself off to that sweet "crack house" for a treat in between the trips to Mass General! :)
Posted by: maria | Sunday, December 30, 2007 at 10:25 PM
I stopped eating chocolate for a year once, as a dare to myself, to prove I wasn't addicted.
Longest. Year. Ever. :-)
Posted by: Ivy | Monday, December 31, 2007 at 03:29 AM
Leslee! Happy New Year!
Posted by: Ernesto Priego | Monday, December 31, 2007 at 06:52 AM
Zhoen: One day at a time.
Maria: Aha! Now you tell us.
Ivy: Wow. That is willpower.
Ernesto: Happy New Year to you, too! Nice to hear from you!
Posted by: Leslee | Monday, December 31, 2007 at 08:03 AM
Dark chocolate is healthy. It's the sugar that's bad for you. I get my daily fix with hot chocolate made with organic fair trade cocoa in milk with stevia - yum!
Posted by: marja-leena | Monday, December 31, 2007 at 02:23 PM
Ooh, that does sound yummy. And oh so healthy! ;-)
Posted by: Leslee | Monday, December 31, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Chocolate! Count me in. I love chocolate. What a great place.
Posted by: kat | Tuesday, January 01, 2008 at 04:39 AM
I have heard of selling babies outside for $( among other things). Never been....
Posted by: femmme | Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 07:21 PM