I don’t know how much longer I can take it. The first day of spring is two days away, yet winter seems unending. It snowed all day Saturday. The current 10 Day forecast shows nothing close to 50º. Late March is always the beacon of light at the end of the winter tunnel. St. Patrick’s Day is a marked in my mind- the first sign of leaves usually appear around this notoriously “green” day. Still no sign this year. I keep thinking of March 22, 2012, a day bursting with color and temperatures in the 70s. I’ll never forget that day, one of my all time NYC favorites.

This California girl is craving color, I’m dying for it! Nature is giving me nothing, not even a blue sky, and so I look elsewhere. Fortunately, New York is on my side! March 20th is not just the first day of spring, it is also New York Macaron Day! Never heard of this, you say? Neither had I! It only began in New York in 2010, taken from Paris’ Jour du Macaron. I am so excited to participate this year!

Macarons are right next to flowers on my list of “Things I Would Buy Much More Often If I Had Money”. Delicate, airy, and sweet, they are the perfect two bites. I would eat them all the time if I had the $2.75 to spend on two bites. That is why I’m so jazzed about Macaron Day! Bursts of the sweetest colors and the sweetest tastes at a price that can’t be beat. Fifteen bakeries throughout Manhattan are participating and providing FREE macarons on Wednesday!

The Macaron Cafe, an adorable hole-in-the-wall on E 59th Street between Madison and Park, is one of the participating bakeries. That’s where all my pictures are from, it’s such a lovely shop! The ambience is cozy and colorful with original art displayed on the walls. They also make great salads and sandwiches. It is really busy at weekday lunch hour. But come on a weekend it’s the perfect spot to catch up with a friend, over coffee and macarons!

I plan to visit as many of the participants as I can, who wants to join me? View the full list here. If you don’t live in NYC, stop by a local bakery and see if you can convince them to give you a deal because it’s Jour du Macaron (I recommend saying it in a thick French accent)! Or make your own: Not So Humble Pie has detailed her experience and recipe here. Or just wait for my upcoming blog post detailing my Macaron Day adventure to live vicariously!

VIVE LE MACARON!