A La Carte

Las Vegas-based bakery Cupkates plans to donate 50 percent of its profits from all specialty cupcake bouquet orders placed by Thursday to the American Red Cross to support the relief effort for Japanese tsunami victims.

Bouquets have six full-size cupcakes, five mini-size cupcakes and specialties such as chocolate-covered strawberries and marshmallows. Orders can be a combination of cupcake flavors. The bouquets are $48 each, with free delivery in the Las Vegas Valley.

Cupkates also plans to donate a portion of its proceeds from all red velvet cupcake and Cutie Pie orders. The Cutie Pie is the bakery's version of the whoopie pie. A dozen red velvet cupcakes or Cutie Pies is $12.

To place an order, call 439-3266 or email Cupkates owner Katie Thompson at cupkateslv@hotmail.com.

The White affair set for Saturday
at lake las vegas

The Village Lake Las Vegas plans to host The White Affair from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday to raise funds for New Vista Community.

The White Affair is a party featuring wine, beer and cocktails that are all white in color or light. Guests are encouraged to wear white to receive a free raffle ticket, and all guests are invited to participate in a silent auction. An After Glow Party will follow, with fireworks planned for 9 p.m.

Tickets are $50 per person in advance or $60 at the door. After Glow tickets are an additional $25.

New Vista Community is a nonprofit group that provides equal opportunities and support for the intellectually challenged people of all ages.

For event tickets, visit newvista
community.org. Guests must be 21 or older.

CICi's Pizza sales to help cancer society

On Saturday, CiCi's Pizza plans to donate 10 to 20 percent of its sales to the American Cancer Society's fundraising event Relay For Life.

In addition, locations will have Relay For Life paper moons and stars available to customers for a $1 donation to display in honor or memory of someone touched by cancer.

Relay For Life's 10 Las Vegas Valley events are scheduled for April and May.

For more information about the CiCi's Pizza promotion, visit CiCi's Facebook fan page, facebook.com/Cicis. To find a location near you, visit cicispizza.com.

For more information about Relay For Life or to sign up for an event, visit relayforlife.org or call
800-227-2345.

Hop into Ethel M Chocolates
for special Easter collection

Ethel M Chocolates is selling its 2011 Easter Collection for a limited time. The sweet treats come in festive, egg-shaped boxes.

The Peanut Butter Truffle Box has milk and dark chocolate eggs filled with homemade peanut butter. The Ethel M Fruit Truffle Egg Box has ganache-filled chocolates including key lime, strawberry, lemon and raspberry.

They are $22 each and feature eight individually hand airbrushed pieces. The collections can be purchased at ethelm.com or at any of the eight Las Vegas Valley retail locations.

For a limited time, Ethel M also is offering several springtime treats for less than $15, including milk chocolate-covered gourmet strawberry marshmallows and dark chocolate-covered gourmet lemon marshmallows, and milk, dark and white chocolate Bunny Pops.

Healthcare Center to host celebrity chef contest to benefit UMC center

The Silver Ridge Healthcare Center, 1151 S. Torrey Pines Drive, plans to host its first Silver Plate Celebrity Chef contest from 2 to 4 p.m. today to benefit the UMC Family Resource Center.

The contest is set to take place in Silver Ridge's courtyard, and attendees will be the judges. Chefs will prepare an appetizer trio plate with key ingredients given to them before the event. The winner will receive $500 and a silver recognition plate. Chefs scheduled to participate are Aaron Moran from Hard Rock Café, Anthony Videl from Hash House A Go Go, Kiko Ojeda from The Palm-Las Vegas, Marco Beltran from Lolita's and Shawn Wilder from Second Street Grill at the Fremont.

The event also is scheduled to feature a raffle, with money going to Three Square food bank.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling Shanda Alcantara at 468-9418.

Tropical Smoothie cafÉ announces summertime somewhere promotion

Through May 1, Las Vegas Valley locations of Tropical Smoothie Café plan to offer patrons the chance to win a vacation to a Club Med resort in the Caribbean, Mexico or Florida.

With each purchase, customers will receive a scratch-off card. Every card is a winner, offering free menu items, menu discounts and a code to win flip flops, Hawaiian shirts or the grand prize trip.

For store locations and more information, visit summertimesomewhere.com.