I’ll take you to the candy shop, let you lick the lollipop, keep going ’til you hit the spot. From gum drops to jawbreakers, candy is a that little extra to make your day a whole lot sweeter. It’s nostalgic, infused with carefree childhood memories, and let’s not forget the bonus sugar high. Here are the top spots to get your sweet on.

With V-day just around the corner (or D-day to some), you can’t go wrong with the two staples flowers and chocolate. As American as apple pie, truffles are the international symbol of indulgence.

On Friday, January 28, 2011, co-chairs Dan Goelz and Michael Pagliuco will present the 14th Annual Fairmont Hotels and Resorts Grand Chefs Gala and Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence, benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This year’s event is titled Emerald City, a Wizard of Oz themed dining, dancing and entertaining experience.

Join Chicago bride-to-be and America’s Next Top Model Winner, McKey Sullivan to be inspired about wedding day possibilities at Brides, Bubbles and Bliss! Sip champagne, devour culinary delights, preview couture gowns and meet top wedding vendors. Brides, Bubbles and Bliss is hosted by Carasco Photography and promises a night filled with haute luxury. With entertainment by Style Matters DJs and an exclusive run of show by Vera Wang Chicago and Belle Vie Bridal Couture, this is the place to ensure your wedding is top notch.

Celebrating it’s celebrity rebirth, Fall Out Boy’s leading man was in town to toast the revival of his haute bar. Donning a fuzzy bear hoodie and face paint (apparently in literal support of the weekend’s big game), Pete Wentz was rocking out with his new band, the Black Cards, at the Angels and Kings reopening last night.

Brainchild of Chicago restaurateur Tom Powers, Gastrotommy.com is a cutting edge website that offers unparalleled, bi-monthly food and wine education direct from the best winemakers, chefs, and sommeliers as well as deep discounts on food and wine via an HD web-only show. There are currently 13 episodes on the shot in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Chicago featuring Frank Ostini of The Hitching Post, Rhone specialist Bob Lindquist and Donnie Madia and Paul Kahan of Publican and Blackbird among others. Gastrommy will shoot in the San Francisco Bay area in January, New York in March and New Orleans in May with celebrated guests including Rajat Parr of the Michael Mina group and author of Secrets of the Sommeliers, Sergio Esposito, CEO Italian Wine Merchants, and Mindy Segal, Chef/Owner Hot Chocolate.

Aah chocolate. Great as a gift and better in your stomach, it is the focus of books, movies and a huge part of culture in general. Known for being an aphrodisiac from the ancient Aztecs, whether that’s true or not, we don’t mind coating our bodies in it just in case. Oh-la-la tryptophan.

Executive Chef Frank Brunacci of Sixteen, a native of Melbourne, will host the third annual Australia Week celebration at the Trump Chicago. The festivities have become an ever-growing annual tradition at the downtown Chicago luxury hotel to commemorate Australia Day, the country’s national holiday celebrated on January 26. Guests will have the opportunity to not only experience unique menus and rare wines from Chef Brunacci’s homeland, but also art, travel, music and more.

Most people hibernate through the winter months, grab a hot chocolate and cuddle up by the fire. Not you. You know winter is a special time of the year that can be even hotter than the summer months with unique snow-filled fun. So don your UGGS and cutest puffy jacket and prepare to get winterized.