Northwest Chocolate Festival

The Northwest Chocolate Festival is a dieter’s worst nightmare. Featuring chocolatiers from across the country, it offers a weekend’s worth of tastings, lectures, and classes. (Ever wanted to learn to sculpt a three-foot chocolate centerpiece for your next party? Here’s your chance!) You can also mold your own truffles, whip up a spicy mole sauce, purchase cocoa-butter beauty products, and ask industry experts questions—like why the hell your chocolate bar turns white when stored in the frig. Things get even more decadent at tonight’s 21-and-over Chocolate Masquerade Ball, where attendees are encouraged to dress in costume for live music, dancing, local wine and chocolate pairings, and—wait for it—flowing chocolate fountains. ERIKA HOBART

Sat., Oct. 23, 7-11:59 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 24, 2010