Come to Papa

For the perfect escape from the city heat, drop into one of the coolest shops in town – the Barcelona-based candy boutique Papabubble where candy is made all throughout the day right before your eyes. With just a half wall of glass between you and the candy sculptors, you’ll have a front row seat to watch owners Fiona Ryan and Chris Grassi pull, twist, and cut the warm sugar strains into edible art. The bite-size candies are displayed in stacks of simple glass jars and line the shop walls making it almost impossible to choose. The flavors range from the expected orange, lemon and lime to more adventurous kiwi, cola, lavender, and chili mango and are only trumped by the miniature designs of fruit, letters, numbers, or hearts (there’s even a “math mix” with multiplication and division signs) at every center. And if you don’t see what your heart desires, they can also custom something for you. The store welcomes audiences from birthday events and field trips to the intermittent daily crowds that gather to admire the transformation from molten sugar to irresistible indulgence. Impressively large lollipops, twisted rings, and some pretty crazy shapes are also available. And the creators are already brewing up kooky ideas for Halloween! $14.50 for a 7oz jar of candies/ $25 for 13.75 oz. Lollipops range from $4-$15. Papabubble, 380 Broome Street, between Mott and Mulberry Streets 212-966-2599 www.papabubble.com