Let’s start with something tasty for 2006 – chocolate. If you live here in Chicago, you know the city smells like it. Deep and rich and sweet and dear god would you smell that chocolate, all of that sneaking through downtown streets and wandering along the river.

The source of that smell is the Blommer Chocolate Factory (pictured above) just northwest of the loop downtown. Last fall, after receiving a complaint from someone who lives near the factory, the EPA looked into the issue and cited the factory for violations. Tune in to Marketplace tomorrow to hear my report about the case and what it means for the future of Chicago’s chocolate flavored air.

And there’s no reason this should matter, but I feel like I have to tell somebody. Any of the tape you hear in this story that is clearly recorded outside I suffered for. It was 10°. I waited and waited for days before going out to gather that material and it just never warmed up. Trying to get people to talk to you in that kind of weather is damn near impossible.

I’m not complaining. Just seems a little unfair considering that it’s been so unseasonably warm recently that we’re actually having thunderstorms today.

UPDATE: If you tuned in to Marketplace tonight (Tuesday 1/3) and missed this story, don’t be alarmed. Sounds like it got pushed to tomorrow’s show (Wednesday 1/4). Tune in then, won’t you?