September 13: International Chocolate Day

The National Confectioners Association (NCA) celebrates International Chocolate Day on Sept. 13. There's only one way to celebrate chocolate and that is by eating it.

Where do you get your chocolate fix near Elkridge?

Sure we know that chocolate can be high in calories and apparently it's very bad for dogs. But there are plenty of good reasons to eat chocolate, even if it's not Sept. 13.

• Dark chocolate (but not milk chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk) is a potent antioxidant, according to WebMD. Antioxidants gobble up free radicals, destructive molecules that are implicated in heart disease and other ailments.

• WebMD reports that dark chocolate lowers high blood pressure. Eating more dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure—if you've reached a certain age and have mild high blood pressure, say the researchers. But you have to balance the extra calories by eating less of other things.

So you have license to go chocolate crazy today. You may want to check out  in Elkridge, where you can indulge in dark chocolate cake that's infused with chocoloate chips, iced with chocolate buttercream and dipped in dark chocolate. Or try one of the shop's dark chocolate ganache cupcakes.

Outside Elkridge, head over to Ellicott City's  for a selection of handmade treats, including chocolate-dipped pretzels and its famous

For those seeking another type of chocolate combo, try in Elkridge for a chocolate-dipped strawberry or pineapple.

in Columbia is another spot to satisfy your craving, as well as the shop in Ellicott City.

Have another place you'd recommend for chocolate? Tell us in comments.