The best cake in Manheim is hiding in a grocery store

The Digest

The best cake in Manheim is hiding in a grocery store

The bakery case at the Weis Markets in Manheim looks like every other grocery store bakery case until you look closer. The hand-piped florals and sculpted custom cakes in there are the work of Deven Schwartz, a 29-year-old decorator who has built a following big enough that a coworker estimates half the bakery's phone calls are people asking for her by name. She prefers buttercream, which she dries and molds like clay, and she works in candies, handmade chocolates, and keepsakes like toys or rings. On fondant: "I absolutely loathe fondant," she says, though she keeps it in her arsenal.

Schwartz was born in Germany, moved to Manheim in 2008, and graduated from YTI's pastry arts program in 2016. Her grandmother, Kathy Blankenbiller, once made chocolate sculptures for Wilbur Chocolate in Lititz. All of it at regular grocery store prices.

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What's happening

Monday

Thirsty for Knowledge Trivia | MC Angel runs the weekly pub trivia night for players 21 and up. | 7:00 PM | Brendee's Irish Pub, 449 W. Lemon St., Lancaster | Free

Covered Bridges & Brunch Scooter Tour | Guided scooter ride past a covered bridge with a $10 dining voucher included. | 8:30 AM | Strasburg Scooter Tours, 246 N. Decatur St., Strasburg | $89 single-seat scooter, $189 two-seat scooter or Smart Cabrio

Dungeons and Dragons: Monday Edition | An experienced Dungeon Master leads a table for players ages 12 to 18; registration required. | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Lancaster Public Library, 151 N. Queen St. | Free

Video Game Night for Adults | Adults 18 and up play multiplayer video games at the library. | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Ephrata Public Library, 550 S. Reading Rd. | Free; registration required

Tuesday

Lancaster Stormers vs. Staten Island FerryHawks | The Stormers open a three-game home series against Staten Island. | 6:45 PM | Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Tickets via lancasterstormers.com

Reading with Raphie the Mini Horse | Horse-themed storytime plus a meet-and-greet with a mini therapy horse. | 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM | Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Rd. | Free; registration full, waitlist only

Lancaster Science Factory Presents Robotics with Edison | Kids ages 8 and 9 program a barcode-driven Edison robot through team challenges. | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Dr., Lancaster | Free

Wednesday

Lancaster Stormers vs. Staten Island FerryHawks | Second game of the FerryHawks home series at Penn Medicine Park. | 6:45 PM | Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Tickets via lancasterstormers.com

Trivia Night at Southern Market | Meet People Lancaster forms a team before trivia starts in the food hall. | 6:30 PM meetup, 7:00 PM trivia | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Lancaster Freethought Society Monthly Discussion | Open monthly discussion over dinner at the Columbia Avenue restaurant. | 6:00 PM | El Serrano, 2151 Columbia Ave., Lancaster | Free

Build-a-Bog Garden Workshop | Build a glass-container bog garden of carnivorous and moisture-loving plants. | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | Gallery Grow, 320 N. Queen St., Lancaster | $55

Astronomy Enthusiasts of Lancaster County | Monthly night-sky talk for teens and adults, no registration required. | 6:30 PM - 7:45 PM | Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Rd. | Free

Pajama Storytime at Musser Park | Outdoor evening storytime; no seating provided, so bring a blanket. | 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Musser Park, Lancaster | Free; registration required

Now Playing

Mary Poppins | Final week for the practically perfect nanny musical; no Monday show. | Tue 7:30 PM (6 PM dinner) · Wed 1 PM matinee (11:30 AM lunch) & 7:30 PM | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster | $78 matinee / $83 evening dinner and show, $55 show only, plus $3 per ticket fee

Dear Soldier Boy | Opens Tuesday: a comedy about an Amish woman writing letters to soldiers, running through Oct. 21. | Lunch and show Tue-Sat; dinner and show Tue-Thu | Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike #A, Bird-in-Hand | Show only $47 adult, $18 child; lunch and show $68 adult, $31 child; dinner and show $73.50 adult, $34 child

Live music

Monday

Tom Pontz Trio | Jazz trio | 5:30-8:30 PM | Beccafico, 27-31 E. Main St., Lititz | No cover listed

Open Mic Artist Sessions w/ Henry Devorick | Open mic / singer-songwriter | 7:00 PM (21+); arrive early for the sign-up sheet | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free

Tuesday

Old Time Jam (led by Danny Mulligan) | Old-time / acoustic string jam | 6:30-9:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | No cover listed

Wednesday

Cody Tyler & Gypsy Convoy | Country | 7:00-9:00 PM | New Holland Community Park, 400 E. Jackson St., New Holland | Free

Acoustic Open Mic with Andrew Pauls | Acoustic open mic | 7:00-9:00 PM (sign-ups 6:30 PM) | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | No cover listed

Open Mic Night | Open mic / acoustic + spoken word | 7:00-10:00 PM (sign-ups 6:00 PM) | Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, 112 N. Water St., Lancaster | Pay what you can

Mammoth (The End Tour) | Hard rock | Doors 6:00 PM, show 7:00 PM | Mickey's Black Box, 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz | Sold out

Sunny Sweeney with special guest Amber Nadine | Country | Doors 7:00 PM, music 8:00 PM (21+, under 21 with a parent or guardian) | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $20 advance / $30 seated