Despite what anyone says, we do not live in abundant times. This is an era of austerity. So when I see a business that entices grown adults to wait in an hour-long line for a $17 dessert in a jar, I need to know why.
The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar opened a much-anticipated Pittsburgh location in the Waterfront in May. The milkshake bar and ice cream shop bills itself as a place where “calories don’t count,” offering “picture-worthy treats” piled high with candy and toppings. Its signature creation is a “crazy” Mason, a colorful milkshake served in a Mason jar with a treat-covered rim.
But the madness doesn’t stop there: each milkshake is then topped with layers of cookies, brownies, and cake — in one case, a full slice of cheesecake — followed by frosting, whipped cream, and sprinkles to make a dessert the size of someone’s head. The Pittsburgh shop even touts an exclusive “Crazy Burgh” Mason, a salted caramel brownie milkshake with a black-and-yellow sprinkle rim garnished with a chocolate gob, yellow whipped frosting, and yellow “Pittsburgh bridge” chocolate wafers…