Build your own Frankencandy

Eventually, fear of cavities drives even the more hardcore candy-loving kids to savor less risky treats, like beer, and cigarettes. Dip back into the fun, at Sweet Sugar.

Both a store and white-leather-couched lounge, Sugar's a sweet-fiend's crackhouse, offering both bulk treats (Lemonheads, Bit-O-Honeys, Wax Bottles) and fully customizable offerings -- like Fuddrucker's, or someplace that still exists. To exercise your confectionery vision, start with a base munchie, anything from Rice Krispie treats to Gummy Worms -- even apples and bananas, for cowards. Then choose a dipping sauce (caramel, or dark/white/mint chocolate) and sprinkle from among 18 toppings, including Nerds, Snickers chunks, and Skittles, but never Pez, because that must be eaten from Snoopy's gaping throat.

For something less overwhelming, Sugar makes its own chocolate bars filled with Key Lime Pie, PB&J, etc; there're also old school sodas, and every flavor of Crush, which you can spike with rum, then sprinkle with ash from your Kools.