Helen Ford Wallace taped her upcoming Parties Extra video today in the studio. Her guests included Toni Hoffman from Sara Sara Cupcakes near downtown Oklahoma City.

Toni Hoffman is opening Sara Sara Cupcakes next Tuesday, fulfilling a promise to her niece. Read an excerpt from Steve Lackmeyer‘s reporting back on Sept. 3, 2008.

It was Easter 2007 and Toni Hoffman was doing what she always did with her niece Sara when the family gathered together — making cupcakes.

This is, after all, not just any family — but the descendants of legendary judge Joe Cannon.

“My family is very gregarious and loud,” Hoffman said. “But my niece was the shy one. And for years, we baked cupcakes — it was our own special thing.”

Just as Hoffman was showing Sara Brinson how to create a carrot design atop a cupcake, the 18-year-old made a vow to her aunt: “You and I are going to run a cupcake shop together someday.” Hoffman was puzzled — she repeated what Brinson said to make sure she heard her correctly.

“Yeah,” Brinson said, “that’s all you and I know how to do.”

‘I made a promise’

The next day, Brinson died from sudden cardiac arrest. Three months later, Hoffman was watching “Jimmy Kimmel Live” when she heard the host discuss the reason he loved Los Angeles — the city’s cupcake bakeries. Hoffman called her sister Dana, Sara’s mother, after the late-night show was over and pitched Sara Brinson’s idea. Dana Brinson reminded Hoffman they didn’t know how to operate a bakery.

“I don’t care,” Hoffman said, “I made a promise — we’ll figure it out.”

And that, Hoffman said, is the start of the story of how she decided to open Sara Sara Cupcakes. The location for this new venture, a dilapidated 102-year-old house at 7 NW 9, is yet another story. The property is part of a stretch of properties being redeveloped by Steve Mason, owner of the Iguana Mexican Grill, Earl’s Rib Palace and Cardinal Engineering.

The cupcakes are quite tasty, check out the menu for more. They brought a few crimson and cream examples, which disappeared quickly from the Studios’ green room.

The video will be posted this weekend on NewsOK.com.
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